The All Blacks will face Wayne Pivac’s Wales in the first game of the Autumn Nations Series on October 30 – the first time New Zealand will have played on Welsh soil since 2017.
New Zealand cricketer Glenn Phillips has spent this summer in Cardiff playing cricket for Welsh Fire’s men’s side in the new The Hundred tournament.
In that time, he experienced the immense passion of Welsh sporting fans and believes the return of full crowds to Principality Stadium will see things go up a notch.
“I’ve heard the Welsh are more passionate about their rugby than they are their cricket,” said Phillips, who excelled in his time on Welsh soil.
“So if our last game Welsh Fire game at Sophia Gardens was anything to go by, the All Blacks are going to have an extremely loud crowd to deal with at Principality Stadium.”
Demand for tickets for Wales’ four autumn games – against New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji and Australia – on consecutive weekends has already been extremely high.
On the first hour of public sale, fans snapped up a record 20,000 tickets across the Autumn Nations Series and, already, both middle and lower tiers have sold-out for Wales against New Zealand.
Daily sales rates have doubled those of 2017 and the South Africa, Fiji and Australia matches are also all proving popular with supporters.
New Zealand, Australia and South Africa – plus Argentina – are all currently taking part in the Rugby Championship which has been complicated by Covid-19 in the southern hemisphere.
All four Wales’ autumn games are primed to see sellout crowds return to Principality Stadium for the first time since February 22, 2020.
Wales stars (from left to right) Jonathan Davies, Alun Wyn Jones and Ken Owens with the 2021 Guinness Six Nations Triple Crown and Championship trophies
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“South Africa are world champions. They can now add Lion-tamers to their list of achievements and we will have the utmost respect for them in our preparation, as we will with both Australia and Fiji,” said Wales head coach Pivac, who guided his team to the 2021 Guinness Six Nations title.
“But New Zealand are the yardstick by which we all measure ourselves throughout the world game.
“We want to win every game, but they are also a team we would particularly like to beat.
“It is neither accident nor coincidence that no Wales side has achieved that ambition for the best part of 70 years. We will be doing our best to change the statistic. We know it will be difficult, but it will be all about what happens on the day and I can guarantee it will be worth watching us try.
“We have to back ourselves. The All Blacks will not take us lightly and they will want their winning run to continue, but runs end.
“We have built a strong squad and will be able to welcome some experienced internationals back for the series after a gruelling British & Irish Lions tour which will have only left them even more hungry for wins against the very best opposition.
“We are excited about an incredibly tough campaign but, most importantly, we are delighted to finally be able to share the experience with the many thousands of supporters who will be there to cheer us on at Principality Stadium.”
For more information on the Autumn Nations Series 2021 matches at Principality Stadium, please visit: wru.wales/autumn2021
FIXTURES
Wales v New Zealand, Principality Stadium – Saturday 30th October CAT A £95 (£47.50) / CAT B £85 (£42.50) / CAT C £75 (£37.50) /
(Both category D tickets, £60 (£30), and CAT E £40 (£20), have sold-out)
Wales v South Africa, Principality Stadium – Saturday 6th November CAT A £75 (£37.50) / CAT B £65 (£32.50) / CAT C £45 (£22.50) / CAT D £35 (£17.50) / CAT E £25 (£12.50)
Wales v Fiji, Principality Stadium – Sunday 14th November CAT A £35 (£17.50) / CAT B £25 (£12.50) / CAT C £20 (£10) / CAT D £15 (£7.50) / CAT E £10 (£5)
Wales v Australia, Principality Stadium – Saturday 20th November CAT A £75 (£37.50) / CAT B £65 (£32.50) / CAT C £45 (£22.50) / CAT E £25 (£12.50)
(Category D tickets, £35 (£17.50), have sold-out)
For the first time, concession tickets are available in ALL categories for ALL matches across the series (shown in brackets), meaning a child could get to all four matches for £50.
