How to Buy England Rugby Tickets

Written by Aviran Zazon | Last updated on February 11, 2026

If you want to watch England at Allianz Stadium Twickenham you are not alone. Big match days here are among the most popular live sports tickets in the country and the buying process can feel like a maze the first time you try it.

This guide is designed to answer the question people actually type into Google, how to buy England rugby tickets, and to do it in plain, practical terms.

You will learn where tickets come from, when they tend to go on sale, what you need on your phone and what to do if you miss the main release.

England National Rugby Tickets

^{No membership needed!}

Know What You Are Buying

England Rugby sells tickets for a few different types of fixtures, and each one behaves a little differently on the market.

Guinness Six Nations (February and March)

These are the hardest tickets to land, especially for Wales, Ireland and France when those are England home fixtures.

Autumn internationals

Often marketed as the Autumn Nations Series, although sponsor names can change from cycle to cycle.

Nations Championship (from 2026 onward)

This competition adds extra windows and extra releases.

Most England home matches are expected to be played at Allianz Stadium Twickenham, but there can be exceptions depending on hosting arrangements and competition scheduling.

A simple way to think about it is that the Six Nations is where demand spikes most sharply, November internationals are competitive but slightly more forgiving, and the Nations Championship can vary significantly by opponent and format.

The Four Main Ways Fans Get England Rugby Tickets

When people ask how to buy England rugby tickets, what they really want is the best route for their situation. Here are the main pathways, in the order most people experience them.

Primary market routes

England Rugby ticketing (official public sale)

This is the standard public sale route. Tickets are purchased via EnglandRugby.com, which uses the RFU eTicketing system for login, checkout, and ticket management. It is also where you manage your tickets after purchase.

Supporter membership presales and ballots

England Rugby runs a paid supporter membership called England Rugby Club – First XV. Members typically get access to ticket ballots and/or early purchase windows for high-demand matches depending on the fixture and allocation.

Allocation through affiliated rugby clubs

Many RFU-affiliated clubs receive allocations for certain fixtures. These tickets are sold through the club ticket secretary during RFU-defined windows. If you are active at a local club, this can be one of the most realistic primary-market routes.

Hospitality and travel packages

Official hospitality and travel packages can remain available after standard seat allocations have sold out. These are priced accordingly and are usually sold as bundles.

Secondary market routes

After the primary market has played out, resale becomes the next option for many fans, especially for sold-out matches and last-minute plans.

I will come back to this topic after we cover the primary market process in depth.

A Quick Comparison Table

Route	Best for	Typical availability	What you need
Ticketing portal public sale	Fans who can buy on release day	Low for top fixtures	Account set up, fast checkout
First XV membership	High demand matches	Medium in member window	Membership, account, speed
Rugby club allocation	Regular club players and members	Medium, depends on club	Relationship with a club
Hospitality and travel	One-off big days out	Higher if budget allows	Willingness to buy a package
Resale market	Sold-out matches and late planners	Medium to high	Trusted sellers and refund guarantees

Set Yourself Up Before Tickets Go On Sale

Most failed purchases happen because people prepare on the day, not in the weeks before. If you want the simplest answer to how to buy England rugby tickets it is this: get your account and phone sorted early, then you can focus on timing and availability.

Create your account and keep it tidy

Do this well in advance:

Create an account on the official England Rugby / RFU eTicketing system
Confirm your email address and mobile number
Save your card details if the platform allows it
Make sure your billing address matches your card details

If you are buying for a group, decide in advance who will buy and who will receive a transferred ticket. That avoids duplicate accounts and confusion at checkout.

Download the stadium application and check your details

England match tickets are delivered digitally via the Allianz Stadium (Twickenham) app.

Ticket access is linked to the mobile number registered on your RFU eTicketing account, which is where the ticket invitation and verification are sent.

If your app is set up with different details, tickets may not appear where you expect them.

To avoid issues:

Use consistent account details
Set up the app well before match day
Allow time for tickets to appear after purchase

Learn how ticket transfer works

For many fixtures, digital tickets can be transferred to friends or family through the stadium app. Transfer availability can vary by match and ticket type, so it is worth checking in advance and practising with a low-stakes event if possible.

Why the Buying Process Feels So Complicated

A lot of the frustration comes from the fact that tickets are released in phases. People see a public sale announcement, log on, and find nothing.

They assume the system is broken when the reality is that much of the inventory has already been allocated elsewhere.

This is a good snapshot of how fans describe the experience:

Why is it so complicated to get tickets for England games? by u/Electronic_Fill7207 in englandrugby

The practical takeaway is straightforward. You need to understand the release phases and you need to pick the best phase you can access.

Understand the Release Phases

England Rugby ticket sales usually follow a pattern like this:

Debenture holders and long-term rights holders get first access where applicable
RFU-affiliated clubs receive allocations
First XV members get ballots and/or presale windows
Accessible ticket processes run for registered supporters for some fixtures
Any remaining stock goes to public sale

For the biggest Six Nations fixtures, it is common for the best seats to disappear before the public sale even begins. That is why many regular attendees either join First XV or build a relationship with a local club.

How to Buy England Rugby Tickets in the Primary Market Step by Step

Step 1: Choose your matches early

Start with the calendar. Decide which fixtures matter most to you. In most years that means:

One or two Six Nations home fixtures
One November international
Any Nations Championship home fixture that fits your schedule

If you are flexible about the opponent or weekend you will find more options later in the cycle.

Step 2: Decide whether to join First XV

First XV membership is a paid route to earlier access and ballots. It can be worthwhile if you are targeting the hardest fixtures or want multiple attempts across the year.

A helpful way to decide is to ask yourself:

Are you aiming for the biggest Six Nations matches?
Do you want two seats together, not single seats scattered around the stadium?
Will you attend more than one England match per year?

If the answer is yes to at least two of those, membership often pays for itself in reduced stress alone.

Step 3: Be ready for the on-sale moment

On sale day, treat it like buying concert tickets:

Log in 10–15 minutes early
Use one device on a stable connection
Avoid constant refreshing
Move quickly through seat selection and payment
Stay flexible on price category

Insisting on one stand or one price band only will reduce your chances sharply.

Step 4: Check your tickets in the app

After purchase, tickets should appear in your account and then in the Allianz Stadium app. Sometimes there is a delay so do not panic in the first hour. Check your account details first, especially your registered mobile number.

Step 5: Transfer tickets to your group

If you are meeting friends at the stadium transfer tickets in advance. It makes entry smoother and reduces the chance of last-minute phone issues.

Key Dates You Should Know

The exact dates change every season, but the patterns matter.

Six Nations ticket activity often starts many months ahead of the tournament
Member and club windows can open before public sale
Ticket Exchange windows can open well before match day, then return closer to the fixture

Here are example timing patterns from recent cycles:

Ticket type	Example window	What it tells you
First XV member access for Six Nations home matches	Autumn prior to the tournament	Plan early, not in January
Follow-up member windows for top fixtures	Later in the same autumn	Member sales can be staggered
Ticket Exchange profit sale period	Late September to early October (prior year)	Resale can open very early
Nations Championship Ticket Exchange	February onward in match year	Competitions run different schedules

Use this as a planning template rather than fixed dates.

What to Do If You Miss Out on the Primary Sale

Missing the main sale is normal for high-demand fixtures. It does not mean you are finished.

Keep checking for returns

Returns happen for many reasons: plans change, clubs return allocations and inventory is re-released.

A simple routine works well:

Check at consistent times each week
Increase checks as match day approaches
Be ready to accept single seats if buying late

Use official exchanges where available

For certain competitions the official Ticket Exchange is a reliable way to pick up face-value returns, especially near key deadlines and close to match day.

Look beyond one channel

If your goal is simply to be in the stadium, broaden your net:

Consider hospitality for special occasions
Consider resale if the fixture is sold out
Consider different opponents or weekends if you are flexible

A Sensible Approach to the Resale Market

Once the primary market has run its course, the resale market is where many fans actually get in, especially for sold-out Six Nations matches or last-minute trips to London.

The smart move is to avoid trawling dozens of sites manually. You want a place that shows comparable listings across trusted sellers with clear pricing and a way to filter for official hospitality agents if you prefer that route.

That is why many buyers use Ticket-Compare.com. It is a resale comparison site that pulls listings from pre-vetted secondary vendors and official hospitality agents so you can:

Compare prices across sellers in one place
Filter by seat location and quantity
See what is available when the primary sale has nothing left
Choose between standard tickets and hospitality options

Screenshot of England National Rugby v Ireland National Rugby tickets page on Ticket-Compare.com

If you are researching how to buy England rugby tickets and you are close to match day this can be the fastest way to turn a plan into a seat.

Here is how fans often describe the feeling of trying to buy directly, especially for the biggest fixtures:

Buying English rugby tickets is impossible by u/Weird_Ant_1729 in rugbyunion

The point is not that it is impossible. It is that demand is intense and timing is unforgiving. Resale comparison is a practical solution when you do not have the time or access for the earlier phases.

How to Buy England Rugby Tickets | Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to be a member to buy England Rugby tickets?

No. Public sales exist and anyone can buy through the official ticketing route when tickets are available. Membership improves your chances for high-demand matches by unlocking earlier access and ballots.

What application do I need for England Rugby tickets?

You typically need the Allianz Stadium app to access your digital tickets on match day.

How many tickets can my England membership buy?

Limits vary by match and sales window. For high-demand fixtures strict limits are common, often two tickets per member per match.

What is the best way to get Six Nations tickets?

Start early and use the strongest access route available to you: First XV membership, club allocations, or resale later in the cycle. Ticket-Compare.com always has tickets available, even for sold-out matches.

Why are England Rugby tickets so expensive?

Demand for England rugby union tickets is extremely high, capacity is limited (despite Twickenham’s 82,000 capacity), and pricing reflects seat location and fixture profile.

Conclusion: How to Buying England Rugby Tickets

If you want a clean, low-stress purchase, your best plan is to prepare early, understand the release phases, and be ready at the moment tickets go on sale.

For the biggest fixtures, First XV membership and club allocations can give you a meaningful edge, especially if you want seats together.

If the primary sale does not work out, resale is where many fans end up finding availability, particularly close to match day. Ticket-Compare.com can help in that respect, comparing England rugby tickets only from reliable marketplaces and the unions’ official resale vendors.

Right now we have 2,379 England rugby union tickets in stock, starting from $21.

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