Queenstown to host Romania for RWC 2011 training

It’s official - Romania will be the third team Queenstown hosts for training during next year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Romania secured the final Rugby World Cup place on Saturday (27 November) convincingly winning the repêchage* decider against Uruguay 39-12 held at the Stadionul National Arcul de Triumfin in Bucharest, Romania.

Romania will now go into Pool B alongside Argentina, England, Scotland and Georgia and during the Rugby World Cup will train in Queenstown from 11-14 September.

Destination Queenstown CEO Tony Everitt says it's great to finally know who Queenstown’s third team is after being on tenterhooks for so long.

“Huge congratulations to the Romanian team on their fine performance on Saturday. It’s been a long road for them to make it into the Rugby World Cup so they must be absolutely thrilled and relieved to have made the cut. We’re really looking forward to welcoming them to Queenstown next year and I’m sure our community will make them they feel right at home.”

Queenstown will be an official RWC 2011 training venue for three teams – Ireland, England and Romania.

The news was enthusiastically received by Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Vanessa van Uden.

“I have no doubt our multi-cultural community will embrace these players and extend to them a very warm and heartfelt welcome. They are going to love it here,” Mayor van Uden said.

The teams will train at Queenstown Events Centre which is managed by Lakes Leisure. The organisation’s Events Manager JD Marrable has been liaising with the teams during the past year and is delighted to be hosting Romania.

Queenstown’s team hosting dates are as follows:

2-7 September - Ireland

11-14 September - Romania

19-21 September - England

For more information about RWC 2011 please visit www.rugbyworldcup.com. For more information about Queenstown’s involvement in RWC 2011 please visit www.queenstown-nz.co.nz.