Shaun Edwards, Wales assistant coach, has today urged fans to turn out in their droves to help his players in their challenge to beat the world champions and break the Millennium Stadium’s attendance record for summer rugby at the Principality Building Society Summer Test.
With a full entertainments programme and the sun shining down on the Millennium Stadium, there’s sure to be a sizzling rugby event in Cardiff’s city centre when game kicks off at 2.30pm tomorrow.
Speaking at today’s Captain’s Run, the final Wales team training session before the big event which is hosted at the home of Welsh rugby, Shaun said: “If it’s a wonderful summer afternoon like it was today at our Captain’s Run, then we should have some pretty impressive rugby on display and it should be a day out that players and fans will remember for a long time to come.
“We are approaching the 60,000 ticket mark which means it will already be a massive occasion and if we can beat the 62,500 record for summer rugby at the Millennium Stadium set back in 1999 (against France) we should have a memorable day on our hands.
“The Millennium Stadium is always an intimidating place to come and the fans can really play their part in helping our bid to challenge the World Champions tomorrow afternoon and give the boys a send off before an equally tough challenge out in New Zealand.”
He added: “The boys are very much looking forward to testing themselves against the best side in the world at the moment.
“They are not only tri-nations champions, but reigning world champions and they have a Lions series victory under their belts as well.”
Wales’ record in summer fixtures (June – August) at the Millennium Stadium shows five wins – three in ’99 over South Africa, Canada and France, one in ’03 over Scotland and one in ’07 over Argentina – and just two losses, to England in ’03 and France in ’07, and only France in ’03 was attended by more fans than have already bought tickets this weekend.
And Wales’ biggest rugby fans can still get their tickets for tomorrow’s record-breaking summer clash with the Springboks – with a full-scale ticketing operation planned for the hours approaching the 2.30pm kick-off .
Ticket sales points at both the WRU store and the Ticketline shop on Westgate Street will open their doors to the public at 9am tomorrow and staff will be all hands on deck to sell the remaining tickets priced from £20 (family ticket).
All fans arriving earlier in the day to secure their ticket and beat the rush should also make use of the ‘free-to-enter’ official WRU supporter’s village, adjacent to the Cardiff Arms Cafe and Shop at No8 Westgate Street, open between 12 noon and 6pm.
