NZRU Chairman Jock Hobbs, Prime Minister John Key, and IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset mark the latest milestone in the countdown to RWC'11 © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: World Cup chiefs expecting loss

News: Re-payment plan for Rugby World Cup tickets

News: England and Japan to host World Cups

News: Samoa qualify for Rugby World Cup 2011

News: Canada book RWC berth

Players/Officials: Bernard Lapasset | Martin Snedden

Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup

Teams: New Zealand

External Links: Rugby World Cup: Financing the global game | Rugby World Cup: Two Years To Go

The International Rugby Board (IRB) are confident that Rugby World Cup 2011 will be success despite the financial uncertainties arising from the current global economic crisis.

At a special ceremony to mark two years until the first game at the sport's next global showpiece IRB and Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) chairman Bernard Lapasset and chief executive Mike Millar both hailed the progress made since New Zealand were awarded the hosting rights in 2005.

"The two years to go countdown is a significant operational landmark for what is one of the five largest sporting events in the world," said Lapasset. "The global Rugby community awaits a tournament that will provide the seventh chapter of the RWC story in a country that is totally immersed in Rugby's tradition and culture. It will be an event not to be missed.

"Operationally, of course, there is still much to do, but today represents another exciting milestone in planning for the tournament. The challenge now is to ensure that we remain focused and deliver what promises to be an outstanding Rugby World Cup in 2011," added Lapasset.

Millar also praised the work done by RWCL and Rugby New Zealand 2011, a joint venture between the New Zealand Rugby Union and New Zealand Government which is responsible for the planning and delivery of the tournament.

"We're very happy with the ways things have gone so far," he said. "Rugby World Cup has a great pedigree and major commercial entities want to be involved. We have three of our top sponsors in place already in Mastercard, Heineken and Emirates and certainly awarding RWC 2015 to England and 2019 to Japan has given a new impetus so a lot of Japanese companies and companies based in Europe have shown renewed interest in doing two or three cup deals.

"Corporate hospitality we thought was going to be down but pre-bookings from travel agents has actually been very good and now it's ahead of where we were for France. Yes it's been a bit tough but I think we will get there in the end."

The tournament is reportedly set to make a NZ$40m operating loss with the event underwritten by the New Zealand government and the New Zealand Rugby Union. The sole source of revenue to offset the estimated NZ$320m cost of staging the cup is from ticket sales with the IRB keeping all other cup income.

To mark the latest milestone, officials were given a tour of the Eden Park stadium in Auckland that is undergoing re-development that will see its capacity increased from 45,472 to 60,000 late next year. The venue will host the opening match between New Zealand and Tonga, four pool matches plus the semi-finals, final and bronze medal match in two years' time.

"We're very impressed with the work which has gone on," said Miller. "We had a good walk around and it's got very good sight lines. It will be a very good stadium for watching rugby. There will be good facilities there. It's six weeks ahead of schedule; it's on budget, so things are looking good."

RNZ 2011 Ltd chief executive Martin Snedden added, "You can't help but be impressed by what's being achieved there. It's six weeks ahead of schedule, it's on budget and it's going to look great."

Upgrades being done elsewhere around the country to stadiums hosting matches were also progressing well with AMI Stadium Christchurch on course to be ready by January and McLean Park in Napier close to completion. Whangarei is due to complete in July next year, while Nelson, where work gets underway shortly, is also due to finish in the middle of next year.

The only uncertainty surrounds the construction of a new, covered in stadium in Dunedin, which has yet to get underway. Carisbrook will host the matches if the new stadium fails to be ready in time.

"We are going to do everything we can to play those games in the new stadium," said Snedden. "They are desperately determined to achieve that and I don't want to get in their way. We want to give them as much flexibility as possible to achieve that."

Accommodation is also another sticking point, although cruise ships are likely to be used in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland during the business end of the tournament to help alleviate the problem of a shortage of beds. During the British and Irish Lions tour in 2005, many fans travelled the country in campervans and it is expected the same will happen at the World Cup as well.

"It will be a squeeze but we'll make it happen and I think everyone will get somewhere to stay," Miller said. "Obviously it's tougher than in somewhere like Paris where you've got tens of thousands of hotel rooms. But we're happy with what we've got and we think we'll just about have enough. I'm sure there will be innovative solutions and lots of people offering accommodation in different places."

Fourteen countries have so far qualified for the tournament, with the six remaining places to be confirmed over the next year. The top 12 ranked countries, including England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales from the 2007 tournament in France, automatically qualified while Canada and Samoa have also since qualified.

The first phase of ticket sales for the tournament will begin early next year.