Warren Gatland’s RWC squad will face off against Ireland, in home and away matches, and Italy this summer as part of their preparations for the flagship tournament and the opening clash of the warm-up matches is on target to sell-out.
The 74,500 capacity Millennium Stadium has already sold-out of middle tier tickets for the Ireland match and, with £35 and £50 ticket categories now gone, that leaves all remaining tickets for this game at just £20, with a £10 concession. Fans are advised to book tickets soon before the rest sell-out.
It is now just under a month until Gatland’s 47-man squad begin their campaign in earnest against the Irish – on Saturday 8th August (KO 2.30pm).
After Ireland visit Cardiff, Wales travel to the Aviva Stadium for a return fixture, before Italy come to town on Saturday 5th September (KO 5.00pm) – tickets start at just £20, with £10 concession, for both Millennium Stadium games.
Wales name their final 31-man RWC squad on Monday 31st August, just days before Gatland’s side faces the Azzurri in the second of the Dove Men Tests, with tickets for that game also selling well.
Italy will provide the final test for Wales before rugby’s showpiece tournament kicks-off for them with a home clash against Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium a fortnight later and is a genuine opportunity for those fans who can’t lay their hands on RWC tickets to watch their heroes in action on home soil.
“Both matches against Ireland will be physical encounters, both at home and away, and it should be ideal preparation ahead of the World Cup,” said Gatland, “To be facing the six nations champions, which is something we didn’t know at the time the fixtures were arranged, has worked out really well for us.
“Then Italy will be a different prospect altogether, by then we will have selected our Rugby World Cup squad.
“We are in an incredibly tough group and that’s not just because of the teams that we are facing. We have a five day turnaround before we play Fiji in particular and we are going to need to make sure the whole squad is in shape.”
Rugby World Cup preparations
Gatland has named an extended 47-man training squad which includes 17 players with RWC experience and nine uncapped players. The squad will undergo an intensive preparation regime over the coming weeks and are currently on the first of three intensive training camps, in Switzerland.
Then they will head to Doha on 20th July for further bespoke training for nine days, before returning home to prepare for the first Dove Men Test against Ireland.
Next up is a three day training camp in North Wales, before they return to Spala, Poland, for seven nights on 16th August ahead of the return warm-up fixture in Dublin against Ireland on 29th August and then face Italy in Cardiff a week later
“The easy part for the players has been done in terms of being selected, the hard work is now, with a huge schedule of preparation ahead of them,” added Gatland. “The players face a tough couple of months of intensive training, in Switzerland, Qatar and Poland.”
“We put a lot of emphasis on conditioning and preparation in 2011 which worked well for us and we are looking to step that up again this time. The 47 players all have the opportunity to make that 31-man party and I’m sure they will all be eager to feature in a World Cup on these shores. We believe the longer we are together the better we perform and this summer of preparation will give us every opportunity to be at our best come Rugby World Cup.”
The fact that the Ireland match is selling so well shows the level of optimism there is in Wales ahead of the Rugby World Cup,” said WRU chairman Gareth Davies. “We all know how hard the squad are working in their preparation and these two summer matches are a chance for the whole of Wales to get behind the team and show them that we will be with them every step of the way during their England 2015 campaign.”
“The team know they will have the support of the country going into RWC and with 60,000 fans already coming to the Ireland game, they can also be sure they will be given the support they require during these intense months of preparation,” said WRU chief executive Roger Lewis. “We anticipate that the Ireland match will sell-out and that we will close in on 50,000 for the Italy fixture. Most of the remaining tickets across the two games fall into the lowest price category of £20, with a £10 concession for children, making these international matches extremely accessible. We also have some excellent group offers available with ten per cent off orders over ten adult tickets or more, two adults free with every eight concession tickets bought and a family ticket for just £50.”
Dove Men Tests dates
Wales v Ireland, Millennium Stadium, Saturday 8th August, Kick-off 2.30pm, remaining prices at £20 (£10 under 16 concessions) (BBC Wales)
Wales v Italy, Millennium Stadium, Saturday 5th September, Kick-off 5.00pm, priced at £35 and £20 (£10 under 16 concessions) (BBC Wales)
How to purchase tickets
Tickets are available from wru.wales/tickets, by calling 0844 847 1881, in person from the WRU Ticket Office on Westgate Street, in Tesco stores around Wales or from your local club, with prices remaining at £20 (£10 U16 concessions) for Ireland and £35 and £20 (£10 U16 concessions) for Italy.
Group offers for the matches include 10% off orders over ten adult tickets or more, Family package for £50 (2 adult, 2 U16’s), two adults free when eight concessions are purchased.
