IRB insistent on late kickoffs for World Cup

International Rugby Board chief executive Mike Miller has confirmed the controversial late kickoff times for feature matches at the 2011 World Cup were a non-negotiable in discussions with New Zealand organisers.

Miller, who gave the Kiwi event an unqualified endorsement at last Thursday's announcement of the match schedule, told Fairfax Media that the 9pm start times for the semifinals and final was one aspect of the tournament that the IRB was not prepared to budge on.

It's understood New Zealand's organising committee, RNZ 2011, which is headed by highly capable former national cricket boss Martin Snedden, had lobbied hard to have feature matches starting much earlier than 9pm.

In New Zealand most night matches kick off at 7.35pm, and the late start times are going to stretch resources such as transport and security as big crowds have to be dispersed deep into the evening.

But with the sway held by broadcasters who pay huge money to secure television rights and the desire to have key matches going into breakfast time slots in Europe, the World Cup will once again be a late-night affair.

Snedden confirmed that selected weekend pool matches, the late quarterfinals in Christchurch and the bronze medal match would all start no later than 8.30pm, while there was a 7.30pm ceiling on weekday pool matches.

The tradeoff for New Zealand was the venue numbers with Miller confirming that a quid-pro-quo situation had taken place, with the IRB's preference definitely for a smaller number.

"I think we've come to some pretty good compromises and it will be a great World Cup in 2011," said Miller.

"It's a bit of give and take from everyone. The more venues you add the greater the cost, the greater the complexity, the more risks involved, and the greater the travel for teams and supporters.

"But we understand the desire for everyone in the country to have the opportunity of actually going to a match if possible," added the IRB's CEO.

"For us the kickoff times were very important because we don't want just the committed rugby fan who will get up no matter what the time is. Rugby World Cup gives us the opportunity once every four years to show the game off to people who wouldn't necessarily consider rugby.

"So the later you go in the morning -- because these games are going to come in the morning in Europe - the more people available to view, therefore the more chance we have of spreading the game.

"And that's what we're all about. We want to grow the game of rugby."

But Miller was unequivocal that New Zealand was on course to deliver an outstanding World Cup, despite trenchant criticism from northern hemisphere scribes who decried the decision to award the global tournament to this country for the second time.

"Those people who were critical of the decision didn't look at the full facts," said Miller. "It was a fantastic bid by New Zealand. This is a rugby-mad country and you can't just look at dollars and cents all the time.

"This was a rugby decision, and I think it was right to come here. Yes, we won't earn as much money as we could have earned if we'd gone elsewhere. But that's not what it's all about.

"New Zealand will show itself off to great effect to the rest of the world and the rugby in this sort of atmosphere in a rugby mad country will spur the players on and it'll be a great festival of rugby as well."

Miller said it was hoped the IRB would be in a position to announce the host broadcaster within the next couple of weeks, with the governing body having to send out a firm message to Kiwi contenders about the requirement for them to present independent bids.

Asked if New Zealand had any "challenges" ahead of 2011, Miller nominated the requirement for a large number of volunteers as the only aspect he could think of.

"We really don't have any worries," added Miller. "It's a great organising committee, the country loves rugby, it's a great place to visit as well, so I think the people will have a great time when they come here."

- © Fairfax NZ News