Some of the world’s leading rugby players have given Queenstown a ‘five-star’ tourism rating ahead of Rugby World Cup 2011.
Last year’s Super 14 champions the South African Bulls, training in Queenstown this week ahead of their clash with the Crusaders in Timaru, have given the resort town a unanimous ‘thumbs up’ as a training destination and a ‘must do’ for fans coming to New Zealand for Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011).
Of the 26-strong Bulls squad in Queenstown, up to 13 of them are expected to be named in the Springboks squad for the world cup competition.
Bulls Captain and Springbok mainstay Victor Matfield, widely considered to be one of the best locks in the world, described Queenstown as “just beautiful”.
“If there’s one destination Rugby fans have to come and experience, it’s Queenstown,” he said.
Matfield, the most capped Springbok ever, is looking forward to returning to New Zealand for RWC 2011 and although he may not get to return to the resort then, said fans should not miss out on a destination with such a wide range of activities, beautiful scenery and high energy levels.
His sentiments were echoed by fellow Springboks and Bulls players Fourie du Preez and Bakkies Botha.
“Every time we come to Queenstown it gets better. This is my fourth time here and I still haven’t done everything I want to do,” said du Preez.
Blue Bulls head conditioning coach Basil Carzis is also hoping to return to New Zealand with the Springboks for the Rugby World Cup and is on his fourth visit to Queenstown with the Bulls. He said Queenstown offered great training facilities for teams and was an “awesome” destination for visitors.
“Rugby World Cup 2011 is a festivity, not just a competition,” he said. “For training teams there’s a great vibe and buzz in the town and all your facilities are so close it makes life easy for us. For visitors, you have great activities, restaurants and bars. Everything we want is here.”
Queenstown will welcome four Rugby World Cup 2011 teams for training – England, Ireland, Georgia and Romania - for a total of 22 nights later this year.
Already rated as one of the world’s most desirable holiday destinations, Queenstown also has a growing reputation as a training playground for international sportspersons and teams.
Olympic winter athletes have been flocking to the resort town from around the world for off-season Southern Hemisphere training for many years, and this year the Southern Lakes region will host the premier events of the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games.
