Ticket price hikes proof Wales Rugby Union is tone deaf to loyal fan concerns
Earlier this month the Wales Rugby Union announced ticket price hikes for the Six Nations and if nothing else it is utterly tone deaf.
Over the Severn Bridge the sport is in turmoil, with regions fighting for their lives not only because of difficult macroeconomic factors but because their own governing body is actively trying to turn one living, breathing club into a thing of the past.
Throw in historic sexism scandals, poorly-performing international teams and sheer disdain for leading Welsh rugby figures from hard-working fans and the country’s rugby scene is a basket case of ineptitude.
The Welsh Rugby Union has introduced a new Category A+ ticket in an attempt to justify hiking prices for matchday views unchanged from cheaper parallels last year.
And when Wales take on England in the Six Nations, an A+ ticket will set you back £155, up £25 on the most expensive single ticket from when the two sides last faced off at the Principality Stadium in 2025. An A+ ticket against Ireland is £145.
Tickets have gone up across all categories for the Six Nations at a time when, sure, Wales need money, but fans experiencing a cost of living crisis are naturally reluctant to part with it.
Wales Rugby Union would argue…
There is an argument here that the 74,000-capacity mega-arena, one of the best in the world, will sell out regardless; not because of a surge in interest from locals but from Irish and English fans who are getting a cheaper ticket in Cardiff than they would get in Dublin or London.
But that’s not an argument that’ll fly with the proud nation of Wales, who have been shafted out of seeing their side be competitive for long periods of time because of bad coaching, management and regional responsibility.
I commend the Welsh Rugby Union for offering more concessionary tickets than ever before – in their own words – but when a Category C ticket sets you back £115, why would you take your kids to the match?
Before then is the inaugural string of home matches in the rugby Nations Championship, where Wales will host Japan’s Brave Blossoms, Australia’s Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks.
For that match against New Zealand there are thousands upon thousands of tickets available – the cheapest of which is £65. Traditionally, even a few months out, seeing the Haka in Wales alongside a male voice choir’s rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau would be a must-do day out. Must-do it is no longer.
Red Roses contrast
Contrast that to the Red Roses – who arguably have the same woes as Wales, except they continually win in a comfortable manner rather than lose every game – who have this week sold 50,000 tickets to their match against the Black Ferns in the autumn.
Sure, tickets are cheaper, starting at £25 and rising to £35, but they have earned the right to charge whatever they want because they’ve taken the fans with them on the journey.
The top flight women’s league is by no means perfect, and struggles with attendances, but that hasn’t stopped the central RFU from getting it right at the international level. The WRU should take note.
So when the Welsh Rugby Union should be working on getting the Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight in Cardiff, packing the Principality six times a year for rugby and hosting the world’s top musical artists, instead they’re creating resentment among their own supporters, a fan base who will happily look elsewhere to part with their cash. Because frankly the WRU do not deserve it.
Former England Sevens captain Ollie Phillips is the founder of Optimist Performance. Follow Ollie @OlliePhillips11