Jason Robinson scores for British & Irish Lions in 2001. Photo: Getty Images
Tickets to the highly-anticipated Test matches between the Wallabies and the British and Irish Lions sold out within 15 minutes of going on sale to the public on Monday morning.
The Ticketek website was swamped with rugby fans eager to secure tickets, which ranged in price from $95 to $295 for adults, to the Test matches in June and July.
Australian Rugby Union spokesman Karl Schubert said all of the ticket allocation had been exhausted for the Melbourne and Sydney Test matches, to be played on June 29 and July 6 respectively, by 9.15am.
In demands ... tickets to see the Wallabies face the Lions sold out in 15 minutes. Photo: Getty Images
Tickets to the first Test in Brisbane, to be played on June 22, went on sale an hour later, and also sold out within 15 minutes.
"That is indicative if what we've seen over the last fortnight in terms of the pre-sale opportunities we've given people," Mr Schubert said.
"It's also in line with the demand that we saw in 2001 [when the Lions last toured Australia]."
Mr Schubert said Australian Rugby Union did not release information about how many tickets were available for purchase in Monday's public allocation.
Disappointed fans logged onto Ticketek Australia's Facebook page to complain that they could not secure tickets to the Test matches, despite being online before 9am.
"Is Sydney sold out all ready?? Have been on since 9 to try and get them and haven't got through to the ticket selection page once," wrote one fan.
"i can't believe brisbane sold out in 10secs! I was refreshing the page from 8.55, on of the first through and now it say no tickets," wrote another.
Tickets were already on eBay on Monday morning, with one pair bronze pair of tickets to the first Test in Brisbane posted for the inflated price of $699.
Rugby fans complained that online scalpers were cheating real fans of the opportunity to see their teams.
"My husband and I were both on at 9am. Could not secure a single seat (and I mean even 1) . We wanted to take our sons (who both play rugby). At 9.25 I note the tickets are now on ebay for a inflated price. As long as scammers make money from these events the true fans will never have a chance!" wrote Kylie Perkins on Ticketek's Facebook page.
Upwards of 30,000 Lions supporters travelled to Australia for the British and Irish Lions last tour of Australia in 2001.
ARU officials believe this year's tour will be the biggest sporting event to be held in Australia since the 2003 World Cup.
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