Time to choose NZ, Japan or South Africa

DUBLIN, Ireland - International rugby officials have a choice between traditional strongholds and a new Asian frontier when they select the host country tomorrow morning (NZ time) for the 2011 World Cup, the Associated Press (AP) reported today.

New Zealand, South Africa and Japan are bidding to be hosts of what will be the seventh World Cup and they will hear their fates after 5am NZT tomorrow, following an International Rugby Board meeting in Dublin.

Japan has only 126,000 registered rugby players but has a large population (127 million), economy and ability to bring rugby to a new Asian audience.

"It will be a very symbolic moment. It is a choice between the present and the future," Japan Rugby Union chief executive Koji Tokumasu told AP.

"We are bidding with two great rugby nations. It will be good to have a World Cup in South Africa or New Zealand, but this is a time for rugby to be played outside the traditional unions."

England's 2003 World Cup-winning first five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson backs Japan. He said in his column in The Times newspaper today: "If rugby wants to expand beyond its few traditional power bases -- and that would surely be for the good for the game -- then Japan is exactly the sort of nation that could make the quantum leap."

New Zealand is not likely to keep bidding if unsuccessful this time.

"You never say never but the tournament is not getting any smaller and bidding for the Cup is a tremendous drain on resources," New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Chris Moller was reported by AP as saying. "We have put nearly $3.5 million into this, which is a lot of rugby balls. So we definitely won't be bidding for the Cup in 2015."

Francois Pienaar, captain of South Africa's 1995 world champion side who is leading his country's bid to host the tournament, said: "There are two main issues.

"Maximising revenue for the IRB...that's vitally important to fund the expansion of the game, and, secondly, you've also got to grow the game."

The so-called second-tier rugby countries and those below them in the IRB's world rankings might be forgiven some scepticism.

Tongan rugby, which is heavily in debt, is relying on a A$150,000 ($109,400) bank loan to make it through to December. The French Rugby Union helped Tonga with their air fares so they could take part in this season's tour of Italy and France.

England, on the other hand, can make more than one million pounds from a single match at Twickenham.

New Zealand claims a successful World Cup bid would be a huge boost for Pacific rugby.

But the All Blacks have not played a test in the islands for decades and the team's financial clout means it can attract some of the region's brightest and best, drawing them away from the likes of Fiji and Tonga for whom they also qualify.

The NZRU is not just looking at their closest neighbours. Their bid also stresses the export quality of New Zealand rugby as a means to expand the game.

But if globalisation is what the game is looking for then New Zealand's claim looks thin in comparison to that of Japan who would take the game out of its established regions for the first time.

"The Rugby World Cup so far up until 2003, and now 2007, has been hosted by the traditional unions," Japan Rugby Football Union Chief Executive Koji Tokumasu said. "I think this is the best chance to put rugby outside of traditional unions."

- HERALD ONLINE STAFF, REUTERS