Rugby punters bar options limited for RWC

Most of reigning champion New Zealand's pool matches fall outside the normal on-licensed venue hours. Photo / Doug Sherring

All Blacks fans wanting to watch early morning Rugby World Cup matches in pubs and bars shoulder to shoulder with other staunch supporters might have limited choices, with only a small number of licensed premises applying to stay open late.

Venues wanting to show rugby's showpiece tournament matches from England over anti-social hours in September and October have to apply to their local licensing boards for special licences.

Most of reigning champion New Zealand's pool matches fall outside the normal on-licensed venue hours.

The All Blacks' opening match against Argentina on September 20 kicks off at 3.45am (NZ time). The next one at 7am and the last two at 8am. The final begins at 5am on November 1.

On-licences in the Auckland region operate under the maximum default hours of 8am-4am as set by government under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

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To get a special license, pubs must adhere to a bunch of Auckland Council conditions, including pre-selling tickets to at least half of the event's patrons and closing for an hour before the event.

Auckland Council's alcohol licensing team on Friday confirmed it has so far received 20 applications for special licences.

"A few more are expected," said the council's manager of alcohol licensing, Rob Abbott.

"Some of these are now before the District Licensing Committee and the remainder will be reviewed over the coming weeks.

"Auckland Council has been talking to licensees since the beginning of February and providing advice on the types of activities that could be held on the premises to tie in with the RWC, thereby making it an event rather than just business as usual."

Applications must be lodged 20 working days before the start of the first event.

However, Mr Abbott urged licensees to lodge applications this month to avoid being caught out of time if there are oppositions, objections or appeals.

Viaduct sports bar The Fox Tavern has already applied for a special license so it can show all of the All Blacks games.

Venue manager Justine Smith is hopeful their application will be successful.

"It's great for people to able to come together and support our team, cheer, laugh and chant whether they're drinking orange juice, beer or coffee."

Four Wellington venues have already applied for special licences, Wellington City Council confirmed.

Christchurch City Council says just two on-licences have to date applied for special licences to operate outside the closing hours that vary from 11pm to 4am across the city.

However, rugby fans in Dunedin and Wairarapa will be hoping they are not left alone in their living rooms. No pubs in either region have yet applied for special licenses.

"We have contacted all of the relevant licensed premises in Masterton advising them they will need to apply for a special licence for these games," Masterton District Council spokesman Sam Rossiter-Stead said.

"At this time the Masterton District Licensing Committee has not received any applications or queries regarding this."