In Pics: The RWC2011 Vote
Click here for photos from Thursday’s vote by IRB Council members on the hosting nation for the 2011 Rugby World Cup at Dublin’s Radisson Hotel.
Pictured above: New Zealand Rugby Union Chairman Jock Hobbs talks to the media at the Radisson Hotel after the announcement that confirmed New Zealand as the hosts of the 2011 World Cup.
Jock Hobbs surrounded by the local and foreign media. The 45-year-old is a former All Blacks flanker, who captained his country between 1984 and 1986. Christchurch-born Hobbs, who made his Test debut against the British & Irish Lions in ’83, was elected to the NZRU Board in September 2002 and elected Chairman. Following his playing career, he was coach/selector of the NZ University team from 1990 to 1995, and a member of the NZRFU Council, the forerunner to the NZRFU Board. He is the CEO of Strategic Investment Group, an investment banking group and currently lives in Wellington.
Delegates from the New Zealand Rugby Union react as the announcement is made at the Radisson Hotel.
The Japanese delegation shortly after IRB Chairman Dr. Syd Millar confirmed the host nation for the 2011 World Cup. The Japan bid was the runner-up to New Zealand. Japan Rugby Football Union Bid Committee President Yoshiro Mori said afterwards: “We would like to congratulate New Zealand for winning this race. It has been a great honour for us to be competing alongside such great and traditional rugby nations as New Zealand and South Africa.
“Of course, we are disappointed that the IRB did not vote for us on this occasion – and we do think it is a lost opportunity for rugby to become a global game. Many in the rugby world also thought Japan hosting the World Cup in 2011 would be the right way to develop the game.
“We’ like to thank all those who supported us, both in Japan and internationally, and everyone who has worked so hard on this. We’ll now go back to building rugby in Japan, Asia and worldwide – and working with others to take to rugby to a new audience. We will go home and carry on working just as hard as we have done on this bid.”
New Zealand Rugby Union Chairman Jock Hobbs congratulating CEO Chris Moller on a job well done after the announcement was made at the Radisson Hotel.
**All Photos by Morgan Treacy of Inpho Photography**