Fiji is relying on a national lottery to raise 700,000 Fiji dollars ($A383,313) to fund its participation at next year's rugby World Cup, but tickets are proving a hard sell.

In a nation in which an estimated 25 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line, the tickets for 20 Fiji dollars ($A10.95) are almost unaffordable. The lottery has a first prize of 100,000 Fiji dollars ($A54,746).

After selling tickets in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the United States, the Fiji Rugby Union has delayed closure of the lottery and launched a local sales drive to reach its funding target, the Fiji Times reported.

Lottery director Kenneth Zinck told the newspaper ticket sellers were going from village to village to boost sales and called on patriotic fans to support the national team.

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