Shocker! NZ wins 2011 RWC bid

November 18, 2005

New Zealand, considered the longshot contender, won rights to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The bid was supposed to come down to tenders between South Africa and Japan, and most experts had rated the 20-1 Kiwis as having no chance.

South Africa was shockingly eliminated during the first round of ballots. Everybody expected New Zealand to not make this cut. It appears that the backers of South Africa's bid then threw their support behind New Zealand. Many fans and journalists backed Japan to host the Cup with visions of sugraplum fairies about growing the game globally. The idea was sound, but this was dodgy wishful thinking unsupported by actual evidence, to say nothing of the lack of preparation, as well as dubious government and corporate backing. The Kiwis, on the other hand, having been stung by losing rights to the 2003 RWC, brought out all their big guns, including Prime Minister, who assured the IRB that the government of New Zealand would underwrite the tournament.

In the end, New Zealand's attention to detail, their passion and the legacy of the sport in that nation prevailed.