Rugby World Cup squad selection

Wales World Cup squad:

Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Lloyd Burns (Dragons), Huw Bennett, Ryan Bevington, Adam Jones, Paul James (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets, Craig Mitchell (Exeter), Bradley Davies, Sam Warburton (Blues), Luke Charteris, Danny Lydiate, Toby Faletau (Dragons), Ryan Jones, Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Andy Powell (Sale Sharks).

Backs: Michael Phillips (Bayonne), Lloyd Williams (Blues), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Blues), James Hook (Perpignan), Jonathan Davies, Stephen Jones, Rhys Priestland, Scott Williams (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), Lee Byrne (Clermont Auvergne), Aled Brew (Dragons), Shane Williams (Ospreys), George North (Scarlets).

Gatland explains French selection

 

WALES coach Warren Gatland explain his decision to leave Martyn Williams out of his World Cup squad. Veteran flanker Williams now looks set to be stranded on 99 caps after Gatland named the 30 players who will travel to New Zealand. Williams and Josh Turnbull were both left out after the selectors chose to go for a 16-14 split between forwards and backs. That means the Welsh squad will have no specialist openside cover for Sam Warburton, who was named captain of the squad. Andy Powell was the surprise inclusion in the forwards, while the decision to take an extra back means Dragons winger Aled Brew also gets the nod. Meanwhile, Gavin Henson’s hopes of making the stand-by list are over after Gatland revealed he will now be out for 12 weeks.

Gatland also admitted selecting prop Gethin Jenkins was a risk as he continues to struggle with a calf problem. The Lions star is almost certain to miss the tournament opener against South Africa but he should be fit for the second match against Samoa. Richard Hibbard, who was not named in the squad, is out for three weeks but could be called up as a replacement.

Rugby World Cup-2011in New Zealand.

Rugby World Cup is the premier international rugby union competition. This comptition is arranged and organised by the sport's governing body of the International Rugby Board (IRB). It is contested between the most of the country of the world national teams. The inaugural tournament was held in 1987 and hosted by both Australia & New Zealand. Rugby is contested every four years. The tournament is one of the largest international sporting competitions in the world.

The event is expected to cost about NZ$310 million to run and to generate NZ$280 million in ticket sales. In Auckland, the city where many of the most important games will take place, the costs to the local ratepayers alone has been estimated at $102 million.

The world’s biggest-selling soprano and one of New Zealand most recognisable stars songs the anthems

Hundreds of New Zealanders will give voice to the anthems for the 20 teams taking part in Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011), with the announcement of the Tournament’s anthem programme. Tournament Organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011 (RNZ 2011) confirmed that New Zealand performers Hayley Westenra and Will Martin will sing the anthems at the Final on October 23, and four other soloists will be confirmed to perform the anthems at the two semi-finals on October 15 and 16. New Zealand vocalists will also be to the fore during all 48 matches with choirs performing the anthems at all 40 pool matches and at the eight play-off matches, supporting the soloists in the final three matches.

Staged every four years, Rugby World Cup is the biggest event on the Rugby calendar and has grown to be the third largest sporting event in the world. Rugby World Cup 2011 will be a six-week festival of Rugby featuring the top players from all parts of the globe. The Tournament's 48 matches will be playing in 13 venues spread over the North and South Islands of New Zealand, showing off the country to the full. Off the field, visitors will discover a country that boasts scenery that is as spectacular as it is diverse.


Rugby World Cup~ 2011 Ticket Outlets:
From July tickets will be available to purchase across the counter from selected Ticketek agencies around New Zealand. For a list of RWC 2011 Ticket Outlets see below:

CITY           ADDRESS                                                           HOURS
Whangarei    Forum North, Rust Avenue                                    8am-4.30pm     Mon-Fri
Auckland     Sky City Theatre, Ticketek Counter,
                  Cnr Wellesley & Hobson Street                               10am-5pm        Mon-Sat
Auckland    Hawkins Theatre, 13 Ray Small Drive, Papakura       9am-5pm         Mon-Fri
Auckland    New World Victoria Park,
                  College Hill, Freemans Bay                                      9am-5pm         Mon-Sun
Auckland    Sylvia Park Shopping Centre, 286 Mt Wellington
                  Highway, Mt Wellington                                          9am-6pm         Mon-Sun
Auckland    Highpoint Temptation Lotto, Shop 14,
                 Highbury Shopping Centre, Birkenhead                      9am-5pm         Mon-Sat
Auckland    LynnMall Shopping Centre, 3058 Great North
                 Road, New Lynn, Waitakere                                     9am-5.30pm      Mon-Sat
Hamilton    Founders Theatre, 221 Tristram Street                       9am-5pm          Mon-Fri
Hamilton    New World Te Rapa, 751 Te Rapa Road, Te Rapa     9am-5pm          Mon-Sun
Hamilton    i-SITE, 5 Garden Place                                             9am-5pm          Mon-Sat
Hamilton    Well Academy Gate, 2B Knighton Road,
                  University of Waikato                                               9am-5pm          Mon-Fri
Tauranga    Baycourt Centennial Theatre, Durham Street               9am-5pm          Mon-Fri
Rotorua        Convention Centre, 1170 Fenton Street                     9am-5.30pm      Mon-Fri
New Plymouth     TSB Showplace, 92-100 Devon Street West      9am-5pm           Mon-Fri,
                                                                                                 10am-1pm        Sat
Napier        Municipal Theatre, 119 Tennyson Street                     9am-5pm          Mon-Fri
                                                                                                 9am-12.30pm   Sat
Hastings    Hawkes Bay Opera House, 101 Hastings Street South   9am-5pm           Mon-Fri
Taupo        Great Lake Centre, Story Place                                   9am-5pm          Mon-Fri
Palmerston North~Convention Centre, 354 Main Street West         8am-5pm          Mon-Fri
Palmerston North~Regent Theatre, 63 Broadway Ave                   9am-5.30pm      Mon-Fri
Masterton    Vinyl Heaven, 5 Jackson Street                                  9am-5pm          Mon-Fri,
                                                                                                 10am-2pm          Sat
Waikanae    New World, 5 Parata Street                                        9am-5pm          Mon-Sun
Wellington    Harvey World Travel, IOOF Building
                   Level 1/16 Hartham Place North, Porirua                    9am-5pm          Mon-Fri
Wellington    Michael Fowler Centre, Ticketek Box Office,
                    111 Wakefield Street                                                9am-5pm          Mon-Fri,
                                                                                                  10am-4pm         Sat-Sun
Wellington    Metro New World, Wellington Railway Station           7am – 8pm        Mon-Sun
Wellington    TSB Arena, Jervois Quay                                          9am-5pm          Mon-Fri
Wellington    St James Theatre, Ticketek Counter, Courtney Place   9am-5.30pm     Mon-Fri,
                                                                                                  10am-2pm         Sat
Nelson        Everyman Records, 249 Hardy Street                          9am-5pm          Mon-Fri,
                                                                                                  9.30am-3.30pm  Sat
Christchurch    Northlands Shopping Centre,
                      55 Main Nth Road, Papanui                                   9am-6pm           Mon-Sat
Timaru             Merlins Booking Agency,
                       25-30 Canon St                                                    11am-5pm         Mon-Fri
Dunedin        Regent Theatre, 17 The Octagon                              9am-5.30pm      Mon-Fri
Invercargill    Rugby Park, 278 Tweed Street                                 8.30am-5pm      Mon-Fri



Official Travel and Hospitality Packages:Tickets packages are still available through the Official Travel and Hospitality Program.
Accommodation:
New Zealand has a wide range of accommodation on offer for all budgets.
Fly Emirates:
Fly Emirates to more than 100 destinations worldwide - Emirates, a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2011.