New Zealand has pipped Australia in the race to host the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

A last-ditch pitch by Rugby Australia’s head of women’s rugby Jilly Collins, CEO Raelene Castle and chairman Cameron Clyne to the 42-member Rugby World council in Dublin, proved to be in vain as New Zealand became the first southern hemisphere country to host the event.

New Zealand powerbrokers have been promised $10million in central government support for the tournament which will be based in Auckland and Northland and this appears to be what got their bid over the line.

Australia’s proposal was centred around Newcastle and the Hunter region and RA were confident of a rare trans-Tasman success over their fiercest rugby rivals.

There were a record six tenders for 2021 before England, France, Wales and Portugal dropped from the race in August.