Rugby: Every fan for themself as final sells out

Crusaders fans cheer on their side during a 'home' game this season. Photo / Getty Images

The Super 15 final between the Reds and Crusaders on Saturday night is a sell out but away fans might be scarce amongst the record Brisbane crowd.

Saturday's final sold out in 45 minutes today with the crowd attendance set to break Australia's 104-year-old provincial record.

The Crusaders head office in Christchurch has been inundated with calls for ticket queries but with none allocated for away supporters, it was every fan for themselves.

After their team clocked up over 100,000km during the season to reach the Super 15 final, Crusaders fans looking to make the trip across the Tasman for the weekend had to access tickets through an Australian ticketing website.

President of the Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club Dick Tayler, speaking from Mooloolaba, says there will be "quite a lot" of fans heading over for the final but whether they'll be at the game is another questions.

"There are a lot of Kiwis in Mooloolaba who will be venturing down. The biggest problem people have got over here is trying to get tickets.

"A lot of people up here are not going to be able to get to the game because they won't get tickets. There is a big screen at the local surfclub in Mooloolaba so a lot of people will watch there," he said.

Air New Zealand is operating an additional service between Christchurch and Brisbane over the weekend, which includes a ticket to the game.

200 seats were made available on grabaseat.co.nz yesterday with an offer of flights and a match ticket for $999. At 3pm there were still 134 seats available.

The final will be the second sell out of the season for a Reds and Crusaders clash after their round 15 match on May 29 attracted a crowd of 48,301.

That mark will now be eclipsed on Saturday night, along with the national record for a provincial match, set in 1907 when 49,327 turned out to watch NSW play the All Blacks at the SCG.

A sell-out ensures a second capacity crowd in Brisbane this week following Wednesday night's rugby league State of Origin decider between Queensland and NSW.

Saturday night's capacity crowd will also provide almost $500,000 in extra revenue for the Queensland Rugby Union who have seen a major boost in crowds during the Reds revival.

Brisbane crowds are averaging 31,000 this season, up 30 per cent on last year, and a 60 per cent boost on the 2009 average of 18,646 when the Reds finished second last.

Tickets went on sale to Reds members on Monday and were available until Tuesday afternoon.

The remaining tickets went on sale to the general public at 9am AET today and were all taken by 9.45am.

- HERALD ONLINE/AAP