10 things Canadians need to know RWC 2011

1) After you've bought your tickets, you may have had them couriered to Canada by post or you will be picking them up in New Zealand from any of the official outlets until match day, after which you must collect tickets from the venue box office. Anyone who loses a ticket should call the RWC ticketing help desk on 0800 RUGBY 11 (0800 784 2911) or +64 9 367 2011 from overseas or mobiles.

2) Take advantage of free public transport for ticket-holders on match-day. Shuttle buses may be available between your accommodations and the stadiums, contact your accommodation provider. Auckland's Eden Park, home to the semi-finals and the final, is opposite Kingsland railway station. Wellington Regional Stadium is a 15-minute walk from the CBD or a 700 -metre walk from Wellington Railway Station. Useful websites are: www.maxx.co.nz, Auckland; www.metlink.org.nz, Wellington; general New Zealand transport, www.jasons.co.nz.

3) With all eyes on Auckland for the semi-finals and final, the city will be screening matches live on big screens at Fanzones in the major cities. Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to name a few places to have these Fanzones.

4) Drinking in public places is legal in New Zealand unless there is an alcohol ban in place.

5) Whangarei and Napier have rugby clubs hosting games against sporting Rugby Canada supporters.  Details on these games here.

6) The REAL New Zealand Festival is a nationwide celebration designed to turn the Rugby World Cup into a non-stop event. Organisers want tourists and locals to ''follow the rugby the long way around'' and experience New Zealand, first through rugby, and through its food, music, and cultural scene. See www.realnzfestival.com.

7) Get up close and personal with the haka, the traditional Maori dance made famous by the All Blacks. Rugby fans can learn what the haka means for New Zealanders and develop skills in performing and responding to a variety of haka at the Laying Down the Challenge Festival, at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington from September 3.

8) No visit to New Zealand is complete without experiencing the country's proud Maori heritage. There are cultural centres devoted to Maori heritage throughout New Zealand.  Maori Heritage Sites, Christchurch Maori Experience, Rotorua Maori Experience, Bay of Islands Maori Experience, Lake Taupo Maori Experience

9) In addition to New Zealand's 11 host cities, a further 13 centres will provide bases for the 20 teams. Some of the team training sessions will be open to the public. Details on team bases and team training sessions during the RWC 2011.

10) Get your swag on!  Make sure you are decked out in our Canadian colours for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.  Be creative, this will be a party atmosphere and you want to stand out in the crowd. Jerseys, shirts, hats, jackets are all available from Rugby Canada's store

Tweaked  this post to come from a Canadian perspective, originally from an Australian perspective on need to know information on Rugby World Cup 2011.