Eden Park sells out for Black Ferns’ Rugby World Cup final

Alimited number of additional tickets for the Rugby World Cup final have been snapped up in a matter of minutes.

The Black Ferns and England will play the decider in front of a sellout crowd at Eden Park on Saturday with extra seating added.

Extraordinary demand for tickets following the Black Ferns’ semifinal victory over France prompted a review of stadium space and the release of seats in the North, West and South stands, previously reserved for operational needs.

The extra tickets went on sale on Tuesday evening and were gone within minutes as fans rushed to witness the Black Ferns’ first opportunity to defend their title on home soil.

“The crowd is everything,” Black Ferns hooker Georgia Ponsonby said.

“It means so much to have people behind us. It’s hard during the haka because you can’t really hear what’s going on. Trying to stay in time is a bit difficult. But it’s awesome, so cool. It gives you goosebumps and makes the occasion more special.”

Organisers have put in place additional security and functional measures to cater for the extra capacity, with a record crowd of just over 40,000 expected to cheer the Black Ferns on to what they hope will become their sixth Rugby World Cup victory.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early, with 5000 poi on offer, free to the first spectators through the gates from 3.30pm.

At halftime of the bronze final, Aotearoa’s iconic P tea M ori Club will perform their hit song Poi E, a tune that first played at the tournament during the opening match day at Eden Park on October 8.

International award-winning artist Benee will also take the stage at fulltime of the bronze final and halftime of the final.

Born and raised in Grey Lynn, the performance will be a homecoming for Benee, who first rose to fame when her track Supalonely went viral on TikTok.

By the tournament’s end, Rugby World Cup 2021 will have attracted over 140,000 fans – the most of any Rugby World Cup, across the three match venues in Auckland and Whang rei and five weeks of competition.