6 July 2011

Hot Tickets Go On Sale For Queenstown Classics Rugby Match

Some of the hottest tickets in town go on sale this Friday (8 July) for a classic feature match guaranteed to spark international rugby rivalries.

Queenstown, New Zealand's premier lake and alpine resort town, will celebrate the country's rich rugby heritage with a titanic contest between the Classic All Blacks and the French Classics, presented by Steinlager, on 18 September at the Queenstown Recreation Ground.

From Friday, a limited number of tickets can be purchased via the Ticketek website www.ticketek.co.nz (www.ticketek.co.nz/):

* 250 grandstand tickets are available at $25 per person plus booking fee

* 2,000 general admission tickets are available at $12 a head

The remainder (4,750) of the general admission tickets will be sold at the gate on game day and children aged 16 and under can attend the game for free. The capacity of the Queenstown Recreation Ground is 7,000.

The feature match promises to be a great day out for families, locals and visitors with an Classic All Blacks lineup starring Christian Cullen, Andrew Mehrtens and Jeff Wilson among a host of other well-known 'names' including Tony Brown, Charlie Hore, Reuben Thorne, Dion Muir, Kees Meeuws, Scott Robertson and Kelvin Middleton.

Destination Queenstown General Manager of Marketing Graham Budd urged fans to secure their tickets early to avoid disappointment.

"This match is lining up to be a superb day out for rugby fans of all ages and with most tickets priced at just $10 it's a steal.

"We're expecting a strong contingent of international fans and many are keen to snap up tickets early to guarantee their spots. It's the perfect time for them to come to Queenstown, enjoy the game and then stay on to enjoy our award-winning food and wine, buzzing nightlife, friendly people, and cosmopolitan shopping. We also have a range of accommodation options available, from budget to five-star, so there's plenty to suit all tastes."

The Classics event is part of the REAL New Zealand Festival and is being organised by Destination Queenstown in conjunction with Classic All Blacks convener Andy Haden and the Sevens with Altitude committee.

Mr Haden said the French Classics lineup was still being confirmed but the team is expected to include a number of players who came up against the Classic All Blacks at the recent World Rugby Classic in Bermuda.

"It was a great game but the Classic All Blacks came out on top, beating the French 7-5."

While in Queenstown, both teams are being hosted by The Rees Hotel, a five star luxury apartment hotel on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, which is a major supporter of the match.

During Rugby World Cup 2011, Queenstown will also be an official team training venue for four teams Ireland, England, Romania and Georgia.

For more information about the Classic All Blacks visit www.classicallblacks.com (www.classicallblacks.com/). For more information about Queenstown visit www.queenstownnz.co.nz (www.queenstownnz.co.nz/).

ENDS

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