Tickets for Saturday's Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa are changing hands for four-figure sums as tens of thousands of fans scrambled for the chance to follow their heroes.

Bids on the online auction site eBay yesterday ranged from €360 for one to €12,000 for a pair of tickets, while Eric Baker, founder and chief executive of ticket exchange viagogo, said tickets had gone for over €4,000.

International Rugby Board rankings yesterday show South Africa are up to second place in the world rankings, with England up three to third after their respective semi-final victories.

The Springboks will take over at the top from New Zealand if they win on Saturday, while England can only assume the number one position if they win by at least 16 points. Ireland remain in seventh position.

France lock Sebastien Chabal has been cleared to play in Friday's third-place play-off against Argentina after a citing was dismissed yesterday.

Finally, English rugby league side Harlequins are threatening to take legal action against New Zealand winger Henry Fa'afili after discovering he has joined French rugby union club Biarritz despite signing a contract with them for 2008.

The 27-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Londoners last month, but it has now emerged the former Auckland Warrior has joined Biarritz on a two-year contract.