RWC: Hopes of good weather for opening

Auckland has a good chance of settled weather. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Fans can expect a fine start to the Rugby World Cup next Friday - weather-wise, at least.

The MetService says fine and settled weather is expected on September 9, the day of the tournament's opening ceremony and the match between the All Blacks and Tonga at Eden Park.

Weather ambassador Bob McDavitt says most days will be sunny next week, a good indication of how the weather will be at the weekend.

"It looks like settled weather for much of next week, in the lead-up to the opening ceremony," Mr McDavitt said. "It will be dry and settled."

WeatherWatch said it was still a little too early to predict the weather for Friday night.

Next week's weather patterns meant Friday could be either warm and fine or cold and unsettled.

WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said there was a huge high moving away to the east of the country, which could leave the country exposed to warm weather.

"But it could also put us at risk of getting a cold front that weekend," Mr Duncan said.

Beyond September 9, WeatherWatch says the weather could be nasty, with rain.