Cup host keeps pledge to All Black fans

SYDNEY - The Australian Rugby Union has honoured its pledge to allocate thousands of World Cup tickets specifically to New Zealand fans, but the details of how many and how they will be distributed remain under wraps.

The ARU did confirm yesterday that 3100 tickets will be available to All Black fans for next year's November 22 final, where top-of-the-range seats cost A$535 ($625) each.

The allocation equates to about 4 per cent of the 79,542 tickets available at Sydney's Telstra Stadium.

But the ARU could not provide details on how many tickets will be available for the All Blacks' four pool matches, and possible quarter and semifinals, when it released its ticketing programme.

Rugby World Cup general manager Matt Carroll said the International Rugby Board had delayed the announcement, but he hoped details would be released this month.

Carroll said the NZ Rugby Football Union had an input into how the tickets would be distributed.

Although about two million tickets will be available for the 48-match tournament, half will be taken by the IRB, which will divide them into corporate sponsorship or travel packages for overseas fans.

Tickets to New Zealand's opening match against Italy or possibly Ireland at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium (52,000 capacity) on October 11 cost between A$15 and A$80.

Seats for the second pool match against Canada on October 17, also at Docklands, are A$20 to A$50.

Prices for the final pool match against Wales on November 2 range from A$30 to A$140. Quarter-final tickets cost between A$95 and A$295 and semifinals A$150 to $420.

The public ticket issue between October 20 and November 24 will be done mainly through www.rugby2003.com.au.

- NZPA