RFU business operations director Paul Vaughan has vowed to continue to fight the secondary ticket market © Getty Images

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News: RFU celebrate ticket ruling

Teams: England

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has been dealt a blow in their bid to identify those individuals re-selling tickets for England internationals.

Last month the RFU hailed the impact of a court order that would force online ticket exchange Viagogo to reveal the names of those fans who had re-sold their tickets on the site, and therefore breached ticketing terms and conditions. But Viagogo refused to accept that decision and have now been granted the right to appeal.

"This is a victory for common sense and the rights of consumers to have their personal information safeguarded," commented Ed Parkinson, Viagogo's UK Director. "As we've said, no customer information has been shared, and we are confident that no customer information will ever be shared.

"It is disappointing that the RFU continues to invest their resources in preventing their fans from recouping the cost of spare tickets, which simply highlights their outdated views and redundant policies."

In the original landmark ruling - the first action of its kind by a national governing body - the RFU was granted the right to find out who had re-sold tickets to England's most recent autumn internationals and 2011 Six Nations matches. While the RFU did not accuse Viagogo of any wrongdoing it claimed it had "facilitated or become mixed up in'' transgressions allegedly committed by others.

The RFU successfully argued that when tickets are transferred at a price higher than face value, the licence or permission represented by the ticket automatically expires or is revoked, so that the holder of such a ticket who gains entry is a trespasser.

English rugby's governing body has since vowed to continue to take the "strongest stance" on the issue with business and operations director Paul Vaughan determined to ensure tickets go to genuine fans. "We have consistently said that any Twickenham Stadium match ticket which appears for sale on Viagogo is effectively a 'black market' ticket on the basis that the person selling it is breaking the ticket terms and conditions," he said.

"Whilst we note the permission to appeal, we consider the original judgment of His Honour Judge Tugendhat to be clear and we will continue to take the strongest stance possible against these secondary ticketing marketplaces to do our utmost to ensure that tickets go to genuine fans rather than people who wish to profit.

"We have excellent mechanisms in place for supporters to return tickets and get a refund in reasonable circumstances - in some case on the morning of the match itself - so we are sympathetic to the supporter who is unable to attend.

"The RFU's ticket terms and conditions allow member clubs to sell allocated tickets to other clubs and friends/family at face value and to official licensed operators - Twickenham Experience Ltd, Mike Burton Corporate Hospitality Ltd, Events International, Eventmasters, Lucid Events, Tiger Events and National Sporting Club. These operators pay the RFU royalties that are put back into the sport. Clubs are not allowed to sell tickets to any other operator."