All Blacks World Cup pool tickets sell out

The strong demand for All Blacks matches and seats at Eden Park has seen them oversubscribed as more than 600,000 ticket applications poured in during the first phase of sales for next year’s Rugby World Cup.

They were the hottest items as tournament officials looked at the washup to applications for venue and team pool packs which closed on May 21.

There were 125,000 applications for packs. In addition, 40,000 applications were received for the quarterfinal weekend packs in Wellington and Christchurch and the Bronze Final.

That meant a total demand for more than 600,000 seats which has delighted organisers.

"This is a great start and is clear evidence that both New Zealand and overseas fans will strongly support this tournament," Martin Snedden, CEO for Rugby New Zealand 2011 (RNZ 2011), said.

But there will be disappointment for some fans.

"There has been oversubscription for the Eden Park venue packs and also the New Zealand team pack. As well, there has been some specific seating category oversubscription within some other venue and team packs," Snedden said.

"It will not be possible to satisfy demand from all fans who applied in Phase 1. Unfortunately some people will be unsuccessful and, no doubt, will be disappointed. Where possible we will be going back to unsuccessful applicants with second chance pack offers."

In cases where demand exceeds availability, a randomisation process will determine success.

Successful applicants will have credit card payments deducted over the next month. All applicants - successful or otherwise - will receive written advice on the outcome of their applications by early July.

Overseas demand has been strong with the most popular team pool packs (aside from New Zealand), being England, Ireland, France, South Africa and Australia.

"Fans are realising how special this tournament will be in New Zealand and this bodes well for future ticketing phases and for the event itself," Snedden said.

"There has also been strong demand for quarter-final weekends packs in both Wellington and Christchurch. Demand for tickets at venues aside from Eden Park, has been solid and in line with expectations."

The second phase of RWC 2011 ticketing, involving the sale of individual match tickets (excluding semifinals and the final) will most likely begin in September. Details of this phase will to be confirmed in July.

Ad Feedback The third phase - a ballot for tickets to the semifinals and the final – will take place in early 2011.

Wynn Gray: Murky Questions - but few answers

Kia Ora. Sorry for not using that greeting before and, while we're on that theme, how about an apology from the All Blacks for their rest and rotation policy during the last World Cup campaign?

Murky question, the old race and rugby business. But there has been an apology to Maori affected by their exclusion from New Zealand teams because of South Africa's apartheid regime. Happenstance, politically motivated, good timing, carefully calculated in this centenary year for Maori rugby?

It does not matter. The apologies have been delivered from both New Zealand and South Africa for the non-selection of Maori on tours to the republic.

Curiously there have been players chosen for the Maori side who did not qualify. Lock Daryl Williams was a classic case - a good athlete of Fijian and Samoan connections who was picked for the team about 20 years ago until his mother revealed his bloodlines did not allow his inclusion.

Long-time All Black centre Frank Bunce played for Auckland Maori when his ancestry connected him to Niue and Samoa. There were also doubts expressed by staunch proponent Billy Bush about the racial qualifications of Christian Cullen, Tasesa Lavea and a number of others chosen in New Zealand Maori squads.

There was apparently no doubt, though, about the authenticity of the fair-skinned duo Lee Stensness and Tony Brown.

But there are still dramas.

A journalist colleague rang the NZRU the other day to inquire about the Maori squad and those who would be eligible for selection in their three-match programme next month.

You would think the NZRU would hold a register of those qualified for the Maori for the selectors to consider for that programme against Ireland and England next month. The query was related to Rene Ranger, the outside back from the Blues who has Cook Islands ancestry. It should have been easy enough to locate a list and give a response. The questioner is still waiting.

Just as we all are for some sort of decision about the officials who will be used during this year's Super 14 playoffs.

During round-robin matches, the tournament's organisers picked referees based on ability and perceived competence rather than a desire for national neutrality. It made economic and scheduling sense.

That policy has hit a few speedhumps, such as Marius Jonker's control of the Bulls game last week against the Crusaders. He made some decisions which favoured the Bulls in the crucial late minutes, but the biggest decision came from a linesman.

If Sanzar thinks we should revert to neutral referees for every match, shouldn't that apply to linesmen and television match officials too?

Imagine the cost, with no guarantee they would be any better than local touchies. And how will it all pan out next year, when the Super 15 is played in domestic pools before it splits into overseas games and extended playoffs?

Rugby: IRB clears way for Argentina to join Tri-Nations

Sanzar has welcomed an International Rugby Board (IRB) rule change which clears the way for Argentina to join a new Four Nations competition in 2012.

At its council meeting this week, the IRB decided to alter regulation nine which governs the release of players for international duty, thereby meeting a condition set by Sanzar that Argentina were required to field their best players to participate in the Four Nations tournament.

The change, set to take effect from June 1, 2012, will ensure that the release period for the new Four Nations aligns with the new dates for the competition from late August through until early October.

In September, Sanzar issued an invitation to the Pumas to join the competition from 2012, subject to several conditions which have now been resolved.

Negotiation of a participation agreement with Argentina Rugby (UAR) remains the last hurdle for inauguration of the new competition alongside the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks.

"This is an exciting step for Sanzar and for world rugby, as it confirms Argentina's participation in a top-flight rugby competition, which they thoroughly deserve, and will add a dynamic new element to the current Tri-Nations, which is already regarded as one of the world's toughest tournaments," Sanzar and New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said in a statement.

"We now need to finalise a participation agreement with the UAR so we can move to full planning for the introduction of Argentina in 2012."

The IRB confirmed in March that it would match Sanzar and provide an investment of US$2.5 million ($3.5 million) per annum from 2012 to 2015.

Sanzar also confirmed today that the three Sanzar unions and their Super rugby teams will work with the UAR to look at providing greater opportunities for Argentinean players to play in Super rugby teams as part of the lead-up to the new Four Nations.

IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset welcomed the likelihood of Argentina joining the competition.

"Today's announcement represents an historic milestone in the process of Argentina's integration into an expanded Tri-Nations tournament and is an extremely exciting development for UAR and rugby around the world."