Source : WRU

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Fans snap up second ticket batch 19 October 2007, 3:32 pm By WRU The second batch of tickets for the Wales v South Africa Prince William Cup match were snapped up by fans within minutes of being offered for sale to the public at midday today (Friday 19th October). The tickets were sold within the first hour of being made available, in the same way as the first batch sold out last week - but Welsh Rugby Union officials reassured fans that more tickets will be placed on public sale the same time next Friday (12pm, 26th October 2007). Fans can receive an email alert of the next release of tickets for this match by visiting the Wales v South Africa page of www.ticketmaster.co.uk and registering their interest (visit www.wru.co.uk/pwctickets as a shortcut). Fans kept the 08705 582 582 Ticketmaster phone line busy from the stroke of midday today and the online service at www.ticketmaster.co.uk also received a flurry of orders. The release of tickets to the general public follows an offer of tickets to Welsh Rugby Union clubs and Debenture holders. The two teams will meet at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday 24th November 2007 (2.45pm) in the inaugural Prince William Cup match, the trophy commissioned to celebrate 100 years of fixtures between the two countries. The Cup will be contested whenever the teams play against each other in future outside the Rugby World Cup competition. Prince William, who is the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, will attend the game at the Millennium Stadium and a series of events will be staged in and around the stadium to celebrate the launch of the Prince William Cup. Tickets for the international are priced at £20, £40, £45, £50 and £60. Visit the Wales v South Africa page of www.ticketmaster.co.uk to sign up to receive an email alert of the next release of tickets for this match (or shortcut www.wru.co.uk/pwctickets).

On s'arrache les tickets!

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World Cup final 'win, win scenario' for Wales 16 October 2007, 3:14 pm By WRU Wales Coach Nigel Davies says the Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa on Saturday is a win, win situation for his squad. Davies is preparing for Wales's clash with the Springboks in the Prince William Cup match at the Millennium Stadium on November 24th (2.45 pm kick-off) and welcomes the possibility that he will be tested against the reigning world champions. And if England pull off the historic feat of retaining the William Webb Ellis trophy, Davies will be straight on the phone to congratulate Brian Ashton and thank him for proving what can be done. "We have mixed feelings as it would be nice to be saying that we are playing the world champions next month and getting a real opportunity to test ourselves against the best team on the planet at that given time," said Davies. "But we would also be the first to congratulate England if they retain the World Cup and we would be thanking them for showing us that South Africa are beatable. "In either scenario we won't have any trouble getting the players up for the game. Even if they aren't the world champions we will be playing the quarter-final that never was. "As a back room staff we did our homework on South Africa before we were knocked out by Fiji. Much of the legwork has been done and it is a game we should have played at the World Cup, but at least we get a chance to play it now. "We'll be in front of our home fans and it's an excellent opportunity to show some real pride and unity so we'll be itching to beat them." While the eyes of the world will be on television screens watching the final in Paris on Saturday, Davies is leaving nothing to chance and Wales are sending two spies from their camp to the French capital to make sure they don't miss a trick in their preparation. "We are sending a couple of our backroom staff over there to check the game out," added Davies. "It's a cup final, so it may be that we don't learn too much, but we thought it important to have a presence. "It's not an official visit and the boys will be incognito and just blending in as part of the crowd, though I don't think they have yet decided whether they are going to wear green or white!"

Ca chauffe! Ca chauffe!

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15h45 pour l'horaire heure française d'après la WRU

Ce seront bien les vainqueurs de la CM qui seront à Cardiff, à part peut-être Os du Randt et un ou deux blessés. Les Gallois sont remontés comme des pendules (et moi donc!)

Rappelons que ce sera aussi la première levée de la Prince William Cup, trophée qui sera par la suite mis en jeu à chaque match entre les deux équipes (même principe que la Bledisloe Cup entre les Aussies et les Kiwis, ou la Calcutta Cup, parfois "un peu" cabossée, entre les Ecossais et les Anglais)


Springboks pledge to bring World Cup stars to Wales
26 October 2007, 9:27 pm
By WRU

South Africa have shown Wales the ultimate rugby respect and will name virtually the whole of their Rugby World Cup winning team for the Prince William Cup clash.
Almost all of the big name stars who lifted the Webb Ellis Cup by defeating England in Paris last weekend will be coming to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
That means the Springboks' world class stars, such as newly crowned IRB Player of the Year Bryan Habana and Man of the Match from the final Victor Matfield, are expected to line up against Wales.

The Springboks captain and hooker John Smit has committed along with the likes of flanker Schalk Burger, young centre sensation Francois Steyn and scrum half Fourie Du Preez.

The pledge to send the World Cup superstars to Wales was given to Welsh Rugby Union Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis by the South Africa Rugby National Team's Manager Andy Marinos.

It will be the first game for the World Champions since they won the Paris final and thousands of South African fans are expected to travel to Wales to salute their heroes.

Wales Caretaker Coach Nigel Davies said, "This is great news but it is no less than we expected. South Africa are not going to want to come to Cardiff and lose their first game after becoming World Champions. They will want to make a show of it and come here and beat us.

"They are obviously a magnificent team, they are world number one and are brimming with world class players. The likes of Burger, Du Preez, Habana and the impressive Steyn are the spine of their team and we fully expect a tough day at the office at the Millennium Stadium next month.

"Nothing will change in our focus or in our preparation for this match. In the last five or six months we have beaten teams well ahead of us in the world rankings. This is a great opportunity for everyone involved in the team to test ourselves against the best team in the world at the moment.

"We know we are capable of beating any team on our day and with the hard work in place we have the chance now to right any of the wrongs that may have gone on before."

The pledge to bring the World Cup stars to Wales will focus minds of Welsh players this weekend as Nigel Davies and his coaching team travel to all the big games scouting for the in-form contenders.

Nigel Davies is at Cardiff Arms Park tonight (Friday) for the Blues' opening EDF Energy Cup game against Sale Sharks while Wales coaches will be at every key match involving Welsh sides this weekend.

Welsh Rugby Union Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis said, "This confirmation that the World Cup winning players are coming to Wales is great news for our fans.

"There can be no greater challenge than taking on the World Champions and there can be few greater honours than facing them in their first game after lifting the trophy.

"The Springboks will want to put on a show to celebrate their achievements in front of their adoring fans and we will want to prove a big point by winning and lifting the Prince William Cup.

"Top class sport is all about that extra edge and now this game will attract the eyes of the world onto the Millennium Stadium. We know South Africa will want to show they are worthy of the Webb Ellis Cup and we know our boys will want to prove just how good they are."

The only confirmed omissions from the South Africa squad are Os Du Randt, Gary Botha and Ashwin Willemse. The Springbok squad are still waiting for an injury assessment on Percy Montgomery before confirming his presence.