NZ plays down World Cup time zone fears

DUBLIN - New Zealand rugby chiefs have played down claims that not being in a European time zone may harm their bid to host the 2011 World Cup.

A leaked report from the Dublin-based International Rugby Board (IRB), obtained by Britain's Sunday Times newspaper, suggested South Africa, which hosted the event in 1995, were favourites ahead of New Zealand and Japan because they are in the same time zone as Europe.

"There are advantages to being in the European time zone and we have to acknowledge that," New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs told news agency Reuters in Dublin.

"But the disadvantages are not as significant as some people have suggested.

"The ratings for rugby World Cup 2003 in Australia -- our time zone -- were very successful. And for the Lions tour, held in New Zealand this year, the ratings into Europe were extremely strong and extremely good.

"So the breakfast time slot is becoming more and more acceptable."

The three countries will present their bids in Dublin on Friday (NZ time), with New Zealand stressing that if it were to host the tournament it could help to develop the game in other parts of the world, particularly the nearby Pacific islands.

Hobbs said the fact New Zealand lost out on its chance to co-host the 2003 World Cup with Australia did not come up in discussions with other IRB members as it touted the 2011 bid in the run-up to the final vote.

"That didn't feature although I think it does sit in the background," he said, adding he believed the outcome of the vote was too close to call.

"There's been a lot of speculation about who's where and who's doing what. I'm very happy with the progress we've made since we launched the bid."

New Zealand, which co-hosted the inaugural rugby World Cup with Australia in 1987, lost the right to do so again in 2003 after it failed to provide assurances that stadia would be clean of all advertising and sponsorship not connected to the World Cup.

In its current bid document, New Zealand repeatedly stresses its commitment to "clean" venues.

- REUTERS