Dunno if anyone is aware of this policy change but we've just rung to book tickets for Murryfield only to be informed that disabled customers no longer get the concession rate, can/is anything being done about this?

As far as I'm aware most of the grounds now charge full price for Disabled supporters and the carers get a free ticket. This is how its been with the RFL with me when I've booked through them. Gill should be along soon and be able to give some more info.

That's been the deal for a while now. The disabled person pays the usual price for the area you're sitting in & the carer is free. This is anti discriminatory in that you're being treated the same as all other fans but allowing for the support person you need with you.

It's just caused a bit of surprise amongst a disabled group up here that attended last year (the primarily attended based on the fact it was an affordable sporting event - they used to go to football, but have been priced out). To find out when they went to book that the price structure has changed from last year so late on is disappointing for them given that they've already budgeted/saved/planned.

Would have been nice for the RFL to let people know, but given that none of the local folks we talked/persuaded into going last year have had any correspondence/leafleting about this years event it shouldn't be surprising I suppose!

First time I've heard a consession as discrimination...

So there are no concessions for OAP's or children on the grounds it is illegal to discriminate on age?

I've booked disabled tickets for quite a few matches through the RFL now going back a few years, Wembley, Cardiff, Old Trafford, Internationals at the KC Stadium and its been structed this way ever since I've booked with the RFL, I'm not disputing for one minute what you say but I just find it odd that the Magic Weekend was priced different last season

Just a thought, are they seasons pass holders? I know seasons pass holders do get a concession on the Magic Weekend, 50% is says in my pass. So that would make it about right in price if they got their seasons pass discount last year but not this.

Just wondering, did they get a disabled parking pass too?

Nope, they are all local to us up here so no season pass holders (for the big group the MM weekend was their first taste of RL apart from on TV).

A couple got passes by sending the RFL a photocopy of their blue badges, but most travelled on a coach that was hired by their group.

Their tickets were concession tickets that said on them "Ambulant" or "Carer". They obviously just spoke to the right/wrong person depending on how you looked at it. Not all of them have 1:1 carers so some just got concession Ambulant tickets for themselves (a few of them have 1 carer for 2 of them).

Obviously all the booking staff weren't working from the same page. It's just a shame that no-one at the RFL thought to let those that got concession plus carer for the concession price last year know in advance that they would not be getting it this year. They assumed the prices would be done in the same way this year, which is understandable, and have been left disappointed.

There are no concessions for the big finals - CC & GF - not been to the magic weekends so can't speak for them. Maybe!!!!!!!!!!

Children & OAP's tend to get concessions in many other areas as a rule but disabled / student / unemployed concessions etc are more discretionary in many places.

Concessions were available for Magic Weekend last year and the GF the year before.



Can't remember too many places where disabled haven't been offered a concessionary rate.

Hi everyone

Sorry for the delay but it's been a busy weekend.

First can I say that the concession pricing for Murrayfield last year should not have happened really, the equality in pricing for disabled supporters has been rolled out to all RFL events over the last couple of years and in keeping with that the RFL have put the pricing of the Murrayfield event right this year which I and a lot of other people are pleased to see.

As for not giving anyone any warning we have to be fair here and say we can't expect the RFL to send letters out to everyone who is disabled who attended Murrayfield last year to let them know. A lot of the people I know booked a long time ago, some last year, but I have had no complaints through at all but I will pass this thread onto the RFL so they can take a look at what we are discussing here.

Concessions for being disabled are being phased out by many organisations and in many walks of life in keeping with equality laws and Rugby League is one of those. The RFL have been forward thinking in this and it is something which the RLDSA has always supported. However as disabled supporters we are all entitled to a Companion/PA or Carer ticket free of charge so although we pay the standard charge we still get two tickets for the price of one if we choose to take someone with us for assistance or companionship. This enables us to have any help we need but still give equality.

Over a lot of years I've discussed this and many other issues with other disabled fans and disabled supporters groups and the over riding opinion of those fans, to this day, have been taken into consideration. These opinions gave us the aims of the RLDSA and the most important feature of that is to promote and develop disability awareness and equality for everyone within Rugby League and this has been discussed with the RFL and Rugby League Club's frequently.

We don't need a concession as we want and have the right to expect equality after all I think the days of shoving us into a corner of a ground or stadium without a thought are over as it is now 2010.

Personally I think the majority of people understand equality is being given, grounds improved and new stadia built with the needs of disabled people in mind, lets be honest 10 years ago unless you had a car you were pretty much stuck in the house. Things are not perfect by a long way in life in general, the same can be said of Rugby League but things are getting better, attitudes changing and facilities improving. As a result of that the majority of disabled Rugby League fans expect, as is fair, to pay the same amount all other supporters pay. If it turns out that the standards of facilities are poor and access very difficult we have every right to complain as loudly as everyone else as we are paying the same price. If we accept concession pricing we accept being treated inequally.

A concessions is offered usually to juniors and those classed as senior only but they don't involve disability so they are not part of this issue. If you are a junior and disabled you pay the concession rate for a junior and have the companion ticket, if you are classed as a senior then again you pay that concession price and still get the other ticket.

I've also got to say here that the price of tickets for Murrayfield is exceptional value in any case, you get all that Rugby League, I'm used to paying about £20.00 for one game if I'm following my team to another ground. You can even arrange your parking free of charge at the same time you book your tickets so it's a good deal.

More disabled people than ever are turning out to watch Rugby League, this has reached the point where some Clubs are reaching capacity, if Clubs fill existing area's which are specific to disabled customers I expect, as do a lot of people, that those area's be extended or others found and we are happy that we pay the same as everyone else so that this can continue. We are very lucky as the RFL fully support the ability of all supporters to be able to support their teams both home and away, not all Sports do this and it all relates back to equality and not equality only when it suits us.

Sorry for going on a little rant there but it is very rare that we have this subject crop up and I do feel very passionate about it.

Thanks Gill, very eloquently explained.