subject: Rugby World Cup 2011 Tickets | RWC 2011 Tickets | Rugby World Cup New Zealand [print this page] The Rugby World Cup is the premier international rugby union competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board (IRB), and is contested by the men's national teams. The inaugural tournament was held in 1987, hosted by both Australia and New Zealand, and is now contested every four years. The tournament is one of the largest international sporting competitions in the world.
The event is scheduled to be played over seven weekends from the weekend starting 10 September and culminating the weekend starting 22 October 2011.The weekend of the final was chosen so it falls on a long weekend caused by the New Zealand public holiday of Labour Day (Monday, 24 October 2011).The final is scheduled to be played in Auckland at Eden Park.
The winners are awarded the William Webb Ellis Cup. William Webb Ellis was the Rugby School pupil who according to popular myth invented the game after picking up the ball during a game of football. South Africa are the current World Champions, having won the 2007 Rugby World Cup final in France on 20 October 2007 with victory over England, the 2003 World Champions and current runners-up. The next Rugby World Cup will take place in 2011 in New Zealand. The hosts for 2015 and 2019 have been announced as England and Japan respectively
he 2007 competition was hosted by France, with matches also being held in Wales and Scotland. South Africa claimed their second title by defeating defending champions England fifteen points to six. The 2011 tournament was awarded to New Zealand in November 2005, ahead of bids from Japan and South Africa..
Rugby World Cup Limited has recommended to the IRB that the 2015 and 2019 World Cups be held in England and Japan, respectively.
