Exchange students from Germany, via King Edwards School in Bath, were quick to tweet ‘selfies’ with the iconic Trophy from the Millennium Stadium’s President’s box and pose alongside WRU chief executive Roger Lewis and VIPs from the Welsh Government and City of Cardiff: Arthur Emyr and Cllr Phil Bale .
The Webb Ellis Cup stopped off at the Millennium Stadium, a Rugby World Cup 2015 match venue which will host eight games in Cardiff next year, as part of the Rugby World Cup 2015 ‘Too Big To Miss’ ticketing campaign, coinciding with the general sale window for tickets (September 12 – 1800, September 29, 2014) via tickets.rugbyworldcup.com.
It was a lucky group of students from Ricarda Huck School in Braunschwieg who gave the visit a truly international feel and Mr Lewis took the opportunity to encourage them to return to Cardiff in a year’s time to take in one of the eight matches to be played in the Welsh capital.
“We can all be part of Rugby World Cup 2015” he said.
“We have some mouth-watering Rugby World Cup 2015 matches to look forward to here at the Millennium Stadium next year, not least with Wales playing two of the six pool games here and also we are hosting two quarter-finals.
“And of particular interest to those of school age, like our visitors today, will of course be the discounted childrens tickets which mean the likes of Wales, Australia, New Zealand, France and Ireland can all be watched in Cardiff for as little as £15.
“Adult tickets for those pool matches start at £50 and we had a great response from our own clubs and supporters club members when we offered them exclusive access to tickets in June.
“With a year to go until the tournament begins, momentum is really building in Wales and to have the Webb Ellis Cup on site this week has really sharpened the focus.
“Tickets are affordable and accessible and, although demand is growing day by day, the window is still open for fans who want to guarantee their Millennium Stadium seats.
“With our fully retractable roof, unique city centre location, close proximity seating, unrivalled sight lines and new hybrid pitch system – which will be played on for the first time this Autumn – we really believe there is no better place in the world game to watch your rugby.”
Rugby World Cup 2015 kicks-off at Twickenham on September 18 and just a day later the Millennium Stadium hosts its first match of the tournament when Ireland face Canada in the opening clash of Pool D.
“With only one year to go to the start of Rugby World Cup 2015, the countdown is on and I’m sure anticipation levels and excitement ahead of the tournament will continue to grow as we get nearer to the first kick-off,” Leader of the City of Cardiff Council, Cllr Phil Bale.
“We’re delighted that Cardiff and our fantastic Millennium Stadium will be hosting eight games. No-one can forget the thrilling atmosphere in the city when Wales hosted Rugby World Cup 1999 and we are keen to repeat that same amazing buzz for next year’s matches.
“There is something special about our capital city on a big match day – it’s welcoming, friendly, electrifying – so I look forward to welcoming rugby supporters from near and far here for some fantastic sporting action featuring the finest players in the world.”
Fans come from all over the world to visit the Millennium Stadium with official tours of the venue processing, on average, over a 1,000 people in a week and approximately 60,000 a year.
Recent visitors have been able to witness the laying of the WRU’s new hybrid Desso pitch system, which is a mixture of grass and synthetic material.
The current grass is just ten days old and is awaiting a special machine to stitch in the artificial fibres over the next few days, but, whilst the science of the playing surface was of interest to teacher Evelyn Strautz the pupils of Ricarda Huck were most excited about the seeing the trophy.
“We have had a wonderful day here at the Millennium Stadium and seeing the trophy really topped everything off for the children,” said Mrs Strautz.
“They know what a privilege it has been for them and they will all now have a renewed interest in rugby. Their friends at King Edwards school will be very jealous when they find out what we have been up to here in Cardiff.”
