WELLINGTON (Reuters) – Almost two dozen New Zealand cities and towns will be given the chance to host teams competing at the 2011 Rugby World Cup as part of a move to involve the whole country in the tournament.

Rather than basing the teams in the major cities where matches will be staged, organisers are planning to house visiting sides and supporters in nearby smaller communities, using 16 different venues on the north island and seven in the south.

“We have said all along that we wanted as many communities as reasonably possible to get a first hand taste of this exciting tournament,” chief executive Martin Snedden said in a statement on Friday.

“Teams will use a total of 47 training grounds across the country for the duration of RWC 2011.

“This mixture of rugby club, school and public training facilities will help many communities get even closer to Rugby’s showpiece tournament as well as giving teams an outstanding platform for their preparations.”

Rugby’s seventh World Cup will be held in New Zealand from Sept. 9 to Oct. 23.

        

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