Lions tickets on public sale on May 2

Remaining tickets to the British and Irish Lions' matches against New Zealand Maori and provincial teams will be available for public sale once the ballot process has been completed, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) said today.

NZRU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said the public ballot for the tickets had been a fair and transparent process with everyone who went into the ballot being offered the chance to buy tickets.

"We will be going out to all people in the ballot with a final offer before going to public sale on May 2," he said.

Sixteen percent of the total number of tickets available for the series were left to sell, Tew said.

"As expected, we have seen huge demand for tickets to the tests and major matches and while demand has been less strong for some of the provincial matches, we expect the local demand to ramp up when we go to public sale.

"The tests are sold out and there has also been strong demand for the New Zealand Maori game as well as the Auckland and Wellington games," he said.

Once the final offer to those in the ballot has closed, any remaining tickets will be offered to the general public on May 2 through normal provincial union ticketing agencies.

The Lions' 11-match tour, featuring three tests, begins against Bay of Plenty in Rotorua on June 4.

- NZPA