World Rugby promises action after queue chaos in Marseille

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Hundreds of England fans missed kick-off in England’s Rugby World Cup opener with Argentina due to lengthy queues outside the stadium

World Rugby promised to take action after thousands of fans appeared to be stuck outside the stadium ahead of England’s World Cup victory over Argentina in Marseille at the Stade Velodrome.

Long queues of fans were seen outside the stadium gates within minutes of kick-off, and empty seats as the game got under way.

Some fans will have missed Tom Curry’s third-minute red card, which sparked a defiant all-action win for England with 27 points from the boot of George Ford.

“While fans were able to take their seats, fan experience is paramount, and we are working with all stakeholders to establish the facts and implement measures to prevent such delays for the remaining Rugby World Cup 2023 matches at the venue,” World Rugby said.

The statement did not address similar frustrations felt by fans in Bordeaux, with hundreds of Ireland supporters still battling to get into the stadium as their game against Romania kicked off on Saturday afternoon in 35 degree heat.

Fans posting on social media blamed the city’s tram system, which was overloaded hours before kick-off and could not cope with the volumes of supporters trying to reach the stadium.

There were packed-full trams in the build-up to the game and long queues of fans outside the stadium as well as swathes of empty seats within.

The organisational woes will be an embarrassment for French authorities as they prepare to host the summer Olympics next July in Paris.

The scenes also had echoes of the 2022 Champions League final in Paris, which was delayed by 36 minutes with thousands of Liverpool fans trapped outside.

Organisers UEFA originally blamed the fans before apologising after an independent report into the affair found European football’s governing body was primarily responsible for the chaos.