Surrey Sports Park selected to host major international sporting event in 2010
Tuesday 1 December 2009
In just under a year’s time, the new Surrey Sports Park will host its first major international event. The 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup will take place at the magnificent new sporting facilities in Guildford with 12 teams from all over the world competing in 3 groups during August and September. The current World Champions New Zealand will begin the defence of the title that they won in Canada in 2006 but will face tough opposition from the likes of England and the other home nations, South Africa, France, Asia and the USA.
The inaugural Women’s Rugby World Cup took place in Wales in 1991 and the 2010 event will be the 6th time the tournament has been staged. The International Rugby Board (IRB) considered competitive bids from three other countries, South Africa, Kazakhstan and Germany before selecting England and the Surrey Sports Park to host the event. The Surrey Sports Park will stage 26 of the 30 matches in the tournament with The Stoop – home of Harlequins staging the semi finals and final.
The multi-million pound Surrey Sports Park, which is owned by the University of Surrey, is due to open in April 2010 and will be one of the premier training facilities ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.
The Women’s Rugby World Cup has grown in stature over the years and since the IRB gave official sanction to the event in 1998, has established itself as one of the top women’s sports events. The event receives extensive television coverage and extended coverage of several of the matches will be broadcast around the world.
Commenting on the decision to bring the Women’s Rugby World Cup to Guildford, Surrey Sports Park, Chief Executive, Jason Harborow, said: “We are thrilled to be staging our first truly international sporting event just a few months after we open. It is a huge privilege to be hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup and a true measure of how highly regarded our facilities are when such an important event as this is entrusted to us. It will be a great challenge for everyone at the Surrey Sports Park and I know we will deliver a tournament of which the IRB and women’s rugby will be very proud.”
The Surrey Sports Park has already been registered as a suitable training venue for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 but as well as catering for elite athletes it will also provide the best and most up to date sport facilities for anyone interested in sport and fitness.
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
