Bars are gearing up for the opening Rugby World Cup game tomorrow morning are expecting a great turnout.

At least nine establishments in Christchurch have been given a special license to air games outside of normal hours.

They'll be open from six in the morning to watch England and Fiji battle it out in the first game of the competition.

The Miller bar manager Michelle Gwatkin said it's going to be a great morning.

She expected "a lot of fun with a lot of great people, we're very lucky because we've been here about 23 years, so we've got a huge local base."

"It's not about going out and getting drunk, it's about going out and having a great time and watching the game."

It'll be an early start for Christchurch's Pegasus Arms bar tomorrow.

It'll open at seven, just in time for rugby punters.

Pegasus Arms business development manager Alex Brackstone said they're hoping to get about 100 spectators.

"We're just expecting the excitement of the beginning of the World Cup, we're just delighted."

"We're expecting English people but hopefully New Zealanders as well, it'll be the perfect Saturday morning."