Rugby World Cup

Background on the '100% Pure New Zealand' giant rugby ball.

Spring is in the air, daylight saving is here, and New Zealand is buzzing with the biggest party that’s ever been held on these islands.

New Zealand’s diversity – in landscape, climate, and people – has turned this small South Pacific country into a major tourism destination far exceeding its global imprint.

Rising from cities, small towns and country paddocks filled with farmers’ stock, no part of New Zealand’s landscape is quite complete without a set of rugby goal posts.

Background information on the host centres for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Away from the television cameras, Masterchef judge Simon Gault is an entrepreneurial chef whose name is associated with a string of top New Zealand restaurants.

With only 100 days to go until kick-off, New Zealand has rolled out a giant welcome mat.

The vision of All Black coach Graham Henry relaxing on the beach or fishing at one of his favourite island haunts is hard to imagine - given the pressure of Rugby World Cup 2011.

Passionate rugby fans and hospitable Kiwi hosts all over New Zealand are throwing down the Rugby World Cup 2011 welcome mat – nowhere more so than in the 24 communities that will officially host rugby teams.

Quick, quirky facts and figures about Rugby World Cup 2011.