Missed out on Rugby world cup tickets? MPs including Boris Johnson and Andy Burnham enjoyed freebies worth £17,000

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They were some of the hottest tickets in the sporting calendar.

But while thousands of rugby fans were left disappointed, more than a dozen MPs snapped up freebies to watch some of the most high profile games.

Well-known politicians including Boris Johnson and Andy Burnham enjoyed jollies worth more than £17,000, according to new data.

London Mayor Boris Johnson declared receiving a £315 trip to watch England narrowly lose to Wales at Twickenham, with the Cardiff Business Council picking up the bill

Tobacco giants, TV companies and even foreign governments picked up the tab for MPs to take their seats at games which were out of reach for many ordinary fans.

The MPs watched the likes of England, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Wales and Ireland at venues including Twickenham and Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Details of all the free rugby tickets were revealed in the Register of Members' Financial Interests.

Mr Johnson, the Mayor of London, declared receiving a £315 trip to watch England narrowly lose to Wales at Twickenham, with the Cardiff Business Council picking up the bill. 

Mr Burnham, Labour's shadow home secretary, accepted two tickets and hospitality, worth £700, for England v Uruguay from tournament organisers England Rugby 2015.

Tories Christopher Chope and Mike Pawsey enjoyed £1,650 days out at England v Australia thanks to Japan Tobacco International.

The company's brands include Camel, Benson & Hedges, Silk Cut and Winston cigarettes.

Another Conservative MP, James Brokenshire, declared in the register of members' financial interests that the New Zealand government got him and his wife into the country's clash with Argentina.

He wrote: 'Hospitality and tickets for the Rugby World Cup for my wife and me: value £350.'

Well-known politicians including Boris Johnson and Andy Burnham enjoyed jollies worth more than £17,000, according to new data

Labour's shadow culture media and sports minister Michael Dugher had a £1,750 day out paid for by ITV and a £630 jolly from England Rugby 2015.

Other MPs accepting freebies were Tories John Baron, Jake Berry, Therese Coffey, Jesse Norman, Mike Penning and Craig Williams and Labour's Kevin Brennan, Clive Efford, Julie Elliott and Jo Stevens.

Donors included Amec Foster Wheeler, the RFU, News UK & Ireland and ICM Investment Research.