KEY POINTS:
A decision by the International Rugby Board (IRB) to retain a 20-team format for the 2011 Rugby World Cup is being welcomed by host New Zealand.
The IRB had proposed culling four of the weaker teams from the next event to make it more competitive but had second thoughts after minor teams performed well at this year's tournament.
The decision to stick with the status quo was made at a special meeting following a recommendation from the Rugby World Cup Ltd Board.
RNZ 2011 Ltd chairman Martin Snedden welcomed the decision, which provided certainty for planning of the next tournament.
"We are delighted with this outcome, which will allow more teams and their fans to experience a Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, and will also give us the opportunity to take the tournament further around the country than would have been possible if the tournament had been reduced," he said.
He had earlier expressed a preference for 16 teams but also said organisers would live with whatever the IRB decided.
"The developing nations at Rugby World Cup 2007 have produced significantly enhanced performances since RWC 2003," said IRB chairman Dr Syd Millar.
"This is a direct result of the global STG30 ($NZ81) million IRB strategic investment programme that was established in 2005."
He said the successful New Zealand tender bid for 2011 was based on 20 teams. At the Council meeting the motion maintaining the number of teams at 20 was proposed by New Zealand council member Graham Mourie.
"The IRB is very confident that the tournament will be a huge success," Mr Millar said.
The IRB had originally planned to make their decision about the number of teams during this year's World Cup but postponed it until November after better-than-expected performances from some of the smaller nations.
- NZPA
