'Spectacular' opening for RWC

Wellington - Rugby World Cup organisers say 4 000 tickets are still available to the tournament's "spectacular" opening ceremony.

The 30-minute ceremony will precede the tournament's opening match between New Zealand and Tonga on Friday at Auckland's 60 000-seat Eden Park.

Organising committee chief Martin Snedden said the ceremony "will tell the story of New Zealand and its unique place in the Pacific, and represent the coming together of countries from around the world in New Zealand in pursuit of rugby's greatest prize."

Snedden said the ceremony would feature "special recognition of Christchurch, which lost its role as a host city for RWC 2011 following February's tragic earthquake."