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New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark met with IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset and IRB Chief Executive Officer Mike Miller on Tuesday to discuss preparations for Rugby World Cup 2011.

The meeting at the Beehive, kick-started four days of comprehensive discussions between senior management from Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL), Rugby New Zealand (RNZ) 2011 Ltd and the France 2007 Organising Committee to review RWC 2007 and step up preparations for RWC 2011 in New Zealand.

“RNZ 2011 has already made considerable progress in terms of operational planning during the past two and a half years since New Zealand was awarded Rugby World Cup 2011 and we are hugely encouraged by the strong level of support for the Tournament in New Zealand, particularly that of the New Zealand Government,” said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset prior to the meeting.

Senior Management from the France 2007 Organising Committee, including Chief Executive Officer Etienne Thobois and Tournament Administrator Claude Atcher have met with RWCL and RNZ 2011 representatives, including CEO Martin Snedden, General Manager Tournament Services Nigel Cass and General Manager Corporate Services Therese Walsh.

Topics on the agenda include a complete debrief of all operational areas of the 2007 Tournament, transfer knowledge and identify key focus areas ahead of RWC 2011.

“The meeting with both the France 2007 and RNZ 2011 Organising Committees is an exciting development as it is the first time such a meeting has taken place between two Rugby World Cup Organising Committees,” said Lapasset.

“It is one of the key reasons RWCL decided to bring forward the hosting tender process for Rugby World Cup so that such an exchange of ideas and learning could occur early in the planning stages for the next Tournament. The forum will provide a valuable platform to review all aspects of Rugby World Cup 2007, which was the most successful RWC ever, and aid planning for RWC 2011.”

(Source: IRB)