Springboks vs All Blacks Tickets Still Available on Eve of Ellis Park Clash Despite Being “Sold Out”
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
- One of South Africa's biggest rugby fixtures was declared a sell-out weeks before the teams were due to meet at Ellis Park
- Yet supporters checking the official ticketing platform on Friday can still find seats for Saturday's highly anticipated showdown
- The unexpected availability means fans who thought they had missed out may still have an opportunity to watch the rivalry live
Source: Getty Images
Tickets for the Springboks vs All Blacks clash at Ellis Park are still available on the eve of Saturday’s blockbuster, despite the fixture having been declared a sell-out. The official ticketing platform was showing seats on Friday, 21 August, ahead of the 17:10 kick-off on Saturday.
The cheapest available tickets were priced at R850, while other seats were listed at R1,650, R2,850 and R4,000. Multiple blocks were showing availability, although this can change as supporters purchase tickets.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Around 1,000 tickets were reportedly returned to sale after the match had already sold out.
Springboks direct fans to ticket platform
The continued availability gives supporters who missed out when the match was declared sold out another opportunity to attend.
The Springboks also directed fans to the official ticket platform in a Friday post on X, writing:
"Limited tickets available here."
The message was accompanied by the confirmed Springboks team for the opening encounter against New Zealand.
Ticket prices add another twist
The ticket situation also comes after a season in which the cost of watching the Springboks has sparked debate among supporters.
Earlier this year, prices for the Ellis Park Test against England were reduced after sales struggled to gain momentum. SA Rugby president Mark Alexander later said the organisation would review its ticketing strategy.
That makes the current Ellis Park listings particularly interesting. Some of the remaining seats for the All Blacks clash are going for R2,850, while the most expensive options are R4,000.
There is no indication that the prices are behind the remaining availability, but with the match having been declared "Sold Out", supporters will be watching closely to see how quickly those seats disappear.
Why Ellis Park is expected to be packed
The match is the opening Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, a four-Test series between the Springboks and All Blacks.
The rivalry dates back to 1921 and has produced some of rugby’s most significant encounters, including the 1995 and 2023 World Cup Finals.
The 2026 series marks the first full All Blacks tour of South Africa in 30 years, adding further significance to Saturday’s Ellis Park showdown.
With the match less than 24 hours away, supporters who believed the "Sold Out" status meant there was no way into the stadium can still check the official platform for remaining seats.
All Blacks tour ticket prices raise questions
Briefly News previously reported that former Springbok Victor Matfield had criticised ticket prices during the All Blacks' provincial tour of South Africa.
The comments came after disappointing crowds at some venues, including Kings Park, where just 14,759 spectators attended the All Blacks' clash with the Sharks. Matfield argued that cheaper tickets could have helped fill the stadiums and create a better atmosphere.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
