Thousands of Rugby World Cup tickets yet to sell

England-France match has most seats available, and cheap domestic flights are still on sale through to finals. Photo / Natalie Slade

More than 10,000 tickets are left to tonight's Rugby World Cup quarter-finals match, in all seating categories priced from $200 to $500.

England play France at Eden Park from 8.30pm in the first Auckland knockout round game - and it is looking likely that tickets will be available at the gate.

The stadium will still be filled to at least 50,000, close to a record for New Zealand before this World Cup.

But without a last-minute surge in sales, the quarter-final will have a lower attendance than the pool match between England and Scotland, which drew 58,000 fans.

Fewer seats are available for the weekend's other matches.

The Ireland-Wales clash in Wellington is down to its last 1000 tickets, and Sunday's games - Australia-South Africa in Wellington and All Blacks-Argentina at Eden Park - each have about 3500 seats left.

Seats in the temporary stands have sold out for the All Blacks match, so the cheapest tickets will cost $300.

It is too late to book official corporate hospitality for the weekend matches - bookings close 72 hours before matches for catering requirements.

About 5000 people have taken up the hospitality options for this weekend, along with 20,000 fans on travel packages.

It is still possible to book flights to the game cities. Flights from Christchurch today were selling for as little as $290 and return from $70.

House of Travel retail director Brent Thomas said a surprising number of cheap flights was available through to the end of the World Cup tournament.

"There are still some reasonably priced flights from Christchurch and Wellington, so it might be pleasantly surprising for New Zealanders that they can still get to the games."

Accommodation, however, will be more of a problem.

The travel agency was down to its last few rooms - and those required guests to stay at least three nights.

"Everyone knows someone who lives in Auckland - they probably can get on somebody's couch ... [and] Wellington is a major city with limited accommodation at the best of times."

Travel and hospitality packages are still available for the semifinals next week - and for the finals the week after.

Rugby Travel and Hospitality, which oversees all of the World Cup's travel and hospitality offerings, said it had sold out its 53 corporate boxes at Eden Park for the finals.

Spokeswoman Joelle Talbot said a hospitality pavilion at the park was also being opened to its full capacity from next week, featuring full-course fine dining.

Walk up, walk in

Today
Ireland-Wales (Wellington): 1000 seats available, from $400 to $500.
England-France (Eden Park): 12,000, $200 to $500.

Tomorrow
Australia-South Africa (Wellington): 3500, $200 to $500.
All Blacks-Argentina (Eden Park): 3500, $300 to $500. (Everywhere except temporary stands.)