Rugby World Cup 2011 Woe

So Tauranga will not be hosting any rugby during the 2011 Rugby World Cup 'NZ Festival'.

The city is NZ's 5th largest and fastest growing, per capita. Go figure.

This is not however sour grapes. Like the recession-busting cycleway, this demonstrates Kiwi's iconic approach to life. And sport.

Of more concern, my UK readers, is my own hosting plans for the event. Not only will there be no rugby in the Western Bay; England's Pool matches are based in the South Island.

The good news however is that the cycleway should be open in time for the opening game. That's great news. It means you can fly into Tauranga International, we can hire some bikes and peddle like mad between Rotorua and Hamilton to catch Oceania 1 v Africa 1, Wales v Oceania 1 and Fiji v Africa 1.

Or maybe, we can just go fishing.