WRU says 20,000 unsold seats at Australia game 'a blip'

[TRF_Cymro]

Rugby officials have blamed a "blip" for 20,000 empty seats for Wales' opening autumn international against Australia at the weekend.

Just 53,127 attended the match at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, one of the lowest against a leading nation since the arena was built.

Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive Roger Lewis said it was the medium price range of tickets failing to sell.

But sales are looking better for the other autumn fixtures, he added.

Only the 27 November fixture against New Zealand is sold out, with South Africa and Fiji still having capacity.

But the WRU says more than 50,000 tickets have been sold for the South Africa game on 13 November.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11707900​

Roger my old man, for clubs that I know, the higher price tickets of £65 was a stumbling block. What you should have done is lower the prices, cheaper for schools, uni's etc. Its a bit of a shambles that you say the middle price tickets was the problem, most of the clubs sold them :lol: ... tickets are expensive but they need to look at lowering the prices and look to get more school kids watching the game.

 

[erwanseb]

I think they simply play way too much, do not forget they played SA in June in Wales.

It is similar to the tri nations, too many games, and too few teams.

The way France is organizing its November tour is the proper, most democratic approach to get the best from this tour.

Fidji in Nantes
Argentina in Montpellier
Australia in Paris
(venues to be double checked)

They do not play outside the IRB window
They play at least one second tier team , two if you consider Argentina as a second tier nation ( assessment based on exposure, not performance).
Third, they play all over France which guarantees sold out games.

Some may argue that they will not get enough tri-nations test exposure but what does Wales has to gain from playing all three of them if they can't beat Fiji in a world cup cup pool game.

 

[munstermuffin]

Should ask IRFU for advice

 

[Shaggy]

I think they simply play way too much, do not forget they played SA in June in Wales.

It is similar to the tri nations, too many games, and too few teams.

The way France is organizing its November tour is the proper, most democratic approach to get the best from this tour.

Fidji in Nantes
Argentina in Montpellier
Australia in Paris
(venues to be double checked)

They do not play outside the IRB window
They play at least one second tier team , two if you consider Argentina as a second tier nation ( assessment based on exposure, not performance).
Third, they play all over France which guarantees sold out games.

Some may argue that they will not get enough tri-nations test exposure but what does Wales has to gain from playing all three of them if they can't beat Fiji in a world cup cup pool game.

If you play against the No 1 to 3 ranked teams in the world on a regular basis, plus in the 6 nations, your not as likely to lose to Fiji in WC pool game. You also generate revenue from playing the SH teams in terms of Television rights.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I think they simply play way too much, do not forget they played SA in June in Wales.

It is similar to the tri nations, too many games, and too few teams.

The way France is organizing its November tour is the proper, most democratic approach to get the best from this tour.

Fidji in Nantes
Argentina in Montpellier
Australia in Paris
(venues to be double checked)

They do not play outside the IRB window
They play at least one second tier team , two if you consider Argentina as a second tier nation ( assessment based on exposure, not performance).
Third, they play all over France which guarantees sold out games.

Some may argue that they will not get enough tri-nations test exposure but what does Wales has to gain from playing all three of them if they can't beat Fiji in a world cup cup pool game.

Goes back to exposure to playing the best teams around the world. Wales believe the more times they play the guys at the top the better they will get.

Wales National Stadium is in Cardiff no other venue in Wales can hold 50k +. WRU should have looked at cutting their prices to fill the stadium, better to have a full stadium than an empty one!

 

[Teh Mite]

Reminicent of Francis Baron hiking the tickets to near enough a ton then offloading them to the corporate sector when they don't sell...

 

[erwanseb]

You do indeed progress by playing against superior opponent but only if this opponent is slightly more superior, no point playing if you just can't touch the ball.

Playing Fiji was probably more like a useful rwc rehearsal

 

[Prestwick]

I noticed the RFU held firm during this week for the Samoa game although tickets were already at ten pounds for children for example.

Unions really should be more flexible. If its obvious that you're not going to get a full house then hand out 10k free school tickets. The money they'll spend on food and a coke will go towards limiting the damage of not filling the stadium.

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