Diehard fan plans a DIY Rugby World Cup

ANDREW GORRIE/ The Dominion Post

FLYING VISIT: Rugby fanatic Steven Bruce is planning to take three weeks off work to travel around the country and see as many World Cup rugby games as he can.

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While his All Black heroes have been putting their feet up, Steven Bruce has spent his summer holiday in a fever of planning.

The Hutt Old Boys Marist club stalwart will take three weeks off with some mates in September 2011 to follow the Rugby World Cup around the country.

Package deals for the tournament go on sale this Friday, with House of Travel – one of two official travel agencies – saying that all-inclusive tickets, accommodation and travel deals, will cost thousands of dollars.

However, Mr Bruce is more likely to take a do-it-yourself approach and wait for individual tickets to go on sale in April.

"We've been doing research over the holidays to work out roughly how much things will cost and come up with three or four options."

His group intends to travel in a minivan, staying with friends and camping.

They are keen to spend some time in the South Island, following some of the "minnow" teams, before heading back to Wellington and then Auckland for the semifinals and final.

He says he would consider booking through a travel agency to guarantee tickets to the final, which are likely to be priced from $1250. "There's definitely a limit [but] I'd be prepared to pay $500."

- © Fairfax NZ News