The match locations have not yet been announced but will likely include two matches in Auckland and one in Wellington (like with the British & Irish Lions 2017). If there is only one match played in Auckland then Dunedin would be favourite to host a match along with Wellington. We expect match locations to be confirmed later in the year.

Ireland are due to play New Zealand on the 2nd, 9th and 16th July 2022.

We have based our three match tour on the 1st Test in Auckland, the 2nd Test in Wellington and the 3rd Test back in Auckland.

Should they change from our itinerary then we guarantee 100% that your tour will still include Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown. If a match is played in Dunedin or Christchurch then these two locations will simply replace Rotorua and Taupo. Prices quoted will not change if a match location changes.

It is a long way to travel to New Zealand and we figure that some people would like to extend their stay after the last Test match. Our Bolt On tour gives you an additional week in New Zealand exploring brand new destinations on the South Island.

Based on our current tour itinerary then our Bolt On tour is as follows:

• Sunday 17th July: Final night in Auckland
• Monday 18th July: Fly to Dunedin (for 2 nights). Social night at a local rugby club.
• Tuesday 19th July: Day at leisure.
• Wednesday 20th July: Transfer to Christchurch (for 2 nights).
• Thursday 21st July: Day trip on the amazing Tranzalpine Express (included).
• Friday 22nd July: Depart for Blenheim (for 1 night) via Kaikoura for a whale watching experience (included). Then continue to Wither Hills winery in Blenheim for a late lunch and wine tastings (all included).
• Saturday 23rd July: Depart to Nelson (for 2 nights) in time to visit the world-famous Nelson market – ideal for gifts to take back home.
• Sunday 24th July : Day at leisure.
• Monday 25th July: Fly from Nelson to Auckland and connect for your flight back to Dublin.
• Tuesday 26th July: Land back in Dublin!

If one of the matches takes place in Christchurch or Dunedin then we will revise the Bolt On tour accordingly to take in locations that you did not get to visit. This will most likely be on the North Island and include Rotorua, Taupo and Napier.

Yes, of course. Please contact us directly for a quotation based on your requirements.

A €500 per person deposit is required to secure your booking. A second payment of €1,500 by 30 November
2021 and the balance due by 31st March 2022.

We appreciate that you are spending a lot of money on your package and want to reassure you that it is financially protected. If your tour package includes flights ex Ireland then we are bonded and licensed with the Commission for Aviation Regulation, Tour Operators Licence No. T.O. 260. Further details are available at http://www.aviationreg.ie/

For customers with packages ex UK we wish to reassure you that your money is also financially protected. In compliance with The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, an insurance policy has been arranged with Travel & General Insurance Services Limited (T&G), to protect customers’ prepayments in the unlikely event of our financial failure, and paid in respect of non-ATOL flight inclusive packages sold to customers. These bookings are sold by the Policyholder as principal to the contract for:

• A refund of such prepayments if customers have not yet travelled, or
• Making arrangements to enable the holiday to continue if customers have already travelled, or
• Repatriation of customers as may be applicable, subject to the terms of the insurance policy.

In the unlikely event of financial failure please contact the claims helpline on +44 (0)1702 811397. A copy of the policy is available on request. This policy is provided by Travel & General Insurance Services Limited (T&G), registered number 02527363 and underwritten by Hiscox Insurance Company Limited (Hiscox), registered number 00070234. T&G and Hiscox are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (number 113849).

Donal Lenihan has been our RTI Ambassador for a number of years and he, like you, cannot wait to travel to New Zealand!

Former Irish international and Leinster defense coach, Kurt McQuilkin, will also be meeting up  with us on tour.

Expect other guests along the way. For example, in 2017 we also had Alan Quinlan, Martyn Williams and Brent Pope on tour with Rugby Travel Ireland. Other legends that joined us at various events included Ian Jones, Rob Henderson, Ryan Jones and Mike Mullins.

We truly appreciate that these are uncertain times when it comes to rugby and travel. No one knows what the future holds for sure, but we want to reassure you that all of us at Rugby Travel Ireland are ready and waiting to provide you with a trip of a lifetime. We will always do so with the health and safety of both our clients and staff at the very forefront of everything that we do. We wish to reassure you that should the tour not proceed for the following reasons, you are entitled to a full refund (less €50 admin fee per person):
– If government advice changes and it becomes illegal to travel abroad.
– If the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Ireland/FCDO in the UK advises against non-essential travel abroad.
– If the government for the destination you’re travelling to decides to enforce quarantine on arrival and there isn’t the option to forgo this quarantine
period by providing evidence of a negative COVID-19 test.
– If you have a booking to any destination that requires you to quarantine in a hotel on your return.

If the decision is made to play matches behind closed doors before you have departed on tour you will receive a full refund of monies paid.

We only work with the very best service providers that adhere to or exceed all recommendations for safety, sanitation and social distancing.

The best way to make a booking with Rugby Travel Ireland is to do so via our online booking process. There is a “Book Now” button and this takes you into a simple process to make a booking. At Stage 4 you can decide to make a deposit payment, pay in full or choose to pay later (we then email you an invoice for the deposit). In doing any of these you are provisionally securing your place/s.

If you have any questions or bespoke requirements please contact us at [email protected] and we will respond accordingly.

If you are calling us then please note as per government guidelines, we are working remotely so your call may go to voicemail but please leave a message and we will reply accordingly.

We are planning to work with both Qatar and Emirates with departures from Dublin and quick transfer times at their Middle East hubs. We have long standing relationships with both airlines and they are the best of the best.

If you would like to fly with a particular airline, please get in touch with our team and we can quote accordingly.

If international flights are not required, then we can offer the tour that you wish to book less €1,000 per person. Simply contact us to book accordingly.

Please note that if you choose this option then airport-hotel-airport transfers for international flights are not included in the service that we provide.

Single occupancy incurs a single room supplement because we are charged on a per room basis, but we cost the package based on two people sharing that cost.

We are happy to help pair you with another tour guest with the same request. We will put you directly in touch with each other and you can both make the decision whether you are a suitable match to share a room throughout the tour. If a suitable person cannot be found the single room supplement will be payable in full no later than six weeks prior to the tour.

Executive coach transfers are included throughout. In fact, the company we are using are a brilliant family run business that we used throughout Lions 2017. A modern fleet and very friendly drivers that are all mad keen to meet you!  

Internal flights are also included as per itineraries.

The tour price is based on Category 2 tickets. If we secure Category 1 tickets we will offer them as an upgrade closer to the time.

Accommodation is on a bed and breakfast basis throughout. 

We have also included: 

• Three pre-match meals with three drinks vouchers.
• A lunch has been organised at a rugby club (includes a Maori welcome)
• Evening buffet at another rugby club with drinks vouchers.
• Maori cultural evening including a hangi meal (a traditional New Zealand Māori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven)
• Gourmet pizza night with a two hours drinks package in Queenstown

Furthermore, we have negotiated discounts and promotions exclusively for our guests at ten of the best bars and restaurants in Queenstown.

We are the leading rugby tour operator in Ireland. We are the only travel company that works solely within rugby because we are totally passionate about rugby!

We are fully licenced and bonded assuring you of financial security including our COVID-19 Customer Charter refund guarantee.  

We have built a very strong reputation for delivering great tours where everyone is genuinely cared for and has great craic. It’s a rugby tour after all!

Our first ever tour was the Lions Tour in 2009 to South Africa and since then we have been official agents for the Lions in 2013, 2017 and 2021. We have also been official agents for RWC 2011, RWC 2015, RWC 2019 and RWC 2023.

Our other summer tours have included Argentina 2014, South Africa 2016 and Australia 2018.

We are also delighted to be the official travel partner to Munster Rugby.

It is this level of experience that we offer you coupled with an unbeatable level of customer service from the first time you contact us through to post tour.

We have included a large number of social events, activities, excursions, meals and drinks so please take into account what is being provided and be aware of cheap imitations!

Our track record for creative and highly enjoyable rugby tours speaks for itself, as do the huge number of repeat clients that we have.

You are booking your tour to New Zealand because you want to watch the best rugby imaginable as well as experiencing everything that New Zealand has to offer. Our escorted tour provides you with our “switch off” guarantee in that we look after your flights, transfers, hotels, excursions and events. Just make sure you catch your flight to New Zealand and then we look after everything else!

Our policy has always been to not treat customers like sheep and that is why we have built in plenty of time for you to do your own thing.

When you book with Rugby Travel Ireland you enjoy a whole host of additional benefits including superbly located hotels all inspected by us and of course, the craic! We are competitively priced and we are guaranteeing you of a highly organised tour that will run smoothly and be the trip of a lifetime.

There are also significant other benefits, including our COVID-19 Customer Charter, flexible payment terms, our experience and much more. 

Did you know that we have conducted five separate site inspections to New Zealand averaging three weeks each? These were all to ensure that we were up to date with service providers, locations and securing the great contacts that we have today.

Coupled with our actual tours (RWC 2011 and Lions 2017) we know that our knowledge and passion will surpass any other tour.

We have included the following as part of your tour package:

• Admission to Auckland’s iconic Sky Tower (valid on your chosen day).
• Admission to the All Blacks Experience in Auckland (valid on your chosen day).
• A half day trip to the Buried Village of Te Wairoa (near Rotorua).
• Visit to the Waiotapu Thermal Park (between Rotorua and Taupo).
• An exhilarating jet boat ride to the incredible Huka Falls, Taupo.
• Admission onto the Queenstown Skyline Gondola (valid on your chosen day).
• Scenic cruise around Lake Wakatipu on the Spirit of Queenstown including a glass of wine and a Gibbston Valley cheeseboard.

We will have a comprehensive list of optional activities sent to you later in the year. These will range from helicopter rides in Queenstown, a day trip to Milford Sound, wine tasting in Martinborough, luge run in Rotorua,  bridge climb in Auckland plus numerous bar and restaurant recommendations.

Yes we do! Take your itinerary with you on tour with the Rugby Travel Ireland App! As well as being emailed to you, your tour itinerary will be available in the Rugby Travel Ireland App which is available for both iOS and Android devices. Our App also includes places of interest to visit, city maps, recommended bars and restaurants and much more! 

Residents of Ireland and the United Kingdom do not need a travel visa to enter New Zealand and stay for a duration of up to 90 days.