World Cup tickets on sale from tomorrow

WORLD CUP TICKETS: Tickets for the 2007 Rugby World Cup will go on sale tomorrow for European players, supporters and club members.

They will be offered in packages by city and by team while a second phase will allow the general public to buy similar packages from April 10th, 2006, organisers said yesterday.

The sale of single tickets, including for the final, will start later in 2006.

"The first ticket release rewards the loyalty of the rugby family that, week in week out, supports the game," said Syd Millar, chairman of the RWC Ltd.

The tickets will be available over the internet and mobile phones, by post and at branches of the bank Societe Generale.

Bernard Lapasset, the French Federation president, said he expected 2.4 million to attend the 48 matches, from September 7th to October 20th, in 12 cities in France, Wales and Scotland.

"Our aim is to fill the stadiums to a minimum of 80 per cent of their capacity," he said.

Lapasset said 250,000 seats would cost between €10 and €15 and 1.1 million less than €50.

For the final phases, 30 per cent of seats will cost between €50 and €100.

Nearly 15,000 of the 80,000 seats of the Stade de France will be sold at €99 and half the 50,000 Parc des Princes places will cost €15 for the third-place playoff.

A city pack will apply to group matches in one city, with the possibility of adding a quarter-final and a semi-final.

The team pack follows a single nation through the tournament to the semi-finals, with a partial refund if the team fails to qualify.

ENGLAND SQUAD: Head coach Andy Robinson has defended his decision to make England's 22-man squad unavailable for Guinness Premiership action this weekend.

England have spent the last week training at Loughborough for their Twickenham clash with Australia on November 12th, and Robinson insists he needs the extra week to build a side capable of competing. It is a system the clubs agreed to for this November - but one they are far from happy with.

But Robinson was unrepentant yesterday and declared: "It is about elite performance. I have no doubt about our preparations. The 22 should not be playing in a game this weekend."

ENGLAND SQUAD:Backs: O Barkley, B Cohen, M Cueto M Dawson, H Ellis, C Hodgson, J Lewsey, J Noon, M Tindall, M Van Gisbergen. Forwards: S Borthwick, M Corry (capt), L Deacon, D Grewcock, C Jones, L Mears, L Moody, P Sanderson, A Sheridan, M Stevens, S Thompson, P Vickery.

AUSTRALIA : Captain George Gregan will become the most capped player in history on Saturday when he leads the Wallabies against France in Marseille. Gregan (32), will win his 115th cap, one more than England prop Jason Leonard.

Matt Giteau was named at outhalf yesterday after missing the final Tri-Nations match through injury. Mat Rogers moves on to the left wing and Wendell Sailor returns to the right after missing three Tests with a knee injury.

AUSTRALIA: C Latham; W Sailor, L Tuqiri, M Turinui, M Rogers; M Giteau, G Gregan (captain); A Baxter, B Cannon, M Dunning; N Sharpe, M Chisholm; G Smith, P Waugh, R Elsom. Replacements: S Moore, G Holmes, C Whitaker, H McMeniman, J Roe, L Johansson, D Mitchell.