Nearly nine in ten 18+ New Zealanders watched at least some of this year’s Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs has stood down from the role in order to receive treatment for leukaemia.

Mr Hobbs will also no longer serve as chairman of Rugby World Cup 2011, 16 months out from the tournament’s kick-off.

Announcing Mr Hobb’s resignation today, NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said Mike Eagle had been elected as acting chairman.

RNZ 2011 deputy chairman Brian Roche will act as chairman until the next full meeting of the RNZ 2011 board later this month.

Rugby New Zealand and the government are working together on options to help visitors here for the 2011 Rugby World Cup into accommodation.

Twenty-three towns and cities will host 20 international teams during the competition.

There are 16 centres in the North Island and seven in the South Island which will host at least one team for a period during the tournament.

Law firm Russell McVeagh has been appointed as the official law firm for the Rugby World Cup in 2011 by the International Rugby Board.

The appointment means that Russell McVeagh will provide a full range of legal services for the tournament particularly commercial litigation and regulatory issues.

Russell McVeagh chief executive Gary McDiarmid says: “This is a very exciting opportunity for the firm to play a part in what has become one of the most important sporting events in the world.”