World Cup ticket hopefuls will get confirmation this week

The Rugby World Cup. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Rugby fans who applied for the first phase of 2011 Rugby World Cup tickets will find out if they have been successful today or tomorrow.

Followers from throughout the world applied for 600,000 tickets from April 27 to May 21 out of the 1.65 million available. Rugby New Zealand 2011 organisers told the Herald they would be informing fans who had been successful via a confirmation email.

Chief executive of Rugby New Zealand 2011, Martin Snedden, said demand for the Eden Park pool pack and the New Zealand pool pack had exceeded availability. Organisers would not be able to tell how many tickets had been sold until the end of the weekend. However, they could confirm that Eden Park was the most popular venue followed by Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton.

Marketing and communications general manager Shane Harmon said a second phase of ticketing would begin in September.

"We expect there will be more tickets available in 2011, but the best chance is by applying through the first two phases," says Mr Harmon.

The next phase will give the public an opportunity to apply for individual tickets to all matches, except the final and semifinal.

Fans wanting to watch New Zealand play France at Eden Park will have to pay up to $450 for a Category A ticket. The budget conscious will still have a chance to soak up the World Cup atmosphere in Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Rotorua and Whangarei, where adult tickets will range between $40-$70.

Those wishing to attend the 2011 Rugby World Cup final or semifinals will have to enter a ballot unless they buy a package from an official travel and hospitality agent.

While semifinal tickets will cost between $290 and $780, fans who want a seat at the final on October 23, 2011 can expect to pay $390-$1250.

To prevent ticket scalping Mr Harmon says they will begin releasing tickets in late May 2011 and will use the Major Events Management Act, 2007. Authorities will have the right to issue a fine of up to $5000 to someone selling a ticket "for a value greater than the original sale price of that ticket" without the authorisation of the organiser.

There are 435 days left until the first game of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, New Zealand v Tonga at Eden Park.