Wales rugby fan slams 'astronomical' ticket costs

Wales have two more home games in the 2024 Six Nations

Rugby fans have criticised ticket prices for Wales’ home Six Nations games as matches struggle to sell out.

The best Principality Stadium seats cost £115 although some rugby clubs are offering to sell their ticket allocations below the asking price.

Fan Paul Evans said ticket prices were "a little astronomical for what we're getting".

The Welsh Rugby Union said all proceeds from stadium games went back into the national game, and it worked hard to make matches "as accessible as possible with a wide range of prices" available.

Wales will play France on Sunday at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff in the penultimate match of the competition, with the home side having lost all three previous games.

Mr Evans said a trip to the rugby with his partner and two children would cost more than £500 once train travel from Cwmbran, Torfaen, and a meal was factored in.

Paul Evans says a family trip to watch the rugby would cost over £500

"I understand the cost of running [the event] is not as cheap as it used to be," Mr Evans conceded.

"It's inevitable that the price for tickets and events will increase. But some of the prices we're paying at the moment are a little astronomical for what we're getting."

The 45-year-old said he had been attending Welsh rugby internationals since he was a teenager.

"As long as you're winning and you're turning out Grand Slams or championships, nobody's really talking about the price.

"Suddenly, as the team starts underperforming, everybody starts talking about how much it costs to go and watch them lose," Mr Evans said.

Paul's Six Nations costs

We asked Paul Evans to explain his match-day budget:

• £460 for four match tickets

• £45 return rail travel for a family of four from Cwmbran to Cardiff Central

• £50 for food

• Total: £555

The budget does not include any food or drink purchased at the stadium

The Wales team have lost all three of their previous matches in this year's Six Nations tournament

He suggested the WRU could release tickets for matches earlier, allowing people to "start putting money aside for the day".

He said he believed grassroots rugby clubs deserved first refusal, but felt his chances of getting a cheaper category ticket were "very slim" unless he became a club member.

The WRU has frozen ticket prices for the Six Nations since 2022, with top-price tickets for 2024 capped at £115 and the cheapest adult tickets starting at £40.

While the cheapest tickets have sold out for Wales’ match against France, some are still available from the WRU and its "supporter exchange site".

Rugby clubs are using social media to sell discounted Six Nations tickets

But there is also a trade in tickets on social media, with some grassroots rugby clubs offering to sell their official allocations of tickets for a big discount.

These are tickets which have not been bought by members of the rugby club, who would have had first refusal.

A Facebook group with thousands of members has been busy with messages from clubs who appear to be struggling to sell their Six Nations match tickets.

Some have been offering to sell seats at discount of more than 25%.

Despite the availability of tickets, tens of thousands of people will be attending the remaining matches.

A business expert said the stadium had a "significant" impact on the broader economy in Cardiff.

Graham Morgan says the WRU faces a "dilemma" with its ticket pricing

"Not only the rugby, but also the music events and the other attractions that happen here bring crowds into the city, and that spins out into the bars, restaurants and hotels," said business expert Graham Morgan.

He said people "do seem to have that additional money to spend" on attending big events, adding: "The impact on the city, of a stadium of this size, is quite significant."

Mr Morgan said stadium bosses faced a dilemma in deciding ticket prices.

"There's a fine balance between what price you can charge and what people are prepared to pay," he said.

"I think that doesn't only relate to the WRU. Every business has that dilemma as to what price they put their products and services on the shelf with."

WRU chief executive Abi Tierney said: "All proceeds from the internationals we host at Principality Stadium are fed back into the game in Wales. In fact around 65% of the WRU’s turnover comes from hosting these games and associated commercial activities.

"We work hard on ensuring our matches are as accessible as possible with a wide range of prices available to watch Wales during the season."

She said customer satisfaction surveys had high scores, tickets for the Italy game are available for lower prices, and the France match will be nearly sold out.

"A family of four, two adults and two children, can attend the Italy game for a total of £120 and we are confident our prices are competitive with those of other unions.

"Because of the unique way we distribute our tickets, with member clubs, it is always possible that some clubs will have tickets left close to matchday.

"We always tell supporters that the best way to support Welsh rugby is to buy tickets from our member clubs and we also partner with official supporter exchange site, Seat Unique, which helps clubs to pass on the tickets."