Rugby World Cup tickets held for Canterbury

Jock Hobbs says a number of tickets for the Rugby World Cup will be set aside for Cantabrians because of the earthquake.

Applications for individual tickets go on sale tomorrow, but because of the devastation caused by the earthquake, Rugby New Zealand 2011 have understandably come to the conclusion that those in Canterbury have other things on their minds right now.

Because of this a batch of tickets for all the matches in Christchurch will be held back and made available for those in Canterbury at a later date.

''With tickets to go on sale tomorrow, we are going to reserve a set of tickets especially for Canterbury when the time is right for them to focus on such matters,'' said Hobbs today, who was making a rare public appearance since he was forced to stand down as chairman of the NZRU and RNZ 2011 in May to fight his battle with leukaemia.

Although Hobbs' battle with cancer had forced him to stand down from both roles, he remains involved in both organisations and today delivered a speech to IRB officials, media, politicians and dignitaries.

Today marked the one year countdown for the first game at the World Cup, when the All Blacks play Tonga at Eden Park and standing in a lounge at the new South Stand, Hobbs said everything was on track for a great festival of rugby.

''When New Zealand won the rights to host the World Cup in 2011 nearly five years ago, there were some who asked could this small Pacific nation do it, today, as we stand in this magnificent stadium, I say emphatically yes,'' said Hobbs.

''We are on track and we will be ready.

''Without a doubt the stadium of four million is coming to life."

He said all stadium projects except the new Otago stadium would be finished this year. The Otago stadium was on schedule, though the timeframe was tight.

''This will be a special World Cup, one played in the heartland communities of New Zealand.''

- © Fairfax NZ News

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