Cardiff’s iconic rugby venue will host eight games, including two Wales pool matches and two quarter-finals, when RWC 2015 kicks off in 500 days.
The tournament comes to the principality for the fourth time, following 1991, 1999 and 2007 – with Wales playing a part in the world’s greatest rugby occasion more times than any other country in the world.
To mark the landmark occasion, tickets will go on sale to rugby clubs in Wales for games at the Millennium Stadium as part of the wider RWC 2015 Rugby Community Ticket programme, which will see 500,000 tickets go on sale to loyal rugby fans through clubs in England and Wales in May and June, 2014.
Tournament Organisers, England Rugby 2015, have also announced that tickets will go on general sale to the public for all 48 games including knock-outs and the final from 12 September, 2014.
The Rugby Community Ticket programme will allow clubs to recognise and reward loyal rugby fans with the opportunity to register their interest for tickets to the Millennium Stadium games.
All WRU member Clubs will receive a unique link for members to register their interest via the Rugby World Cup 2015 ticketing website by early June.
Those registered will then have the opportunity to purchase up to four tickets per match per person on a first come first served basis in June. Exact dates will be confirmed closer to the time.
Former Wales and British & Irish Lions No 8 Scott Quinnell has experienced first-hand a packed-out Millennium Stadium. He was in the side that beat Argentina 23-18 when Wales first opened its doors to host Rugby World Cup 1999.
“For me there is no better rugby venue in the world than the Millennium Stadium. I was fortunate to be part of Wales’ Rugby World Cup 1999 side when the stadium first opened and even now the hair will stand up on back of my neck when I’m here,” said the legendary former Wales and Llanelli captain.
“The support for the national squad at the home of Welsh sport is really something very special and the fans will undoubtedly want to be part of the journey when Wales take on Rugby World Cup 2015 in Cardiff.
“Announcing the Welsh Rugby Community Ticket programme to mark ‘500 days to go’ ensures the rugby family are at the heart of the action for 2015 and rewards the genuine rugby fans for their support week in week out.
“From tomorrow fans will receive important details from the WRU via their clubs to register their interest in the allocation of Millennium Stadium tickets.”
WRU Chairman David Pickering, who is on the board of Rugby World Cup Ltd and was also involved for RWC 1999 as Wales’ Team Manager, said: “The true rugby supporters in Wales are the lifeblood of our rugby clubs and it’s fitting that on this landmark occasion we are launching a Welsh Rugby Community ticketing initiative as well as details for public sale.
“Rugby World Cup 2015 tickets are the hottest tickets in town and rugby fans world-wide will want to be part of the action across the eight Millennium Stadium games.
“As we celebrate 500 days to go in Cardiff, we look forward to welcoming the world’s greatest rugby supporters to what will be the fourth Tournament on Welsh soil – something no other country has achieved to date.”
First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “Nowhere can match Cardiff and the Millennium Stadium for its match day atmosphere and the fact that we have played a part in more Rugby World Cup Tournaments than any other nation is testament to that.
“With 500 days to go until the event we are in the best position to make the most of this fantastic opportunity to showcase Wales and all we have to offer to the world. We are building a solid track record for delivering memorable major events and the Rugby World Cup 2015 promises to be a great event for fans, the city and Wales as a whole.”
Wales has a long-standing relationship with the Rugby World Cup having competed at every one of the seven tournaments to date, as well as staging games in three previous tournaments and eight games for RWC 2015.
The first RWC game played on Welsh soil was at Llanelli’s old Stradey Park in 1991 when Australia beat Argentina. The first game played in Cardiff, at the National Ground, Cardiff Arms Park, was on Sunday, 6 October, 1991 when Western Samoa rocked the rugby world by beating the home side 16-13.
There were seven RWC matches played at four different venues in Wales in 1991, while in 1999, when Wales was the Host Nation, the Millennium Stadium staged seen of the nine matches, including the final between Australia and France. The Racecourse, Wrexham, and Stradey Park were the other two venues used in 1999.
