Judgement Day III goes on sale at 12 noon tomorrow (Tuesday) and marks a new era for the East versus West double derby clash – leading the WRU and the home Regions to agree a reduced, one-off, single, all category price for the event, which will take place this year on Saturday 25th April.
Cardiff Blues host the Ospreys to kick-off the third incarnation of the back-to-back matches at the national ground at 2.30pm, before Newport Gwent Dragons welcome the Scarlets to town in a match which kicks-off soon after the final whistle is blown on the first (4.45pm).
Tickets are available at just £10 from WRU.wales/tickets, the WRU ticket office on Westgate Street, each of the four regions (see below for full details) or by calling ticketmaster on 0844 847 1881.
Existing season ticket holders at the host regions, Newport Gwent Dragons and Cardiff Blues, are accommodated on their existing tickets as in previous years, but all other fans are encouraged to buy early to avoid the rush for last minutes sales which a £10 price ticket will naturally encourage.
The action packed double-header first captured the public’s imagination in 2013 when a 36,000 strong crowd donned tribal colours and headed for the Welsh capital two watch their sides face-off at one of the world’s greatest rugby stadia.
The event, which is the only time the country’s top rugby talent gathers in one place outside of international matches, attracted similar interest when it was repeated last Easter.
But the WRU and the Regions have ambitions to build the event into a must see match-day for all rugby fans after signing up to retaining the fixture for at least the next six years (alongside the ground-breaking Rugby Services Agreement all parties signed this summer).
And the Judgement Day III hosts have taken the extraordinary step of dramatically dropping the entrance fee to just £10 in all categories for one year only, to ensure fans of all four Regions, and top class rugby in general, find their way to the Millennium Stadium for a bumper day out.
“The event already has a magnificent following amongst Welsh rugby fans and the experiment of 2013 has been more than vindicated by the attendances and also the standard of rugby on show each year,” said WRU chief executive Roger Lewis.
“But now we have been able to bring another important and attractive factor into play, for this year only, tickets will be at the incredible price of just £10 per head.
“The fans can also be assured that this fixture will take pride of place in our sporting calendar at least until the year 2020.
“Judgement Day has all the ingredients now to grow and grow, it is a hot ticket for any rugby loving fan in terms of the action and drama that will be played out on the pitch and the spectator experience we are able to offer at the Millennium Stadium.
“The Regions, and the Cardiff Blues and Newport Gwent Dragons in particular who will host their West Wales colleagues, have fully backed the concept and these matches have the real potential to become part of the folklore of Welsh rugby year on year, talked about in clubs and pubs throughout the land for years to come.”
The Millennium Stadium will be divided into East and West supporter zones for match-day with a host of initiatives designed to make Judgement Day III a unique experience whether fans are making their Stadium or Regional rugby debuts or are more seasoned supporters.
All factors point towards Judgement Day III being a mouth-watering prospect for all rugby fans – competition between each of the four Regions should be at its highest with positions in the PRO12 table, leading to qualification for Europe, still in the balance and post six nations rivalry will be at its most intense.
Director of Rugby Mark Hammett said: “Judgement Day III will see all the best players in Wales under one roof and both games should be fantastic spectacles.
“I really enjoyed the festive derby games between the regions where we saw big crowds and games full of passion and intensity.
“I’ve been told Judgement Day is a truly memorable occasion in the rugby calendar in Wales with a double-header of big games.
“I hope fans from all four regions get right behind it and come to the Millennium Stadium in big numbers.”
Head Coach Kingsley Jones commented: “I am sure that playing at the Millennium Stadium is an ambition for many young Welsh players; so Judgement Day is a great opportunity to fulfil that ambition whilst playing for their region.
“These players will play in front of a great crowd in what is, an important fixture which everyone wants to win.
“It really is a great showcase for both the fans and the players and I am sure that everyone involved with the Dragons is looking forward to it.”
FULL TICKET INFO:
Tickets for Judgement Day III, costing £10 each, can be purchased from:
WRU Ticket Office: 02920 822432 (www.wru.wales/tickets)
Cardiff Blues Ticket Office : 029 2030 2030 (www.cardiffblues.com/tickets)
Scarlets Ticket Office : 0871 871 8088 (www.scarlets.co.uk)
Newport Gwent Dragons : 01633 674990 (www.newportgwentdragons.com)
Ospreys : 0844 815 6665 (www.ospreysrugby.com)
or by calling ticketmaster on 0844 847 1881
