Interest climbing for Lions tickets | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Time is running out to register for tickets for next year's match between the Bay of Plenty Steamers and the touring British Lions.

The Lions will embark on an 11-match tour in June and July and are expected to bring at least 15,000 supporters with them. Tickets are at a premium with the New Zealand Rugby Union employing its first ticket ballot system to cater for demand.

Interest has been high with 21,427 of the allocated 28,550 available public tickets for the tour opener at Rotorua International Stadium on June 4 requested, as of yesterday, by 6549 supporters who have registered their first, second and third options for that game on the www.lions.co.nz website.

The registration period closes on December 24 and New Zealand Rugby Union officials expect the demand for tickets to the opener to grow as other venues fill. About 150,000 tickets will be available to all the Lions matches via the ballot which, apart from hospitality sales, is the only way for the public to get tickets.

The Steamers match has the largest number of public tickets available - 28,550 - while venues like Hamilton, where the New Zealand Maori play, and test venues - Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch - are expected to see ticket demands far outweigh availability and send rugby fans clambering to other venues for their Lions fix. That demand should guarantee a full house in Rotorua.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Paul Abbot said Steamers fans should get moving if they wanted to see the opener live.

"I think because of the size of the stadium [Rotorua] people think they will be able to buy a ticket at the ground but that won't be the case once the other matches fill."

Abbot said people should avoid any disappointment by registering as soon as possible.

Tickets to the Rotorua match range between $35 and $100 for adults and $10 for children. There is also a family package (two adults and two children) available for $90.

Registrations have been open since November 1.

The day you register during that period will have no bearing on your chances in the ballot.

When registering, people will be asked to give their name and contact details, match preference, number of tickets wanted and to indicate a price range they are willing to pay.

Members of New Zealand's rugby community, including season pass holders and people living within the boundaries of provincial unions hosting Lions matches, will have a higher chance in the ballot through a weighting system.

Meanwhile, the appointment of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union's academy position vacated by Tauranga's Joe Schmidt is expected in the next few days.

The position was held by the Steamers' 2004 assistant coach who has linked up with the Auckland Blues for the Super 12 in 2005.

It is understood there were some high quality applicants from inside and outside the region interested in the job.