Quinnell Rallies Troops From Up North

Scott Quinnell took time out from Llanelli’s tour of North Wales this week to issue a clarion call to Scarlets fans and rugby lovers throughout Wales.
The Wales and Llanelli captain has put Six Nations rugby to the back of his mind to lead his club’s tour of rugby clubs and schools in North Wales – an initiative designed to spread the Stradey Park rugby gospel far and wide.
But, with tickets going on sale at Llanelli this week for their Heineken Cup semi-final date with Leicester Tigers and the news that the English champions are over-subscribed on their allocation of tickets already, Quinnell has decided to rally the troops.
” When you look up from the pitch to a sea of red in the stands it can really lift the team and we are going to need all the help we can get against Leicester,” said Quinnell
” Even now, to know that tickets and the free coaches the club is providing are going like hot cakes boosts the atmosphere in training and helps our preparation.
” But to know that the whole of Wales will be behind us on the day will make a huge difference.”
Llanelli have visited Tregaron, Aberystwyth, Dologellau, Bala and Wrexham and news that the club’s free coach offer has been utilised in each town is a welcome boost with Mold, Llandudno, Conwy, Llangefni, Bangor, Caernarfon, Porthmadog, Pwllheli, and Bethesda to come.
Quinnell will be joined be the rest of Llanelli’s stars and management throughout the week and he is relishing the change of pace the initiative has brought.
” We had lunch overlooking a picturesque lake in Aberystwyth, after receiving a tremendous reception from the kids and adults alike at the rugby club and school in Bala,” added Quinnell.
” It’s certainly a change of pace from the intensity of the Six Nations, but we’re not talking about the match against England next week, just concentrating on enjoying the people we meet in North Wales.
” Rugby doesn’t get the same exposure down here as it does in and around Stradey Park so it’s nice to get out and listen to what the kids are saying.
” We’ve been teaching rugby skills and getting involved in Question and Answer sessions and it’s a thoroughly rewarding experience.”
Llanelli received 9,600 tickets from European Rugby Cup Limited for the match at the 30,000 capacity Nottingham Forrest ground on Sunday 28 April, but they will have first refusal on a further 2,400 tickets if demand is high.
Tickets are on sale to members-only this week with over 3,000 already gone, but they go on public sale next Tuesday 12 March at 9.30 am at Stradey Park or from the hotline number 0871 871 871.
” We want to make sure we take all of the 12,000 fans from Wales that we are allowed,” said Llanelli commercial manager Ross Davies.
” If we don’t take all those tickets they will undoubtedly go to Leicester fans and we don’t want to be outnumbered in the stands.
” However, early indications tell us that will not happen. When tickets went on sale to members last Tuesday we had queues outside the ground from 7.00 am and it was taking three hours to get to the front.
“Tickets are going fast and the message to anyone in Wales wanting to see the biggest club match of the season so far is, get on the phone or down to Stradey Park next Tuesday or be disappointed.”
Prices are pounds 30 (limited), pounds 25 & pounds 15, they can be purchased by non-members from Tuesday 12th March and will be sold on a post code basis in person or call 0871 871 8088.
The Stradey Park Tetley village will be located at the Boots Athletic Ground (approx 400 yards from the ground) and will have bars, music, food and lots of atmosphere.