The BBC is reporting that the number of teams that will automatically qualify for the 2011 RWC will increase to 12 (from 8 for the 2007 RWC). This should help with fixture congestion before the tournament, and will give greater importance to performances at the 2007 tournament.
More info at the BBC site - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6644163.stm
Martin Sneddon, former New Zealand cricketer and recently cricket chief executive, has left the cricket field and moved to head up the organisation running the 2011 RWC in New Zealand, his role including "getting to grips with the various relationships with the government agencies that are going to be helping with delivery of the tournament", according to Sneddon.
More information on this at Stuff.Co.Nz - http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/4048408a6429.html
The NZ Cabinet have voted to select Eden Park in Auckland for the final of the 2011 RWC. The redevelopment of Eden Park is currently estimated to cost around $385m (NZ, $280m US), according to the New Zealand Herald.
More of this story at the New Zealand Herald -
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10412665
Eden Park's announcement is available here - http://www.edenpark.co.nz/redevelopment/
More comment at The Match Referee blogspot - http://thematchreferee.blogspot.com/2006/11/2011-rugby-world-cup-final-a...
The New Zealand Herald is reporting that Auckland City Council will benefit from $5m (NZ, about $3.6m US) between the Mount Roskill motorway and Eden Park (where the 2011 RWC final is to be held). The money will be spent on buying additional land and adding an extra traffic lane.
The original story is here - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/event/story.cfm?c_id=522&objectid=10438413