Fed: New Zealand rugby fans welcome says Beattie

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Fed: New Zealand rugby fans welcome says Beattie

By Vera Devai

BRISBANE, April 19 AAP - Queensland Premier Peter Beattie today encouraged New Zealandrugby fans to come to Australia to watch the 2003 World Cup.

New Zealand was stripped of sub-hosting the 2003 World Cup when the International RugbyBoard announced today Australia would host the 48-match tournament alone.

Mr Beattie said it was unfortunate New Zealand missed out, but, nevertheless, invitedfans to travel to Australia to "drown their sorrows".

"New Zealand unfortunately have perhaps missed an opportunity here, but we want theirtourists to come," Mr Beattie told reporters today.

"All I can say to the New Zealanders is this: `We love you. Come to Queensland. We'lllet it be your second home'."

Mr Beattie said Brisbane would host two quarter finals and a number of qualifying matchesat Lang Park, which is undergoing a $280 million redevelopment to boost capacity from33,000 to 52,000.

"Queensland has been a big winner out of this," Mr Beattie said.

"Queensland and New South Wales are the two rugby states, so this is just tremendousnews for us."

Mr Beattie said a number of qualifying matches would also be played in Townsville.

State Sports Minister Terry Mackenroth said he would talk to the Australia Rugby Unionin relation to allocating more games to Queensland.

AAP ved/sc/las/sb

KEYWORD: RUGBY WORLD BEATTIE