Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby, defended the recent pricing for the Springboks Tests on Tuesday. He stated that high operating costs are necessary to maintain the sustainability of local rugby.
Ticket Price Discussion
SA Rugby President Mark Alexander explained that the recent disputes over the organization's pricing were driven not by greed, but by the need to ensure the sustainability of rugby in South Africa. The dispute concerned the cost of tickets for the World Cup matches against England, Scotland, and Wales, which drew significant criticism on social media. Fans and experts argued that most citizens cannot afford to watch the world champions play at home stadiums.
Match Results and Plans
Before the match against England at Ellis Park, SA Rugby adjusted prices, offering substantial discounts for certain categories closer to the game date. Despite the negative reaction, Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld stadiums hosted over 98,000 spectators for the matches against England and Scotland. Overall attendance for these two matches was 86%, slightly missing the target of 91% (85% in Johannesburg and 87% in Pretoria). Nevertheless, on Monday, SA Rugby promised a 'thorough review and reassessment' of the process after the 2026 season in response to fan concerns.
Arguments in Favor of Pricing
On Tuesday, during the opening of the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry event at the FNB stadium in Johannesburg, Alexander insisted that ticket prices were calculated based on sustainable development principles. He noted that the organization does not have huge financial reserves, as shown in the financial statements. Therefore, the claim of greed is unfair. Alexander emphasized that the main beneficiaries of hosting these matches are the provincial governments and cities. For example, last year, when hosting Australia at Ellis Park, the economic impact for the region was 256 million rand.
He also clarified that playing matches abroad is cheaper than hosting them locally. Alexander added that since they cannot afford to pay international players, they must cover insurance costs for each player for the entire contract period if something goes wrong. Thus, organizing the match is an expensive undertaking.
Future Matches and Partnership
Four matches are scheduled to take place in the Gauteng region as part of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry. Loftus stadium will host the third tournament match between the Bulls and the All Blacks on August 15, while Ellis Park will host two matches: the first being a Test between the Boks and guests on August 22, followed by a friendly match against the Lions a few days later. The third Test will also take place in Johannesburg, but at the large FNB stadium on September 5, following the second Test, which will be held in Cape Town the week before.
According to the official Rugby's Greatest Rivalry website, tickets for the first two Tests are already sold out. Tickets available for the match at FNB Stadium range from 1,657.50 to 4,007.50 rand, with lower-tier tickets unavailable. Alexander revealed that hosting four Test matches in Gauteng was not solely an economic objective. He compared it to games in New Zealand, where they play in Dunedin, under the most difficult conditions. The goal is for the opponents to face difficulties, similar to how the team has to travel to Dunedin, which is far from major routes and requires flying on three planes.
Furthermore, there is an economic aspect to the matter. Hosting matches at the 94,000-capacity FNB stadium, as well as at Ellis Park, is a reason for seeking revenue. SA Rugby has a 50/50 partnership agreement with New Zealand, which will extend into 2030.