Visiting Lions fans may sleep on water

By CHRIS RATTUE

Cruise ships may be brought to New Zealand to help accommodate the thousands of Lions fans expected here next year.

The country will face a major test transporting and accommodating about 20,000 Lions fans during the 10-game tour, which takes in small centres Rotorua, New Plymouth, Hamilton, Invercargill and Palmerston North.

The pressure will also be on this country's small and outdated stadiums. The higher-than-usual demand for tickets means they will be scarce and more expensive, NZRFU chief executive Steve Tew indicated yesterday.

The rugby union has talked to the Government and heads of overseas travel companies among others as it searches for answers to the accommodation and travel questions.

Canterbury rugby chief executive Hamish Riach said British fans had already emailed his union offering "well over the market price" for tickets.

Tew said the tour would "indicate" New Zealand's viability as a World Cup host.

"We welcome the challenge. We're looking at the positives not the problems."

The solutions include setting up caravan parks, bringing in cruise ships - Tew named Wellington Harbour as one potential site - and arranging extra flights for quick-stop visits to the smaller venues.

Tew said: "The trouble with cruise ships is they are all in the Northern Hemisphere during our winter. It will be hard to get them into New Zealand waters.

"But we have to be innovative. We have to accept we're not like Australia with major cities which can accommodate 40,000 visitors."

Tew said up to 20,000 Lions supporters were expected in New Zealand by the end of the tour.

Questions were raised around New Zealand rugby yesterday why Wellington had been allocated two matches.

One leading official said the city could cope with only 4500 visitors at a time, whereas Auckland - which will host just one match - had 15,000 tourist beds.