Fans can now pre-register to buy tickets to watch the RBS Six Nations 2008 Grand Slam champions take on South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and Australia in the Invesco Perpetual Series of matches this autumn online at www.wru.co.uk/tickets.
The system was successfully trialled before Warren Gatland’s Grand Slam winning debut campaign, when up to 9,000 fans signed up at the end of 2007. All of those fans interested eventually snapped up tickets including an allocation of 3,000 for the title-deciding 29-12 victory over France on March 15th.
The WRU historically gives priority to each of its 241 member clubs and to debenture holders and sponsors when it comes to ticket distribution, but there are always returns even for the biggest games which then go on sale to the general public.
The new pre-registration list means that those fans who register now will be offered tickets on a first come first served basis before the general public get their chance to buy. Fans will have a significant window of opportunity to apply by return email to watch the Springboks, Cannucks, All Blacks and/or the Wallabies as the three SANZAR nations together with Canada descend on Wales.
“The demand for tickets for Wales international matches is always high, but this is a way for us to tap into that demand and ensure that those fans who want tickets most are given a priority opportunity to purchase them,” said WRU Head of Compliance Julie Paterson.
“You might think that it is only the highest price tickets that we get back and there is also a common perception that tickets for our biggest games become like gold dust very quickly.
“But that ‘s not necessarily the case and history shows us that when tickets do become available it is usually across a number of categories.
“Under this system the Wales team becomes extremely accessible to all fans as long as they register their interest early – with the Grand Slam game against France being a perfect case in point.
“Fans who registered early were able to ensure they got the chance to see Wales win their 10th Grand Slam in history and we are offering the same chance to see a piece of history again with huge games against the World Champions, the All Blacks and the Wallabies all in the space of a month, not to mention a testing Friday night fixture with Canada.
“The system was a resounding success in the Six Nations, everyone wins as we get an early idea of what the public demand is like for our games over and above the take-up from the clubs and other stakeholders and the fans give themselves the best chance of being able to see their heroes in action.”
Tickets for the visit of each of the SANZAR nations to Wales in November are priced at £20,£40, £50, £55 and £60 – with the Canada game priced at £15, £25 and £10 concession – and are currently on sale to the members of each of the 241 member clubs of the WRU.
To pre-register for public sale tickets fans must apply online through www.wru.co.uk/tickets and sign up for ticket alerts when directed to the Ticketmaster website.
The WRU will then issue an email to everyone who has signed up for the alerts, that email will contain a unique password allowing fans priority purchase of tickets on a first come first served basis.
Wales face South Africa first on Saturday 8th November (1430hrs), Canada on Friday 14th November (1930hrs), New Zealand on Saturday 22nd November (17.15hrs) and finally welcome Australia on Saturday 29th November (K.O. tbc).
