RFU Ticketing Dispute Set To Continue

The ongoing dispute between the RFU and Viagogo looks set to continue, with the secondary ticketing company planning to appeal the decision made on Thursday in the Court of Appeal, and reiterating its confidence that no customer information will be provided to rugby’s governing body. 

The Court of Appeal upheld the order of Mr Justice Tugendhat requiring Viagogo to reveal the names and addresses of those who placed tickets for sale on its website for the 2010 Investec Internationals and the 2011 RBS 6 Nations. A press release from the RFU said: ‘The appeal having been dismissed by the Court of Appeal means the RFU, once it receives the information, will be able to identify and sanction those who have breached its ticketing terms and conditions by selling to secondary ticketing sites. The RFU now intends to take the same position with other similar sites.’

RFU chief commercial officer Sophie Goldschmidt said: ‘It is very good news that the Court of Appeal has upheld the judgment of the Honourable Mr Justice Tugendhat. Placing tickets for sale on secondary ticketing sites is in direct contravention of the RFU’s Ticketing Terms and Conditions and, if the seller can be identified, they face tough sanctions including possible court action. Individuals who believe they have anonymity by trading their tickets through such secondary sales sites are no longer invisible and we will do our utmost to ensure that tickets go to genuine fans.’

Viagogo, though, maintains that it will continue to fight the ruling. Edward Parkinson, the company’s UK director, insisted: ‘We are committed to vigorously defending our customer’s rights and private information, therefore we will appeal today’s decision. In the mean time, no customer information has been shared and we are confident that no customer information will ever be shared.’