Each of the WRU’s 320-strong network of member clubs and districts has been invited to apply for tickets for all of Wales’ home matches for the coming season – which includes flagship fixtures against New Zealand, in the Dove Men Series this Autumn, and England, in the RBS 6 Nations.
A new ticket allocation scheme for clubs, which covers the tier one clashes with the All Blacks and England as well as matches against Australia, South Africa (Dove) and Ireland (RBS), now means that for each individual ticket sold that club will also receive a cash gift from the WRU, in the form of a commission payment which could land them up to £2,000 each, when full allocations are sold.
The WRU releases tickets for public sale only after giving its clubs the first chance to buy, meaning that for at least some matches the only way to guarantee access to watch Wales will be through your local club or via debentures, although they will still be in limited supply for some fixtures.
A further benefit to clubs is that if they sell their full allocation of tickets for the tier one matches described they will be awarded a full supply of senior side kit for the 2015/2016 season, for a 23-man squad, by official WRU partner Under Armour – in addition to the existing 15% off all UA kit offer which is already in place for 2014/2015 for all Welsh clubs.
“Ideally all tickets for Wales internationals should be distributed via our member clubs and debenture holders and we can’t stress enough to fans that, for a host of reasons, the best way to get hold of a ticket is via their local rugby club,” said WRU chief executive Roger Lewis.
“Clubs are not only incentivised to order, and sell, their full allocations, but fans – who simply need to contact their local club and make the relevant applications – can now ensure they get exclusive access to the best tickets at the best prices, whilst giving their club financial support at the same time.
“Our message to fans interested in watching Wales next season is join a local rugby club now, register your interest and buy your tickets through them.
“If you do this you will be directly, financially supporting your local club and, therefore, directly supporting Welsh rugby and ultimately the Wales national team.
“As well as the financial benefit to the club you are buying from you are also saving yourself the booking fee and postage and packaging costs associated with telephone and internet sales, which are a necessary part of our public sale strategy.”
Throughout April the WRU travelled to all district meetings to present the new schemes and clubs have until the end of July to take advantage, so the governing body is urging fans to act fast to ensure they can secure tickets for the 2014/2015 season ahead.
The WRU will put tickets not sold through its clubs on public sale on Friday 15th August (Dove) and Friday 3rd October (RBS), but fans who wait for that moment are risking missing out as – in principle – clubs, and debenture holders, could have filled the 74,500-seater Millennium Stadium six times over long before that date, and earned cashback per ticket on tier one matches in the process.
“It is always our aim for all of our clubs and debenture holders to take their full allocation of tickets,” said Mr Lewis.
“We have created a new system this year which should help this happen, with the clubs benefiting directly from each ticket sold, and the ultimate success of the scheme would be if no tickets went on public sale for any of the matches.
“If that were to happen, our most important message would be reinforced – that the best and easiest way to get hold of a ticket for Welsh international rugby is by joining your local club.”
Wales home fixtures for 2014/2015
Dove Men Series 2014
Saturday, 8th November: Wales v Australia, Millennium Stadium, 14h30
Saturday, 15th November: Wales v Fiji, Millennium Stadium, 14h30
Saturday, 22nd November: Wales v New Zealand, Millennium Stadium, 17h30
Saturday, 29th November: Wales v South Africa, 14h30
RBS 6 Nations 2015
Friday, 6th February: Wales v England, Millennium Stadium 20h05
Saturday 14th March: Wales v Ireland, Millennium Stadium 14h30
