Welsh fans pack the Millennium Stadium to watch semi-final

Posted on Oct 14, 2011 in Wales, Welsh Rugby

The Welsh Rugby Union has issued a “thank you” message to the tens of thousands of fans who will pack the Millennium Stadium to watch free live screening of the Wales versus France Rugby World Cup semi-final on Saturday.

More than 53,000 fans have already registered their intention to turn up, with the attendance swelling towards the 67,000 capacity at Eden Park in Auckland where supporters will watch the match itself.

The Group Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, Roger Lewis, said: “We always believed we had the best fans in the world and gestures like this prove it.

“The response from supporters since we announced the plan to open up the stadium on Saturday has been magnificent.

“Their voices will be raised at the home of Welsh rugby and the sound will echo around the world to New Zealand.

“It will be a very emotional moment to hear the national anthem sound around the stadium as a gesture of support for players so many thousands of miles away.

“When the Welsh teams takes to the field at Eden Park they will be in absolutely no doubt that the fans from Wales are with them.

“Warren Gatland has often spoken about the importance of the Welsh crowd to his players and a crowded Millennium Stadium on Saturday will symbolise exactly what he means.

“We know from the size of the television audiences on ITV Wales and S4C for the games so far that the support in Wales is fantastic.

“Our players in New Zealand will be able to visualise packed rugby clubs, families gathered around television screens and, of course, a huge crowd at the Stadium.

“Rugby is certainly the national sport of Wales on this evidence and the interest generated from our performances at the Rugby World Cup will help sustain and perpetuate that status.

“Our players are true heroes and the youngsters picking up rugby balls for the first time will want to emulate the men in red who have achieved so much for Wales in this modern era.”

Wales squad players in New Zealand have been kept fully informed about the interest back home and are delighted that so many fans will attend the stadium.

Some friends and family of players will be there to savour the atmosphere as they watch Wales take on the French.

Wales Captain Sam Warburton said: “We are delighted with the level of support we keep hearing about from Wales.

“It is amazing to think the Millennium Stadium will be so crowded for a game we are playing thousands of miles away.”

All “Wake Up for Wales” ticketholders wearing something red will be granted free admission for the event on Saturday, which kicks off with live music from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest singing star Sophie Evans and Classical Brit Award winners Only Med Aloud.

Today is the last chance for fans to get their free tickets with all collections at Gate 3 closing at 7pm today. The gates open again at 7.30am on Saturday for the big game and the bars will be open from 9am.

With tens of thousands expected at the stadium, the organisers are urging fans to plan their travel in advance and take advantage of the park and ride facilities at County Hall in Cardiff Bay from 7am. Parking will be charged at the standard rate of £3.

Wales face Australia at the MS

Posted on Aug 24, 2011 in Wales, Welsh Rugby

Wales will face Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 3 December, 2011 (kick-off 2.30pm) the Welsh Rugby Union confirmed today.

The now customary post-Rugby World Cup fixture will come just a month after the William Webb Ellis Trophy has been won and give fans the chance to see the returning Wales side on home soil for the first time since the New Zealand tournament.

Wales bosses and fans alike will be hoping the fixture can be a celebration of the efforts of the squad at the 2011 RWC and can now also watch with further fascination to see what kind of performances can be expected from the Wallabies in Cardiff.

Tradition dictates that the two sides will contest the James Bevan Trophy, currently held by the Southern Hemisphere superpowers, when they meet at the national stadium and, regardless of what happens at RWC time, Wales will be looking to avenge the 25-16 home defeat of the 2010 November series.

“There is always huge demand for Autumn rugby at the Millennium Stadium as fans have become used to watching Wales face some of the best teams in the world at home fixtures,” said WRU group head of sales and marketing Craig Maxwell.

“And from Monday 19 September rugby supporters can get their hands on tickets to welcome their rugby heroes back home at the Millennium Stadium to face Australia, just a few weeks after the illustrious Rugby World Cup.

“The Wales v Australia match is the perfect culmination of Wales’ RWC efforts and the start of a new chapter as we look ahead to the 2012 6 Nations Championship and Wales fans should act fast to get their tickets to get behind the team.”

Tindall handed captaincy

Posted on Aug 11, 2011 in England, English Rugby

ENGLAND Team Manager Martin Johnson has handed the captaincy reins to Mike Tindall ahead of this weekend’s clash with Wales in Cardiff. Capped 70 times for his country,  the Gloucester centre, who first led England at the Millennium Stadium in this year’s RBS 6 Nations, is one of 13 changes made to the starting XV that secured a 23-19 victory over Wales at Twickenham last weekend.

Only Alex Corbisiero and Mark Cueto reappear as Johnson rotates his squad ahead of Rugby World Cup selection.   Richard Wigglesworth gets the nod at number nine, partnering Toby Flood in a back line which otherwise replicates the combination that started all but one match in England’s successful 2011 RBS 6 Nations campaign.

Tom Wood, who won his first cap in England’s 26-19 win over Wales back in February, joins Hendre Fourie and Nick Easter in a back row playing together for the first time.  Fourie collects his second England start and wins his first cap away from home.

Looking ahead to the game Martin Johnson said, “Last weekend’s match was hugely competitive and we expect more of the same as we prepare to travel to the Millennium Stadium.  We took a lot out of Saturday’s game and this weekend gives the selected players their opportunity and a chance for us to improve our overall performance.”

15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby, captain)
12 Shontayne Hape (London Irish)
11 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
10 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
1 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
2 Steve Thompson (London Wasps)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4 Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
5 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
6 Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
7 Hendre Fourie (Sale Sharks)
8 Nick Easter (Harlequins)

Replacements:
16 Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
17 Matt Stevens (Saracens)
18 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
19 James Haskell (Ricoh Black Rams)
20 Danny Care (Harlequins)
21 Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)
22 Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff to be RWC 2015 venue

Posted on May 25, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

The Welsh Rugby Union has announced the Millennium Stadium will be a venue for international matches to be played in Rugby World Cup 2015.

The event will be hosted by the RFU and Wales is the only nation outside England where matches will be played.

Details of the schedule of matches to be played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff will be confirmed when the full tournament structure is announced in due course.

The decision to confirm games will be played in Wales has been welcomed by the WRU Chairman David Pickering and the Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis.

David Pickering, who is also a Wales representative on the IRB Council and executive board, said: “I am delighted for Wales and for Welsh rugby that this decision has now been confirmed.

“I want to thank my colleagues on the IRB Council and the RFU for recognising the benefit of playing games across the border in Wales.

“I’m also grateful for the support of the Welsh Assembly Government and First Minister Carwyn Jones who we’ve consulted on this matter.”

“Cardiff is extremely accessible by road, rail and air while the city centre location of the Millennium Stadium is now firmly established as a huge benefit for visiting fans.

“Our proximity to the west of England and London means the Millennium Stadium makes enormous sense as a venue for these important fixtures.

“The Rugby World Cup is now one of the greatest tournaments on the sporting calendar and Wales can be proud to be playing a pivotal role in its delivery.

“Our history as a proud rugby nation is well known and I am so pleased that thousands of Welsh rugby fans will now be able to claim real involvement in this great competition.

“Wales now has a seat on the top table of world rugby and we play a huge role in sustaining and developing the sport around the globe.

“2015 is going to be a fantastic year for rugby and, yet again, Wales will feature prominently in an epic occasion for our sport.”

WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis, said: “This is a great honour for Welsh rugby and I know the staff at the Millennium Stadium will ensure the event is a huge success.

“This announcement is true confirmation of our status as worthy hosts of some of the most iconic events staged in Europe.

“We have just hosted a sensational Heineken Cup Final and are already looking forward to welcoming Olympic soccer to Wales next year.

“The Millennium Stadium now plays a crucial role in helping to confirm Wales as a nation capable of hosting major events successfully.

“In a few weeks’ time the stadium will host two concerts by Take That which is yet more proof of the incredible versatility of the venue.

“The stadium is wholly owned and operated by the WRU and we can take credit as an organisation for utilising that asset properly and effectively in a highly competitive commercial environment.

“Images of the stadium are now seen around the world on television screens featuring the events we host and our nation benefits both financially and culturally by its impact.

“The Rugby World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events around and I want to congratulate the RFU for their success is securing such a prestigious event.”

Baa Baas add more star names to Millennium Stadium line-up

Posted on Apr 13, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

The Barbarians have added three more of world rugby’s biggest stars to their squad to face Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday 4^th June – Mathieu Bastareaud, Paul Sackey and Carl Hayman.

The 48-times capped All Black prop Hayman, who currently plies his trade at French top 14 club Toulon, will join a front row already boasting Ireland and Munster centurion John Hayes (104-caps).

England wing Sackey, also at Toulon, and French centre Bastareaud (Stade Francais) join a back line featuring three former Rugby World Cup winners in South Africans Ruan Pienaar (Ulster), Francois Steyn (Racing Club) and England and Biarritz full-back Ian Balshaw.

The quartet of Italian Talisman Sergio Parisse, Basteraud, Pienaar and Hayes will all be making their Barbarians debuts, adding their names to an illustrious list of more than 3,760 players who have worn the famous black and white hoops since 1890.

“Every summer we take the opportunity to bring a wide range of players together from the top echelons of the rugby world and invariably there are a number of quality internationals who are privileged to make their Barbarians debuts,” said Barbarians team manager Alan Evans.

“The names of Parisse, Bastareaud and Pienaar will sit comfortably in the great history of Barbarians rugby and it is also with great pride that we have the opportunity to reward John Hayes for the great service he has done to Irish rugby by handing him his Baa-baas debut.”

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