Lions fans queue for last tickets

You can always count on the English to form a queue.

Will Moreton and Oli Colston were among a handful of punters in Hamilton queuing this morning to buy the remaining tickets for the New Zealand Maori-Lions rugby match on June 11.

Waikato Rugby Union marketing manager Pat Mellsop said the days of patrons camping out overnight to secure tickets had largely gone, given modern phone and website alternatives.

At 9am today the final 2100 tickets for the Hamilton match -- $40 for standing and $65 for goal line seat tickets -- went on sale.

"My expectation is they will be gone by lunchtime," Mr Mellsop said. "This is a one-off game. Remember, if the ground was its normal size we would already be 3000 oversold."

A temporary grandstand is being installed for the match.

"With 28,000 already sold, this is one of the biggest rugby games ever seen in Hamilton," he added.

Mr Moreton, an 18-year-old farm hand from Cambridge, England, who has been living here since February, is seeking tickets to all the Lions matches.

At 8.30am there were just 20 people in the queue.

This morning 800 tickets remained for the Wellington v Lions match, while 1400 were left for the Auckland game. Around 12,400 tickets are still available for the Otago match.

- nzpa