For the average student, a trip to a big rugby match has become unrealistic. Once you factor in transport, food and drinks, the cost of a day at the stadium can quickly turn into a bill equivalent to a month’s allowance. Watching the game unfold in a campus pub or with friends at home is becoming a more financially viable option.
Reynard du Plessis, who attended the recent Stormers vs All Blacks clash at DHL Stadium, paid R850 for a general admission ticket, which he initially thought was “fair” compared to national matches. He bought the ticket the night before the match, hoping that the price would come down in the meantime and closer to kick off, but it did not.
The ticket was only a small part of his expenditure. He paid around R300 for lunch before the match and R450 for Ubers because of the terrible Cape Town traffic. Final drinks at the stadium pushed his total spending for the day to over R2100.
“Dit het my bankbalans gebreek as ‘n student (It broke my bank balance),” Reynard said.
Despite the cost, Reynard felt the day was worth it and rated the outing a nine out of ten. He enjoyed the electric atmosphere in the stadium and seeing different people come together for one goal.
There is, however, a limit on what Reynard thinks students can afford. “I don’t think anything above R1000 is fair,” he said. “Beyond that, I would rather have a braai with my friends and watch it at home.”
Test matches can be even more expensive for fans travelling from other parts of the country. Mr Vermaak, an avid rugby fan from Pretoria, travelled to Cape Town for the Springboks vs. All Blacks Test and spent R10 000 on the trip.
Most of his spree went towards the ticket that he only bought two days before the match from a reseller. The short notice left him with fewer options and meant he had to pay more than he would have if he had bought the ticket earlier.
The match was more than just rugby though. Major fixtures were transformed into huge entertainment events, music and performances being part of them. The Cape Town Test was blessed by the presence of Michael Jackson (impersonator).
When asked what the entertainment added to the experience, Marco said the atmosphere created by the entertainment was “awesome,” but he does not believe fans are going because of the extra performances. For him, rugby was the main attraction. When further asked whether he thought the entertainment added to the cost of ticket prices, he disagreed with the idea that this type of entertainment inflates ticket prices, pointing out that entertainment has been part of the match-day experience for years.
Despite spending R10 000 on the trip, Marco described the atmosphere at the Bokke game as “magical and definitely worth every penny.”
While the fans are willing to pay more for major occasions, the question is “how much is too much?” SA Rugby thinks it is becoming an issue, and after the inaugural Nations Championship, it revealed that it would review its ticketing strategy for the 2026 season and beyond.
South African Rugby Union (SARU) President Mark Alexander acknowledged concerns over ticket prices and said some categories would have to be reviewed to make matches more accessible.
Alexander also dismissed accusations that SA Rugby is simply being “greedy,” pointing out that the organisation recorded a financial loss in 2025 and said its commercial strategies are designed to make up for the costs of running South African rugby rather than simply making a profit.
There is a fine balance to be struck. Rugby needs money to operate, but the sport needs its supporters to be able to afford attending matches. If prices continue to rise, then younger fans may slowly be pushed out of the stadiums.
For students at UP and elsewhere in the country, the upcoming review will be critical. Loftus Versfeld and DHL Stadium should be a place where young supporters can experience the excitement of live rugby and not be a place they can only afford to visit occasionally.
The biggest problem for many young rugby fans is no longer to beat the opposition, but to get through the stadium gates without breaking their banks.
