New Zealand

Rugby World Cup chief Martin Snedden has rubbished claims that this year’s tournament in New Zealand could be heading for a significant financial shortfall.

This year’s Rugby World Cup could leave host country New Zealand with a financial shortfall of NZ$500 million (US$400 million), according to a new report.

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) has revealed a loss of NZ$9.4 million (US$7.5 million) for the 2010 financial year.

Research In Motion, the manufacturer of BlackBerry, has signed up as an official sponsor of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Rugby World Cup matches will be aired in 3D for the first time later this year after Auckland-based 3DLive was installed as the official 3D broadcaster of the tournament in New Zealand.

Martin Snedden, the head of Rugby New Zealand 2011, revealed on Tuesday that he expects this year’s Rugby World Cup to attract nearly 100,000 visitors from abroad.

A decision on the number of teams to compete at the next Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is set to be determined by the International Cricket Council following a meeting of its executive board in Mumbai on Monday.

Rugby World Cup organisers on Wednesday announced a revised match schedule for this year’s tournament following the decision to reallocate all matches from Christchurch following the devastating February 22 earthquake.

Microsoft New Zealand has been unveiled as an official sponsor of the Rugby World Cup later this year.

Seven Rugby World Cup matches scheduled for Christchurch will have to be relocated to other venues in New Zealand after February’s devastating earthquake, organisers of the tournament confirmed on Wednesday.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has suggested that Auckland and Dunedin could host more Rugby World Cup matches if earthquake-hit Christchurch is unable to stage games.

Christchurch’s hopes of hosting Rugby World Cup matches later this year have faded after the New Zealand government revealed that the city’s AMI Stadium has suffered significant damage.

The New Zealand government has admitted that Christchurch may not be able to host Rugby World Cup matches following last week's devastating earthquake.

Rugby New Zealand 2011 CEO Martin Snedden has quashed suggestions that some games from this year’s World Cup may be switched to Australia, but has admitted it is “too early” to discover the impact of this week’s horrific South Pacific earthquake on the tournament.

The owner of Spanish La Liga club Racing Santander is ready to come to the financial rescue of New Zealand-based Wellington Phoenix of the A-League.

Martin Snedden, the man responsible for delivering the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, has revealed that fans have already snapped up nearly two-thirds of the organisers’ target for ticket sales.