All Blacks World Cup tickets a rare commodity

3:00pm

Kiwi rugby supporters will battle to see the All Blacks in action live at the next year's World Cup with reports suggesting just 4000 seats will be set aside for fans at each match involving New Zealand.

The Australian Rugby Union promised to make a special allocation for New Zealanders, as compensation for the New Zealand Rugby Football Union being dumped as a tournament co-host last month.

The Australian newspaper however today quoted sources saying the ARU would make 4000 tickets available across the Tasman for games involving the All Blacks, one of the tournament's biggest drawcards.

Barring upsets they will play the Wallabies in a semifinal at the 80,000-capacity Stadium Australia here next November.

There will be 1.5 million tickets available for the 48 cup matches.

If the All Blacks make the final they will play seven matches, meaning there will be 28,000 tickets released for New Zealand supporters.

The ARU said it was still finalising ticketing arrangements and an announcement was not expected until September.

"It's impossible to put a number on it at this time," tournament general manager Matt Carroll said, when asked how tickets would be allocated for the World Cup.

"It varies from match to match. We have to accommodate overseas visitors and other unions around the world. Rugby World Cup Limited (the tournament organiser) will have 50 percent of the tickets at each venue.

"They don't use all of them, so a lot will be released back to us."

But he warned spectators could face similar problems to those experienced here yesterday when a public release of 10,000 tickets for the August 3 Bledisloe Cup test at Stadium Australia were snapped up in 10 minutes.

The ARU was besieged by angry Wallaby fans, who queued up overnight at ticket outlets only to miss out.

The organisation defended its policy of releasing only 10,000, saying it had to balance public demand and satisfy the rugby community including clubs, players, season ticket holders and sponsors.

About 4500 tickets for the Bledisloe Cup clash were released to New Zealand travel agencies for package tours.

Carroll said the ARU would liaise with its New Zealand counterpart to determine the fairest way of allocating New Zealand's share of the World Cup tickets.

Ticket prices are also expected to be released in September.

New Zealand will play pool matches at Colonial Stadium in Melbourne and Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, both have capacities of 52,000.

The semifinals and final will be at Stadium Australia.

- NZPA