PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1888421
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1888421
Rugby fan travel refers to organized travel experiences tailored for rugby enthusiasts who travel domestically or internationally to attend rugby matches, tournaments, and related events. It includes transportation, accommodation, ticketing, and curated experiences that enhance the enjoyment of live rugby. This niche combines sports tourism with cultural exploration, fostering community and passion among rugby supporters worldwide.
The primary service types in the rugby fan travel market include ticketing, accommodation, transportation, tour packages, and other hospitality options that enhance the overall fan experience. Ticketing involves issuing, managing, and validating tickets that grant access to events, services, or transportation. Bookings are made through multiple channels, including online travel agencies, direct bookings, travel agents, and others. The services cater to different age groups such as youth, adults, and seniors, and serve various traveler types, including individual travelers, groups, corporate clients, and others.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
The sudden escalation of U.S. tariffs and the consequent trade frictions in spring 2025 are severely impacting the recreation sector, particularly in the supply of imported sports equipment, outdoor gear, and leisure products. Manufacturers and retailers are facing higher costs for items such as bicycles, camping gear, fitness machines, and gaming consoles, much of which are sourced from overseas with limited domestic alternatives. Small businesses operating in the recreational retail space are especially affected, with some reducing inventory or increasing prices to offset margin pressure. Event organizers and recreational facilities are also facing cost hikes for imported equipment and infrastructure materials. In response, the industry is exploring alternative sourcing from tariff-free regions, increasing reliance on local suppliers, and urging policymakers to consider exemptions for non-essential but widely used recreational products.
The rugby fan travel market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides rugby fan travel market statistics, including the rugby fan travel industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the rugby fan travel market share, detailed rugby fan travel market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the rugby fan travel industry. This rugby fan travel market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.
The rugby fan travel market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.23 billion in 2024 to $2.44 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to the increasing number of international rugby tournaments, rising fan engagement through global events, higher disposable incomes among sports enthusiasts, expansion of sports tourism infrastructure, and greater accessibility of travel and accommodation options.
The rugby fan travel market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.48 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2%. The growth during the forecast period can be attributed to the rising popularity of international rugby leagues, the expansion of digital marketing and fan engagement, increasing demand for immersive sports travel experiences, the growth of travel partnerships with rugby organizations, and the rising participation in rugby-themed global tours. Key trends in the forecast period include technological advancements in travel booking platforms, innovations in personalized fan experiences, developments in virtual and augmented reality for sports tourism, research and development in sustainable travel solutions, and advancements in mobile applications for fan engagement.
The growing interest in sports tourism is expected to drive the expansion of the rugby fan travel market in the coming years. Sports tourism refers to travel primarily undertaken to attend, participate in, or experience sporting events and related activities. This interest is increasing as large international tournaments attract fans who travel across borders and often extend their stays to explore leisure and cultural experiences. The rugby fan travel market supports sports tourism by offering comprehensive packages that include transportation, accommodation, event tickets, and local experiences, enhancing both convenience and engagement for traveling fans. For instance, in May 2024, according to World Rugby, an Ireland-based international rugby federation, the Rugby World Cup 2023 attracted 425,000 international visitors who stayed an average of ten days and generated €1.8 billion (USD 1.95 billion) in total spending, resulting in a net economic impact of €871 million (USD 945 million) for France. Therefore, the growing interest in sports tourism is driving the growth of the rugby fan travel market.
Key companies operating in the rugby fan travel market are increasingly focusing on technological innovations, such as digital ticketing and fan engagement platforms, to enhance the overall fan experience, improve travel convenience, and strengthen security, while also creating new revenue and marketing opportunities for event organizers. Digital ticketing involves electronic systems for secure ticket distribution, reducing fraud and scalping, and improving convenience for attendees. Fan engagement platforms provide personalized, content-rich experiences that keep fans connected before, during, and after events. For instance, in June 2025, Tixserve Limited, an Ireland-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, launched the RugbyAU Tickets app for Rugby Australia during the British and Irish Lions Tour 2025. The app offers secure digital ticket delivery for traveling and hospitality guests, real-time event notifications, and direct access to corporate and travel packages. It also enables immersive match-day experiences, validates attendee data for organizers, and helps reduce costs and environmental impact.
In October 2024, Keith Prowse, a UK-based event planning company, acquired Gullivers Sports Travel Limited for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Keith Prowse aims to strengthen its presence in the rugby fan travel and sports hospitality market by combining expertise to deliver comprehensive, premium travel and event experiences for rugby supporters worldwide. Gullivers Sports Travel Limited is a UK-based specialist sports travel company that organizes and provides tours for fans to watch and play various sports, including rugby.
Major players in the rugby fan travel market are eSky Group Spolka Akcyjna, Fanatics Experiences Limited, Sportsnet Holidays Pty Ltd, Sportsbreaks.com Limited, England Rugby Travel Limited, Portman Travel Group Limited, Rugby World Cup Travel and Hospitality Limited, All Blacks Travel & Hospitality Limited, Edusport Pvt. Ltd., Sports Tours International Limited, Sports Travel and Hospitality Group Limited, Edusport Travel and Tours (Pty) Ltd, SportsLink Travel Pty Ltd, Travel & Sports Australia Pty Ltd, Keith Prowse Travel Limited, STA Travel Holdings AG, Rugby Travel Ireland Limited, Expat Sport LLC, BAC Sport Limited, SA Rugby Travel Proprietary Limited.
North America was the largest region in the rugby fan travel market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in rugby fan travel report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
The countries covered in the rugby fan travel market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The rugby fan travel market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as event management, hospitality services, local tours, concierge assistance, travel insurance, merchandise sales, and on-ground support. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Rugby Fan Travel Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on rugby fan travel market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for rugby fan travel ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The rugby fan travel market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.