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How to Buy Ireland Rugby Tickets
Written by Aviran Zazon | Last updated on February 11, 2026
If you are trying to work out how to buy Ireland rugby tickets you are not alone. Demand for Ireland internationals has been intense for years and in 2026 it shows no sign of easing.
Home matches at the Aviva Stadium sell out quickly, away allocations are tight and the process is very different from simply waiting for an open sale and clicking buy.
This guide explains, in plain terms, how the system really works. We will walk through the official routes first, explain what actually improves your chances and then look at realistic alternatives when primary tickets are gone.
The aim is simple: To help you understand how to buy Ireland rugby tickets without wasting time or money.
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Understanding The Primary Market For Ireland Rugby Tickets
Before going any further it is important to be clear about what counts as the primary market.
For Ireland internationals, the primary market means tickets that are issued directly through official and authorised channels. These include:
- Allocations distributed by the Irish Rugby Football Union through clubs, the Supporters Club and limited public sales
- Tickets sold via the official online ticketing system operated through the IRFU account manager
- Official hospitality routes designated by the IRFU for specific matches
- For away games, tickets sold by the host union or through officially appointed travel partners
Anything outside these routes is not considered primary. That distinction matters because the Ireland ticketing system is built around allocation and balloting, not first come first served public sales.
Where Ireland Rugby Matches Are Played
Most Ireland men’s home internationals take place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. This applies to Six Nations fixtures and the autumn internationals.
The Aviva Stadium is central to how the ticketing system operates. The rules around digital tickets, distribution order and entry are written specifically with this venue in mind.
While Ireland do occasionally play elsewhere, the Aviva home games are the hardest tickets to get hold of and are what most supporters are searching for when they look up how to buy Ireland rugby tickets.
Why Buying Ireland Rugby Tickets Is so Competitive
A key thing to understand is that the IRFU does not start with an open general sale.
For high-demand matches, especially Six Nations games, tickets are allocated through a structured distribution ladder.
Public sales only happen if tickets remain after earlier stages, which is often not the case.
In practical terms, this means that if you don’t have special access to an allocation you will be at the back of the queue.
The Distribution Ladder Explained
This is the backbone of how to buy Ireland rugby tickets for home internationals.
For Six Nations home matches, tickets are distributed in this order:
- Rugby clubs
- The Irish Rugby Supporters Club
- General sale, but only if tickets remain
For autumn internationals, the process is similar. The IRFU has confirmed that public sales only occur after club allocations have been completed.
If you understand nothing else from this guide, remember this: clubs come first.
Clarifying IRFU Ticket Distribution
| Ticket Route | Who It Is For | Likelihood of Success | When It Happens | Key Things to Know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rugby club allocation | Members of affiliated Irish rugby clubs | High if you are active | Before any public sale | Clubs receive tickets first and decide how to distribute them |
| Irish Rugby Supporters Club | Paid-up Supporters Club members | Medium | After club allocations | Priority access only, not a guarantee |
| General sale | Anyone | Low for major matches | Only if tickets remain | Very limited numbers for Six Nations games |
| Official hospitality | Fans willing to pay a premium | High | After allocations, often still available | Includes match ticket plus hospitality experience |
| Accessible tickets | Supporters with access requirements | Limited | By application | Must register interest directly with the IRFU |
How to Buy Ireland Rugby Tickets through a Club
For many supporters, club allocation is the earliest and most reliable route.
If you are a member of an affiliated rugby club, that club receives an allocation for home internationals. Each club then decides how to distribute its tickets. Some use a ballot, others use loyalty systems or packages.
What you should do in practice:
- Make sure your club membership is active well before the winter
- Ask your club directly how they handle Ireland international allocations
- Find out ballot dates and any rules around eligibility
Club allocations are clearly stated as the first distribution route for Six Nations home games. If you are serious about how to buy Ireland rugby tickets long-term club membership is one of the strongest foundations you can have.
The Irish Rugby Supporters Club Route
If you do not have access through a club the Irish Rugby Supporters Club is the next option.
Membership provides priority access to tickets where stock exists. It does not guarantee tickets, but it does improve your odds compared with waiting for a general sale.
Supporters Club sales operate through the same official ticketing system, using sale links and timed windows. Expect purchase limits and heavy online queues, especially for major fixtures.
The key thing to understand is expectation management. Supporters Club access increases your chances, but demand regularly exceeds supply.
General Sale Tickets and What to Expect
General sale tickets do happen, but they are often limited.
For Six Nations matches, the IRFU has documented specific on-sale timings for certain years, with very small allocations released to the public.
Autumn internationals are more likely to reach general sale, but only after clubs have taken their share.
If you are relying on general sale alone, be prepared for disappointment for the biggest games.
Official Hospitality as a Primary Market Option
Official hospitality is a legitimate primary-market route when standard tickets are sold out.
Hospitality packages include a match ticket plus premium experiences. Prices are much higher, but—partly due to those high prices—availability tends to last longer than general admission tickets.
If you value certainty over price, this is one of the most straightforward ways to get a spot at high-demand fixtures.
Accessible Tickets for Ireland Rugby Matches
Accessible tickets are handled directly by the IRFU.
Supporters are instructed to register interest by contacting the official ticketing address. Demand is high and places are limited so early contact is important.
Ireland Rugby Ticket Prices and Categories
Prices vary by opponent and competition.
The IRFU publishes pricing tables for certain series, including Six Nations games, broken down by seating category. These typically include:
- Premium seating
- Categories one through five
- Restricted view seats
- Youth or schoolchild allocations where offered
Prices can change year to year, so always check the official page for the specific series you are targeting.
Digital Tickets at The Aviva Stadium
Ireland home internationals now use mobile-only ticketing.
There are some hard rules that catch people out every year:
- Screenshots do not work
- Portable document format tickets are no longer accepted
- Tickets must be accessed through the official account manager or mobile wallet
If you are bringing guests, you need a plan. Either you scan everyone in from one device, or you use the official transfer system where available.
A simple checklist for matchday:
- Download tickets to your wallet in advance
- Charge your phone fully
- Bring a power bank
- Do not rely on mobile signal at the stadium
Buying Tickets for Ireland Away Matches
| Match Type | Primary Ticket Source | How Tickets Are Allocated | What Usually Works Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland home internationals | IRFU via clubs, Supporters Club | Allocation-first system | Club membership or official hospitality |
| Six Nations away matches | Host union ticketing system | Ballots or phased sales | Register early with the host union |
| Ireland tours and tests abroad | Host union or official travel partners | Varies by country | Official travel packages |
| Visiting supporter allocations | IRFU via branches or clubs | Limited and inconsistent | Ask your club early |
Away games follow a different logic and there are two primary routes to consider:
Host Union Sales
For most away fixtures, especially for Six Nations matches, the host union’s ticketing system is the main route. This often involves account registration and ballots.
Visiting Allocations Via Clubs
In some cases, the IRFU distributes away allocations through provincial branches and clubs. Availability varies by match.
If you want to attend Ireland away games regularly, it is worth asking your club whether they receive visiting allocations.
What Fans Are Saying About Buying Ireland Rugby Tickets
Supporter experiences paint a realistic picture of how difficult the process can be.
Here is a recent discussion from the Irish rugby community where fans talk through availability and expectations:
The consistent theme is that waiting for a simple public sale rarely works for the biggest games.
Another common question comes from first-time buyers trying to navigate Six Nations tickets:
Novice trying to buy 6N tickets byu/pour_the_wine inirishrugby
For newcomers, the biggest learning curve is understanding that special allocations are always distributed before public sales.
When Primary Market Tickets Are Gone: Try Ticket-Compare.com
For many matches, especially Six Nations fixtures, primary-market tickets disappear quickly.
At that point, supporters often start looking elsewhere. Many fans still attend matches through reputable resale routes.
One practical option is to use a comparison site such as Ticket-Compare.com. Rather than buying blindly from a single reseller, you can view listings from pre-vetted secondary vendors and official hospitality agents in one place.
This allows you to compare prices, seating options and availability without jumping between multiple sites.
Click through to the match and you can choose by price and seating location as well as resale or official hospitality seats.
For supporters who have missed out through clubs, Supporters Club windows or general sale, this can be a realistic way to snag tickets while keeping all the necessary buyer protections.
How to Buy Ireland Rugby Tickets | Frequently Asked Questions
Is it hard to get Ireland rugby tickets?
Yes, it can be extremely hard to get Ireland rugby union tickets. Demand consistently exceeds supply for home internationals, especially during the Six Nations.
Club allocations and priority routes dominate the process, leaving almost no availability for ordinary Irish rugby fans.
Do Ireland rugby tickets go on general sale?
Sometimes, but don’t count on it. General sale only happens if tickets remain after club and Supporters Club distribution. For major matches, availability is often very limited and you can’t expect to find tickets on general sale.
Can you buy Ireland rugby tickets late?
Late availability is rare through primary channels, but some hospitality listings and a lot of resale ireland rugby tickets will still appear closer to matchday.
It is possible to buy Ireland rugby tickets late with Ticket-Compare.com, with availability right up to kick-off.
Conclusion: How to Buy Ireland Rugby Tickets
Learning how to buy Ireland rugby tickets means understanding the system rather than fighting it.
Clubs come first, priority access matters, and general sale is the exception rather than the rule. Digital tickets add another layer of preparation, and away matches require a different strategy altogether.
When primary routes do not work out, many supporters choose to compare options through trusted resale and hospitality listings.
Platforms like Ticket-Compare.com offer visibility across multiple pre-vetted sellers, which can save time and reduce risk when tickets are no longer available from the IRFU.
At the time of writing, there are 3,035 Ireland rugby tickets listed, with prices starting from $21.
