No room at the RWC inn come 2011?

Monday 14 December 2009
Published By: Ben Welch
Rugby World Cup > New Zealand

It won't be long before we're able to start referring to the 2011 Rugby World Cup as 'next year's event', but fans planning to head to New Zealand better act fast if they want a roof over their head.

Concerns are being raised over whether or not supporters will be able to find enough accommodation, with the Sunday Star Times noting that an extra 6,000 beds are being made available in the form of cruise ships.

The liners are going to be moored at Wellington and Lyttelton until the quarter-finals, before setting sail for Auckland for the latter stages.

But even that isn't going to be enough and New Zealanders could end up opening up their homes to fans, with chief executive of the organising body Martin Sneddon encouraging them to do it for free.

The country is expecting to attract up to 66,000 visitors from overseas, based on Australia's experience six years ago.