UK RWC tourists buying tickets, without rooms

Martin Snedden's message has worked. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Martin Snedden must be a relieved man - tickets for the 2011 Rugby World Cup appear to be selling fast in the UK. But he may have to put a few fans up at his place.

Worries over the recession and the thought that English and other UK fans might not want to travel 18,000km only to be disappointed by onfield results have not harmed ticket uptake a bit.

In fact, travel agents said at one stage that figures were up 40 per cent on those for the French edition of the tournament in 2007.

But the slightly worrying news is that many British fans have absolutely no idea where they are going to stay once they get here.

When tickets and packages first went on sale in the UK in January, the pervading perception was New Zealand would get full pretty quickly and that costly full-package tours including accommodation - be it in hotels, cruise ships or motor homes - were the way to go.

This sent Martin Snedden's 2011 committee into PR overdrive to hammer home the notion that there was nothing to worry about; there would be room at the inn for backpackers in Godzone for the duration of the tournament.

Snedden's "she'll be right" message has worked - a little too well, perhaps. At least half of the 1600 packages purchased from England Rugby Travel, the official agency for Red Rose supporters - who send the largest contingent over from Britain - have opted for a hotel-free scheme.

And of those, two-thirds admit they are yet to even start thinking about where they are going to stay in the South Island, where England's pool games will take place, or in Auckland for the business end of the tournament.

But are they worried? Not a bit, it seems. ERT spokesman Justin Hopwood said: "We had read the media activity with regards to accommodation but we haven't heard from anybody worried over places to stay."

Some fans are heading over on their own steam, drawing on the experience of travelling over for the British and Irish Lions tour of five years ago. And when asked about the prospect of being locked out of a room due to the sheer numbers expected over here, there is a shrug of the shoulders from some.

In a UK survey last month of those who had bought tickets and flights with no accommodation attached, just under a quarter said they would stay with friends or family. Of the rest, some said they would hire their own motorhome, while others would organise their own accommodation, which most of these had yet to do. But when there was a game of rugby to be watched, followed by a couple of beers, then what was the problem if there was nowhere to sleep?

As Londoner Kevin Broadfoot put it: "If I can't find anywhere ... it will probably only be a problem on the night of a game, so if needs be I will stay out."