The costs associated with supporting the Springboks have risen in recent years, prompting many to raise concerns about certain prices.
South Africa’s national rugby team, the Springboks, is often seen as a source of national pride, but the costs of supporting the team have increased over the years.
A cost which has caused controversy in recent months is the price of match tickets to watch Springboks games in person.
On 25 August 2026, several tickets were available on the Springboks’ official ticketing website for their upcoming match at FNB Stadium, priced between R1,650 and R4,000.
The next Springboks fixture against the All Blacks will be held at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, with tickets currently sold out.
After official tickets sell out, many South Africans will turn to ticket resellers such as ViaGogo to purchase tickets, despite explicit warnings from the Springboks against doing so.
Tickets on the ViaGogo site for the upcoming Cape Town fixture can cost a person up to R17,300, without the guarantee that comes with buying an official ticket.
If a South African wants to watch a Springboks match but does not want to attend in person, their next option is to watch it on DSTV.
SuperSport holds the primary broadcast rights for South African Rugby, with coverage only available with a DSTV subscription.
To watch live Springboks matches, a person would require a DSTV Premium account, which costs R799 per month for streaming only and R979 for satellite.
South Africans can also expect high prices for supporter apparel, with the most recent “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” official match jersey costing R2,699.
A stadium jersey, which has the same design as a match jersey but lacks specific details and is made from a different fabric, costs R1,499.
Both of these jerseys are produced by Nike, which sells match and stadium jerseys for several other sports brands.
While the costs associated with the Springboks may seem high, many are in line with the costs of other sports teams and events.
Nike produces the official match jerseys for the Springboks, as well as kits for many other prominent sports teams.
For a major sports brand such as FC Barcelona, Nike sells match jerseys for R2,499 and stadium jerseys for R1,699.
The prices charged by Nike for match- and stadium-grade jerseys are largely the same across teams, varying by only approximately R200 depending on the kit.
One of the Springboks’ titular sponsors, Pick n Pay, also offers more affordable fan merchandise such as jackets and t-shirts.
Another cost is DSTV Premium for watching the Springboks at home, but rugby is not the only sport exclusive to this package.
Other events, such as the United Rugby Championship or major tennis tournaments are also only available with a premium subscription.
Some Springboks fixtures are also broadcast on the South African Broadcasting Company (SABC), which is available to any South African with a TV license.
While the SABC does broadcast specific games, these fixtures are subject to specific sub-licensing agreements, with no certainty about which matches will be available.
The cost of tickets for Springboks matches is a major point of contention for many South Africans, due to the high prices compared to other sports events.
In July 2026, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) noted these concerns and said that the ticket pricing strategy for Springboks matches would be reviewed at the end of the 2026 season.
SARU president, Mark Alexander, said, “We take full ownership of this matter and are committed to ensuring that our ticketing structure reflects accessibility and sustainability.”
“Rugby is a shared national treasure, and we have a responsibility to ensure every supporter feels part of the journey.”
“At the same time, we must balance this commitment with the responsibility of making these events financially viable.”
Tickets for fixtures between provincial rugby teams are often significantly lower than those for Springboks matches.
Most provincial matches offer tickets for under R1,000, and are usually hosted at the same stadiums where Springboks matches are held.
Follow the story
