RFU Defends Success Of Ticket Clampdown

Following last week’s disappointing annual financial results, the RFU has
defended its work in reducing the number of black market tickets available
stating that such activity had been halved in the last five years.

RFU business operations director Paul Vaughan explained that the 2001
estimated figure of 8,000 black market tickets sold a year had roughly been cut
in two.

Vaughan attributed the success to the RFU’s introduction of new ticketing
terms and conditions which state that it is now against the rules to advertise
tickets for resale and that there was now a formal returns policy enabling
ticket holders to get a refund if returning their tickets at least 48 hours
before a match.

This autumn, as a result of the crackdown, the RFU is currently dealing with
in excess of 120 cases involving tickets which have been found where they
shouldn’t be. 

The ticket revenue stream is crucial to the RFU’s continued success and is
this year forecast to bring in 29% of the governing body’s total revenue,
approximately £20-25m of its £80m turnover.

Vaughan also underlined that retail sales were up year-on-year despite the
South Stand building work and the performance of the team. Year-on-year, sales
of the England shirt were up 29%, equipment sales up 17%, children’s wear up
31%, ladies’ wear up 38% while club shirts sales were up 51%.