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Why Don't We Get Tickets?

No Tickets
By Andrew Collins
January 31 2007
Why is it, that the die-hard, regional rugby fans cannot get tickets to see Wales play, when businessmen do with ease?

Speaking to many rugby season ticket holders this week, it dawned on me that the real rugby fans, who go to watch their club/region week in, week out, are unable to get tickets for the big international games.

Meanwhile, you find tickets going on internet auction sites, and to businessmen with little or no idea about the game, or with even half the passion of your average regional fan.

Surely this isn't right.

The Current of ticket allocation allows season ticket holders first choice to a 6 Nations/Autumn Interntional match once every 20 matches or so. Its a random sample that get offered a ticket, and often they are not offered more than 1 or 2.

Isn't it about time the Worst Run Union came up with a scheme to allow these people a chance to go and see their nation battle it out in the best games. Well here's one idea for them.

As an approximation, there are around 20,000 season ticket holders with the Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, LLanelli Scarlets and Ospreys, under 1/3 the total size of Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. So why can't the WRU offer each and every season ticket holder a Welsh ticket a week prior to going on general release?

This would obviously ensure that ALL true rugby fans had a chance to get tickets, and the result of such a move would see a high rise in season ticket sales, with the 'part-time' supporters who make up the numbers during the big regional games, buying season tickets.

Of course you still have to take into account debenture holders and away fans allocation, but the idea in principle is near faultless.

It even avoids the sticky subject of ticket touting, as fans who were to buy their International tickets through this new scheme, would be asked to provide their season ticket with their match day passes for entry.

It is a simple idea, that would seek to boost regional season ticket numbers and provide fans a chance to see Wales in the 6 nations and Autumn Internationals. And it won't harm sales for the matches one bit, as any tickets left unsold after a week, would be put on general release sale with the remaining allocation.

For me this is a big issue, with an easy answer. It's win-win for the WRU and fans, so why haven't the top men at WRU HQ taken an idea like this into account?

I'd be really interested to hear your views on this, and if you see any flaws with this scheme i'd be only too pleased to hear them.

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