World cup website warning

The ticket site featuring Stacey Jones in his Warriors kit. Photo / Supplied

Rugby World Cup bosses are urging the public to be careful where they buy their online tickets for next year's tournament following the appearance of at least one unofficial website.

Not that you'd have to be much of a rugby union expert to know worldcup2011.com was not the real McCoy - it boasts a picture of rugby league legend Stacey Jones on its front page.

Rugby World Cup general manager Ross Young said attempts were being made to track a country of origin for the site, which links to European ticket touts trading as euroteam.net.

The site is offering tickets in US dollars at well above the going rate, and has managed to secure itself a top, paid-for spot on Google.

Mr Young said the site, which appeared timed to launch with yesterday's international release of official RWC ticket packs, was a warning to people not to get drawn in by the promise of easy tickets.