2015 England Rugby World Cup has defended its strategy for ticket prices

England Rugby 2015 has defended its strategy for ticket prices and kick-off times, declaring it has struck the right balance between making the World Cup accessible and generating the necessary revenue. All four of England's Pool A games, including their pivotal fixtures against Wales and Australia at Twickenham, are scheduled for 8pm starts.

The final, staged on October 31, will kick off at 5pm with tickets ranging in price from £150 to £715. The second figure is £108 higher than its football equivalent in Brazil next year, although the entry price is £120 lower. A child (under 16) rate of £7 or £15 has been implemented for all group games, including those played by England, but has been omitted from the knockout stages other than for the third-place play-off at Wembley.

England Rugby World Cup 2015 chief executive Debbie Jevans stresses that emphasis has been placed on child attendance during the group stage, with "core rugby fans" present from the quarter-finals onwards. Jevans said that we thought a lot about child tickets and we decided to have a family friendly approach to the pool stages. Of the 48 matches at the World Cup, 41 have child prices. It's only the back end of the tournament when they don't. A family of four can go and watch Australia or South Africa for £70, or in Manchester a family can watch England for £130.

All in all I think we have been very inclusive and I'm very proud of that. England 2015 have announced that more than one million of the total 2.3million available tickets will go on sale at £100 or less with 500,000 selling at £50 or less. Adult tickets start at £15 for pool matches. The prices set for the final at Twickenham - £150, £315, £515 and £715 - will be beyond many supporters, but Jevans insists the figures are competitive.