Tauranga employers are being called on to support Rugby World Cup volunteers during the event next year.

About 80 Tauranga volunteers have put their hands up to help during the event with each interviewed on Thursday; with many of the questions a part of a local knowledge quiz.

BOP coordinator – RWC Penny Mitropoulos with Rugby New Zealand 2011volunteer programme coordinator Nicole Dunn.

'They are our Rugby World Cup ambassadors – they are the front house – meeting and greeting people,” says Tauranga City Council event delivery manager Penny Mitropoulos.

'It's really important to get the right people.”

Penny hopes local employers will support the volunteers.

'We're hoping they will let them have time off and support them while they're involved during the Rugby World Cup time.

'We want the region to pull together and create a really good event for the community and the area.”

Nationally, RWC organisers are looking for more volunteers and anyone interested can still register online at www.rugbyworldcup.com

Tauranga volunteers will be help with transportation and tourism.

'For example, if cruise ships arrive, the volunteers can be there educating visitors about the area and what they can do.”

Penny expects a large number of people will stay in Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty during the seven-week competition.

'While we won't have any games here, Tauranga will still be a key destination because of the team-hosting activities, the cruise ship visits and the arrival of other visitors, especially during the migration north for semi-final and final games in Auckland.”

The Samoan and Fijian teams will stay in Tauranga and Penny is waiting to see the teams' final schedules before confirming public activities.

Major lottery funding for the RWC, yet to be confirmed, will determine whether other Tauranga-based events and activities go ahead.

Unlike Auckland, Tauranga won't have a ‘party central', says Penny.

'We want to put our own flavour on events and make this a real celebration of Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty.”