DO you regularly head through the turnstiles to watch rugby? Well, there are 80 million reasons you just don't matter when it comes to the World Cup.

Last Wednesday's announcement of the venues for the tournament in England in 2015 was followed by news that the average ticket price is set to be £80.

Men in suits that love the sound of a cash register were grinning, the rugby public gasped in a similar fashion to those that follow the lucky football teams that make it to Wembley for the play-offs, as Newport County will attest.

A combination of extortionate pricing and a swift one-week turnaround from the semi-finals ensured that 16,364 saw the Exiles make history by beating Wrexham.

All those present of an Amber persuasion will consider it money well spent but the cost ensures that the floating voter opts for television rather than live action.

The same will be the case when Yeovil face Brentford and Northampton square off against Bradford.

Play-offs are a cash cow just like the Rugby World Cup has turned into a money-making operation. The difference is that the former relies on fans’ loyalty while the latter aims for one-off ‘occasion’ supporters.

The International Rugby World chose England because it would provide a guaranteed profit of £80 million, partially underwritten by the government to boot.

This money is necessary to grow the sport around the globe but it comes at the expense of those that watch the game week in, week out.

But then we’ve got used to that with the saturated market that is Test rugby being used to earn the big bucks that allow us to enjoy the sport year round.

However, don't treat us like idiots; spare us the London 2012 ‘legacy’ talk.

“Our vision is a celebration of rugby and its unique values. We want to celebrate the sport of rugby in 2015,” said tournament chief executive Debbie Jevans.

"We want to inspire more people to play rugby and more people to support the game. Everyone is invited."

Whether the regular rugby-going public have the funds to accept that invitation is another matter and a one-sided romp for New Zealand against Tonga isn't particularly good value for £80.

The list of grounds for the tournament has some interesting venues; the Olympic Stadium, Leeds’ Elland Road, Newcastle’s St James’ Park, Brighton’s Amex Stadium.

Unfortunately Wales won’t play at them. The only grounds that they will play at will be the Millennium Stadium and Twickenham.

Organisers expect fans to snap up tickets for the Cardiff clashes against Fiji and the whipping boys of Pool C.

They’d better hope Gatland’s boys keep winning.