Applications for the second ticketing phase for Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand will open on September 10, 2010 when members of the global Rugby community will be invited to apply for individual match tickets for 45 tournament matches. Approximately 400,000 individual tickets will be made available via the official tournament website www.rugbyworldcup.com for all matches except the semi-finals and the Final. Similar to the first phase launched earlier this year, fans may apply for tickets to matches of their choice. All applications have an equal chance of success. “I urge fans to take advantage of this phase as it is their last chance to buy tickets until well into next year and also the last chance to enter the ballots to for semi-finals and Final tickets,” said RNZ 2011 CEO Martin Snedden. “We have already seen demand outstrip supply for some matches, and advise fans not to leave it too late and to apply during this second Phase.” “While tickets will be available for 45 matches, demand to date has been exceptionally strong for matches at Eden Park and the quarter-finals in Wellington and Christchurch.”   With Rugby World Cup 2011 set to be the largest event ever hosted in New Zealand, the tournament organisers have confirmed that overall sales targets are on track after 503,000 tickets worth NZ$76m (exc GST) were snapped up during the first phase which featured Team and Venue Pool Packs. Tickets to quarter-finals and the Bronze Final were also available at this stage. “We are delighted with the strong demand for tickets. The incredible response of the New Zealand public, who are right behind the tournament and the global Rugby family demonstrates the enormous prestige and appeal of Rugby World Cup as one of the world’s major sporting events,” said Rugby World Cup Limited Chairman Bernard Lapasset. Snedden added: “The initial demand for tickets has been very strong, both from fans in New Zealand and around the world, and bodes well for capacity crowds in 2011.” Approximately 100,000 or one fifth of tickets were purchased overseas, with fans from the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Australia and South Africa leading the way. Some 20,000 fans from 85 different countries were successful in their applications. Rugby Travel & Hospitality (RTH) Limited, which manages the Official Travel and Hospitality programme, said the demand for tickets from Official Travel and Hospitality Agents has also been strong. Our global network of Official Travel Agents responsible for selling a wide variety of travel packages to Rugby fans from around the world are on track to sell more than 100,000 tickets through the travel programme to just over 30,000 overseas visitors,” said David White, Director of Operations at Rugby Travel & Hospitality. “Current sales also indicate we’ll also bring a further 13,500 visitors to New Zealand through the official hospitality programme.” RNZ 2011 expects that orders through subsequent ticket phases, as well as further purchase of Official Travel and Hospitality packages will see these visitor numbers continue to rise over the next 12 months. Phase two Facts: • The application period will run from Friday, September 10 until Friday, October 8. At that stage RNZ 2011 will process applications. In the event that demand exceeds availability, applications will be randomly selected. Notification of the outcome of each application will be issued on or before November 12.• As in Phase 1, using a MasterCard to apply for RWC 2011 Pool Packs will earn double entries into the ballots.• Full details on how the RWC 2011 Ticketing Programme works can be found in the updated Rugby World Cup 2011 Tickets Media Guide.• All ticket prices for Phase 2 have been adjusted for the GST increase from October 1. • As in Phase 1, New Zealand based fans can opt to use a payment plan. They will be able to pay in monthly instalments over a three month period. A NZ$25 fee applies. Notes to editors: RWC has provided the financial platform for investment and growth in the Game. The net RWC 2007 surplus of£122.4 million has underwritten a range of major funding initiatives including annual national Union grants and Strategic Investments via the£48 million programme between 2009-2012 focusing increasing competition across the global Game.