NZRU chases government backing in World Cup bid

The New Zealand Rugby Union will seek financial support from the Government to keep its 2011 World Cup bid afloat.

NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs told the Dominion Post newspaper the union would approach the Labour Government for financial help early next year.

Hobbs said government funding had taken on more importance after World Cup hosting criteria were unveiled by the International Rugby Board at its annual meeting in Dublin last month.

The criteria includes a minimum guaranteed amount, in pounds, that must be returned to Rugby World Cup Ltd by the hosts, and Hobbs admitted that was a "big hurdle".

"My feeling is, having seen the criteria, that Government support is very important if we are to take our bid any further, or pull the pin," he said.

"We've got to look at that and see if it's realistic... that will happen pretty early in the New Year, considering the time frames."

Hobbs did not reveal the size of the IRB's fee, but said the size of New Zealand's stadia restricted the NZRU's ability to meet it.

"The sole income as a host is your ticket sales. You have to take into account how many tickets you can sell and at what price.

"We have stadiums of a certain size... but I would think at the current capacity it would be a stretch."

But the NZRU was not interested in owning or investing in a national stadium, he said.

Instead, a working party was investigating all aspects of the bid, including the possibility of co-hosting the tournament with Japan.

Hobbs and NZRU chief executive Chris Moller travelled to Japan twice this year to discuss the joint bid after an initial meeting in Christchurch.

But Hobbs stressed the proposal was in "very preliminary stages".

There were obvious obstacles, including the distance between the two countries and Japan's lack of rugby pedigree.

"We had a couple of meetings in Japan and out of that, while the door is not totally shut at this early stage, both countries are committed to focusing on their own respective bids."

Though Australia could not be ruled out as a co-host, that proposal would probably meet with considerable political resistance after they hosted the last World Cup, he said.

The next World Cup is in France, but New Zealand, Japan, and South Africa have publicly expressed their interest in hosting the 2011 tournament.

Hobbs said the IRB's tough criteria were not unexpected.

"It's a big fee, but it's the sole source of income for the IRB... it's where they make their money.

"It's not a surprise, but it's a big hurdle. At least we know what it is. Before it was a bit like boxing around in the dark, now the lights are on."

- NZPA