New Zealand was selected to host the Women's Rugby World Cup in '21, according to Richard Knowler of STUFF. World Rugby announced New Zealand Rugby proved "it would be capable of staging the tournament for the first time." Australia, the only other country to submit a bid, was unsuccessful. NZR CEO Steve Tew and board directors Farah Palmer and Mark Robinson fronted the World Rugby Council to "support New Zealand's bid to be the host nation." The panel voted 25-17 in New Zealand's favor. Palmer and Robinson made speeches, with NZ PM Jacinda Ardern "also supplying a message of support via video." NZR's success means the Black Ferns "have the opportunity to play in front of home crowds for the first time, as they chase their sixth world title." Palmer: "I am just over the moon. This is about the momentum that we have got for women's rugby." World Rugby Chair Bill Beaumont said that the New Zealand bid "was too compelling to ignore." He said, "You listen to the presentation and it was the passion, the passion for the sport. Everyone knows what it means to Kiwis, it's in their DNA" (STUFF, 11/15). In Auckland, Liam Napier reported New Zealand's pitch to host the six-week tournament "received strong Government support" from Sports Minister Grant Robertson and a personalized video message from Ardern. She said, "This government is committed to more women and girls getting involved in sport, so we are enthusiastic supporters of bringing this elite women's tournament to New Zealand and inspiring a new generation of women and girls to get involved in rugby" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 11/15). The AAP reported tournament matches will be played at the 5,000-capacity Waitakere Stadium in Auckland and the Northland Events Centre in Whangarei, with a capacity of up to 20,000, as well as the 25,000-capacity Albany Stadium and Eden Park, which hosted the 2011 Rugby World Cup final (AAP, 11/14).
