The full story....

Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd (RNZ 2011) has announced that current New Zealand Cricket CEO Martin Snedden will take on the role of CEO for the Rugby World Cup 2011 tournament company.

RNZ 2011 Chairman Jock Hobbs announced the appointment on Tuesday. It follows an international recruitment search.

Snedden (48) has been CEO of New Zealand Cricket since August 2001. He had previously been a partner in his family law firm, Snedden and Associates.

Snedden also had a distinguished international cricketing career which included 25 Test matches and 93 One Day International appearances for New Zealand. In 1982, he was named New Zealand Cricket Almanack's Player of the Year.

Hobbs said Snedden was an excellent fit for the position given his leadership qualities and his experience in international sports administration, law and as a former international athlete.

"Martin brings all of the right qualities to this role. As a New Zealander he also shares our passion to make Rugby World Cup 2011 the best ever Tournament and a showcase for New Zealand on the world stage," Hobbs said.

Snedden said the new role would be challenging and that he was looking forward to taking up that challenge.

"Rugby World Cup 2011 will be an exciting time for New Zealand as we host one of the world's premier sports events and I am excited about being part of this," he said.

"I feel my time at New Zealand Cricket has provided me with a solid base of experience for this position and admit to feeling some sadness that I am leaving New Zealand Cricket after a long association as a player, Board member and CEO."

Snedden will take up his new role in May 2007.

RNZ 2011 Ltd was established in June 2006 and is the organisation responsible for the planning and delivery of Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2011 in New Zealand on behalf of its shareholders, the New Zealand Rugby Union and the New Zealand Government.

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) was selected as the host union for RWC 2011 by the International Rugby Board (IRB) Council in November 2005.

The IRB Rugby World Cup is rated as the third largest sports event in the world.

The inaugural tournament took place in 1987 and it is held every four years.

In 2003 the tournament was held in Australia and enjoyed a cumulative worldwide broadcast audience of over 3 billion.

The sixth tournament in 2007 is to be hosted by the French Rugby Federation.