Black market ticket scandal hits All Blacks-Ireland test

A black market ticket scandal has broken out around this weekend's All Blacks-Ireland test in Dublin.

The Irish Rugby Football Union intends to trace black market tickets for the eagerly-awaited match amid mounting anger over the outrageous prices they are being sold for.

Interest in the rematch is at fever pitch following Ireland's historic victory over the All Blacks in Chicago two weekends ago.

Touts and reseller websites have had a field day with black market ticket sales with the most exclusive going for as much as $NZ1400 each.

Tickets which originally sold for between $NZ44 (€25) and $NZ210 (€120) last July are now fetching between $NZ660 (€375) and $NZ1400 (€800).

Rugby fans say they are stunned by the money being demanded.

And now rugby bosses have waded in.

IRFU communications director Stephen McNamara stressed that fans should only buy tickets from official sources.

"When the IRFU becomes aware of tickets being resold above face value, we follow up with the original purchaser, where sufficient information is available to identify them, and request that they desist from the practice, or their ticket will be cancelled," he said.

However, the Irish Independent reporteed that one ticket reseller site, Viagogo, stressed that people who demanded "silly prices" usually did not sell them.

"Viagogo is a marketplace and provides a secure platform for people to buy and sell tickets.

"Sellers are free to advertise tickets at a price of their choosing and, for popular events, prices can be higher because there is a huge demand and limited supply.

"But tickets listed at silly prices rarely sell," it said.