World Cup ball headed for London

Tourism New Zealand's giant rugby ball, which was located beneath Paris' Eiffel Tower during last year's Rugby World Cup, is to be relocated to London in late-November and will be the venue for the draw for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

It will be sited just off London's Tower Bridge, in Potters Fields.

The IRB's world rankings will be used to determine the make-up of the four pools for the tournament and the shut-off point is the day after the All Blacks play England at Twickenham at the end of their grand slam tour of Britain.

The ball promotion will cap three months of New Zealand tourism promotion in Britain, with the emphasis on the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "The top four teams in the rankings will be allocated to band one, or the top line in each pool - and drawn randomly into pools.

"The next four teams will be allocated into band two with the remaining four teams allocated into band three.

"The eight remaining qualifying places will be allocated into bands of four and five according to playing strength and also drawn randomly," he said.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said in Wellington on Friday: "The ball is a fine example of New Zealand's innovation and creativity. The ball was a bold idea and the audio visual display is truly world-leading."