S14 shakedown a chance to show World Cup hosting potential

By JARED DENNIS jared.dennis@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
The announcement of a Hurricanes pre-season match for Wanganui appears to be a kick in the right direction in terms of hosting Rugby World Cup events.
At a Wanganui District Council sport and activity committee meeting yesterday, Wanganui Rugby Football Union (WRFU) chief executive Haig Elgar announced that a Hurricanes versus Chiefs game will be played at Cooks Gardens on January 18 next year as part of their build-up for the 2007 Super 14 season.
Elgar said this was a big coup for Wanganui, as the Hurricanes side will only be playing the one pre-season game in New Zealand.
"We had the Hurricanes people here a couple of weeks ago and Cooks Gardens facilities are 95 percent compliant for Super Rugby fixtures," he said.
This bodes well for a potential bid for Wanganui to have an involvement in the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC).
At the sport and activity meeting Elgar presented to the committee the WRFU's suggestions on how Wanganui can be involved in the international event, which is expected to bring 60,000 international visitors to New Zealand and add $500 million to the national economy.
Elgar said there were four opportunities for Wanganui that should be considered.
"We could look at hosting a team, which would mean accommodating them here for six weeks and would likely bring their associated supporters with them.
"There is the option to host a game. With Cooks Gardens 95 percent compliant with Super rugby conditions we will have the faculties here to be able to host a minor pool game.
"We could become an accommodation hub for international supporters, as there will definitely be games in Taranaki and Manawatu, and Wellington is pretty close too, so people could easily base themselves here like was the case for some supporters on last year's Lions tour.
"And the fourth option is to provide a joint bid with another neighbouring province."
The New Zealand Rugby Football Union have set up their own independent company to run RWC 2011 and this body will be responsible for assigning hosting rights to the provinces.
All provincial unions have been briefed on the outline plan and timeframe for the key activities associated with the event.
In terms of preparing a submission to host a team or a game, the unions have to wait to receive "registrations of interest" documentation which is expected in December.
Elgar said once these were received, submissions were to be made by early April 2007.
For that reason he has suggested setting up a committee, or maybe a working party as suggested by councillors, in order to make a complete bid on behalf of Wanganui.
This body would look to include members from the WRFU, the Wanganui District Council and Wanganui Inc.
"My understanding is that unless you have a joint bid with all parties involved you are going to get nothing," Elgar said.
"A telling fact why New Zealand were successful with their RWC bid was the support from Helen Clark.
"That's why our proposal needs to be led by the leaders within our community."
The suggestion received the full support of the committee and a working party is to be set up nearer to December.