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Organisational structure

As a major international event, Rugby World Cup 2011 requires a structured organisation covering the international and host country needs.

The Tournament

The International Rugby Board (IRB) promotes the Rugby World Cup as the third largest global sporting event behind the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, based on the global television audience – RWC 2011 is estimated to have a four billion cumulative broadcast reach.

As a major international event, Rugby World Cup 2011 requires a structured organisation and approach covering the international and host country needs and deliverables. Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL), under the control and direction of the IRB, is the owner of all rights associated with the Tournament.

A Host Union Agreement was entered into with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) to stage the 2011 Tournament. Rugby New Zealand 2011 Limited (RNZ 2011) was established in June 2006 and is the organisation responsible for the planning and operational delivery of Rugby World Cup 2011on behalf of its shareholders, the NZRU and the New Zealand Government, by way of a Delivery Services Contract.

The four key strategic goals for Rugby New Zealand 2011 are:

  1. a platform for superb Rugby – Rugby is at the heart and core of the event, with the main priority to provide the best possible organisational base for the players and the Tournament;
  2. a Rugby World Cup festival – leveraging off the huge interest in the Rugby event to inspire a nationwide festival and celebration;
  3. a stadium of four million – delivering the event in a way which engages, embraces and unites all New Zealanders;
  4. uniquely New Zealand – leaving the country’s unique thumbprint on the event.

The four key strategic goals for Rugby World Cup 2011 are:

  1. delivering an operationally excellent Tournament;
  2. achieving capacity crowds and achieving the budgeted financial result or better;
  3. inspiring a nationwide Rugby Cup festival;
  4. creating enduring benefits.

RNZ 2011 has Venue Hire Agreements and Host Region Agreements, with match venues and local authorities respectively throughout New Zealand, to deliver the tournament and festival by way of Regional Co-ordination Groups (22 nationwide).
Visit Official Rugby World Cup website: www.rugbyworldcup.com

The Regional Co-ordination Group for Northland (Northland 2011 Limited) was established mid-2007 and has representation on its governance board and working committee from the Northland Regional Council, Northland’s three District Councils, the Northland Rugby Union, Enterprise Northland, Destination Northland, Sport Northland, Northland Chamber of Commerce, Waitangi Treaty Grounds,  Arts Promotion Trust, and Tiaho Trust. 
Find out more about Northland 2011

The six week 48 match Tournament is to begin on Friday 9 September 2011, hosted throughout the length and breadth of the country with the theme of ‘a stadium of four million’.  Matches are to be held at 13 venues in 11 regions.

Commercial Rights, Licensing and Tendering

IMG has exclusively managed Rugby World Cup Limited’s commercial rights programme since 1995 and continues to manage all RWC 2011 commercial rights. This includes sponsorship, media rights, licensing, merchandising and travel and hospitality.
Visit the IMG website: www.imgworld.com

Licensing in Motion (New Zealand) Limited (LIMNZ) has been awarded the master licensing rights to Rugby World Cup 2011 for all territories of the world excluding Europe and South Africa. Canterbury has been appointed as the exclusive Official Apparel Supplier of the Tournament. From time to time LIMNZ will be going to market seeking official sub-licensees to design and produce as appropriate various licensed products - this will be predominantly using the dedicated website, Tenderlink.

To make opportunities easy to access, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZT&E) in partnership with the Economic Development Agencies of New Zealand (EDANZ) have launched a dedicated website Tenderlink to profile and transact Rugby World Cup 2011 related tenders and expressions of interest. Procurement opportunities will be ongoing until the event but many tenders will be announced during 2010.  By registering your business, your are immediately notified of relevant tenders as they are listed. Notification of any tenders will relate to the industries chosen and not only opportunities available regionally, but more importantly in Auckland and throughout the rest of New Zealand.
Find out more about tender opportunities and how to register

Official Travel and Hospitality & Ticketing

Rugby Travel Hospitality New Zealand Limited (RTH) is a joint venture company owned by Sodexo and the Mike Burton Group and RWCL has appointed RTH to create, manage and implement the Official Travel and Hospitality programmes for Rugby World Cup 2011. Hospitality is the Cup’s second largest revenue generator. It is estimated that 80,000 hospitality packages will be sold, 70% of these to be to the Australian and New Zealand domestic markets. In addition, some 120,000 travel packages are expected to sell via a network of officially appointed agents. It should be noted that RTH has the exclusive rights for any hospitality held on match days, with their approval required to include the use of any Tournament wording in advertisements for such events. Events held on non-match days will not be restricted.

RTH has appointed a global network of Official Travel Agents who are responsible for creating, marketing and selling a wide variety of travel packages to meet the varying needs of Rugby fans from around the world wishing to visit New Zealand for the Tournament.
Find Official Travel Agents: www.rth2011.com/Official_Travel_Agents

Following on from the highly innovative, award winning hospitality provided at Rugby World Cup 2007 in France, RTH has developed a range of ticket-inclusive hospitality packages for Rugby World Cup 2011 to ensure that Rugby supporters from around the world are offered a great choice in terms of both content and price, together with a most truly memorable experience. The Tournament’s 48 matches will be played in 13 venues spread over the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Hospitality will be available for every single match, and following on from the high demand and success of France, RTH has designed a range of ‘match series’ packages for added convenience. All hospitality packages will be sold through two appointed Official Corporate Hospitality Agents. A New Zealand based consortium - of Auckland Rugby, Eden Park and the Experience Group – called Hospitality NZ 2011 is one of these two appointed Agents.
Visit Hospitality NZ 2011 website: www.hospitalitynz2011.co.nz

Match tickets for Rugby World Cup 2011 will go on sale to the public in three sales phases starting in April 2010.
Find out more about match tickets: www.rugbyworldcup.com/tickets

Government and Legacy

The New Zealand Government joined forces with the NZRU via the Shareholder Agreement to demonstrate their full support for Rugby World Cup 2011. There are consequently a number of Government agencies working to support the Tournament:

  • New Zealand 2011 Office - specialist team working on the Government’s legacy programme coordinating its investment in a national festival programme; a volunteer, hosting and ambassador programme; and a business hosting programme.
    Visit the New Zealand 2011 Office website: www.nz2011.govt.nz
     
  • Rugby World Cup Coordination Office - within the Ministry of Economic Development coordinating the delivery of core Government services during the Tournament to ensure New Zealand is ready on all fronts, from border control and security to transport and infrastructure needs.
    Visit the Ministry of Economic Development website: www.med.govt.nz

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