Seventeen medal winners who helped Team Wales to a record-breaking 36 medals during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will play a special part in the first match on the new Millennium Stadium pitch this weekend.
The decorated elite athletes will celebrate a collective five gold, eleven silver and 20 bronze medals for Wales – the highest total ever surpassing the 31 won in Manchester in 2002 – as guests of honour for the 2.30pm kick-off. There will also be a special presentation to the crowd at half time.
Team captain and silver medal winner Aled Davies and swimming sensation Georgia Davies who won Gold and Silver in the 50m and 100m backstroke respectively are among the athletes expected at the stadium.
The news follows the announcement that Vice Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union Prince William and his wife will be in Cardiff to watch the match. Their Royal Highnesses will also meet with injured former players and their families who are beneficiaries of the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust, of which the Duke is a Patron.
Roger Lewis, the Group Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union which owns and operates the Millennium Stadium, said:
“Team Wales’ record-breaking achievements during the Glasgow Commonwealth Games are a momentous accolade for the nation and we are honoured to have 17 of these talented young men and women at the Millennium Stadium this weekend.
“The next four weeks of international rugby will showcase some of the greatest players in the world for the thousands of rugby fans passing through the turnstiles and the millions watching on television.
“To kick off the first match with a stellar sporting line up and a visit from our Vice Patron, The Duke, and The Duchess of Cambridge is a fantastic start to what is sure to be an exciting month of rugby in Cardiff.”
The athletes expected at the Millennium Stadium are as follows: Aled Davies, Sally Peake, Sean McGoldrick, Joseph Cordina, Ieuan Williams, Jessica Hogg, Angel Romaeo, Raer Theaker, Paul Taylor, Jonathon Tomlinson, Marc Wyatt, Georgia Davies, Calum Jarvis, Jack Thomas, Daniel Jervis, Craig Pilling, Ashley Williams.
Fans can still get hold of tickets to Saturday’s big match priced at £30 for Under 16s and £60 for adults from wru.co.uk and the new WRU Ticket Office above the WRU Store at No. 8 Westgate Street, Cardiff.
The stadium opens to the public at 1pm on Saturday 8 November, when the fanzones come to life featuring all of your matchday food and entertainment needs.
Local cover artist Tim Cronin will be performing before the match in the Foster’s Fan zone in the Upper Tier (situated in block 608) while a traditional brass band will be warming up for a performance near the Gareth Edwards Bar (block 308) after the game.
There are a number of food options available to purchase throughout the stadium such as Dragon’s Dogs £8.50, Pie and Pint £7 and our new Corned Beef Peter’s Pie at £3.50.
For fans looking for a speciality Cask Ale, the SA Brains Cask Ale bar is situated on the Lower Tier (block 313) or, whatever your taste, the designated customer service team, Millennium Stadium Stars, will be on site to help with all food and beverage requirements.
