Sport
Judgement Day VI tickets on sale
JUDGEMENT DAY VI (JDVI) is on sale now and will be more accessible than ever before this season after a new partnership has been established for Welsh rugby with Amazon Tickets.
JDVI, the sixth annual regional double-header at Principality Stadium, has been confirmed for the afternoon of Saturday, April 28, (KOs 15.05 & 17:35), the final weekend of Guinness PRO14 Championship action before the knock-out stages.
Prices have been frozen again at £10-per-head for any seat in the ground at the derby day which sees the Dragons take on the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues face the Ospreys in back-to-back clashes in the capital.
The partnership with Amazon – who launched Amazon Tickets in the UK in 2015 to offer customers quick and easy booking, low and all-inclusive pricing and a trusted customer experience when booking tickets to the most popular and in demand music, theatre, comedy and live events across the UK – helps to further establish Judgement Day as a key event in the UK rugby calendar.
Cardiff’s Principality Stadium has had a magnificent year already, even by its own standards, with a sold-out Champions League Final and a world record indoor heavy-weight boxing crowd watching Anthony Joshua’s world title defence, just two of the highlights.
Welsh rugby is going from strength to strength too. The international side’s Under Armour Series is breaking records with two sell-outs on the cards (against New Zealand and Australia) this autumn.
There’s been healthy attendances at the four professional teams in both the Guinness PRO14 and European Rugby this season – with total attendances up by over 10,000 from the same point last season and crowds at this month’s popular Welsh derby contests also higher than last year.
Over 170,000 fans have attended Judgement Day across three years alone and a record attendance for any match involving a regional team was set in 2016 – when 68,262 watched the Ospreys beat the Blues 27-40, followed by a Scarlets’ 20-34 victory over the Dragons.
Last season Cardiff Blues triumphed over the Ospreys for the first time at the event 35-17 and the Dragons went down to their West Wales rivals a close-fought 16-21 in the second game of the day.
A major highlight of the Guinness PRO14 Championship season, Judgement Day will this year see the Scarlets and the Dragons kick off proceedings for the first time since year one (2013), on Saturday, April 28, (KO 15.05hrs).
The second fixture of the day sees the Blues take on the Ospreys (KO 17.35hrs), with supporters who buy before December 19, guaranteed to receive JDVI tickets ahead of Christmas Day (make sure you choose the Christmas post option on screen on completion of purchase).
“Judgement Day has become a must-see, must-visit fixture in the Welsh sporting calendar,” said WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips.
“It’s a true celebration of the very best of Welsh rugby when our international stars and their teammates come together under one roof to compete against each other in regional colours.
“It is a unique event which the players, coaches and supporters all look forward to in equal measure and we are set for another exciting day out at Principality Stadium on April 28.”
Tickets went on sale at 11am on Wednesday, November 1, and are available at Amazon tickets https://tickets.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0771RLK5R?ref_=aloc_wru_nov from www.wru.wales/tickets or via each of the four regions, prices are £10 for each seat in the ground with a £1-per-ticket online booking fee, as well as postage, payable at the time of purchase.
Season ticket holders for the Cardiff Blues and the Dragons should contact their respective ticket office to gain access to JDVI.
Mark Davies, Chief Executive of Pro Rugby Wales, which represents the four professional rugby teams said: “This season our double derby day at the national stadium will be the finale to the conference stages of the PRO14, so it will be an even bigger occasion for our rugby teams, players and supporters.
“The Judgement Day games will have so much on them with PRO14 Final series places or European Champions Cup play-off places potentially at stake – so critical for our teams and will be highly competitive rugby fixtures. Once again we are looking forward to this successful rugby spectacle in the capital which attracts wider audiences and one we are all proud to be a part of in partnership.”
Cardiff Blues coach, Danny Wilson said: “Derby matches are always the games we all look forward to in a season, but to finish the PRO14 fixtures with Judgement Day will be particularly exciting for all involved.”
Dragons coach Bernard Jackman, said: “It will be my first Judgement Day event, but I’ve heard great things. There is obviously a lot of rugby to be played between now and then but it’s an event we are all looking forward to.”
Sport
Letterston marksman wins junior athlete award
A TALENTED young athlete from Letterston has been honoured at the British Shooting Awards 2024.
Seren Thorne was shortlisted for the prestigious awards and attended the gala event held at the Imperial War Museum in Manchester. To the delight of her family and supporters, Seren was named the winner of the Rifle Pathway / Junior Athlete of the Year award.
This accolade highlights Seren’s exceptional skill and dedication to the sport, marking her as one of the rising stars in British shooting.
Her mother, Sian Thorne, expressed immense pride in Seren’s achievement, sharing photos of the memorable evening.
The British Shooting Awards 2024 celebrated excellence in the sport, with a full list of winners available on their official website.
PHOTO CAPTION: Champion marksman: Seren Thorne receiving the Rifle Pathway / Junior Athlete of the Year award (Pic: Supplied).
Sport
Previewing the 2025 Super Bowl
Each year millions of people across the world gather to watch one of the biggest sporting events of the year – the Super Bowl. Last year, 3.4 million people in the UK watched the Super Bowl, up 1.1 million from the previous year. Considering the growth in popularity of American football in the UK, we anticipate the viewership will be even higher for 2025.
The 2025 Super Bowl is scheduled to take place on 9 February 2025 at Caesars Superdrome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
NFL teams
12 teams began competing for a spot in the 2025 Super Bowl when the playoffs began on January 11. At this point, four teams were eliminated. This now leaves eight teams to compete in the Divisional playoffs. Four of these will make it to the Conference Championships before contesting for a spot at this year’s Super Bowl.
The eight teams left with a shot at competing in the 2025 Super Bowl are:
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Detroit Lions
- Houston Texans
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Rams
- Washington Commanders
Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs took the title for the second year in a row. However, the latest Super Bowl odds puts the Detroit Lions as the favourites to win this year’s Super Bowl, following a series of impressive performances in the regular season.
The national anthem and halftime show
Before the game commences, a special guest performs the national anthem. Last year, Reba McEntire offered a moving performance of The Star-Spangled Banner, and this year the task falls to jazz singer Jon Batiste.
It’s not just the football match that people look forward to. Super Bowl halftime shows are a spectacle in themselves and many look forward to the performance as much as the game itself. This year, 17-time grammy winner Kendrick Lamar is headlining the halftime show. Lamar previously headlined the Super Bowl in 2022.
How can I watch the Super Bowl in the UK?
The Super Bowl is being broadcast to fans free on ITV, including live online via ITVX on your laptop, mobile, or tablet.
Sky Sports is also broadcasting the event which you can watch online via Sky Go, NOW TV, or using the Sky Sports mobile app. You could also head to your local pub as plenty of pubs in Pembrokeshire will be showing the big game.
Will you be tuning in?
With a surge in popularity for American Football, it’s anticipated that more people from the UK than ever before will be turning their TVs on for the big event this year. Will you be watching this year’s Super Bowl?
Sport
Division Four West rugby: Thrills and tight contests on a chilly Saturday
Exciting matches, hard-fought battles, and standout performances define the weekend’s action.
Dreigiau Emlyn Edge Harlequins in Close Contest
Dreigiau Emlyn 21 – Pembroke Dock Harlequins 15
Dreigiau Emlyn secured a narrow victory over Pembroke Dock Harlequins, strengthening their position in the top half of the table. Gethin Davies scored two crucial tries, while Deiniol Rees added three penalties and a conversion to steer the hosts to victory. The Harlequins kept the game competitive with tries from Craig Barnett and Tom Donovan, with Ben Hathaway converting one and kicking a penalty. However, Emlyn’s composed performance ensured they held on for the win.
Teirw Crymych Outgun Llangwm in High-Scorer
Llangwm 22 – Teirw Crymych 33
Teirw Crymych powered to a 33-22 victory over bottom-placed Llangwm, bolstering their challenge for the league’s top spots. Sion Williams and Morgan Jones led the visitors’ try-scoring efforts, with additional tries from Sion Owen and Nick Bevan. Adam Phillips was reliable from the tee, adding four conversions. Llangwm fought back with tries from Aidan Rees and Ryan Banner, while Harry Makepeace contributed two conversions and a penalty. Despite their spirited display, the hosts couldn’t match Crymych’s attacking prowess.
St Davids Win Key Clash Against Llanybydder
Llanybydder 17 – St Davids 29
St Davids took a significant step away from the relegation zone with a vital 29-17 win over Llanybydder. Harvey Godkin, Nathan Foster, Zac Morgan, and Morgan Griffiths all crossed the whitewash for the visitors, with Bob Froy converting three and adding a penalty to secure a bonus-point victory. Llanybydder’s John Evans delivered an impressive hat-trick of tries, with one conversion by Matthew Rowlands, but St Davids’ all-round performance proved too much for the home side.
Division Four West continues to deliver thrilling rugby as teams battle for position in a tightly contested league.
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