Tickets on sale for World Cup in New Zealand

With all the fuss surrounding the FIFA World Cup in South Africa this year it's easy to overlook the fact that there's another sport in which England have been far more successful in recent history - rugby.

Tickets for the Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand have just gone on sale and a third are expected to be snapped up by fans from the UK and Ireland.

In fact, British, Welsh, Scottish and Irish rugby fans will easily outnumber all other nationalities at next year's tournament.

Now is the first opportunity for them to buy packages to the World Cup. Tour operators are expecting to sell at least 25,000.

One of the tournament's Official Travel Agents, England Rugby Travel, has packages starting from 1,849 pounds per person including return flights and two match tickets.

Fans can buy just a single match ticket and one night's accommodation or a full holiday package including tickets to all England's pool matches, semi-finals and the final at Eden Park.

The tournament kicks off on September 9 and will take place at 13 venues across the country from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island.

The England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland teams' pool games will be played in destinations including Dunedin, Christchurch, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Hamilton and Auckland. The quarter-finals will be played in Wellington and Christchurch and the semi-finals and finals in Auckland.

''Tourism New Zealand is working closely with our travel partners to ensure we give our rugby supporters a uniquely kiwi experience,'' said Tourism New Zealand Regional Manager Europe Gregg Anderson.

''The way in which the tournament is structured presents the perfect opportunity for fans to travel the length and breadth of New Zealand in between matches and really make the most of their visit.''

Digg    Reddit    Facebook    Tweet This