A new dimension to match management

Despite New Zealand’s experience in running Rugby matches, Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) brings a few differences which will be tested throughout the Super Rugby and Tri Nations tests...

New Zealand is one of the world’s most experienced countries when it comes to knowledge and experience of running matches. With the National Provincial Competition, Super Rugby, Tri Nations and June
internationals, all 13 of the RWC 2011 venues hold regular high level matches. This provides a fantastic level of local experience and expertise which will be incorporated into the Tournament.

However like a lot of areas of the Tournament, RWC 2011 will mean there are some major changes in how matches need to be run. Global media requirements and RWC match policies which may vary from current practices are just some of differences. There are a variety of key bodies involved in running the matches, including RNZ 2011 (venue operations and match management), RWCL (overall match delivery and
coordination of key stakeholders, anti-doping, match officials), Sky TV (host broadcasting), IMG (commercial implementation and operations) and RTH (corporate hospitality).

To meet these challenges RWCL and RNZ 2011 have worked closely to develop match management policies which balance RWC policies with existing practices in New Zealand, maximise local experience and meet
the needs of Rugby’s biggest global event.

To maximise local experience RNZ 2011 has appointed local Match Managers who are experienced in running matches in New Zealand and know the venues. These local appointees are being managed by RNZ 2011 Match Services Manager Steve Dunbar.

A crucial position in the organisation of the matches is the RWCL Match Commissioner who is the senior RWCL operational official in the venue. They will oversee all operations and coordinate all RWCL stakeholders. RWCL makes this position consistent with other IRB and RWC Tournaments and has therefore appointed several experienced IRB personnel to fill this position, most of who also performed this role
at RWC 2007.

As has become tradition at recent RWC tournaments, these IRB staff are joined by a representative of the current Host Union. The NZRU representative working for RWCL during the Tournament will be Simon

Jelowitz, the NZRU Rugby Operations Manager. Formally an IRB employee, Simon has been the key NZRU official working on match operations for All Blacks tests since 2007.

To maximise the transfer of experience to the next RWC it has also become standard for a representative of the next hosts to work with RWCL as a Match Commissioner. Nigel Cass, the RNZ 2011 General Manager,

Tournament Services, filled this role in France at RWC 2007. For RWC 2011 the RWCL team will be joined by Tracy Fox-Young who currently has a key operational role in test matches at Twickenham, venue for
the RWC 2015 Final.