John Roughan: Teams hosted in heartland could reinvigorate rugby

John Roughan

They are calling the Rugby World Cup the world's third-largest sporting event. When Auckland's mayor put his mouth around that phrase at the itinerary announcement on Thursday he called it, "the third world's largest event".

I don't know how they measure these things but John Banks' version had a grain of truth. The thing that excites me about a World Cup in New Zealand is how it could be done for rugby's Third World.

It ranges from the likes of Kenya and Namibia to former Soviet bloc countries, Romania, Georgia and Russia itself, and extends to places as rich and powerful as Spain, Portugal, Canada, the United States and Japan.

Rugby enthusiasts in those countries live on lean pickings. Their sport attracts about as much interest at home as, at best, hockey here. They survive on hard, stubbly fields, make-shift stands, washed-out gear and the cheerful camaraderie of ignored sports everywhere.

Every four years a few of them can qualify for the World Cup. They have no hope of making it past the pools but that is enough. For a month they can play in the big time and maybe even give one of the top teams a fright. That is the nirvana they know but it is nothing to what they could experience in New Zealand if we do it right.

Doing it right means sending each contingent to a part of the country that wants to get to know the players and travelling supporters, take them into local rugby clubs and schools, help them prepare for the tournament, adopt the team, go to its games, follow its progress, keep in touch.

This is the one country in the world that lives rugby like no other. A few weeks in its heartland would be an experience they would relish forever. It would also - and this is the organisers' priority - engage the whole country in the event.

Chief organiser Martin Snedden talks about a "stadium of four million". Chief owner of the event, Mike Miller of the International Rugby Board, is more interested in what he calls, "a stadium of four billion television viewers".

The tension was clear on Thursday. Their negotiated schedule of matches and venues is an obvious compromise. The allocation of team-hosting centres is still a few months away but the venues give a hint of where hosting possibilities might be.

For the bulk of the tournament the 20 teams will play in four pools. Sneddon's organisation envisaged three pools being played in separate regions. Only the All Blacks' pool would play throughout the country. That has gone by the board. All pools have been spread nationwide.

Still, the Springboks have been drawn to play twice at North Harbour Stadium where they will be at "home" among expatriates. Wales is playing twice in Hamilton where their coach Warren Gatland will ensure them a welcome.

Tonga, surprisingly chosen to play the All Blacks in the opener, play two of their other games in Whangarei where they could be based.

The South Island is going to get a good look at the pool comprising England, Scotland, Argentina and two yet to qualify.

Christchurch has scored the big prize of hosting England for two games. Prized because England's camp followers will probably be the biggest, happiest, most free-spending bunch in the country for the duration. Wellington was hoping to get them as late as Thursday morning.

Scotland will be at home in the deep south, playing in Invercargill and Dunedin before coming to Christchurch to face Argentina and Auckland to meet England.

Italy will find a pleasant home in Nelson for two games. And the African qualifier - last time it was Namibia - will play two pool games in Rotorua.

The top American qualifier, the United States or Canada, seems destined for Napier, the second for New Plymouth. One of the two European qualifiers - probably out of Russia, Romania and Georgia - will play twice in Palmerston North.

The second qualifier from that group will play in four different venues, which is a pity if it turns out to be Georgia, a team that would richly engage a host town.

The minnow of the event, the winner of a play-off among non-qualifiers, is going to be entrusted to Southland's hospitality. Ireland, France, with no obvious hometown yet, could score Tauranga and Queenstown. Both bid for matches and missed out but still want to host a team.

The IRB has agreed to 13 venues, less than New Zealand wanted but more than for any previous World Cup.

If we can do this our way it will be warm and memorable for visitors, re-invigorating for rugby in the provinces, transmit the heart of the country on television and leave us with a national experience we might treasure for life.