Spectacular start prompts ticket sales surge

Tournament organisers today announced that the giant Webb Ellis Cup which featured in last night’s Opening Ceremony for the seventh Rugby World Cup would be gifted to Christchurch.

The Cup featured in the closing stages of the ceremony and formed the backdrop to the official speeches by the Prime Minister the Rt Hon John Key and International Rugby Board Chairman Bernard Lapasset.

“We are pleased to be able to announce that the giant steel Cup will find a home in the city which was to play such a pivotal role in the Tournament before the tragic earthquake of February 22,” said Therese Walsh, Chief Operating Officer for Rugby New Zealand 2011 (RNZ 2011).

The 7m high sculptural version of the Cup was built in a workshop in Christchurch before being shipped to Auckland and re-assembled. It was designed by the ceremony’s head of design Robin Rawstorne.

The Cup will be transported back to Christchurch and located at the Hagley Park Fanzone.

“I know Hagley Park was full of fans last night to witness the spectacular start to Rugby World Cup 2011 so I am sure the big Cup will be a wonderful addition to what is already a fantastic experience for fans.”

RNZ 2011 also confirmed that one of the large yachts which featured in the “Journey” sequence of the ceremony will be put on display in the New Zealand Rugby Museum in Palmerston North during the Tournament.

After the Tournament the yacht will go on permanent display, installed alongside the second yacht over the feature pond at the Pacific Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland.

“These sets were all designed and built by New Zealand craftspeople so it’s only fitting that they find an appropriate home so fans now and in future years can remember how the Opening Ceremony to RWC 2011 kicked off the Tournament in dazzling style.”

Ticket sales surge

RNZ 2011 confirmed that ticket sales are growing as the Tournament gets underway.

“We are now seeing sales of almost NZ$1m a day,” said Therese Walsh. “We always expected sales to rise as the Tournament comes alive across the country so it’s great to see so many New Zealanders now wanting to be ringside.”

Tournament organisers have now sold 1.2 million tickets. Ticket sales revenue now totals NZ$249m, leaving NZ$19.5m to reach the Tournament end target.

There are seven further matches this weekend at six venues – four today, three tomorrow.

“We are expecting most of these matches to be at or near capacity so our advice to fans is to purchase tickets now and avoid disappointment or having to queue on match day.”