Rugby World Cup tickets sale delayed

Rugby World Cup organisers have been forced to postpone the date of their ticket sale launch for the 'Rugby Community Ticketing Programme'after problems with the online booking system run by distribution partner Ticketmaster.

The live sale of tickets was due to begin on Friday for member of rugby clubs in the UK but will now not take place until Thursday May 29th.

In a statement, England Rugby 2015 said: "The live sale date has been moved from Friday May 16th (tomorrow), following a request today from Ticketmaster for more time to test the online ticketing system they are providing to ensure that rugby fans have the best possible experience when booking tickets.

“The new sale date also gives rugby clubs more time to register their members on the system for the 500,000 tickets available.

“The Rugby Community Ticketing Programme will now run from May 29th to July 2nd 2014.

“Up to a million tickets will go on general sale from September 12th to September 29th 2014 — these dates were announced last week, and have not changed.”

The man who spearheaded New Zealand's successful hosting of the tournament in 2011, meanwhile, has Ireland is not too small to handle the magnitude of the event.

Speaking in Limerick today Martin Snedden, CEO of New Zealand Rugby World Cup said Ireland's infrastructure is far more developed than his home country was when it launched its bid.

Speaking about the opportunity that exists for Ireland to bid for World Cup 2023 he said: “This is a moment in time that Ireland should take.”

He also said the country's proximity to the UK and Europe — the biggest rugby markets — is essential to the success of the tournament.

“You are not too small to handle the magnitude of this challenge. You are miles ahead of New Zealand in some ways. You have infrastructure both in in terms of stadia and transport that we simply didn’t have.

“And you have geographical proximity that is absolutely essential to the success of the tournament. You sit beside Europe and the UK which are the the biggest rugby markets that exist.”

He said Ireland could attract 400,000 visitors for the tournament compared to the 100,000 that New Zealand had three years ago.

Snedden made his comments in Thomond Park where he was invited to speak at a European Sport Tourism Summit. He said he had an opportunity while in Ireland to sit down in a steering group with representatives from North and South tourism and rugby groups.

Insisting that Ireland has “the right ingredients” to host the tournament he stressed that in had to be an all-island bid.

“If this is to be a success for Ireland than all of Ireland should share in that and it is essential that north and south work together and share the opportunity. ”

He said small stadia that hold 12,000 people are as essential to the Rugby World Cup as larger venues as you “can’t stage 48 matches in stadia with 50,000 capacity.”