No queue jump for Cup final

Grassroots rugby stalwarts will not get any priority access for tickets to the World Cup final, but they will get to jump the queue at other games.

Tournament ticketing manager Shane Harmon said there would be a quota of tickets available for the "New Zealand rugby community".

Mr Harmon said these tickets would not be doled out to rugby clubs directly, but rather an offer would be made to up to 180,000 players, referees and administrators who were on the Rugby Union database.

Mr Harmon said details were not finalised, but there would be a mechanism for the rugby community to get a "better chance" at tickets when they first went on sale in April.

He said this would only be for games up to the quarter-finals, as numbers were too tight for the semi-finals and final.

But Mr Harmon said this would still mean the rugby community got better access to big games such as the All Blacks opening match against Tonga, the blockbuster match against France and the quarter-finals.

But this was not enough for Grey Power, who yesterday called on the 250 VIP tickets available at the semi-finals and final to be made to club stalwarts, who were often elderly.

Grey Power North Shore convener Bill Rayner, who is also a North Shore Rugby Club supporter, said $1250 for a ticket to the final meant pensioners had little chance of making the game.

"The VIPs of the rugby world are not the Prince Harrys or John Keys but the men and women of the grassroots clubs who have soldiered on for years."

Mr Rayner said a block of VIP tickets should be allocated either free or at concession prices.

Mr Rayner also asked if the World Cup budget "could possibly stretch to a couple of beers, and sausage rolls to make it a special outing for the old timers".