London - Some supporters had to wait for up to an hour online when tickets for next year's Rugby World Cup in England went on general sale on Friday.
However, England Rugby 2015 chief executive Debbie Jevans insisted the computer system had worked well but that demand was “high” with up to 50 000 people waiting in a queue.
Officials reminded fans that they could wait to submit their application until the sales window closes on September 29 because tickets will be distributed via a ballot rather than on a first-come-first-served basis.
“Applications have gone really well. The queue time was about an hour, which is what we anticipated. There's been good enthusiasm,” Jevans said.
“We were able to have thousands of people on the site at the same time and it's been going well.
“People are applying for tickets across all 48 matches and that's what made me really pleased.
“At one point there were over 50 000 waiting in a queue, so that's pretty good and there haven't been any technological issues.”
Meanwhile Jevans warned fans not to but tickets from unauthorised secondary websites which in some cases were advertising tickets for more than 10 times their value.
One site was even offering a ticket for the final at £8 870 (R159 017) when the most expensive official price is £715 (R12 818).
“We don't know if that ticket exists,” said Jevans.
“I am passionate that we have our tickets at face value and getting to fans. I don't like seeing tickets as commodities, I want to see them getting into the hands of people who want to watch the event.”
Over-subscribed games will be decided via a ballot after the sales window shuts on September 29.
Prices for adults range from £15 (R268) for low-profile group games up to £715 (R12 818) for the most expensive seat for the final at Twickenham.
Sapa-AFP