The 2007 Rugby World Cup, which begins in 18 months' time in Saint-Denis, will mark the first time that fans from outside the host nation will be able to buy tickets via the official Rugby World Cup website without having to purchase travel and accommodation as well.
The Allez Au Contact ticketing sales programme, which begins April 10, is designed to make the buying process more affordable and efficient for travelling fans. Team packages will start at €100 (£69.78), with city packages available for under €50.
Rugby Travel & Hospitality is providing city and team packages, which will give fans the opportunity to buy tickets and accommodation for all of their team's pool matches and options on quarter-final tickets, should their team progress.
Syd Millar, chairman of the RWC, said: "The launch is a historic milestone for the Rugby World Cup tournament as for the first time in its 20-year history, the rugby public around the world, regardless where they come from, will have the opportunity to purchase team and city packages online without having to purchase travel and accommodation."
Millar added that the growth in popularity and success of the Rugby World Cup has continued steadily from the first tournament in New Zealand and Australia in 1987.
"This growth is set to continue for RWC 2007 in France when we expect more than 2m spectators to attend matches."
The Rugby World Cup is the third-largest sporting event in the world behind the Football World Cup and the Olympics. An estimated 14.5m people in the UK watched England beat Australia 20-17 by a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal just 26 seconds from the end in November 2003.
Worldwide sales of team and city packages for the Rugby World Cup 2007 go on sale at 10am on April 10.
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