ARU respond to ticketing criticism
September 4, 2002

The Australian Rugby Union have responded strongly to suggestions from certain areas of the media that they are short-changing the public with their Rugby World Cup ticketing policy.

In particular the ARU spoke out against an editorial comment from The Sydney Mornig Herald.

The newspaper claimed, "Rugby World Cup organisers have mis-stepped badly and short-changed the public World Cup organisers of."

In particular they took offence to the fact that they as a publication would not be able to offer their readers the necessary application forms following the ARU's decision to utilise News Limited's stable of publications.

"It's outrageous that some will find they cannot buy tickets early without first buying a particular Sunday newspaper," declared the editorial comment.

The ARU responded with the follwoing statment, "the national media coverage of the release of the Rugby World Cup 2003 Ticketing Programme is, by and large, fair and accurate, with the exception of the editorial in today's Sydney Morning Herald

"While disappointed with the editorial stance taken by the Sydney Morning Herald, the ARU sees no merit in the disagreement continuing.

"However, in putting the matter to rest, the ARU would like to place the following on the record:

  • New Ltd's nationwide network presented the ARU with the opportunity to deliver the Rugby World Cup 2003 Ticket Order Booklet to the greatest number of people in the most efficient and cost effective manner.

  • The distribution of the Ticket Order Booklet is a one-off, one-day project. The Ticket Order Booklet does not represent a sponsorship or official partnership nor does it go beyond distribution through News Ltd's nationwide network of Sunday publications.

  • While the Ticket Booklet will be the primary means by which to order tickets to the Rugby World Cup 2003, other options will be available.

  • The ARU has produced an unprecedented level of detail about the Australian Ticketing Programme to ensure that it is understood by drawing attention to its simplicity, accessibility, transparency, value for money and fairness.

  • In staging the Rugby World Cup 2003 and furthering the game of Rugby, the ARU will work with a number of media partners spanning print, television, radio and the Internet.

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