Stuff: Applications for tickets to the 2011 Rugby World Cup have passed the 300,000 mark.

Tournament organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011 said today the 325,000 ticket applications are equivalent to filling the redeveloped Eden Park more than five times over.

The figure includes the 190,000 tickets applied for since applications to the global public opened at 9am Tuesday. These represent 53,000 Venue and Team Pool Packs.

"This brings the total value of ticket applications to date to NZ$56 million. This includes applications from the global public and the New Zealand Rugby Community as well as confirmed sales during March to Provincial Union season pass holders, venue members and box holders," a Rugby New Zealand 2011 statement says.

However, the figure excludes any sales already made under the Official Travel and Hospitality sales programme with at least 85,000 tickets sold under this section.

A fifth of the applications are for team pool packs which tend to be more popular with overseas fans.

"RWC 2011 will be a special time for New Zealanders and for visitors to come to a country passionate about Rugby so the initial flood of applications has been a great vote of confidence in our country’s plans to hold the best Rugby World Cup yet," RNZ 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden said.

Applications for venue and team pool packs close 5pm May 21. In this first phase of public ticketing and all applications have an equal opportunity of success regardless of when the application is submitted.

"This is the best chance for fans to secure the seats they want for RWC 2011 so I hope as many as possible take advantage of this first phase," Snedden said.

13 May, 2010