RFU backs high price for ABs

England’s Rugby Football Union have been forced to defend selling tickets for this year’s test against the All Blacks for up to a whopping £195 ($NZ384).

Before England’s disastrous Six Nations campaign, the test between the two teams was regarded as the biggest showdown in world rugby.

That honour will now go to the test between Ireland and the All Blacks, also in November.

However, the RFU are unapologetic about cashing in on England’s test against the All Blacks. It will be the highest price for a ticket for a test at Twickenham outside the World Cup and is £30 ($NZ59) more than the most expensive ticket for a Six Nations test.

RFU chief executive Steve Brown justified the price hike, telling the UK’s Daily Telegraph that they could sell out the stadium many times over for the November 10 test at the headquarters of English rugby.

‘‘We are not here to make profit per se but to generate a return to be invested back into the game,’’ Brown told the Telegraph.

‘‘New Zealand is a blockbuster fixture and supply always outstrips demand for our games.

‘‘Our research shows that we could have priced every ticket at £195 and still sold out.

‘‘The demand is exceptional. As it is, we get 1.5-2.5million inquiries for tickets for big matches. Twickenham has become a big event.’’