Rugby Championship, Gold Coast: Prices for All Blacks, Wallabies
Entry-level prices and family passes for the historic double-header rugby Tests on the Gold Coast with the Wallabies, All Blacks, Argentina and South Africa can be unveiled.
Rugby
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ENTRY-LEVEL tickets for historic double-header rugby Tests on the Gold Coast with the Wallabies and global heavyweight teams will cost the same as a drink at a bar.
Rugby Australia, in a bid to pack out Cbus Super Stadium for the fixtures and attract newcomers to the games, have set “bronze and silver” category seats at $12.25 per Test, it can be revealed.
Fans will be able to buy a $49 ticket – which covers entry for two Test matches running back to back – and allows a mate to join for free.
It works out to $24.50 per person or $12.25 per game.
It’s a far cry from the last time the Wallabies played on the Gold Coast in 2018 when tickets were $160 and the stadium had 10,000 empty seats.
Family tickets – covering two adults and two children for free – will start at $98.
The Rugby Championship has been located to Queensland due to the pandemic and will see the All Blacks play Argentina and South Africa play the Wallabies at Cbus on September 12.
The Wallabies play Argentina and the All Blacks play world champions South Africa at Cbus on October 2.
The first match starts at 5pm before a 45-minute break ahead of an 8pm start for the second fixture on both days.
A Rugby Australian spokesman told the Bulletin the bronze and silver category seats which include areas behind the goalposts will make up more than half of the stadium seats.
“They just made the call that this is a great opportunity to attract new fans and make it a festival atmosphere and we are never going to get the opportunity to do this again. The prices will scale up from there.”
Rugby Australia will officially unveil all the ticket prices on Tuesday.
The South African and Argentinian players are expected to arrive on the Gold Coast later this week.
The low-ball entry prices come after Coast-based ex duel international Mat Rogers implored Rugby Australia to set prices lower to grow the game.
“Extravagant prices aren’t what Rugby Australia needs right now,” he said.
The tickets go on sale at 3pm on Wednesday.
Ex Wallaby warns Rugby Australia against pricing Coast tickets too high
A DUAL international and a Gold Coast councillor say Rugby Australia can’t afford to put extravagant prices on Test tickets for the Gold Coast’s looming double headers.
The city will host the All Blacks, Argentina, South Africa and the Wallabies in four blockbuster Tests on September 12 and October 2 for the Rugby Championship.
Ex-Wallaby Mat Rogers said he hoped Rugby Australia used the opportunity of bringing the historic double-headers to Cbus Super Stadium to grow the game.
“I hope they use this as a PR exercise and not a money-making exercise,” he said.
“In the current climate I don’t think it would be appropriate to charge an excessive amount.
“Extravagant ticket prices aren’t what Rugby Australia needs right now.”
The last time the Gold Coast hosted a Test match in 2018, tickets were $160. Just over 16,000 fans turned out to 27,000-capacity Cbus Super Stadium to witness the Wallabies’ four-point loss to Argentina. Following the game, Rogers said Rugby Australia had questions to answer over the poor attendance.
“Sport is for the people and Rugby Australia needs to make sure they feel valued because at the end of the day it comes down to them going,” Rogers said after the game.
Three years on and Rogers said the organisation still hadn’t learned to publicise the sport: “There have been times when I wake up and see the Wallabies played the night before. I’d love to have watched it but didn’t know it was on,” he said.
“The diehard fans will always watch the game but if Rugby Australia wants to grow its audience it has to make sure the PR around each game is there.”
The 45-Test player also warned the Gold Coast to attend the matches or lose similar events in the future.
The city would stay a laughing stock to Australia’s bigger cities unless it turned out for the smorgasbord of Test rugby.
“If we don’t get behind it, we may never get this opportunity back,” he said.
“Good, bad or indifferent the Wallabies are our team and we need to support them.
“From experience there’s nothing like playing in front of a home crowd and we need to provide that atmosphere.
“Covid has been a blessing for the Gold Coast when it comes to sporting events. We need to prove we’re able to host these events in the future.
“We’re a laughing stock to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, who see us only getting these games as an emergency.
“We can show that the Gold Coast can host international sport.”
Robina councillor Hermann Vorster, who is a citizen of three of the four nations playing, urged rugby bosses to hold ticket prices to a low base to make it affordable for fans.
He said the move would pay long-term dividends.
“It’s no secret the code has faced its challenges and struggled to engage with a first-time audience,” he said.
“Positioning the tickets at a price families can afford is perhaps their greatest opportunity to expose locals to a code which genuinely is thrilling, with all the grandeur and pride the Wallabies can invoke.
“It’s a chance to demonstrate they are for every Australian family and not just those who are willing to sacrifice their entire disposable income to see the national team play.”
Rugby coup to ‘save school holidays’
August 25, 2021
A “SMORGASBORD” of international rugby on the Gold Coast will inject millions into the economy and save the September school holidays.
Tourism and civic leaders are salivating at the prospective of a major boost for local businesses and traders after the city scored a huge coup, securing four of eight Rugby Championship Test matches.
The city’s Cbus Super Stadium hosts two double headers. The All Blacks take on Argentina, before the Springboks versus Wallabies at the Robina stadium on September 12. In the second double header, the Wallabies play Argentina, while South Africa will take on New Zealand on October 2.
‘CRITICAL LOW’: UNIT SUPPLY EVAPORATES ON COAST
RANKED: THE BIGGEST HITTERS IN GOLD COAST RUGBY LEAGUE
Mayor Tom Tate, a noted rugby tragic, said it was critical Gold Coasters got behind the games to ensure no repeat of the city’s most recent Test in 2018, when 16,000 watched Argentina stun the Wallabies.
“This is a smorgasbord of world rugby heading our way. The All Blacks, Springboks and Argentina are showcase rugby nations so to have them battle against our mighty Wallabies right here, will rubber stamp just how good our city is when it comes to world-class sport.
“There will be huge support across Australia with the drive-in market as well as flights from states like Western Australia and South Australia currently not locked down. This will provide important tourism dollars just when we need them.’’
Premier Anna Palaszczuk on Tuesday confirmed the eight fixtures were relocated to Queensland due to the Covid pandemic. Games will also be in Brisbane and Townsville.
The Gold Coast’s peak tourism body hopes it will be a “springboard” for visitors after all of 2021’s school holidays were crippled by local or interstate lockdowns and border closures.
The July lockdowns alone cost the city more than $250 million. A further $350 million was lost in August.
COAST INFLUENCERS SMASHED OVER CONTROVERSIAL COVID VIEWS
Destination Gold Coast CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said it would draw a global audience: “This is a major coup for Queensland and the Gold Coast as the globally renowned championship will amass the eyeballs of fans from across Australia and internationally.
“To be the host destination, a first in our city’s history, is exciting for the Gold Coast community and will be a springboard to further attract visitors to our slice of paradise.”
It is the Coast’s second major sporting coup in recent months, after hosting July’s third and final State of Origin.
Pulled off in five days, it was hailed a success and put $3 million into the economy.
“It’s fantastic to see the region on the radar for these major sporting events including most recently the State of Origin III, which saw us welcome a near-sellout crowd and maximise money-can’t-buy exposure for the Gold Coast.”
Bond Pirates coach Buck Heron said the two Test double-headers will be a great opportunity to showcase the sport but also provide a financial boost to the Gold Coast.
“It’s really exciting to have these games coming. It’ll be a great way to promote rugby.
“People in rural Queensland might make the trip to the Gold Coast to watch the games and make a holiday from it.
“It could be a really good opportunity for struggling businesses on the Gold Coast along with developing the game.”
Tickets go on sale from August 30 via Ticketmaster.
Gold Coast to host rugby championship clashes
August 24, 2021
THE Gold Coast will host international Tests for the looming Rugby Championship between the All Blacks, Argentina, South Africa and the Wallabies next month and in October.
Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium, Brisbane and Townsville will host the fixtures after the pandemic forced organisers into a rethink.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the “good news” would be revealed today with Queensland picking up the entire championship schedule of eight matches.
The last time the Gold Coast hosted an international rugby union fixture was in 2018 when Argentina stunned the Wallabies before a crowd of about 16,000 at Cbus.
FULL FIXTURES
ROUND THREE
Sun 12 September: New Zealand v Argentina at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Sun 12 September: South Africa v Australia at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
ROUND FOUR
Sat 18 September: Argentina v New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Sat 18 September: Australia v South Africa at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
ROUND FIVE
Sat 25 September: Australia v Argentina at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Sat 25 September: New Zealand v South Africa at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
ROUND SIX
Sat 2 October: Argentina v Australia at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Sat 2 October: South Africa v New Zealand at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Reds fall short against rivals in U16,U19 rugby thrillers
The future of Queensland-New South Wales rugby rivalries is in good hands judging off Sunday’s skirmish at Norths in the Super Rugby Under-16s and Under-19s competition. All you need to know here.
‘Took some coaxing’: The switch that propelled teen rugby phenom
16-year-old Kingsley Uys is shaping as one of the Wallabies brightest prospects after a scintillating tour of NZ. Inside his rise and the positional switch he never wanted.