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A ballot system will replace the public sales of tickets for next year's World Cup Sevens and future Hong Kong Sevens, the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) announced yesterday.

  In a bid to accommodate genuine supporters of the game, attract the general public to rugby and wipe out touting, the HKRFU yesterday unveiled their 'equitable' proposal where people will have to pre-qualify to earn the right to a ticket for the World Cup Sevens to be held from March 21-23.

  Spectators must attend two of Hong Kong's three Test matches against the USA (on June 9) and Fiji (two internationals in September/October) to be eligible to register for the ballot.

  One ballot paper will be issued per person when entering the Hong Kong Stadium (tickets for these games will cost $100).

   These must be completed and handed to HKRFU officials at the ground.

  Once the Fiji series is over, all ballot papers will be entered in a draw where one World Cup Sevens ticket, costing $1,000, will be given per person - if he or she is lucky to be picked.

  It will be the first time that a ballot system will be operated in Hong Kong - in any sport.

  Apart from the ballot, tickets will be made available as in the past for members of local rugby clubs, the Hong Kong Union club and patrons and sponsors of the HKRFU.

   The ballot will also be open to these categories if they wish to enter.

  'After considerable deliberation over the fairest method to distribute tickets to local rugby fans, we have decided to go with this ballot system,' Peter Duncan, chairman of the Rugby World Cup organising committee said.

  'We feel it would be the most equitable way and one which will benefit year-round supporters of the game.'   Duncan, who is also an HKRFU director, admitted that the element of luck which creeps in will prevent entire families from being able to attend the World Cup Sevens.

  'We are aware that luck comes in. A family of four may not be certain of getting tickets,' Duncan said.

   He was quick to add that the HKRFU was just following a tried and tested formula which major sports events overseas undertook for ticket sales.

  Among the examples given by rugby officials yesterday was the FA Cup soccer final in England, last year's Rugby World Cup in South Africa and the method of ticket sales currently undertaken by the Australian Rugby Football Union.

  The local union denied that they were forcing the public to attend rugby matches by linking the World Cup Sevens to the Hong Kong internationals against USA and Fiji.

  'There is no question of forcing the public here. The ballot will provide the HKRFU with greater control over the distribution of tickets making it more difficult for touts and unauthorised corporate hospitality groups to obtain tickets,' Duncan said.

  It is still not clear what the HKRFU's allocation of tickets for next year's tournament will be. Rugby World Cup Ltd have still not revealed how many of the estimated 40,000 tickets will be available for Hong Kong.

  Taking a guess, Duncan said the Hong Kong public would get 'something less than in previous years'. Last year around 8,000 tickets went on sale in Hong Kong. Tickets were sold out in two hours.

  'Public sales in the past have always created problems because demand has always outstripped supply. The HKRFU have never claimed that the old system was perfect but over the years we have looked at ways of trying to come up with an equitable system.

  'I don't believe this present system is perfect . . . we would like to have a stadium which can cater for all people,' Duncan said.

  He added: 'We are confident that the rugby supporting community of Hong Kong will be well catered for at the Rugby World Cup Sevens next year.'   Meanwhile 2,000 tickets for children aged 12 and under, priced at $450, will go on sale early next year.



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