5,000 Irish fans flocking to New Zealand

We knew the die-hard Ireland rugby fans wouldn’t let the side down. More than 5,000 will travel to New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup.

Initial reports suggested only around 1,500 would hit New Zealand to cheer on Declan Kidney’s side, but ticket sales figures from Rugby New Zealand (RNZ) 2011 show the Irish are travelling in greater numbers than predicted.

Not only will an estimated 5,000 Irish make the mammoth 11,500 mile trip down south but the expat support of anything between 5,000 and 10,000 based in New Zealand will forge an army of support.

"Best estimates currently are that 25,000 fans will make the monster 12-hour trip from the UK and Ireland, based on updated ticket sales data,” RNZ 2011 Mike Jaspers said.

"That includes around 5,000 fans based in Ireland, but doesn’t include the other Irish diaspora. There must be many in Australia we think too."

Although many Irish fans have opted for package trips to the World Cup which are setting them back around €10,000, it is believed there are plenty doing it on the “cheap” with an average expenditure of €5,000.

As Ireland prepare to face the USA in their Pool C opener on Sunday, fans have already begun to touch down in New Zealand with thousands more flying out today and tomorrow.