Lotto winner's World Cup windfall

The Rugby World Cup clash between Scotland and England was particularly exciting for one spectator, who had just learned he had won Lotto's first division. Photo / Greg Bowker

The latest lotto winner found out he'd won $500,000 halfway through listening to a national anthem at Eden Park.

The Rotorua rugby fan was in Auckland for the England vs Scotland game when he found out he'd won the First Division Lotto prize.

"My friend and I had driven up to watch the game at Eden Park, when halfway through the national anthems, I got a phone call from my wife, who had recorded the draw that evening and told me that we had just won Lotto!" he said.

"At first I thought my wife had called because of an emergency, but when she told me that we had won, I could not help but yell out into the crowd that I was a Lotto winner."

The Rotorua couple, who wish to remain anonymous, are regular Lotto players and purchased their ticket from Take Note Rotorua.

He said he'd been given a free ticket to the Saturday night game, and his weekend was topped off by winning Lotto.

"I couldn't celebrate after the game much, as we had to drive back to Rotorua straight away, but the next day after claiming our prize, my wife and I went out for a champagne lunch."

"Even now, we are still feeling a bit overwhelmed, and can't believe we've won."

The couple plan on investing their prize, and having a tropical holiday in the future.

"It doesn't look like we'll be going to the next Rugby World Cup in England, but you never know," he laughed.