Mark Alexander Reveals What SA Rugby Heard From Fans After Springboks Ticket-Price Row

Mark Alexander Reveals What SA Rugby Heard From Fans After Springboks Ticket-Price Row

  • Mark Alexander has reflected on the response from Springboks fans during a series that sparked plenty of discussion
  • SA Rugby has taken note of what supporters had to say, with Alexander now revealing more about the feedback
  • The SA Rugby president has shared an update on what the organisation could take forward from the fan reaction
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander
Mark Alexander reveals what SA Rugby heard from fans after the Springboks ticket-price row and explains how supporter feedback could shape future events. Image: Phill Magakoe/AFP
Source: Getty Images

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander says the organisation has taken note of supporters’ views as it looks at how future editions of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry can improve.

In an open letter published on 7 September 2026, Alexander thanked South Africans for their support during the inaugural series while acknowledging the feedback received during the event.

“As an organisation, we listened carefully to your comments and recommendations on how we can improve future events,” Alexander wrote.

The comments come after Springboks ticket prices became a major talking point earlier this year, with supporters questioning the affordability of attending Test matches. SA Rugby subsequently announced on 13 July that it would review its ticketing strategy after the 2026 season.

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SA Rugby promises to use supporter input

Alexander said the organisation would not simply collect feedback, but use it to shape future events.

“We value your voice and we will implement these insights to ensure that every edition of this series continues to grow in excellence,” he said.

That follows his earlier comments that SA Rugby needed to balance accessibility with the financial demands of staging international rugby.

Springboks
The Springboks-All Blacks series has been very popular and was well attended. Image: Springboks / X
Source: Twitter

What Alexander said about Springboks fans

Alexander also praised the passion shown by supporters, saying their backing remains important to the team.

“Your passion, your presence and your belief in them fuel their performance,” he said.

The message comes as SA Rugby prepares for the final Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in Baltimore on 12 September.

Why SA Rugby says overseas Tests can cost less

Briefly News previously reported that Mark Alexander defended Springboks ticket prices by highlighting the costs involved in staging international matches on home soil.

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The SA Rugby president made a striking comparison, arguing that taking Tests overseas can actually be cheaper than hosting them in South Africa. He highlighted some of the less visible costs of bringing the Springboks together.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Dzikamai Matara avatar

Dzikamai Matara Dzikamai Matara is a sports writer at Briefly News. He previously worked as a news and current affairs editor at iHarare for eight years. Before that, he was a profiler, sports, human interest, entertainment, and current affairs writer at Pindula for two years, where he produced profiles and news articles. He completed two years of Mechanical Engineering coursework at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has also completed YOAST SEO for Beginners (2023), YOAST Block Editor Training (2023), and YOAST Structured Data for Beginners (2023).