Private eyes on ticket scalpers

The New Zealand Rugby Union has hired private investigators to confiscate tickets from scalpers hoping to profit from selling Lions test tickets at inflated prices.

The union has warned prospective touts it would come down hard on the practise of scalping, with union deputy chief executive Steve Tew saying it was "working very hard" to protect fans' interests.

He would not confirm whether the union was engaging private investigators to help stamp out scalping. "We would be foolish to tell you what we are doing." However, it appears many touts have had their hopes of making a quick buck from onselling tickets dashed.

In Christchurch yesterday there was no shortage of people offering tickets for the night's game at Jade Stadium and the asking price dropped steadily as the hours wore on. On website auctions such as Trade Me and eBay, tickets that weeks ago were being snapped up for more than 10 times their face value were not even attracting bids, let alone making the reserve price - something Mr Tew claims the union had warned people about all along.

"Prices have come back to face value. We don't see it as a big problem. We have been proven right."

Meanwhile, the Barmy Army has come under fire from British rugby fans for claiming to be the official support crew for the travelling Lions team. As tens of thousands of supporters flood into New Zealand, many loyal fans are angry at the way Barmy Army bosses have turned the unofficial cricket fan club into a commercial machine purporting to represent all British fans. Barmy Army chief Freddie Parker has spent the last year travelling to and from New Zealand organising the Barmy Army tour party, which has "headquarters" in every city hosting Lions matches.

Wales supporter Phil Dobson, said: "It's (the tour) been taken over by the Barmy Army. It's all crap. The Barmy Army are only to do with cricket."

Irishmen Andrew Carlisle and Rob Patterson, who arrived two days ago, said they were "a bit embarrassed" about the reputation the Barmy Army was giving the British.

"I'm just worried we might be tarred with the same brush. New Zealanders will think we are all a big bunch of louts, but I could be wrong," said Mr Carlisle.

But last night national loyalties and divisions were put aside as Irish, Welsh, Scottish and English walked into bars and filled the stadium, sharing a pint and belting out national anthems in the build-up to the big match.

Bars started filling up well before noon and camping store owners rubbed their hands over record sales of thermals, as unprepared Brits arriving from tropical stopovers struggled with Siberian temperatures.

Police were busy reminding tourists of the road rules, while Canterbury District Health Board urged those over-indulging to go to after-hours clinics rather than A&E. 

- HERALD ON SUNDAY