WORLD CUP 2011:DESPITE STRONG interest in next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Martin Snedden is still predicting a sizeable loss for Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd.

The tournament’s organisers – a joint venture between the New Zealand Rugby Union and the government – originally estimated a loss of €16 million but when expectations around ticket sales were downgraded it blew out by a further €5 million as the only income RNZ 2011 receives is from the sale of tickets.

Now with 85,000 match tickets sold as part of official travel packages and 50,000 fans from more than 100 countries pre-registering for venue and team pool packs, which went on global sale on Tuesday, Snedden, RNZ 2011 chief executive, remains optimistic that the €21 million figure will not blow out further.

“At the moment we are sitting at a projected loss of just over NZ$39million ($21m) and I think we’re confident enough to stay there at the moment and certainly the events around the start of the ticket campaign have given us a bit of comfort there,” Snedden said, 500 days out from the start of rugby’s showpiece event.

“We will continue to evaluate the whole thing . . . but we’re happy enough with where we sit at the moment. We know that selling 1.65 million tickets is going to be a huge challenge. But it’s really motivating when you start off the whole campaign and you get such an instant positive response.”

Fans in Wellington were able to pose with the Webb Ellis Cup on Tuesday, a trophy New Zealand has not won since 1987, as the promotion for the start of phase one of the ticketing process swung into top gear.

The applications for venue and pool packs close on Friday, May 21st, with individual match tickets expected to be on sale later this year. A ballot system will be used for tickets to the semi-finals and final, which will all be played at Auckland’s revamped Eden Park.

The tournament will kick off with New Zealand taking on Tonga at Eden Park on September 9th and Snedden said ensuring the ticketing programme went smoothly was a priority.

“Making sure the ticketing process goes well is a key factor for us. We’ve got to sell a bucket load of tickets. We’ve got to sell 1.65 million tickets,” he said.

“I’m not expecting to sell all of those in 2010. I would love to have the vast majority of them sold by late this year, early next year but I’m also resigned to the fact that I think we’re going to be selling tickets right through the whole process and during the tournament itself.”

Rugby Football Union elite rugby director Rob Andrew offered an optimistic forecast on the back of encouraging ticket sales to England fans. And the former England outhalf is stunned by the place the competition now occupies in the public consciousness compared to his last appearance in 1995.

He said: “The growth and expansion of Rugby World Cup in the last 20 years is just extraordinary.

“Rugby World Cup has now taken off to such an extent that each one has got bigger and bigger in terms of the number of people travelling.”

RUGBY FIXTURES

FRIDAY

European Challenge Cup semi-final: Connacht v Toulon, the Sportsground (7.45).

SATURDAY

European Cup semi-final: Toulouse v Leinster, Le Stadium, Toulouse (4.45 local time/3.45 Irish).

European Challenge Cup semi-final: London Wasps v Cardiff Blues, Adams Park (6pm).

SUNDAY

European Cup semi-final: Biarritz Olympique v Munster. Estadio Anoeta, San Sebastian (4.15 local time/3.15 Irish).

McCorry Cup (Under-21) Final: Clontarf v Blackrock College RFC, Donnybrook (3pm).