PM drafted to Rugby World Cup squad

Helen Clark

Prime Minister Helen Clark - who admits she is no great rugby fan - is expected to lead New Zealand's bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup at an International Rugby Board meeting in Dublin.

New Zealand is up against South Africa and Japan.

The New Zealand Rugby Union hopes her clout will swing what is expected to be a very close vote.

To get to Dublin, she would have to briefly leave the 21-member Apec summit in Korea, which coincides with the IRB presentation meeting on November 17.

Her plan to join the delegation is expected to be announced at the weekend. The Prime Minister is already part of a video presentation to the IRB.

In July last year, after her motorcade was caught speeding in order to make a flight to a rugby test, Helen Clark said: "If you left it to my choice as Helen Clark public citizen, I would have been at home reading a book."

Former South African president Nelson Mandela is pushing his country's claims to host the World Cup and Japan's Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, is heavily involved in his country's bidding.

- NZPA