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MasterCard Cardholders get another opportunity to double their chances to be at the Finals of Rugby World Cup 2011

Seeing double: Rugby fans in Sydney were treated to a double delight yesterday when pairs of twins were about town to promote the MasterCard ‘Doubling your Chances’ privilege. Fans who use their MasterCard cards to apply for Rugby World Cup 2011 tickets will get double entries into the ballot for the option to purchase semi-final and Final tickets. Source: Matt King/Getty Images

Auckland, 10 September 2010 – MasterCard cardholders who apply for Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) tickets with their MasterCard cards will have another chance to get double entries into the ballots for the semi-finals and Final tickets.

Phase 2 of the ticketing process for RWC 2011 kicks off on 10 September 2010 and is on until 8 October 2010. During this phase, fans can apply for individual tickets to all matches throughout the Tournament, with the exception of the semi-finals and Final. Tickets to the semi-finals and Final matches are being made available through a ballot process in Phase 3, due to happen in early 2011, which will only be open to fans who have already applied for tickets for the earlier matches. As with Phase 1, MasterCard cardholders will enjoy double entries into the ballot for the option to purchase the semi-finals and Final tickets as long as they have used their MasterCard cards to apply.

Phase 1 of the ticketing process for RWC 2011 tickets was open from 27 April 2010 to 21 May 2010, and fans could apply for Venue Pool Packs and Team Pool Packs with the option of also applying for the Quarter-final Weekend Pack and Bronze Final tickets. According to Tournament Organiser, Rugby New Zealand 2011, fans purchased 503,000 tickets worth NZD76 million (excluding GST) during Phase 1 of the ticketing process.

Rugby fans can visit www.mastercard.com/rugby to stay updated about the exclusive privileges MasterCard is lining up for its cardholders around Rugby World Cup 2011.

“As a Worldwide Partner and the official payment system for Rugby World Cup 2011, MasterCard is proud to bring ticketing benefits to its cardholders who are Rugby fans, to help them enjoy the game they love,” said Stuart Cameron, vice president, Sponsorships, Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa, MasterCard Worldwide. “We are encouraged by the enthusiastic response from MasterCard cardholders during Phase 1 of the RWC 2011 ticketing process, when Venue Pool Packs and Team Pool Packs were up for grabs. Phase 2 is now the last chance for fans to be eligible for the ballot process for the semi-finals and Final match tickets if they did not apply for tickets in Phase 1. When they use their MasterCard cards, they can double their chances to be at these highly coveted matches.”

Rugby World Cup 2011 is being held in New Zealand for the first time since the inaugural event in 1987. Teams representing 20 nations will compete in 48 matches across 13 Host Cities during September and October. The semi-final and Final matches will take place in Auckland’s historic Eden Park on 15–16 October 2011 and 23 October 2011, respectively.

About MasterCard Worldwide

MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes over 22 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial-institution customers and merchants. Powered by the MasterCard Worldwide Network and through its family of brands, including MasterCard^®, Maestro^® and Cirrus^®, MasterCard serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to www.mastercard.com. Follow us on Twitter:@mastercardnews.

MasterCard & Rugby World Cup 2011

MasterCard Worldwide is a Worldwide Partner and the official payment system of Rugby World Cup 2011. The company leverages the platform to further deliver shareholder value by creating exclusive business-building opportunities for its customer financial institutions, while building MasterCard brand affinity by offering priceless experiences to MasterCard cardholders. As part of its agreement, MasterCard secures a comprehensive rights and benefits package that allows the company to deliver value to customer financial institutions, merchants and cardholders, including the ability to access “Priceless” experiences linked to Rugby World Cup 2011.

Rugby World Cup is the crown jewel of the sport and a prominent global property – with television coverage of Rugby World Cup 2007 spanning more than 200 territories, reaching a cumulative audience of 4 billion viewers. Rugby World Cup 2011 is being held in New Zealand for the first time since the inaugural event in 1987. Teams representing 20 nations will compete in 48 matches across 13 Host Cities between 9 September and 23 October 2011.

Beyond its expertise in world-class sponsorship marketing, MasterCard also has a rich heritage of supporting the sport of Rugby in the host country. Over the past six years MasterCard has been a sponsor of the New Zealand All Blacks team.