And the winner is not rugby.
Congratulations to New Zealand on winning the right to host the 2011 World Cup, as reported it indeed is probably their last chance to independantly host the Cup.
The predictions for full stadia are hardly suprising with some of their parks little better than big club grandstands and I feel that 2011 will not be an easy one to get match tickets.
That said however I feel it to be an extreemley weak decision by the IRB that harks back to the conservative roots of rugby governing bodies around the world.
The prime opportunity was given to showcase our great sport in the biggest possible growth area and quite simply our leaders have knocked on under pressure.
The attached article sums up the situation really well in my opinion.
Japan snub 'growth blow'
By Jim Morton in Dublin
November 18, 2005
AUSTRALIA Rugby Union boss Gary Flowers believes the 2011 World Cup verdict has blown an important chance to grow the game globally
Flowers has congratulated bid winner New Zealand but feels the decision to overlook Japan represents a chance wasted.
Spearheaded by Prime Minister Helen Clark and All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga, New Zealand's bid team pipped Japan in a three-way contest which also featured South Africa.
It was an upset victory as Japan and South Africa were the joint favourites entering International Rugby Board voting here today (AEST).
The ARU, which had two votes out of 19 in the first round, supported Japan in both phases of voting.
South Africa was knocked out in the opening round.
Flowers said the ARU supported the Japanese bid with a view to see the game grow internationally.
"I've got no doubt New Zealand will put on a first-rate World Cup," he said.
"It will mean a lot to their country, but foremost thinking in our mind was the global growth of the game.
"I think in the short-term, obviously an opportunity's been missed but the fact Japan polled so strongly, it's given them a good impetus in the future."
Flowers said the fact Japan boasts the second largest economy in the world, is the fifth-largest country in rugby player numbers and Asia represented 60 per cent of this planet's population, also was reason enough to get behind the bid.
"That was very much in our thinking in terms that World Cup is the jewel in the crown of rugby and it was a good opportunity to grow our game," he said.
"It may be a missed opportunity but that's the way the votes fell."
He said it means the No.1 world-ranked All Blacks, hoping to secure their second World Cup victory in 2007 in France, will be even tougher to beat in 2011.
