Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand

Come and celebrate  the great success of Rugby World Cup with a short break in Whangarei Heads!

The 2011 Rugby World Cup has presented many  visitors to New Zealand with the Holiday of a lifetime! The tournament presented a great opportunity both of seeing international rugby at the highest level and experiencing the beauty of New Zealand between matches. Don't just take our word for it,click on this link to hear what former All Black Ian Jones has to say about Rugby, the World Cup and Northland: Whangarei RWC Come and stay in Whangarei Heads!

Two of the group stage (Pool A) games were played here in Whangarei, on Wednesday September 14th and Wednesday September 21st in front of sell-out crowds on both occasions

On Wednesday 14 September :   Tonga v Canada

On Wednesday 21 September:     Japan v  Tonga

As the tournament approached, enthusiasm grew: more and more. All three teams who played matches in Whangarei were linked in that  the colour red featured in both their first choice strip and their national flags. This has led to a 'Paint It Red' campaign in Northland. (The other two teams in Pool A are of course the ultimate finalists, New Zealand and France.) Northland truly adopted the campaign and Whangarei enjoyed the parties!

There were Kiwi connections with two of the teams. Japan's coach is former Alll Black John Kirwan who made 96 appearances for the All Blacks,including 63 test matches in which he scored 35 tries. Canada is coached by former All Black Kieran Crowley who has the one thing that Richie McCaw, Daniel Carter and the rest of the  current All Blacks side want most of all:a world cup winners medal! Kieran was of course a member of the 1987 World Cup Winning All Blacks side.

Whangarei Heads Tourism Group has enjoyed welcoming visitors from Tonga,

Japan and Canada, as well as supporters of the other participating countries who have been visiting New Zealand in September-October 2011.These included visitors from Wales, Scotland ,Ireland, France, Australia , South Africa and England.

For details and pictures of the development of the new Northland Regional Events Centre, the ground which will hosted those two World Cup group games and which is also home to The Taniwha, The Northland provincial rugby team, please click here