2011 Rugby World Cup

Soon everyone will be talking about 'the game they play in heaven' aka rugby union as the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) kicks off in New Zealand on 9 September 2011. To get you ready for the onslaught of rugby-talk, we've prepared a tournament snap shot for you.

First, a bit of history... The RWC started in 1987 with 16 countries invited to play in Australia and New Zealand. The prize is the Webb Ellis Trophy - also known as 'Bill' - which is a nod to William Webb Ellis who is touted, by some, as the Founder of the game of rugby. Webb Ellis attended the Rugby School in England and, in 1823, picked up a ball during a football (soccer) match and ran with it. Others, believe this is folk law. Nevertheless, the gold trophy that nations vie for in the RWC bears his name.

Played every four years, the RWC is now a global spectacle. New Zealand won the first RWC in 1987. Since then, both Australia and South Africa have won twice and, in 2003, England won which was the first time Bill headed to the Northern Hemisphere.  South Africa - The Springboks - are the current reigning RWC Champions.

Now, for 2011... There are 20 teams playing in the 2011 RWC, all of whom have qualified from a pool of 94 nations based on their 2007 RWC result or the outcomes of regional qualifying rounds which began in April 2008 and finished in November 2010. The 20 teams are separated into four pools (A, B, C, D) each with five teams. Australia is in Pool C.

The first match will be played on Friday 9 September 2011. As the host nation, New Zealand plays first and will face Tonga in Auckland. The Pool matches will be played in 13 venues across New Zealand and finish on Sunday 2 October 2011.

The teams placed first and second in each Pool move to a Quarter Final round played on either 8 or 9 October 2011. The winners of these four matches play in one of two Semi-Final matches in Auckland on the weekend of 15-16 October 2011. From here, all matches will be played in Auckland. 

The two teams who do not win their Semi-Final game, play each other in the Bronze Final on Friday 21 October 2011. The two teams that do win their Semi-Final match, meet in the RWC Final on Sunday 23 October 2011 in Auckland at Eden Park Stadium.

As for the results, time will tell. If, as suspected, the last four teams standing are New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and England, we will see passionate, ferociously fought contests in the finals. A final between Australia and New Zealand will be a promoters dream and, with the home ground advantage, this is the best opportunity the All Blacks have had in 20 years to regain the World Cup title and hold Bill aloft. However, I am green and gold through and through and will blindly support the Wallabies in their efforts to come out on top. So, bring it on! 

Pay TV, through Fox Sports, will be airing all games ad-free and Channel 9 has the free-to-air rights across Australia. To keep up-to-speed on when the Australian Wallabies are playing (and the results) follow us on twitter @Know_The_Game or our facebook page.