April 12, 2025 • 7 mins
The race is on to determine the future host of the 2035 Rugby World Cup, and plenty of contenders have voiced interest.
Reports claim that Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE have expressed interest in hosting the event - but Spain, Japan and Italy have also thrown their hats in the ring for the cup.
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark played a key role in getting the Rugby World Cup over to our shores in 2011 - and she joined Piney to discuss whether it could happen again.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
SO.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
The race is on to host the twenty thirty five
Rugby World Cup. A report last week from the Times
stated that Saudi Arabia, Kuta and the UAE we're preparing
a joint bid to host rugby showpiece events in twenty
thirty five, with the next two tournaments already locked in
Australia in twenty twenty seven, the United States in twenty
thirty one. Wild Rugby apparently and reportedly are keen though
(00:35):
for the tournament to go back to Europe in twenty
thirty five. Spain has thrown its hat in the ring
and now seems to have pole position, according to some reports.
Japan and Italy are also in the conversation. Should New
Zealands be looking at hosting again or certainly bidding for
the right to host the Rugby World Cup again? And
how likely would it be that any bid would be successful.
(00:58):
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark played an integral role in
New Zealand's successful bid to bring the twenty eleven Rugby
World Cup to in News New Zealand. She was Prime
Minister at the time the bids were planned and submitted,
and spoke in passionate and persuasive support of the bid.
At the final presentation to what was then the IRB
now World Rugby in Dublin in November of two thousand
(01:21):
and five. Helen Clark is with us on weekend sport. Helen,
thank you for your time. How much weight did the
strong backing from your government for the twenty eleven bid
carry when it came to the final decision?
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Do you think the strong backing from the government was
absolutely pivotal. I had trivamal artists, Minister's sport, he had
me organized, everyone organized to be making representations. I remember
hosting I think key representatives of the International Rugby Board
at Premier House to dinner. We had a charm offensive
(01:54):
of massive proportions. And then there was that momentus occasion
in Dublin at the end of two thousand and five
when the decision was being made and I went with
Pine Tree, meansa Umaga and Jock Hobbs or legends of rugby,
and we went and presented to the IARB. And I
remember getting on the plane and flying off to a
(02:15):
meeting in Korea and the news came through that we'd won,
we were so elated. It could not have been done
without government support.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
What a delegation to Dublin. It was so In other words,
it's not possible to host events of this size without
significant government backing and investment. That's basically the long and
the short of it.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
The long and the short of it, and also you know,
just the diplomatic support, the engagement. I do think that
governments need to have in their mind a framing of
a major event strategy. We benefit from these strategies. You know,
Rugby World Cup, I think is that the third most
watched international sporting event. The exposure for New Zealand is huge,
(02:57):
so it's to our advantage. As you know, also patron
of Emirates Team New Zealand, they've been a great champion
of the America's Cup and what hosting that has done
for us over the years, and said, you know, not
to see it back in Auckland again, but we need
to be thinking of these events beyond incredible sporting occasions,
to how we project our country. What's our image? You know,
(03:20):
a little country of five point two million people in
the bottom of South Pacific, we can be right off
the radar. We have to make our luck, and making
our luck is about getting into the headlines, and we
get into the headlines with major events like Rugby World Cup.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Well, as you know, we haven't been able to get
the America's Cup back here, not for the meantime anyway.
What's your general view on whether you think there is
an appetite in the current government to support a future
bid for the Rugby World Cup or any any major
sporting event.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Well, obviously they weren't prepared to step up enough for
the Emirates team New Zealand and the hosting of the
yachting America's Cup, so that's a problem. But you know,
probably rugby has a greater pal to those around the
cabinet table, perhaps than the yachting bid, so let's look
(04:13):
at it through those eyes. We also know that with
the racing for America's Cup, it's in Auckland Harbor or
just outside it. But with Rugby World Cup you get
the games spread throughout New Zealand. I remember our government
investing in the Claims Park at Napia to bring that
up to standard. It grows across the country, so that
(04:33):
also spreads the economic benefits quite well. It will bring tourists,
you know, it will bring money, it will bring visibility,
It will enable us to showcase who and what we
are and what we represent our innovations. So my appeal
would be to any government deliberating on this look at
(04:54):
it as a major economic opportunity.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Then, of course you have to convince world rugby as
you did as part of the delegation in two thousand
and five, and that bit, as I understand it, played
heavily on New Zealand's place in rugby history. Would the
same argument be as compelling today?
Speaker 2 (05:11):
I think? So? You know, look, the All Blacks are
a great team, they've sat up at the top or
near the top of world rugby for a long time,
and a great country committed to the sport. Obviously as
absolutely within its rights to assert its place as a
host of the Cup. People have had great experiences here.
(05:32):
That last Rugby World Cup phenomenal for New Zealand. So
we shouldn't hide our light under a bushel, as the
old saying goes, get out there the proud rugby identity
of New Zealand, what we've contributed the game, the standards
we've set globally for it. We are a perfect host.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
And clearly there has to be an economic return, and
there is with things like you know, tourism obviously and
people coming to New Zealand. Is there also an emotional
pitch to be ad here about the positive impact an
event like this as on the country as a whole,
The rosy glow we get from hosting.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Or absolutely terrific feel good factor, because if you get
the Rugby World Cup here, you're going to have people
from around the participating countries coming. They're going to be
hiring their camp events, They're going to be touring up
and down New Zealand, They're going to be filling the cafes.
We need this sort of boost at the moment right
We've never got back to where we were pre pandemic
(06:27):
with our tourism. So I think it would be a
huge boost to regional New Zealand to have these crowds
coming through the games, as I said, will be dispersed
a huge feel good factor if we winn't. Even more
so just hosting the event as a.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Big high just to finish, you've given goodness only knows
how many speeches in your time. Was that one of
your favorites to the IRB at the back end of
two thousand and five, considering what it led to.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Absolutely, and you know we poured over that speech. We
you know, it wasn't just you know, Helen Clark deciding
what she'd gone say in Dublin. Every word was you know,
with the rugby Union, every point. You know, there was
no surprise on what Helen was going to say. I
kept to absolutely the pitch that we had and yeah,
(07:16):
pitch perfect. I think we can say we all will
pitched perfect, from pine Tree to Jock, Hobbs to Tarma
and what a tragedy. You know two of those Pine
Tree and Jock are no longer with us, but you
know there'll be other greats now to step forward and
you know, take their place and making a good pitch.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Let's hope they have the same wherewithal to do it
and the same result as well. Helen, thank you for
joining us on seed Be today. I really appreciate your time.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Thanks for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Pine. Listen
live to news Talk zed B weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
SO.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
The race is on to host the twenty thirty five
Rugby World Cup. A report last week from the Times
stated that Saudi Arabia, Kuta and the UAE we're preparing
a joint bid to host rugby showpiece events in twenty
thirty five, with the next two tournaments already locked in
Australia in twenty twenty seven, the United States in twenty
thirty one. Wild Rugby apparently and reportedly are keen though
(00:35):
for the tournament to go back to Europe in twenty
thirty five. Spain has thrown its hat in the ring
and now seems to have pole position, according to some reports.
Japan and Italy are also in the conversation. Should New
Zealands be looking at hosting again or certainly bidding for
the right to host the Rugby World Cup again? And
how likely would it be that any bid would be successful.
(00:58):
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark played an integral role in
New Zealand's successful bid to bring the twenty eleven Rugby
World Cup to in News New Zealand. She was Prime
Minister at the time the bids were planned and submitted,
and spoke in passionate and persuasive support of the bid.
At the final presentation to what was then the IRB
now World Rugby in Dublin in November of two thousand
(01:21):
and five. Helen Clark is with us on weekend sport. Helen,
thank you for your time. How much weight did the
strong backing from your government for the twenty eleven bid
carry when it came to the final decision?
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Do you think the strong backing from the government was
absolutely pivotal. I had trivamal artists, Minister's sport, he had
me organized, everyone organized to be making representations. I remember
hosting I think key representatives of the International Rugby Board
at Premier House to dinner. We had a charm offensive
(01:54):
of massive proportions. And then there was that momentus occasion
in Dublin at the end of two thousand and five
when the decision was being made and I went with
Pine Tree, meansa Umaga and Jock Hobbs or legends of rugby,
and we went and presented to the IARB. And I
remember getting on the plane and flying off to a
(02:15):
meeting in Korea and the news came through that we'd won,
we were so elated. It could not have been done
without government support.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
What a delegation to Dublin. It was so In other words,
it's not possible to host events of this size without
significant government backing and investment. That's basically the long and
the short of it.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
The long and the short of it, and also you know,
just the diplomatic support, the engagement. I do think that
governments need to have in their mind a framing of
a major event strategy. We benefit from these strategies. You know,
Rugby World Cup, I think is that the third most
watched international sporting event. The exposure for New Zealand is huge,
(02:57):
so it's to our advantage. As you know, also patron
of Emirates Team New Zealand, they've been a great champion
of the America's Cup and what hosting that has done
for us over the years, and said, you know, not
to see it back in Auckland again, but we need
to be thinking of these events beyond incredible sporting occasions,
to how we project our country. What's our image? You know,
(03:20):
a little country of five point two million people in
the bottom of South Pacific, we can be right off
the radar. We have to make our luck, and making
our luck is about getting into the headlines, and we
get into the headlines with major events like Rugby World Cup.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Well, as you know, we haven't been able to get
the America's Cup back here, not for the meantime anyway.
What's your general view on whether you think there is
an appetite in the current government to support a future
bid for the Rugby World Cup or any any major
sporting event.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Well, obviously they weren't prepared to step up enough for
the Emirates team New Zealand and the hosting of the
yachting America's Cup, so that's a problem. But you know,
probably rugby has a greater pal to those around the
cabinet table, perhaps than the yachting bid, so let's look
(04:13):
at it through those eyes. We also know that with
the racing for America's Cup, it's in Auckland Harbor or
just outside it. But with Rugby World Cup you get
the games spread throughout New Zealand. I remember our government
investing in the Claims Park at Napia to bring that
up to standard. It grows across the country, so that
(04:33):
also spreads the economic benefits quite well. It will bring tourists,
you know, it will bring money, it will bring visibility,
It will enable us to showcase who and what we
are and what we represent our innovations. So my appeal
would be to any government deliberating on this look at
(04:54):
it as a major economic opportunity.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Then, of course you have to convince world rugby as
you did as part of the delegation in two thousand
and five, and that bit, as I understand it, played
heavily on New Zealand's place in rugby history. Would the
same argument be as compelling today?
Speaker 2 (05:11):
I think? So? You know, look, the All Blacks are
a great team, they've sat up at the top or
near the top of world rugby for a long time,
and a great country committed to the sport. Obviously as
absolutely within its rights to assert its place as a
host of the Cup. People have had great experiences here.
(05:32):
That last Rugby World Cup phenomenal for New Zealand. So
we shouldn't hide our light under a bushel, as the
old saying goes, get out there the proud rugby identity
of New Zealand, what we've contributed the game, the standards
we've set globally for it. We are a perfect host.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
And clearly there has to be an economic return, and
there is with things like you know, tourism obviously and
people coming to New Zealand. Is there also an emotional
pitch to be ad here about the positive impact an
event like this as on the country as a whole,
The rosy glow we get from hosting.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Or absolutely terrific feel good factor, because if you get
the Rugby World Cup here, you're going to have people
from around the participating countries coming. They're going to be
hiring their camp events, They're going to be touring up
and down New Zealand, They're going to be filling the cafes.
We need this sort of boost at the moment right
We've never got back to where we were pre pandemic
(06:27):
with our tourism. So I think it would be a
huge boost to regional New Zealand to have these crowds
coming through the games, as I said, will be dispersed
a huge feel good factor if we winn't. Even more
so just hosting the event as a.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Big high just to finish, you've given goodness only knows
how many speeches in your time. Was that one of
your favorites to the IRB at the back end of
two thousand and five, considering what it led to.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Absolutely, and you know we poured over that speech. We
you know, it wasn't just you know, Helen Clark deciding
what she'd gone say in Dublin. Every word was you know,
with the rugby Union, every point. You know, there was
no surprise on what Helen was going to say. I
kept to absolutely the pitch that we had and yeah,
(07:16):
pitch perfect. I think we can say we all will
pitched perfect, from pine Tree to Jock, Hobbs to Tarma
and what a tragedy. You know two of those Pine
Tree and Jock are no longer with us, but you
know there'll be other greats now to step forward and
you know, take their place and making a good pitch.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Let's hope they have the same wherewithal to do it
and the same result as well. Helen, thank you for
joining us on seed Be today. I really appreciate your time.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Thanks for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Pine. Listen
live to news Talk zed B weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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