SA Rugby seeks legal action after ticket scam hits Springboks v All Blacks Test

SA Rugby is seeking legal action against travel agencies accused of selling tickets they did not possess for Saturday’s second Test between the Springboks and All Blacks at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.

The dispute has left a number of supporters facing admission problems, with social media flooded by complaints from fans who say tickets they purchased were not valid for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test.

SA Rugby has rejected claims that the organisation was responsible for supporters being left without legitimate tickets. In a statement, it said some travel agencies had offered tickets to customers despite never having access to them through SA Rugby or its appointed ticketing agency.

“SA Rugby is seeking legal redress against travel agencies who have claimed that failures on the part of SA Rugby were responsible for fans being left ticketless for today’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test at DHL Stadium,” the statement read.

The organisation said it had contacted the agencies’ disappointed customers and found that responsibility had subsequently been attributed to SA Rugby.

“In subsequent communication with disappointed clients, claims have been made that the issue lay at the door of SA Rugby. This is completely untrue.

“Agencies sold the promise of tickets they did not have – and could not secure – for the Test in breach of the event’s terms and conditions of sale, and without ever having been given access by SA Rugby or its ticketing agency.

“These companies acted illegally and recklessly in pursuit of their own commercial gain at the expense of their clients.

“SA Rugby has turned the matter over to its attorneys,” the statement ended.

The organisation’s position is that the agencies breached the event’s terms and conditions by selling the promise of entry to the match without first securing tickets. It also said the companies had not been granted access to the available tickets by either SA Rugby or the ticketing agency working on its behalf.

The allegations have emerged as supporters prepare for the second meeting between the Springboks and All Blacks in the series, with the fixture taking place in Cape Town on Saturday.

Fans affected by the issue have used social media to voice their frustration after discovering that tickets bought through the agencies would not provide valid entry to DHL Stadium. SA Rugby’s statement was issued to clarify that the ticketing problem did not result from a failure by the governing body to supply tickets to those agencies.

The organisation said the matter had now been referred to its lawyers as it considers further action against the companies involved.