...Rugby's heartlands of Sydney and Brisbane will vie to host more test matches due to a slump in crowd numbers.
A drop in attendances and the fickle Gold Coast market has put the spotlight on Wallabies' crowds ahead of this weekend's clash with Argentina. The tourist strip may be hosting their last Rugby Championship match if ticket sales don't dramatically improve before Saturday night's kick-off at Cbus Super Stadium.
A disappointing turnout of less than 15,000 is forecast for the test, only the second ever to be played on the Gold Coast.
The first, also against the Pumas in September 2012, attracted 22,278.
Slow sales this week prompted Australia coach Ewen McKenzie to warn locals the city would lose hosting rights if they didn't go closer to selling out the 27,000-seat venue.
Tickets for next year's World Cup in England went on sale early today (NZT), with those for popular matches to be distributed via a ballot, organisers have confirmed.
Prices for adults start at 15 ($29.80) - 7 for children - and rise to 715 for the best seats for the final at Twickenham. The average ticket costs around 100. "We have worked hard to create as many low-priced tickets as we can," said a spokeswoman from England Rugby 2015 .
NZ Herald
