Eden Park, the venue for the inaugural Rugby World Cup final in 1987, will herald a nationwide six-week celebration of world class rugby and REAL New Zealand Festival events when it hosts the Opening Ceremony on Friday, September 9 starting at approximately 7.45pm.

The opening match of the 2011 Rugby World Cup between New Zealand and Tonga will kick-off at 8.30pm.

The tournament will culminate in Auckland at the redeveloped Eden Park with the semi-finals and final. The kick-off time for these matches was confirmed at 9pm when the match schedule was announced in March 2009.

Ireland face a varied range of kick-off times in their Pool C games, including a trip to Eden Park for the second game of the pool against Australia with an 8.30 pm kick-off.

Ireland's first game of the tournament will kick-off against the USA at 6pm with the game against Russia, in Rotorua, a week later at the same time.

Ireland's final Pool C fixture kicks off at 8.30 pm against Italy in Dunedin.

From a supporters' point of view that means some early morning starts to watch their team on TV back in Ireland.

IRELAND'S RUGBY WORLD CUP POOL C FIXTURES:

Sunday, September 11 -

IRELAND v USA, Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth, 6pm local time/7am Irish time

Saturday, September 17 -

Australia v IRELAND, Eden Park, Auckland, 8.30pm local time/9.30am Irish time

Sunday, September 25 -

IRELAND v Russia, Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua, 6pm local time/6am Irish time

Sunday, October 2 -

IRELAND v Italy, Dunedin, 8.30pm local time/8.30am Irish time

Related Links -

2011 Rugby World Cup Matches (With Kick-Off Times)

Second Launch Of Rugby World Cup Tickets

Ireland's Bases Confirmed For 2011 World Cup