Early starts for Irish rugby fans

Rugby: Irish rugby fans will need to set their alarm clocks for next year’s Rugby World Cup after the organisers confirmed the…

Rugby:Irish rugby fans will need to set their alarm clocks for next year's Rugby World Cup after the organisers confirmed the kick-off times today. Given the time difference between Ireland and New Zealand the kick-offs were always going to be early and at least one of the matches will start at 6am Irish time.

Supporters will at least be afforded a lie-in, of sorts, for the make-or-break Pool C meeting with the Australians which has a later time of 9.30am.

Declan Kidney’s side will start their campaign against Eddie O’Sullivan’s USA on Sunday, September 11th (the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks) at 6pm local time (7am Irish) in New Plymouth.

From there, it’s across the North Island to Auckland and that critical fixture with Australia at Eden Park (8.30pm local / 9.30am Irish).

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Clocks in New Zealand go forward before Ireland's first ever World Cup meeting with Russia in Rotorua, meaning that match will start at 6am start Irish time. Ireland’s final Pool C match, against Italy in Dunedin, will have an 8.30pm local start (8.30am Irish).

Should Ireland progress from their group, they will move to Wellington and a quarter-final meeting with the winners / runners-up from Pool D (most likely Wales and South Africa). Either match will have a 6pm kick-off (6am Irish time). Both semi-finals and the decider itself on October 23rd will kick off at 9pm (9am Irish time).

Martin Snedden, chief executive of Rugby NZ 2011, said today he believes all the late night matches have been back as far as is reasonable to accommodate northern hemisphere television audiences.

"We have achieved a good balance,” said Snedden of the kick-off times. “If New Zealand is to make the most of the platform RWC 2011 gives us to showcase our country to the world, then we need to ensure we maximise the global television audience for key matches.

"The mix of match times should really contribute to the whole festival atmosphere of the tournament."

Ireland's 2011 Rugby World Cup fixtures(all times Irish)

Sunday, September 11th

Pool C:Ireland v USA, 6pm local / 7am Irish (Stadium Taranaki, New Plymout)

Saturday, September 17th

Pool C:Ireland v Australia, 8.30pm local / 9.30am Irish (Eden Park, Auckland)

Sunday, September 25th

Pool C:Ireland v Russia, 6pm local / 6am Irish (Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua)

Sunday, October 2nd

Pool C:Ireland v Italy, 8.30pm local / 8.30am Irish (Carisbrook, Dunedin)

Saturday, October 8th

Quarter-final:Winner Pool C v Runners-up Pool D, 6pm local / 6am Irish (Wellington)

Sunday, October 9th

Quarter-final:Winner Pool D v Runners-up Pool C, 6pm local / 6am Irish (Wellington)

Noel O'Reilly

Noel O'Reilly

Noel O'Reilly is Sports Editor of The Irish Times