Four Welsh Regions plan derby day at Millennium Stadium

[dullonien]

Four Welsh Regions plan derby day at Millennium Stadium

The four Welsh rugby regions will play a double-header derby day at the Millennium Stadium this season, the Welsh Rugby Union has announced.

The Scarlets, the Ospreys, Cardiff Blues and the Newport Gwent Dragons will stage a new double-header fixture on March 30.

"This unique double-header will be a historic moment for Welsh rugby," said WRU chief executive Roger Lewis.

The Dragons will play the Scarlets, while the Blues face the Ospreys.

The WRU and the regions promise the back-to-back matches will be a 'festival of rugby', with each game part of the Welsh Regions' RaboDirect PRO12 campaign.

"It has taken us five years to put this fixture together, but I am confident it will have been worth the wait," said Lewis.

"The WRU will promote and underwrite this fixture for the next four years, that's how much we believe in it. Fans will see the stars of Welsh rugby and get two derby matches for the price of one very reasonably priced ticket.

"I predict this double-header will become a highlight in the Welsh rugby calendar for a long, long time to come."

The annual derby day clash will be repeated for the foreseeable future with the two east Wales regions taking on the two west Wales regions on rotation each season.

Stuart Gallacher, Chief Executive of Regional Rugby Wales, welcomed the new double-header fixture.

"We have seen this type of double header format work well across rugby and other sports where it can capture the imagination of the public by showcasing the top level of sport across a full day of excitement and competition, at a venue that can add even more to the sense of occasion," said Gallacher.

"Season ticket sales and attendances are on the up at the regions and as we look for new ways to move forward the double header at the Millennium Stadium is a great example of the hard work that is going on behind the scenes.

"We hope 30th March will bring a new, modern Welsh derby day tradition which showcases the commitment and success of the four regions in producing and supporting so many talented players in Welsh rugby."

Source: BBC Sport

This sounds like a great idea. I can see tens of thousands of fans packing the Millenium to watch a day of derbies. I'd be very tempted to go if the price is right and I can make it. The only thing I'm wondering about is which teams lose their home advantage in the other sets of derbies. Also I wonder how the takings will be split considering two of the regions will be losing one of their big derby paydays. There's obviously been an agreement made, and this can only be a good thing with every region making more money with what should be a bumper payday.

It's also great for the fans, especially those who follow more than one region like myself. It might be a good way of drawing some of those fans who only watch Wales play. I just hope they don't get greedy with the ticket prices. Make them cheap enough and they could be looking at 40-50,000 fans attending hopefully; charge a fortune and fans will stay away.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Bet it's overpriced and awful. Still, can't knock the effort.

 

[Draggs]

Tickets for the event will be just £10 for U18's and £25 for adults with a family package (2 adults, 2 children) on offer for just £50 - they are available from the Regions, from Ticketmaster and online at www.wru.co.uk

Good to see, it is a great idea.

Blues and Dragons lose home, but their respective season ticket holders get in free. Ospreys/Scarlets next year I would imagine.

 

[dullonien]

Not a bad price at all then. £5 / 12.50 a game is very decent. The family ticket price is especially good value, because the kids basically go for free. This will hopefully draw plenty of families to the event, as long as it's a daytime thing and doesn't drag on late into the night.

More promotions like this and fans might start watching regional rugby again, although the performances of the regions next season is still crucial.

 

[Draggs]

Not a bad price at all then. £5 / 12.50 a game is very decent. The family ticket price is especially good value, because the kids basically go for free. This will hopefully draw plenty of families to the event, as long as it's a daytime thing and doesn't drag on late into the night.

More promotions like this and fans might start watching regional rugby again, although the performances of the regions next season is still crucial.

Yeah, I was actually shocked that the WRU could follow up a good idea with something so sensible.

It all works out for the Blues when it is their 'away' match next year

 

[psychic duck]

About time they did this.

 

[TrueSlawter]

tbh I wish I was down south again as I'd probs end up wanting to goto this as for the price it would be a good day out.

Edit on what I had before, I didnt really fully read it all xD I though this was for the East and West derbys (Blues v Dragons, Scarlets v Ospreys)

 

[SelimNiai]

Im going, well I certainly plan on going.

 

[Thingimubob]

Pity I'm abroad when this is on, its a great idea which has already worked with other leages (Premiership has double headers at Twickers right?) That said, £25 for adults, any student prices? I love being a stingy student and hunting down discounts

 

[GarethEWilliams]

So the kick off's I think are 3pm and 5:15pm. This is perfect, its my stag weekend which is in Cardiff, and I get to show 20 English Softies how its really done! I don't think I have been this excited since Santa emptied his sack for me.

 

[Draggs]

I don't think I have been this excited since Santa emptied his sack for me.

Mmhmm... Good Christmas bru?

 

[pete82]

Based on the attendances at the reverse fixtures: Ospreys v Blues (around 8000) and the Scarlets v the Dragons (around 7,500)
what sort of attendance do you think will be there on the day??? really hope it doesn't get embarrassing, having nightmares of a stadium half full.

 

[dullonien]

Based on the attendances at the reverse fixtures: Ospreys v Blues (around 8000) and the Scarlets v the Dragons (around 7,500)
what sort of attendance do you think will be there on the day??? really hope it doesn't get embarrassing, having nightmares of a stadium half full.

A half full stadium would be quite welcome probably, as it would mean ~36,000 attending.

 

[pete82]

A half full stadium would be quite welcome probably, as it would mean ~36,000 attending.

To put it into context though, in England last season you had a packed Wembley watching Saracens v Harlequins, how is 36,000 going to look in comparison?? I think it would have been a better idea to hold the Ospreys v Scarlets and Blues v Dragons derbies instead, and do it on boxing day, there would be a bigger crowd and we would have avoided the mud bath at the Arms park...

 

[GarethEWilliams]

I do agree Boxing Day could have been better. Although £20 a ticket for a double header and on Bank Holiday weekend you would hope there are 55,000 + there. I am bringing 20 people in my stag do from England, so if we all do our bit then it will be awesome. The worst thing is for people to lambaste it and just sit at home themselves. I want to show these 19 English guys how good the rocking Millennium Stadium is.

SUPPORT OUR REGIONS! (and me most probably getting stitched up on my stag do!)

 

[Bluemoon]

Fans certainly cannot complain about the price. I'd expect there to be around 35,000 throughout the day with those prices. However, I cannot see all four sets of fans staying for both games. I remember that happening when the Principality Cup did a double header (many a moon ago).

 

[GarethEWilliams]

Fans certainly cannot complain about the price. I'd expect there to be around 35,000 throughout the day with those prices. However, I cannot see all four sets of fans staying for both games. I remember that happening when the Principality Cup did a double header (many a moon ago).

Yeah this is true we will probably watch half the other game and the whole Ospreys game.

 

[Thingimubob]

To put it into context though, in England last season you had a packed Wembley watching Saracens v Harlequins, how is 36,000 going to look in comparison?? I think it would have been a better idea to hold the Ospreys v Scarlets and Blues v Dragons derbies instead, and do it on boxing day, there would be a bigger crowd and we would have avoided the mud bath at the Arms park...

Isn't there a christmas fair thing in the Stadium at that time of year usually? So not sure if it'd be available

 

[dullonien]

So, 30,000+ tickets sold already. We could realistically expect that number to reach 40,000 by the weekend + walk in viewers on the day. Maybe approaching 50,000+ which would be great for regional rugby imo. These games would usually draw something like 8,000 + 12,000, so 20,000 in total.

This event may draw a lot of newcomers, and as people are still on a high following the 6 nations, this could draw some new regional fans who might go to more regular games. The games need to be of a high quality though...

 

[psychic duck]

30,000 is already more than what there would have been had it been at Cardiff Arms Park and Rodney Parade. Easily.

So this is already a success and an attendance record for Welsh domestic rugby game I assume (I don't think Cardiff Blues ever got that many when they moved their H Cup games there). 40,000 or 50,000 would be great for a RaboDirect Pro12 game.