A sign promoting the Rugby World Cup stands in front of the Christchurch Cathedral © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Martin Snedden

Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup

Teams: New Zealand

Rugby World Cup boss Martin Snedden has ruled out the prospect of relocating the tournament to Australia in the wake of the deadly Christchurch earthquake, confirming the tournament will proceed this year in New Zealand.

Tuesday's 6.3-magnitude earthquake killed at least 75 people and caused serious damage to the city's infrastructure putting in jeopardy its prospects of hosting seven matches in the tournament.

Tournament organisers will wait to assess the city's ability to host matches but if it is not able, the matches will be played elsewhere on New Zealand soil, Snedden said.

"There has been speculation that this tragedy puts the entire event in jeopardy or that matches will relocate to Australia. That is not the case. Rest assured, RWC 2011 will proceed and all matches will take place in New Zealand," he said.

"It is too early to talk in any detail about implications for the tournament in Christchurch and any assessment by us must wait while the rescue efforts take priority. The next step will involve our organisation leading a thorough process of assessing the city's ability to host the seven RWC 2011 matches scheduled to take place there.

"This will involve an assessment of all the key RWC 2011 infrastructure of the city including the stadium, hotels, training facilities and the transport network. A detailed evaluation of this nature will take place as soon as is reasonably possible. We are mindful of the pressure the people of Christchurch are under right now and do not want to place any more demands on them."

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said on Wednesday he felt it was important Christchurch remained a venue for this year's Rugby World Cup, to be held in September and October. By that time the city will be looking to bounce back from the country's worst natural disaster and the tournament could play a role in that cause, he said.