Lions ticket buyers beware, NZRU warns

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) has threatened legal action against scalpers selling tickets for matches on this year's tour by the British and Irish Lions.

Tickets were being sold openly on the internet yesterday for at least double the set price.

One Wellington fan was asking $500 each for two covered seats to the test match at Wellington's at Westpac Stadium on July 2 on TradeMe.co.nz.

NZRU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said some sellers had already been caught and others were playing a "very dangerous game".

"The terms and conditions are very clear. Where we can track them we will. They won't get in the ground."

He could not rule out getting police involved, although it was unusual.

"Anybody silly enough to buy tickets that are not in front of them, over the internet, is in danger of ending up in a Nigerian banking-type scam," he said.

Overseas-based websites are selling packages that included tickets to each of the three tests plus hospitality for 1500 euros ($2765), with international bank transfers to Cyprus and credit card requests for payment.

Tew said any sales not through the NZRU or official travel agents in New Zealand were almost certainly scams.

"Anything (to do with the Lions tour) bought on the internet runs a grave risk of being a scam or tickets that have been procured illegally and can be shut down."

The NZRU was taking the issues seriously for several reasons, he said.

It did not want the All Blacks playing in front of hostile crowds and also had commercial agreements to honour.

The problem could increase as more tickets were sold, but the NZRU had several initiatives to catch scalpers.

- NZPA