IRFU- Supporters Club

PMC83

Received an email today from the supporters club stating that rather then the usual first come first served nature of the Supporters Club sale, we will now all be entered into a ballot. If choose for a ticket we are guaranteed one, but then its first come first served regarding the seat and price.

Understand how demand has gone up but I really don't see the point in putting everyone into a blind ballot when the original sale was as good as anyway.

I've paid up for the last 4/5 years as I was always at my pc for 10 o clock the morning of the sale and always got something. Now we are pretty much being asked to pay 50 quid a year to enter a raffle for tickets that could wind up costing 90 a head.

Bit of a joke.

eclipsechaser

I fear this is what you do if you have next to no tickets but don't want to make it extremely obvious. If we all logged in at 10am to find no tickets, it would be clear. This way, you get a "sorry, you were unsuccessful" email and you're none the wiser that they've gutted the number of tickets available. Just think of the tiny number of Leinster Season Ticket holders who are successful in their ballot.

Complete crap from the IRFU - I'm tempted to ask for a refund.

PMC83

Worth noting that they have also shut the forum down on the Supporters website, so any trading or info can't be swapped between members.

KBurke85

eclipsechaser wrote: »

I fear this is what you do if you have next to no tickets but don't want to make it extremely obvious. If we all logged in at 10am to find no tickets, it would be clear. This way, you get a "sorry, you were unsuccessful" email and you're none the wiser that they've gutted the number of tickets available. Just think of the tiny number of Leinster Season Ticket holders who are successful in their ballot.

Complete crap from the IRFU - I'm tempted to ask for a refund.

Please do one less person to compete with in the ballot

To be fair they do clearly state that joining the club is no guarantee of getting tickets

Kevski

KBurke85 wrote: »

Please do one less person to compete with in the ballot

To be fair they do clearly state that joining the club is no guarantee of getting tickets

They absolutely do state that but up until now it wouldn’t have been unfair to say that your fate was in your own hands with regards to getting tickets. If you were on the site bang on 10 then you chances were quite good.

Now you’re essentially paying €50 for a raffle ticket to be allowed to buy tickets.

Raisins

That’s really disappointing there’s literally no point now.

People in the supporters club who really really cared were logged in and ready to fight for a ticket, had the date in the calendar etc. I know a few people who had them that weren’t as interested and miss the date of pre sale but it was a fair enough system. I say that as someone who missed out for ABs but did ok other years.

Now it’s 50 quid for a lotto ticket for a chance to buy a ticket. It was the one route a person without links to a club had to six nations tickets. The only reason for this change is that they’re putting less and less tickets. Too much demand from clubs now that the team are going so well.

Dave_The_Sheep

How does being in the club affect getting away tickets? I'm looking to get Scotland this year. I really hope it's not a poxy raffle.

Losty Dublin

No offence but I've got very little pity for you or others in the Supporter Club Draws, OP.

There are those of us who pay thousands in raffle tickets, player sponsorships, blitzes, tag, golf days, table quizzes, bag packing, shirt sponsorships, dinner, balls, pads, kit fees and club memberships over the years. Others drive kids and team mates here and there and everywhere, they badger companies to chip in lump sums, they attend after work committee or red card meetings mid week, referee games, they make sangiges and soup, they mark and dress pitches, they clean changing rooms and shirts and make sure they are open day and night, they fill water bottles and first aid bags, they drive injured played to casualty units, they even call into local schools to talk to their players and teachers to let them know that our club is the best club to play for outside of the school system.

All of this costs us a hell of a lot more than €50 a season. And rest assured none of this assures any of us of tickets either, not even club captains or committee men and women. So sorry, please don't pretend that you are unjustly losing out here. If anything, it's those of us in the clubs who are losing out, not the other way around. At least provincial seasonal ticket holders are regular to their respective home games.

eclipsechaser

Losty Dublin wrote: »

So sorry, please don't pretend that you are unjustly losing out here. At least provincial seasonal ticket holders are regular to their respective home games.

When you've been paying for a service for several years and the service is changed without notice after you've paid, then you are unjustly losing out on something.

Provincial season ticket holders get practically no tickets - at least in Leinster. Of course volunteers should get a first preference but if you think the IRFU are cutting down on tickets to the Supporters Club and Provincial Season Ticket Holders in order to give them to all the volunteers, then I admire your optimism.

The Lost Sheep

eclipsechaser wrote: »

When you've been paying for a service for several years and the service is changed without notice after you've paid, then you are unjustly losing out on something.

Provincial season ticket holders get practically no tickets - at least in Leinster. Of course volunteers should get a first preference but if you think the IRFU are cutting down on tickets to the Supporters Club and Provincial Season Ticket Holders in order to give them to all the volunteers, then I admire your optimism.

But you're not losing unjustly.
Provincial season ticket holders in all provinces do get decent enough chance at tickets.
The IRFU could(ive no idea) be giving some more tickets to clubs(not volunteers) big difference.

lawred2

eclipsechaser wrote: »

When you've been paying for a service for several years and the service is changed without notice after you've paid, then you are unjustly losing out on something.

Provincial season ticket holders get practically no tickets - at least in Leinster. Of course volunteers should get a first preference but if you think the IRFU are cutting down on tickets to the Supporters Club and Provincial Season Ticket Holders in order to give them to all the volunteers, then I admire your optimism.

You're not paying for any service. You're paying to be a member of a supporter's club.

Raisins

Losty Dublin wrote: »

No offence but I've got very little pity for you or others in the Supporter Club Draws, OP.

There are those of us who pay thousands in raffle tickets, player sponsorships, blitzes, tag, golf days, table quizzes, bag packing, shirt sponsorships, dinner, balls, pads, kit fees and club memberships over the years. Others drive kids and team mates here and there and everywhere, they badger companies to chip in lump sums, they attend after work committee or red card meetings mid week, referee games, they make sangiges and soup, they mark and dress pitches, they clean changing rooms and shirts and make sure they are open day and night, they fill water bottles and first aid bags, they drive injured played to casualty units, they even call into local schools to talk to their players and teachers to let them know that our club is the best club to play for outside of the school system.

All of this costs us a hell of a lot more than €50 a season. And rest assured none of this assures any of us of tickets either, not even club captains or committee men and women. So sorry, please don't pretend that you are unjustly losing out here. If anything, it's those of us in the clubs who are losing out, not the other way around. At least provincial seasonal ticket holders are regular to their respective home games.

Nonsense lots of people in the supporters club do those things without looking for a pat on the back. They’re not mutually exclusive. Loads more go to the provincial games as well. That’s the same what about the lads buttering the sambos nonsense that went through the GAA for decades until they eventually rewarded fans who went to games with an all Ireland ticket if they had a certain percentage. There’s no fairness to the rugby tickets.

The Lost Sheep

Raisins wrote: »

Nonsense lots of people in the supporters club do those things without looking for a pat on the back. They’re not mutually exclusive. Loads more go to the provincial games as well. That’s the same what about the lads buttering the sambos nonsense that went through the GAA for decades until they eventually rewarded fans who went to games with an all Ireland ticket if they had a certain percentage. There’s no fairness to the rugby tickets.

There is more than enough fairness. A lot of tickets go to the clubs and their members.
Generally there is much fewer games on weekends of internationals compared to other weekends. These people dont do it for a pat on the back.
the tickets should be going in the main to the constituent clubs, schools, branch referees, etc ahead of anyone else. If anything left by all means give the tickets to supporters club.
I have time to go to plenty of Connacht/Munster games but mainly because i work matchdays in the grounds but otherwise i wouldnt and many club members dont because theyre at club games. On international weekends its different and they usually can get to the test. they more than deserve tickets over others.

irishbucsfan

Raisins wrote: »

Nonsense lots of people in the supporters club do those things without looking for a pat on the back..

Nah, the IRFU supporters club is a purely commercial fabrication

PMC83

Losty Dublin wrote: »

No offence but I've got very little pity for you or others in the Supporter Club Draws, OP.

There are those of us who pay thousands in raffle tickets, player sponsorships, blitzes, tag, golf days, table quizzes, bag packing, shirt sponsorships, dinner, balls, pads, kit fees and club memberships over the years. Others drive kids and team mates here and there and everywhere, they badger companies to chip in lump sums, they attend after work committee or red card meetings mid week, referee games, they make sangiges and soup, they mark and dress pitches, they clean changing rooms and shirts and make sure they are open day and night, they fill water bottles and first aid bags, they drive injured played to casualty units, they even call into local schools to talk to their players and teachers to let them know that our club is the best club to play for outside of the school system.

All of this costs us a hell of a lot more than €50 a season. And rest assured none of this assures any of us of tickets either, not even club captains or committee men and women. So sorry, please don't pretend that you are unjustly losing out here. If anything, it's those of us in the clubs who are losing out, not the other way around. At least provincial seasonal ticket holders are regular to their respective home games.

Losty Dublin wrote: »

No offence but I've got very little pity for you or others in the Supporter Club Draws, OP.

There are those of us who pay thousands in raffle tickets, player sponsorships, blitzes, tag, golf days, table quizzes, bag packing, shirt sponsorships, dinner, balls, pads, kit fees and club memberships over the years. Others drive kids and team mates here and there and everywhere, they badger companies to chip in lump sums, they attend after work committee or red card meetings mid week, referee games, they make sangiges and soup, they mark and dress pitches, they clean changing rooms and shirts and make sure they are open day and night, they fill water bottles and first aid bags, they drive injured played to casualty units, they even call into local schools to talk to their players and teachers to let them know that our club is the best club to play for outside of the school system.

All of this costs us a hell of a lot more than €50 a season. And rest assured none of this assures any of us of tickets either, not even club captains or committee men and women. So sorry, please don't pretend that you are unjustly losing out here. If anything, it's those of us in the clubs who are losing out, not the other way around. At least provincial seasonal ticket holders are regular to their respective home games.

You sound like you have a lot of time on your hands, fair play to you. I don't.

I never complained about 'unjustly loosing out'. I understand its always a raffle to some degree, sometimes you win and sometimes you don't.

I just think its a shame that they have gone down the ballot route without a heads up to the people who part with their cash year in year out.

KBurke85

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

How does being in the club affect getting away tickets? I'm looking to get Scotland this year. I really hope it's not a poxy raffle.

Im pretty sure you can only get tickets for home games through the supporter's club.

Sabre0001

I know people in the Supporter's Club who would have been ready, waiting, and refreshing and missed out on tickets. And they paid their yearly subscription for that early access code. Aren't both systems just a lottery, but in a different guise?

PMC83

lawred2 wrote: »

You're not paying for any service. You're paying to be a member of a supporter's club.

Spade a spade. You're paying for a small chance of being able to buy tickets.
(As much as I enjoy the bi-monthly newsletter they send out)

nim1bdeh38l2cw

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

How does being in the club affect getting away tickets? I'm looking to get Scotland this year. I really hope it's not a poxy raffle.

Just buy them from the SRU, their tickets go on public sale?

arsebiscuits1

Sabre0001 wrote: »

I know people in the Supporter's Club who would have been ready, waiting, and refreshing and missed out on tickets. And they paid their yearly subscription for that early access code. Aren't both systems just a lottery, but in a different guise?

I've been the victim of Ticketmaster and their coal powered servers before.

People complaining that "it is now a raffle" clearly didn't realise that it always was really.

There were people that were diligent at 10am and ready for tickets (myself included) but myself and countless others have been caught out in the past by Ticketmaster crashing out and losing out in the process.

pc7

Abram Fit Foxhound wrote: »

Just buy them from the SRU, their tickets go on public sale?

so far only selling them as a 3 game package, getting worried myself I have to say. every other year I've just bought them direct from SRU

eclipsechaser

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

But you're not losing unjustly.
Provincial season ticket holders in all provinces do get decent enough chance at tickets.
The IRFU could(ive no idea) be giving some more tickets to clubs(not volunteers) big difference.

How many tickets do they allocate to Leinster season ticket holders?

If you change what you've been doing for years without notice having first charged the customer, then I'd count it as unfair.

Diabhal Beag

I don't think Connacht season ticket holders ever get six nations ticket lotteries even. Do get the odd chance to buy from a handful of Autumn Internationals though.

So basically the supporters club is the only realistic chance I have to get to home Ireland matches. That's not to say I deserve them over volunteers heavily involved in the grassroots/clubs/sponsors. I have gone to France, Scotland and Chicago for Ireland matches though but that's not taken into consideration when IRFU has little to no control over away game allocations.

Poor_old_gill

What is the best way to get tickets- honestly?
I am a Munster season ticket holder and an IRFU supporters club member- but always struggle to get international tickets.

I'm kinda stuck in that awkward position whereby I have lived away from home for a long time so have lost touch with my home club and am too old/injury prone to join a club in Dublin so that doesnt seem to be a goer!

lawred2

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

What is the best way to get tickets- honestly?
I am a Munster season ticket holder and an IRFU supporters club member- but always struggle to get international tickets.

I'm kinda stuck in that awkward position whereby I have lived away from home for a long time so have lost touch with my home club and am too old/injury prone to join a club in Dublin so that doesnt seem to be a goer!

get involved with the underage sides

most clubs are crying out all the time for new coaches

I know ours always is - start with the under 6s and work away up

still might not get you a ticket mind - hasn't worked for me yet

Poor_old_gill

lawred2 wrote: »

get involved with the underage sides

most clubs are crying out all the time for new coaches

I know ours always is - start with the under 6s and work away up

still might not get you a ticket mind - hasn't worked for me yet

I had ruled that out as an option due to having no sprogs myself

Raisins

It’s not the case that all the tickets going to clubs go to volunteers. A mate of mine was invited to a corporate gig for the all blacks match with 15 others. All the tickets were stamped with the name of a medium sized rugby club. People will say that’s a fair enough way for the club to raise funds but I don’t think it should be allowed.

KBurke85

Raisins wrote: »

It’s not the case that all the tickets going to clubs go to volunteers. A mate of mine was invited to a corporate gig for the all blacks match with 15 others. All the tickets were stamped with the name of a medium sized rugby club. People will say that’s a fair enough way for the club to raise funds but I don’t think it should be allowed.

A lot of clubs do this it's an important way for them to raise funds.

lawred2

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

I had ruled that out as an option due to having no sprogs myself

go to a club and say you're willing to help out with any age group

you won't be turned away

Raisins

KBurke85 wrote: »

A lot of clubs do this it's an important way for them to raise funds.

Yeah fair enough I knew that but is it the right way to go about it?

The IRFU have a very misleading figure in their books regarding how many tickets at each match are corporate. The IRFU have their own corporate tickets which they allocate and then the clubs set up a different layer of corporate tickets underneath. If it was defensible then the Union would be transparent about it. There's ordinary fans then paying touts more than the corporate value on viagogo and seatwave. The whole thing is a mess.

pc7

Raisins wrote: »

There's ordinary fans then paying touts more than the corporate value on viagogo and seatwave. The whole thing is a mess.

There is no game on this green earth that I would give a tout money for a ticket, they are the lowest of the low. I'd rather miss a game than support them. If people didn't buy tickets from them it would soon stop.