*Please note, in order to purchase a ticket to either the South Africa or New Zealand game, customers must first purchase a ticket to either Romania or Japan and then follow the instructions outlined by Ticketmaster*
Gareth Thomas, Wales’ record try scorer, admits he will be fighting just as hard as everyone else for a place in the starting line-up when New Zealand, South Africa, Romania and Japan, visit Wales this Autumn.
Tickets for the Lloyds TSB international series, which coach Mike Ruddock will use to fine-tune his squad for this year’s Six Nations championship, go on sale today (Wed 1st September).
And Thomas, who excelled at full-back last year but missed Wales’ summer tour of Argentina and South Africa through injury, is keen to pick up where he left of in the November matches.
‘The line-up of fixtures couldn’t be better for the autumn internationals,’ said Thomas, who is currently plying his trade in France with Toulouse.
‘All four games are key and with South Africa, the Tri-Nations champions, New Zealand who are always the side to beat, Japan and Romania, we have four tough, intense matches ahead of us. ‘What makes it more exciting is that within the Welsh squad, we will all be vying for places. No one is guaranteed a place in the side at the moment and that is great for Welsh rugby.’ Stephen Jones joined Thomas in departing for French club rugby this summer and, now with Montferrand, he too is keen to ensure he is not out of site and out of mind after missing new coach Ruddock’s first matches through injury.
‘I’ll be delighted if I’m part of the Welsh squad for the autumn internationals – that is what we are all aiming for,’ said Jones.
‘ They are four great fixtures and I know all the Welsh players are extremely excited about the line-up for November.’
Welsh rugby fans who are quick enough off the mark will be able to pick up tickets to see two of Wales’s Lloyds TSB Autumn Series internationals at the Millennium Stadium for as little as £16. Advance sale prices for the Friday night clashes against Romania on 12 November and Japan on 26 November as little as £8 for adults and £4 for children.
‘Friday nights will be fans night at the Millennium Stadium in November and we hope that our innovative ticketing policy will help create a real party atmosphere,’ added Millennium Stadium General Manager, Paul Sergeant.
‘The four games will give Mike Ruddock’s men the perfect opportunity to test themselves against some of the best players in the world, but we are aware that it is asking a lot of the fans to come to the Millennium Stadium four weekends in a row.
‘Tickets for the games against the two SANZAR countries cost the same as for the Six Nations – £42, £36, £29, £14 – but we have pegged back the prices for the matches against Romania and Japan to make them as affordable as possible for fans and families.
‘Fans who buy tickets for the Japan and Romanian games will have a chance to buy a ticket for the South Africa and New Zealand matches. This system will be in operation on a first come, first serve basis depending on availability for the New Zealand and South Africa games. On day sales for those matches will be £10 and £5.
Tickets in the £42 and £36 bands will be available for the games against the Springboks and All Blacks. That means fans will be able to get the best available seats at the Millennium Stadium to see Wales play four times for £100 or less (2 x £42 and 2 x £8) or £94 (2 x £39 and 2 x £8).
If a family of four wants to want to go to the Millennium Stadium to see Wales play TWICE in November it will cost them less than £50 (2 games x 2 adults x £8 = £32 + 2 games x 2 children x £4 = £16 – Total = £48).
And as part of the deal the WRU have decided to put in place the policy of including the new-style, 88-page match programme in the price of a ticket for all matches in the Lloyds TSB Series.
‘This makes the WRU the first of the home nations to break with tradition as we continue to develop innovative ideas for the future,’ said Sergeant. ‘The programmes for the games against South Africa and New Zealand will also include a free DVD of the history of matches between the nations, narrated by Ieuan Evans. This means that supporters will receive £20 of merchandise with the price of their ticket for these two matches.’
Tickets for the Lloyds TSB Autumn International Series will be available from 1 September by calling 08705 582 582 or by logging on to www.wru.co.uk, www.millenniumstadium.co.uk or www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Tickets are also available over the counter at the Millennium Stadium Ticket Office in St Mary Street, Cardiff.
