Wales’ international heroes will collide in Cardiff as the Dragons face last year’s PRO14 finalists the Scarlets in the first match of the day, kicking-off at 3pm, before Cardiff Blues host the Ospreys at 5.15pm in front of an expected 60,000-plus crowd.
Off the pitch the Welsh Rugby Union and regions have also moved to secure the future of Judgement Day, agreeing a new partnership for the next four years.
Previously, the two home sides and the WRU shared income generated from gate receipts, but a fundamental shift in the way the Judgement Day event is to be managed means that now all four regions are part of the agreement.
All four regions will now play a regular home game at Principality Stadium as part of Judgement Day and 80% of the ticket profits for the event will be split between the two nominated home teams, with the two away teams receiving 20%.
The WRU and the regions will work with Guinness PRO14 on organising fixtures so that, ideally, the Ospreys and Scarlets, for example, would play a nominated home game in the year when they have 11 home fixtures in the season, ensuring all four regions play ten games at their own venues throughout each year.
The other major advance under the new agreement will see ALL season tickets holders from the visiting teams granted access to ticket prices frozen at just £10 per head (£5 concession for U16s) when purchased from the relevant region’s ticket office, with home team season tickets continuing to include Judgement Day.
“The aim is to reward and say thank you to all season tickets holders for their continued support of Welsh rugby,” said WRU CEO Martyn Phillips.
General ticket prices, which have been frozen at £10 for the last three years, are increasing for the 2019 event, however, the introduction of an ‘early bird’ offer will ensure tickets also remain available at the frozen price (which includes £5 concession) to all supporters, if bought in the lower tier before Tuesday 4th December.
General prices are £25 middle tier (£10 concession) and revert to £15 for both lower and upper tier adult tickets after the ‘early bird’ lower tier offer ends – with the £10, U16 concession ticket remaining to ensure the family event is accessible for all..
“We have evolved our approach to the Judgement Day concept over the years, it has become a must see attraction in Welsh rugby’s annual calendar and a celebration of the regional game,” added Phillips.
“We have been working hard on ensuring that the event goes from strength to strength and a fundamentally collaborative approach, ensuring all four teams are now fully incentivised financially as well as competitively on the field, is the way forward.
“Judgement Day attendances have now broken the 60,000 mark for the last three years in a row, this is consistently the top fixture in the Guinness PRO14 calendar and we will be doing everything in our power to ensure it comes back even bigger and better at the culmination of a huge season for Welsh rugby ahead of RWC 2019.”
Judgement Day VII will be a final chance for Wales’ selectors to see the large majority of their potential Rugby World Cup squad pit their wits against each other, before warm-up matches later in the summer (Wales face England at Twickenham on 11th August).
“The Judgement Day concept has become a landmark occasion for the Guinness PRO14 and it’s terrific that it will continue for another four years, but it’s even better news to hear that the partnership has been enhanced to provide rewards for all four teams involved,” said PRO14 CEO Martin Anayi.
“Judgement Day brings a showcase of what Welsh regional rugby has to offer, from the pageantry and passion that Principality Stadium provides to the sheer international quality of the teams testing themselves in the white-hot derby environment.
“The consistently high attendances that attract die-hard fans, families and new supporters alike, have been the product of incredible work by the WRU and the regions. That working relationship has become even stronger now and that can only be to the benefit of rugby in Wales and the Guinness PRO14. Long may it continue.”
As well as the ‘early bird’ offer, which discounted tickets at £10 and £5 concession until Tuesday 4th December, a Christmas gift option is also available at the point of purchase which adds a festive card for the recipient and guarantees delivery before Christmas Day if ordered by 12 noon on 20th December, for £4.
Print at home tickets, which don’t incur a postage charge, are available in all categories, with normal booking fees at £1 per ticket and post & packaging at £3 available, from tomorrow, viahttps://www.eticketing.co.uk/principalitystadium/.
JUDGEMENT DAY VII, Saturday 27th April, Principality Stadium:
Dragons v Scarlets – Kick Off 1500hrs
Cardiff Blues v Ospreys – Kick Off 1715hrs
Wales’ warm-up fixtures ahead of 2019 Rugby World Cup:
England v Wales (Twickenham); Sunday, 11 August.
Wales v England (Principality Stadium); Saturday, 17 August.
Wales v Ireland (Principality Stadium); Saturday, 31 August.
Ireland v Wales (Aviva Stadium); Saturday, 7 September.
