The selection committee chose the Shanghai-based architect among the many because the proposed design he submitted featured a strong public realm experience, not to mention that it is simple.

There were 237 entries chosen by the committee. Gedgaudas will be competing with the other four finalists, all based from Auckland.

The committee members stated that they are satisfied with the five finalists as they all managed to make the right balance between creating a great venue for spectators and celebrating the fact that the country is hosting a prestigious rugby tournament.

The final five designers were given until October 23 to finalize their designs. This ambitious project costs $74 million.

The Rugby Football League (RFL) stated that the ten teams that participated in Australia last year showed high quality rugby that the officials believe that increasing the competing countries will be good for the sport.

Richard Lewis, RFL chairman, said that the business plan that they have set up proposed 12 countries to compete by 2013. He added that they are still working hard in order to achieve this goal.

This will serve as the very first World Cup that will take place in United Kingdom since year 2000 when RFL dealt with massive debts due to the disaster in financial aspects during that time. The under-attended competition was plagued with bad weather and lesser crowd participation.

RFL officials are confident this time that they won’t encounter the same mistakes as in the past. They’ll be scouting for venues that can withstand bad weather and other factors.

Lewis revealed that they will be offering tickets at competitive rates in order to attract real rugby fans in watching the competitions come 2013.