Fake Wilko to help IRB
A Jonny Wilkinson lookalike has been deployed by the International Rugby Board as part of an advertising campaign to make sure fans buy tickets for next year's World Cup in England from official sources only.
Goal-kicking ace Wilkinson was the drop-goal hero of England's 2003 World Cup Final win over Australia and only retired from senior club rugby after helping French giants Toulon claim a European Cup and domestic double last season.
In the 30-second video released Friday, a player appearing to be Wilkinson and wearing the No.10 shirt synonymous with the former fly-half is seen practising his place-kicking under floodlights, completed with trademark crouch.
But it is only when, unlike Wilkinson, he makes a complete mess of a kick that he is not the flyhalf, at which point a strapline appears saying: "It's not always clear to spot a fake."
Tickets for the World Cup, which runs from September 18 to October 31 2015, went on public sale last week.
One unauthorised secondary site was soon offering a ticket for the final at £8,870 (US$14,428, 11,130 euros) when the most expensive official price is £715.
"With the general sale in full swing it is our priority to ensure that all fans have a fantastic experience in 2015 and part of achieving that is to make fans aware that they should only purchase tickets from official sources," England Rugby 2015 CEO Debbie Jevans said Friday.
