RWC 2011 Travel Agents Announced

Rugby World Cup Ltd (RWCL) and Rugby Travel and Hospitality Ltd (RTH) are pleased to announce the appointed Official Travel Agents (OTAs) for Rugby World Cup 2011, New Zealand.

The first official travel packages for the Tournament will go on sale from January 1, 2010 through 20 OTAs worldwide, presenting the opportunity for the global Rugby family to book their tickets to Rugby's premier Tournament a year and a half before kick-off.

The agent appointments follow a comprehensive tender evaluation and selection process. The appointed agents will ensure Rugby supporters from around the world are offered a wide choice of travel packages based on content and price.

"Rugby World Cup is now one of the top five sporting events in the world and the strength of the RWC 2007 commercial ticketing programme was one of the major success stories of a record-breaking Tournament with ticket package and corporate sales exceeding 100,000 - more than the 1999 and 2003 Tournaments combined," said RWCL Managing Director Mike Miller.

"We are delighted that we now have on board the Official Travel Agents for RWC 2011 and that we are continuing our excellent partnership with RTH. This is a key step in the ticketing programme and the announcement so far in advance of the Tournament is another indication that we are on track to deliver a great Rugby World Cup."

RTH Chief Executive Officer Andrew Burton said: "RWCL, RTH and the appointed agents are all committed to providing the best possible service and Tournament experience for rugby supporters throughout the world who will travel to Rugby World Cup 2011."

"Fans will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of match ticket inclusive travel packages, offering a wide range of ways to live the RWC 2011 experience. By booking through an OTA, the global Rugby fan can be sure that their tickets are guaranteed. Supporters obtaining tickets from unofficial sources should be aware that they run the risk of having those tickets cancelled, being refused entry or being rejected from the stadium."

RWC 2011 will be the seventh Tournament and is on course to write another memorable chapter in the RWC success story. With a little under two years to go operational planning is on track, the match schedule completed and the commercial programme advanced. Official Corporate Hospitality Packages will go on sale on February 1, 2010. Match tickets will go on sale via the official Tournament website www.rugbyworldcup.com globally in April 2010.

The appointed agents are:

Argentina

Tower Travel

Australia

Total Sports Travel

We Love Rugby

France

Couleur Rugby

Eventeam

NZ Voyage

Phileog Sports

Italy

Esatour

Japan

J World Travel

New Zealand

House of Travel

Seasonz Travel

South Africa

Edusport

Indojet

Makro Sports Travel

United Kingdom

England Rugby Travel

Gullivers Sports UK

Thomas Cook Travel

USA

Great Atlantic Travel

Cruise Ship Operators

Adventure World

CruiseCo