RFU crackdown on black market tickets hits hundred mark

RFU Business Operations Director Paul Vaughan said: "The fact that we have now  imposed well over 100 sanctions shows our commitment to reducing the number of tickets reaching the black market. We are determined to take action against those who breach our ticketing terms and conditions by reselling to unauthorised operators or even advertising tickets to resale."

The RFU's ticket terms and conditions allow member clubs to sell allocated tickets on to official licensed operators. 

In January 2004 the RFU appointed three official operators licensed to sell ticketed hospitality packages for matches at Twickenham Stadium. The three operators are Mike Burton, Events International and Sporting Class.  They offer packages which are ‘off site' from the stadium.  Additionally, Twickenham Experience Ltd is the only official on site operator.  The agreement covers all matches at the stadium for a five-year period.

The sanctions are decided on an individual basis and are judged against the severity of the case in terms of the number of tickets, how they got onto the black market  and whether or not they have offended before.   

1.         Clubs/Constituent Bodies

a)         The following clubs received a 10% loss of allocation for England's home internationals for 1 year from January 1 2008 , but the loss of allocation was suspended for 1 year.

(i)            Coventry Football Club Ltd;

(ii)            Leeds Rugby Limited;

(iii)           Tabard RFC;

(iv)           Middlesex County RFU;

(v)            Rayleigh Wyverns RFC;

(vi)           Mitcham RUFC;

(vii)           Kenilworth RFC;

(viii)          Birchfield RUFC;

(ix)           Broadland RFC

(x)            Bromyard RFC;

(xi)           Coventrians RFC;

(xii)           Penrith RFC;

(xiii)          Sale Sharks;

(xiv)          Hampshire RFU;

(xv)           Preston Grasshoppers RFC;

(xvi)          Berwick RFC;

(xvii)         Folkestone RFC;

(xviii)        Portsmouth RFC;

(xix)         Biggleswade RUFC; and

(xx)          Market Bosworth RFC.

b)         Castleford RUFC and Bishop Auckland RUFC received a 25% loss of allocation for England's home internationals, but the loss of allocation was suspended for 1 year.

c)         Wheaton Aston RFC received a 10% loss of allocation for England's home internationals for 1 year from January 1 2008.

d)         The following clubs received a 15% loss of allocation for England's home matches for 1 year from January 1 2008:

(i)          Hope Valley RFC;

(ii)         Nestle Rowntree RFC;

(iii)        Paviors RFC

(iv)        Roachford Hundred RFC;

(v)         Leeds Medics and Dentists RFC;

(vi)        Gentlemen of Moore RUFC;

(vii)       Bishopstown RFC;

(viii)      Gnosall RUFC;

(ix)        Farnborough RFC; and

(x)         Whitehall RFC.

(e)       The following clubs received a 25% loss of allocation for England's home internationals for 1 year from from January 1 2008 ;

(i)          Bishop Castle and Onny Valley RFU;

(ii)         Coventry Football Club Limited; and

(iii)        Devonport Services RFC.

(f)         Old Otliensians RUFC has lost 2 tickets for England's home internationals for 1 year  from January 1 2008 

(g)       Amber Valley RFC received a 40% loss of entitlement for 1 year for England's home internationals from January 1 2008 as a previous suspended sentence has now been invoked.

(h)        The following clubs received a 50% loss of allocation for England's home matches for 1 year from January 1 2008 as it was their second offence;

(i)          Marist RUFC;

(ii)         Runcorn RFC.

2.         Schools

(a)       The following schools lost their entire ticket allocation for England's home matches from January 1 2008:

(i)        Repton School;

(ii)       Ellesmere Port Catholic High School;

(iii)      Our Lady of the Visitation School;

(iv)      Collingwood College; and

(v)       Canford School.

3.         Universities

(a)       The following universities have been sanctioned:

(i)       The University of Middlesex has lost their entire ticket allocation for both England's home and away matches for 2 years from from January 1 2008;

(ii)       The University of Manchester and Worcester Students (University of Worcester) RFC have both lost 15% of their entitlement to England's home matches for 1 year from January 1 2008 . 

4.         Debenture Holders

(a)       The following debenture holders have been sanctioned with loss of 2 debentures for 1 year  from January 1 2008, but the loss of tickets has been suspended for 5 years:

(i)                Mr Andy Saitch;

(ii)               Mr G J Tayson.

(b)       Mr Nick Maingay has been sanctioned with a loss of 2 debentures for the RBS 6 Nations 2008, but this sanction has been suspended for 1 year.

(c)        The following debenture holders have been sanctioned with a loss of 2 debentures for the RBS 6 Nations 2008:   

(i)                Mr Anthony Wrighton; and

(ii)               Mr Sean O'Brien.

(d)       The following debenture holders have been sanctioned with a loss of 2 debentures for 1 year from January 1 2008:

(iii)             Mr Gerry Quinn;

(iv)             Mr Philip Glanfield;

(v)              Mr M D Bradley; and

(vi)             Mr Robert Jones.

(e)       Mr A C Aljoe has lost 6 debentures for 1 year from January 1 2008.

(f)         Mr Hiram Richards has lost his debentures for a further 2 years (up to and including the 2011 RBS 6 Nations) as it was a second offence 
 

5.         RFU Council

            RFU Council Member for Cornwall David Martin has lost the right to receive 2 of his Council allocation of Twickenham international match  tickets for 1 year from January 1 2008.

6.         Clubs/Schools/Individuals

           The following clubs/schools/individuals lost their entitlement to tickets  to England away RBS 6 Nations matches from January 1 2008  following ticket misuse involving the Ireland v England match (February 24 2007) :

(i)        St Columba & Torpoint RFC and Andover RFC - loss of entitlement for 4 years;

(ii)       RAF Cosford RFC - loss of entitlement for 2 years;

(iii)      Bristol Grammar School - loss of entitlement for 2 years, but the sanction will be suspended for 2 years;

(iv)      Joe Worsley - loss of entitlement for 2 years.

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