The other home game of the Championship, the opening clash with Ireland which also went on general sale for the first time today (Friday), is set to follow suit early next week.
The nation’s appetite to watch Welsh international rugby in Cardiff has shown no sign of abating.
After the post-pandemic bounce-back for the Autumn Nations Series 2021 – which was the best attended series since 2008 – the opening fixture of the autumn campaign in 2022 looks set to complete a hat-trick of sell-outs for the season ahead in a matter of weeks.
New Zealand’s visit to Principality Stadium, in just over a month’s time (Saturday 5 November), is also heading for a capacity occasion, meaning over 220,000 tickets will have been snapped up by Welsh rugby clubs, debenture holders, supporters club members and other Wales fans across the three matches.
But it doesn’t stop there with Argentina, Georgia and Australia also visiting Cardiff on consecutive weekends in November, following the All Blacks match.
If all four matches reach capacity for the Autumn Nations Series, that would mean almost half-a-million supporters backing Wayne Pivac’s Wales on home soil during their final two campaigns before the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The best attended autumn series of all time was in 2008, when three matches (against South Africa, New Zealand and Australia) sold-out in the year following Wales’ second Six Nations Grand Slam of the modern era – the fourth match against Canada reached 59,326 meaning 281,695 tickets were sold across the four games.
27.02.21 – Wales v England – Guinness Six Nations – Wales players congratulate Kieran Hardy of Wales after his try
The Autumn Nations Series last year (2021) almost matched ’08 across four matches, selling a total of 275,293 tickets, and comes second in the all-time list. The All Blacks game was a full capacity occasion and both the Springboks (70,353) and the Wallabies (68,112) brought supporters in their droves with the fourth fixture of the campaign, against Fiji, not far behind (63,283).
With prices for the Georgia match meaning a family of four can attend for as little as £30-per-family and both the Pumas and Wallabies thrilling audiences in the recent southern hemisphere showpiece Rugby Championship, the demand for tickets remains high – indicating record international attendances for the 22/23 season are a realistic prospect.
“The appetite for Welsh international rugby tickets is as strong as ever and we take great care to ensure we have something for everyone across all available matches throughout the season,” said WRU Commercial and Legal Director Rhodri Lewis.
“From family offers, with all tickets available at half-price for children across all four Autumn Nations Series matches, to reduced prices in the Alcohol Free Zone category and our lower priced tickets frozen at £40 in the Guinness Six Nations we are proud to have offered a full range of experiences for Welsh rugby fans at Principality Stadium.
“Of course, as we always stress, all proceeds from the sale of international rugby tickets are fed directly back into both the professional and community game in Wales, so we must thank our fans for supporting Welsh rugby in a very direct way as well as for turning up in good voice on matchday.
“We are delighted with how ticket sales have gone and we have some big news to come on how we plan to make our matchday experience at Principality Stadium even better this autumn, which means those all-time attendance records are well within our sights.
“We are hugely grateful to everyone who has bought a ticket for their loyal support of our national team and of Welsh rugby.”
05.02.22 – Ireland v Wales – Guinness Six Nations –
Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright and Josh Adams of Wales during the anthems.
Ticket prices have remained frozen in all price categories for the Georgia, Argentina and Australia matches in 2022 with admission prices for these and equivalent Autumn Nations Series matches having
not risen since 2018.
This year the All Blacks fixture does carry a price increase of £10 for most tickets but the entry level price for this match was also frozen, at £40, and concessionary tickets for supporters under 17-years-old – which carry a 50% discount – have remained available in all price categories for all Autumn Nations Series games.
The discounted prices available in remaining ticket categories mean a family of four can still attend the Georgia game for £45-per-family or the Pumas game for £75-per-family for example.
The Welsh Rugby Union always recommends the best place to buy international tickets is from your local rugby club, but remaining tickets are available from www.wales/tickets with all proceeds received fed back into the game in Wales.
27.02.21 – Wales v England – Guinness Six Nations – 6 Nations Trophy and Triple Crown.
Supporters wishing to purchase hospitality for Guinness Six Nations 2023 fixtures against England (limited availability) and Ireland or for the Autumn Nations Series, should call 02920 822041 or for
general information visit WRU.WALES/VIP.
Official off-site hospitality packages are available via Events International https://eventsinternational.co.uk/event/six-nations and Official Travel Packages are available through Gullivers Sports Travel https://gulliverstravel.co.uk/event/six-nations
For Parkgate Hotel Bed & Breakfast packages, please visit https://www.theparkgatehotel.wales/offers/guinness-six-nations/
“Supporters who have missed out on the tickets they want still have the option of accessing official WRU hospitality for all of Wales’ home matches in the season ahead,” added Lewis.
“Alternatively the WRU’s official supporter exchange platform, in partnership with Seat Unique, provides a service where supporters can safely access and exchange genuine match tickets.”
The Welsh Rugby Supporter Exchange is the official exchange platform of the WRU. The platform allows supporters who can no longer attend Welsh rugby events at Principality Stadium to sell their tickets legitimately through a safe, secure and fully verified marketplace, more info here https://www.wru.wales/supporter-exchange-platform/
Beauden Barrett of New Zealand kicks for touch
FIXTURES:
2022 AUTUMN NATIONS SERIES FIXTURES
(NB prices listed were those available before a ticket had been sold. As described above, with tickets in high demand a number of categories will have now sold-out)
Wales v New Zealand, Principality Stadium, Saturday 5th November, KO 15:15
£40, £70, £85, £95 and £105 with concessions for U17s starting at £20*
Wales v Argentina, Principality Stadium, Saturday 12th November, KO 17:30
£20, £25, £30, £40 and £50 with concessions for U17s starting at £10*
Wales v Georgia, Principality Stadium, Saturday 19th November, KO 13:00
£10, £15, £20, £25 and £35 with concessions for U17s starting at £5*
Wales v Australia, Principality Stadium, Saturday 26th November, KO 15:15
£25, £35, £45, £65, £75 with concessions for U17s starting at £12.50*
*concessionary ticket prices, which carry a 50% discount, have been available to all young fans under 17-years-old, in all ticket categories for all four 2022 Autumn Nations Series matches.
GUINNESS SIX NATIONS 2023
Wales v Ireland, Saturday 4th February 2.15pm
(limited availability)
Scotland v Wales, Saturday 11th February 4.45pm
Wales v England, Saturday 25th February 4.45pm
(Sold-out)
Italy v Wales, Saturday 11th March, 2.15pm
France v Wales, Saturday 18th March, 2.45pm
