Press Releases

It’s only four days until the seventh Rugby World Cup kicks-off in Auckland on Friday (09.09.2011), and rugby fever is kicking in all over New Zealand.

Night skies above New Zealand’s biggest city will glow with the colours of the world, as Sky City’s Sky Tower lights up to welcome 20 teams for the Rugby World Cup.

Ticket sales for Rugby World Cup 2011 have already exceeded expectations and with still nine months to go until kick off, New Zealand can count on an influx of at least 85,000 international visitors.

Emirates has been named the official airline for the next Rugby World Cup to be held in New Zealand in 2011.

Tourism New Zealand’s Giant Rugby Ball is scoring major attention at Sydney Harbour, where it has provided the backdrop for the All Blacks and Wallabies’ pre-match photos prior to Saturday’s Tri-Nations final.

Rugby World Cup 2011 will be a chance to experience and relive New Zealand’s rich rugby heritage with a series of REAL New Zealand Festival nostalgic exhibitions and events surrounding the tournament.

New Zealanders are renowned for their ingenuity but one Kiwi has capped off the ‘No. 8 wire’ mentality with a giant sculpture that’s likely to break a Guinness World Record.

A team of All Blacks rugby legends will play a feature match against some famous old French rivals in Queenstown this September in a clash of the “classics” to celebrate New Zealand’s rugby heritage.

While the big name Rugby World Cup teams are beginning to arrive in New Zealand – Fiji yesterday, England, Japan and France tomorrow (31.08.2011) – there’s another team flying in under the radar that’s also destined to turn heads.

Winning or losing aside ... off the field and away from the pressures, New Zealand’s great outdoors has provided some amazing experiences for Rugby World Cup players between matches.