'Sold out' signs go up as Cup sales soar

All Black matches have been big sellers, but games between some of the visiting teams have also sold well. File photo / Brett Phibbs

Only a third of Rugby World Cup tickets are left as sales hit the one million mark - and three matches have sold out.

Tournament organisers yesterday revealed the latest sales figures, which add up to 63 per cent of tickets available and 74 per cent of the targeted number.

Sales surged this week as the remaining seats were put on the market in the final ticketing phase.

About 100,000 tickets - or 6 per cent of the total - sold in the past three days.

All Black matches have been big sellers, but games between some of the visiting teams have also sold well.

Ireland versus Italy in Dunedin and South Africa versus Samoa in Albany have seats available in only one category, and the France-Canada game in Napier has sold out.

The final and New Zealand's game against France are also booked out.

"This has been a tremendous start to our final ticketing campaign, and we are thrilled with the way fans in New Zealand and around the world have responded," said Martin Snedden, chief executive of tournament organisers Rugby New Zealand 2011.

They are expecting ticket sales to pull in $268.5 million, based on 1.35 million tickets being sold for the 48 games - 84 per cent of capacity.

This week's sales have boosted revenue by $17 million to $220 million, reaching 82 per cent of the income target.

In the past six weeks, fans have bought 211,000 tickets worth $51 million.

"This is a fantastic result, and is about where we expected to be with little over two months until the tournament kicks off," Mr Snedden said.

Previously, the highest revenue-generating event in New Zealand's history had been the 2005 Lions tour, which grossed $24 million, Mr Snedden said.

Tickets can be bought online at www.rugbyworldcup.com/tickets