Umaga to spearhead NZ World Cup bid

Tana Umaga

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) hopes the presence of Tana Umaga among three All Black captains will swing the 2011 World Cup vote its way on Friday (NZ time).

Umaga was today confirmed by NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs as the fifth member of the New Zealand delegation to travel to Dublin, Ireland, for its final bid before the vote is taken among the International Rugby Board delegates.

Umaga will join Hobbs, Prime Minister Helen Clark, All Blacks great Colin Meads and NZRU chief executive Chris Moller as New Zealand vies with Japan and South Africa for the 2011 hosting rights.

"We've emphasised all the way through that this has got to be a players' tournament so to have the three generations represented by Colin Meads, Jock Hobbs and Tana Umaga, all three All Blacks captains, is an emphasis we want to get very clearly across," Moller said today.

Hobbs and Moller delivered a final briefing to sum up their bid in Dublin today, saying they expected the vote to be "very close".

"Even if there is one vote that is uncommitted prior to entering that room then having the team that we've put in place may well be the final determinant," Moller said.

Umaga will speak on behalf of the current players to give their point of view about the benefits of having the tournament in New Zealand.

Hobbs said he was "delighted" that Umaga had agreed to take time out from the All Blacks' build up for the test against England at Twickenham on Sunday (NZ time).

The All Blacks have a day off training on Thursday, enabling Umaga to join the delegation.

- NZPA