Ellis Park Test tickets available for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry

Tickets are now available for Saturday’s Ellis Park Test, despite the opening Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry fixture having previously been regarded as sold out. The development comes as ticket demand and pricing remain significant issues during the tour.

The match at Ellis Park is the latest fixture to attract attention over attendance levels. Ticket prices have been a recurring talking point, with the tour’s first game in Cape Town drawing 47,130 spectators to a stadium that can hold 55,000. Entry prices for that match were reported to range from R650 to R1,350, and the game did not reach a full house.

The crowd was smaller in Durban when the Sharks faced the All Blacks at Kings Park. Only 14,759 supporters attended, although roughly 25,000 tickets had reportedly been sold before the fixture. Cold, wet weather was also identified as a factor in the low turnout.

The All Blacks’ meeting with the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld produced a larger attendance, with 30,930 people at the Pretoria venue. Loftus has capacity for 50,000, meaning that match also fell short of a sellout.

The availability of Ellis Park tickets is notable because the fixture had been expected to have no seats left. It also follows a series of matches where the number of tickets sold did not always translate into a full stadium on match day.

The second Test between the Springboks and the All Blacks at Cape Town Stadium is sold out. Supporters can still obtain tickets for the third Test, scheduled for 5 September at FNB Stadium, where prices begin at R1,650 and rise to R4,000. The Ellis Park match therefore remains the immediate opportunity for fans seeking to attend the opening Test of the rivalry series.