RWC 2011 Kicks Off

Rugby World Cup 2011 begins in three days' time and we're ready to show the world an amazing time.

Wellington is hosting six pool matches and two quarter-finals. South Africa, the current world champions, will take to the field twice in Wellington, New Zealand will play Canada on 2 October, and there are plenty of other great match-ups to look forward to.

There are still tickets available so get in now - visit:

Tickets - Official Rugby World Cup 2011 website

Twelve teams will be based in our region for a total of 92 nights. Brush up on your welcomes for: South Africa (sawubona / molo / hallo), Wales (helo), Fiji (bula vinaka), Australia, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Tonga (malo), France (bonjour), Argentina (hola), Scotland, and Georgia (gamarjoba).

Rugby League Park, Newtown Park, the Basin Reserve, Porirua Park, Hutt Recreation Ground, and Soldiers and Cameron Memorial Park (Masterton) are all looking their best for the teams. Access to these grounds won't be available while teams are training.

While you won't be able to watch the teams during their regular training sessions, teams will be undertaking community activities, including open training sessions.

We'll keep you updated about these. You can also welcome the players at the airport. We'll continue to include team arrival information on the Our Wellington page.

Our venues and streets will be filled with amazing sights and sounds during the Festival of Carnivale. A huge array of arts and entertainment - much of it free - will be on offer from 9 September to 9 October. Check out the listings on:

Wellington Rugby World Cup 2011 website

Detailed daily listings will be placed in the distinctive red way-finding beacons around the Wellington central business district, which were installed over the weekend.

And don't forget we want to see as much RWC 2011 flavour as possible around the region. The entertainment's finalised, the infrastructure's looking great, and now we're challenging locals to add their energy and have some fun. Dress up your surroundings, yourself or something else and enter a photo of it in the Council's Dress Up Wellington online competition. For competition information check out:

Dress Up Wellington - Wellington Rugby World Cup 2011 website