The 2011 Rugby World Cup will be played in 13 venues across New Zealand and will feature England against Argentina and defending champion South Africa versus Wales during the opening weekend.

The four-yearly tournament will begin with a matchup between the All Blacks and Tonga at Eden Park in Auckland on Sept. 9, 2011, and conclude at the same venue on Oct. 23, organizers said today.

Quarterfinal matchups were also confirmed, with the top two teams in Pool A (featuring New Zealand, France and Tonga) and Pool B (Argentina, England and Scotland) playing off in Christchurch. Wellington will host quarterfinals featuring the winners and runners-up from Pool C (Australia, Ireland and Italy) and Pool D (South Africa, Wales and Fiji). A third-place playoff will take place at Eden Park two days before the final.

The opening weekend will see Argentina take on England in Christchurch and South Africa against Wales in Wellington. The second weekend will feature the Australia-Ireland match and the following weekend will stage New Zealand against France.

Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch have been allocated five pool matches each, while North Shore, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Rotorua and Dunedin will each host three. Whangarei, Nelson, Palmerston North, Napier and Invercargill will hold two.

“While the number of match venues is more than Australia 2003 and France 2007, it reflects the organizing committee’s desire to take the tournament to the entire nation,”

Rugby World Cup Ltd. Managing Director Mike Miller said at today’s announcement.

Source: Bloomberg