The halftime break for the 2011 rugby Tri-Nations championship will be extended from 10 to 12 minutes to help teams prepare for this year's World Cup, the tournament governing body said on Saturday.

The International Rugby Board has announced a 12-minute break between halves for the World Cup starting in New Zealand on September 9 and SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia Rugby) said it would follow suit.

"The change has been made to assist the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies in adjusting to a longer half-time break during the forthcoming Rugby World Cup," Sanzar chief executive Greg Peters said.

The 2011 Tri-Nations kicks off on July 23 when Australia host South Africa in Sydney and wraps up with the All Blacks playing Australia in Brisbane on August 27, less than two weeks before the World Cup starts.

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