RFU says Red Roses tickets ‘too cheap’

Bill Sweeney, the Rugby Football Union chief executive, believes Red Roses tickets are “probably priced too cheaply” given the increased interest in the team and their success.

England were crowned Grand Slam champions for a third consecutive year on Saturday after beating France 42-21 in Bordeaux, sealing an impressive Six Nations campaign featuring record attendances and an entertaining style of rugby.

The Red Roses attracted a crowd of 19,705 for their second-round hammering of Wales – a record attendance for a women’s Test outside Twickenham – before 48,778 watched their rout of Ireland at the home of English rugby.

The RFU has come under fire for spiralling ticket prices for England men’s games – some for the match against the All Blacks in November cost £229 – sparking fears that supporters are being priced out.

With their significantly lower price, women’s tickets are a key part of the union’s strategy to make Twickenham more of a diverse and accessible place while growing the Red Roses’ fanbase.

It cost a family of four just £50 to watch England’s match against Ireland last week. The game – which attracted the second-highest attendance for a women’s Test – made a modest profit for the RFU and Sweeney hinted the union could revisit its Red Roses pricing.

“The gap between the average price for a ticket for a women’s match at Twickenham and a men’s match is massive,” Sweeney said. “It’s a huge gap. I think we’ve probably priced [them] too cheaply, but we want to keep the fans coming in and we want them to enjoy that experience. I’m not saying we’re looking at a price increase, but it is pretty low at the moment.”

The RFU is on a mission to grow the Red Roses’ fanbase as it builds towards a home World Cup next year.

England will host the Black Ferns this September at Twickenham in a warm-up for WXV, with Sweeney confirming the Red Roses are on course to make a profit for the union by 2030 at the latest.