SA Rugby Takes Legal Action Over All Blacks Ticket Scam in Cape Town 68
- The South African Rugby Union announced it was pursuing legal action after fans were left without tickets to Saturday's Springboks vs All Blacks match
- A company circulated an apology to ticket buyers, claiming the tickets had been double-sold during the purchasing process
- SARU rejected the company's account, saying the agencies acted illegally and recklessly for their own commercial gain
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The South African Rugby Union (SARU) announced on Saturday, 29 August 2026, that it had referred a ticket fraud matter to its attorneys after travel agencies blamed the union for leaving supporters without tickets to the Springboks' clash against the All Blacks.
The dispute emerged when a statement began circulating online alleging that SARU had oversold tickets for the Cape Town fixture through an unidentified vendor. The match was scheduled to kick off at 5 pm.
Travel agencies named in SARU legal referral
A company had issued a public apology to affected ticket buyers, claiming it had attempted to source tickets through a reputable vendor. The company alleged that those tickets were double-sold at the point when the purchasing process reverted to SA Rugby's systems.
SARU flatly rejected that version of events. In its own statement, the union said the companies involved had acted illegally and recklessly, prioritising their own commercial interests over those of their clients.
SARU distances itself from unauthorised vendors
By handing the matter to its legal team, SARU signalled it would not accept responsibility for transactions conducted outside its official ticketing channels. The union did not name the specific agencies involved in its public statement.
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Fans who purchased tickets through the implicated company were left unable to attend the highly anticipated fixture, part of what has been marketed as Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series between South Africa and New Zealand.
Ticket prices have been a contentious issue this season, with concerns first raised ahead of the Springboks' opening match against England at Ellis Park. There were fears at one stage that the Test could be played in front of an empty stadium after sluggish ticket sales forced SA Rugby to cut prices.
At one point, only around 21,000 tickets had been sold for the clash, with the remaining tickets priced between R950 and R3,000. Tickets initially listed at R950 on Ticketmaster were later reduced to R650, then to R450.
Following the price cuts, supporters turned out in large numbers on Saturday, with a crowd of 52,790 watching the Springboks defeat England 45-21.
However, SA Rugby said the decision should not be viewed as an indication that ticket prices will regularly be reduced ahead of matches.
Springbok vs All Blacks ticket pricing leaves fans behind
Briefly News previously reported that ticket prices for the Springboks' 2026 home series against the All Blacks have reignited the debate over whether elite Test rugby in South Africa remains accessible to ordinary supporters.
General sale tickets went live this week for the 29 August fixture at Cape Town Stadium, which is already close to selling out seven months in advance.
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Source: Briefly News
