2011 Rugby World Cup, New Zealand

New Zealand co-hosted the first Rugby World Cup with Australia in 1987. Originally set to co-host the 2003 tournament with Australia, a disagreement over ground signage rights saw the New Zealand games dropped and Australia became the sole host. The 2011 New Zealand bid contained plans to enlarge the size of Eden Park and other stadia to help increase the commercial viability of the bid.
If it were to have been held in Japan it would be the first time a Rugby World Cup had taken place in Asia. With stadia from the 2002 FIFA World Cup, it had the necessary infrastructure already in place. Japan eventually succeeded in its aim to host a World Cup in 2009, when it was awarded the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The South African bid, led by former national captain Francois Pienaar, had strong support from their government. It successfully hosted the tournament in 1995.
The New Zealand bid was led by the New Zealand Rugby Union (at the time of bidding known as the New Zealand Rugby Football Union) and supported by the New Zealand Government, through the Prime Minister and current players, represented by the All Black captain. After winning the bid, the NZRFU expressed extreme disappointment towards their Australian counterparts who voted against New Zealand hosting the event, due to the NZRFU's misplaced expectation that the "ANZAC spirit" would result in a vote for New Zealand.