Urgency, volunteers and coordination key learnings from RWC 2007 organisation RNZ 2011 Ltd, France 2007 and RWCL conclude debrief meetings Timelines, volunteers and clear definition of roles and responsibilities have emerged as key learnings for Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2011 organisers, following a week of detailed reviews, briefings and discussions with the organisers of the highly successful Rugby World Cup 2007 Tournament.

Five senior executives of the France 2007 Organising Committee, led by CEO Etienne Thobois, and the senior management team of the RWC rightsholder, Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL), have been in New Zealand this week briefing the New Zealand tournament-delivery company, Rugby New Zealand 2011 (RNZ) Ltd, and other stakeholders.

It is the first time in Rugby World Cup history that the bid process timeline has allowed for one organising committee, in combination with RWCL, to brief the organisers of the next tournament and download all of the key planning and learnings from the event.

RNZ 2011 Chief Executive Martin Snedden said the debrief sessions were of immense value to New Zealand’s planning and provided an "accelerated learning curve" for the 2011 Tournament. On the key learnings, Mr Snedden reiterated the major lessons learned by RNZ 2011 management and staff.

"The notion of urgency – that time is of the essence – came through clearly. In many functional areas, the French organisers highlighted that the planning and preparation cannot start early enough."

The success of the volunteer programme in France was discussed in detail. "It is clear now that for all major events, a large, capable and well-trained volunteer workforce is vital both to the operational success and to the image of the event." Mr Snedden said early clarity of roles and responsibilities right across the variety of tournament delivery agents and partners from RWCL to RNZ 2011 to host regions and venues was absolutely critical.

"We were already very fortunate in being able to have staff in operational and observational roles during RWC 2007. To be able now to add to that knowledge with detailed insights into the lessons learned from that tournament has been hugely beneficial," he said.

"Etienne and his team have been very accessible and forthcoming since the time New Zealand was selected to host RWC 2011. We are very grateful to them for all the help they have extended to us and to Rugby World Cup Limited for their assistance in ensuring that this debrief has been a constructive and meaningful review of the highs and lows of RWC 2007."

France 2007 Organising Committee CEO Etienne Thobois said he could see the value of the intensive debrief for all parties, including his team which had recently completed the official review reports on RWC 2007. "Rugby World Cup 2007 was a great event for France and a wonderful experience. It was also hugely demanding for those of us who worked on it.

To be able to reflect on all of the positive elements, which contributed to that success, as well as other areas of learning, has been gratifying – and even therapeutic for my team," he said. "I wish Martin Snedden and all of the RWC 2011 team good luck for the next Tournament."

RWCL Managing Director Mike Miller said the opportunity to have a handover briefing and achieve that transfer of knowledge from one organising committee to another was a key reason the rights for the 2011 Tournament were awarded so much earlier than for previous tournaments.

"It has been a very productive exercise for Rugby World Cup and for the RNZ 2011 team and one we hope will enhance the quality of planning and delivery for RWC 2011 and for future tournaments." ********

1.  About Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd: Rugby New Zealand (RNZ) 2011 Ltd was established in June 2006 and is the organisation responsible for the planning and delivery of Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2011 in New Zealand on behalf of its shareholders, the New Zealand Rugby Union and the New Zealand Government. RNZ 2011 Ltd is governed by a six-member Board of Directors which is chaired by current NZRU Chairman Jock Hobbs. The New Zealand Rugby Union was selected as the Host Union for RWC 2011 by the International Rugby Board Council in November 2005.

1.  About IRB Rugby World Cup: The IRB Rugby World Cup is the third largest sports event in the world. The inaugural tournament took place in 1987 and it is held every four years. In 2007 the sixth tournament was held in France and enjoyed a cumulative worldwide broadcast audience of more than 4 billion. For the latest on RWC 2007 visit www.rugbyworldcup.com

For further information contact: Brian Finn NZRU Communications Manager
P: 04 494 0765
M: 027 229 5380

E: brian.finn@nzrugby.co.nz