17 Nov 2016

Booming black market for All Blacks-Ireland rematch

1:58 pm on 17 November 2016

There's a booming black market for tickets to this weekend's All Blacks-Ireland re-match in Dublin with tickets selling for more than ten times their face value.

Interest in the rematch is at fever pitch following Ireland's historic victory in Chicago last week.

The historic loss to Ireland won't hang over the All Blacks says coach Steve Hansen.

There's plenty of excitement in Dublin ahead of the All Blacks- Ireland rematch following Ireland's historic win in Chicago. Photo: Photosport

The Irish Independent newspaper is reporting tickets which originally sold for $35 are now selling for $565 while tickets wtih a face value of $180 are selling for $1200.

Now, the Irish Rugby Football Union has stepped in.

IRFU communications director Stephen McNamara stressed that fans should only buy tickets from official sources.

Ireland celebrate their win over the All Blacks.

Ireland celebrate their win over the All Blacks. Photo: Photosport

"When the IRFU becomes aware of tickets being resold above face value, we follow up with the original purchaser, where sufficient information is available to identify them, and request that they desist from the practice, or their ticket will be cancelled," he said.

However, one ticket reseller site, Viagogo, stressed that people who demanded "silly prices" usually did not sell them.

Viagogo is a marketplace and provides a secure platform for people to buy and sell tickets.

"Sellers are free to advertise tickets at a price of their choosing and, for popular events, prices can be higher because there is a huge demand and limited supply.

"But tickets listed at silly prices rarely sell," it said.