Article by P Hesketh

The 13 venues for the 2011 Rugby World Cup being played in New Zealand from 9 September until the 23 October 2011 -

Auckland– Eden Park

Eden Park is New Zealand’s largest and most hallowed Rugby stadium. It is the place where the Rugby World Cup began. The inaugural Tournament kicked off on May 22, 1987 and where New Zealand became the first team to win the Webb Ellis Cup. Every year the stadium hosts almost half a million sports fans and patrons who attend matches and events. Eden Park has been a sports ground since 1900, the stadium’s proud history boasts some of New Zealand’s greatest sporting moments, including the 1950 Empire Games, the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 and the 1992 Cricket World Cup. It has also played host to many of Rugby’s most famous test matches. The stadium is redeveloped to a permanent 50,000 seat capacity to give spectators a world-class experience beyond World Cup 2011. Capacity: 60,000

Auckland – North Harbour Stadium

North Harbour Stadium is a modern multi-purpose stadium which opened in March 1997. It has proven its versatility by hosting matches as part of the FIFA under 17 women’s World Cup, rugby union and rugby league internationals, and major international concert acts. The stadium’s designed with rugby codes in mind to ensure fans enjoy the best possible view of the action. It is also home of North Harbour Rugby. The North Harbour stadium sits within 24-hectares of grounds with five fields adjacent to the main stadium; it will have a seating capacity of 30,000 for Rugby World Cup 2011. Capacity: 30,000

Whangarei – Okara Park

Okara Park is a brand new multi-function events centre in Whangarei. Following upgrades completed in 2011, it boasts a larger capacity as well as a conference and function centre and changing rooms, food and retail facilities. Okara Park is the traditional home of Rugby for Northland. In 1979, the stadium held an infamous match attended by a record-breaking crowd of 40,000 as local side North Auckland defended the prized Ranfurly Shield against rivals Auckland. The stadium has held several international games such as the 1998 test between the New Zealand M?ori and Tonga and has seen Northland take on a number of touring international sides such as the British and Irish Lions, and Tonga, Samoa and Fiji in the mid 1990′s. Capacity: 18,000

Hamilton – Waikato Stadium

Built in 1925 the Waikato Stadium ground hosted its last international match in 1987, the match between Fiji and Argentina in the inaugural Rugby World Cup. By 1996 Rugby Park was showing its age and had not hosted an international Rugby match for nine years. After the formation of a trust the new Waikato Stadium was commissioned. Waikato Stadium has hosted an international rugby fixture every year since its opening in 2002, cementing its reputation as a world-class stadium, regularly rated by the New Zealand Rugby Union as test venue of the year. Capacity: 30,000

Rotorua – Rotorua International Stadium

Rotorua International Stadium is used mainly for Rugby matches, being one of two home stadiums for the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union (the other being Baypark Stadium in Tauranga) but it has also hosted football matches and has a softball field at the northern end. The stadium was originally built-in 1911, and renovated several times since. The Rotorua International Stadium features a covered stand seating up to 4,000 with uncovered seating area on the western side of the field. During its history the ground has featured many test matches and even some British and Irish Lions matches. Capacity: 26,000

New Plymouth- Yarrow Stadium

Yarrow Stadium is the Taranaki region’s home of rugby, and has a proud history of hosting major matches. The venue was first developed as a rugby ground in 1931, with the first stadium completed in 1947. A major redevelopment saw two new grandstands added and considerable modernisation in 2002; further enhancements to the venue occurred back in 2010, raising the capacity to more than 25,500. The stadium has hosted all levels of Rugby from All Black games down to club and school matches, and will continue to shape the face of rugby in the region for years to come. Capacity: 26,000

Palmerton North – Arena Manawatu

Situated right in the heart of Palmerston North city, just seven-minutes walking distance from the central city, the park like environment boasts 33 individual indoor and outdoor venues within the 18 hectare site. Overlooking the stadium’s Oval, the redeveloped Grandstand finished in March 2005. The Stadium was home to the first ever Super 12 rugby match in 1996 between the Wellington Hurricanes and the Auckland Blues. Capacity: 15,000

Nelson– Trafalgar Park

Throughout the years Trafalgar Park has undergone many upgrades to allow the facility to showcase more sport, recreational activities and to seat more people. In recent years Trafalgar Park has successfully put on music concerts and other entertainment as a multipurpose venue. One of the most attractive aspects of Trafalgar Park is its proximity to Nelson’s city centre. Upgrades carried out to Trafalgar Park in 2009 and 2010 provide an ongoing opportunity for many large events – including Rugby World Cup 2011. Capacity: 18,000

Dunedin – Forsyth Barr Stadium

The Forsyth Barr Stadium is the most recent sporting construction anywhere in New Zealand, completed early 2011 just in time for the World Cup. Originally “The Brook” was Dunedin’s World Cup venue only to be used if construction of the Forsyth Barr Stadium wasn’t finished in time. The ground’s expanded capacity is 30,514, and will be New Zealand’s and the world’s first fully enclosed grassed stadium. The stadium’s design is as a versatile venue, expected to host a range of events including sports, concerts, trade fairs and other large-scale events. The use of removable seating allows for flexibility to suit a range of event requirements. Dunedin is a hot bed for rugby in New Zealand; the Forsyth Barr Stadium is an excellent venue to showcase the World Cup, hopefully providing an electric atmosphere. Capacity: 30,000

Napier – McLean Park

McLean Park is now home to major representative and international rugby, played in the Hawke’s Bay area of Napier; McLean has also hosted fixtures for the FIFA World Under 17 Women’s World Cup. The last four years have seen an upgrade to the stadium match lighting and one entire grandstand was removed, replaced by a stunning new stand, complete with a corporate entertainment complex in its place. Players wearing the rugby shirts of Super 14 side Hurricanes often play here, one of the current tenants of the ground. Capacity: 15,000

Invercargill – Rugby Park Stadium

Rugby Park Stadium has an established history and is a focal point for rugby in Southland. Established in the early 1900s, Rugby Park is the home base of the Southland Provincial rugby team that competes in New Zealand’s premier domestic competition. The Rugby Park Stadium redevelopment started in 2001, the dilapidated south stand, built in 1923 was replaced with brand new facilities. The refurbished stand boasts seating for 5,000, modern changing, player, official and media facilities, hospitality lounges and offices. Capacity: 17,000

Wellington – Westpac Stadium

Westpac Stadium is a multi-purpose ground for major sporting events, including New Zealand rugby tests and international football and cricket matches. The Westpac is built in Wellington’s rail yards close to the city centre and opened in January 2000, nine years after Wellington Rugby first decided to redevelop the ageing Athletic Park. Providing players in a New Zealand rugby shirt win their group the Wellington home ground can only expect to see the All Blacks play here just the once in their last pool game against Canada. Capacity: 40,000

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