Competition Commission Investigates SARU Over Rugby Suite Ticket Complaints

• The Competition Commission confirmed it is actively investigating a complaint against SARU and affiliated ticketing agencies over hospitality suite allocations
• Hospitality businesses accused SARU of restricting access to an inner circle of preferred commercial partners, including Sail and Megapro Hospitality
• Affected operators warned that the ticketing crisis seen at the Cape Town Test could repeat itself at the upcoming FNB Stadium match

The Competition Commission has confirmed it is investigating the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and several of its affiliated ticketing agencies over allegations of unfair business practices related to hospitality suite allocations at Springbok Test matches.

Commission spokesperson Siyabulela Makunga confirmed that a complaint was received against Sail Rights Commercialisation in May 2026, "surrounding SARU's ticketing distribution system. The commission is currently investigating the complaint."

Ticket crisis at Cape Town Stadium

The investigation follows a hospitality dispute that came to a head during the second Test between South Africa and New Zealand at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on 29 August 2026. Several hospitality businesses accused SARU of channelling suite packages exclusively to its appointed commercial rights agencies, Sail and Megapro Hospitality, while independent operators were denied their allocated inventory despite having purchased it through official channels.

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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.

SARU denies allegations

SARU denied the allegations, claiming the objecting agencies had sold tickets they did not actually hold. However, affected business operators pushed back strongly against that version of events.

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One operator told The Citizen that SARU's chief executive had received formal, detailed complaints about the ticketing system well before the England Test match and had personally responded to some of those communications.

A business owner involved in the complaint, who asked not to be named, described SARU's commercial practices as an anticompetitive monopoly that had damaged the broader South African tourism economy. The owner argued that by restricting access to a preferred inner circle, SARU had stifled fair trade across the industry.

The complaining parties are demanding full transparency from SARU, including an account of how inventory was preferentially allocated through Megapro and Sail, and an explanation of why warnings sent directly to the CEO before the England Test were ignored.

Concerns have also been raised that the same disruption may occur at the third Test, scheduled for FNB Stadium in Soweto. Hospitality packages for both matches were priced between R7 995 and R9 995 per person, excluding VAT.

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.

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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.

Source: Briefly News