Sport
Clubs can re-sell Wales tickets with new scheme
THE WELSH RUGBY UNION and Ticketmaster, a Live Nation Entertainment company, have recently launched an initiative to create an official secondary market of international ticket sales by member clubs and the public to supporters.
The WRU has agreed the terms of a ground-breaking new deal, appointing Ticketmaster’s resale business, Seatwave, as the official ticket resale marketplace of rugby tickets for Welsh international matches at Principality Stadium – with more details and access to tickets available here: http://www. seatwave.com/wru
Under the terms of the arrangement the WRU will allow a limited number of tickets to be resold above face value by clubs via Seatwave, with clubs then allowed to retain any extra money raised through the sales.
There will be no restrictions placed on debenture holders, supporters’ club members or members of the public when reselling tickets via Seatwave, but all parties will benefit from the verification process on offer.
The WRU and Seatwave will seek to advise on pricing providing guidance to clubs and sellers over the prices to be charged, communicating average listing and selling prices.
The tickets resold will be verified by the Union and then re-issued to the buyer via the WRU Ticket Office. This verification process will ensure ticket buyers can be as confident buying resold tickets on the official marketplace as buying a ticket direct from the WRU.
Also under the terms of the arrangement all supporters will be informed, at the point of sale, of face value tickets if they are available.
As part of the agreement, the WRU, which allocated more than £22m back into Welsh rugby in the last financial year, has agreed that Ticketmaster will invest in the game in Wales.
The WRU has presented details of the new secondary market to member clubs through the district committees and the WRU Board has approved the initiative.
“Within the spirit of the new arrangement the WRU will actively promote the means of obtaining face value tickets so that they are always offered to customers if available,” said Craig Maxwell, WRU Group Head of Sales and Marketing.
“It remains the priority of the WRU to encourage supporters to obtain tickets directly from their local club at face value.
“However, we have chosen to review our position on the use of a secondary market for selling tickets following many years of trying to regulate secondary ticketing sites.
“In this time many sporting bodies have actually seen an increase in the use of secondary ticketing and supporters of the WRU and clubs have been and are continuing to use the secondary market to obtain tickets for Welsh international matches.
“The WRU have taken the decision to follow supporter demands and provide a service that is clearly being used already, but with the guaranteed safety and security for the ticket purchaser that only the WRU can offer.
“Supporters know that when they are using Seatwave, the tickets are genuine and they are guaranteed to see the match.
“We are pleased to be able to work with Ticketmaster, our long-standing ticketing partner, to offer a safe and secure secondary marketplace with an integrated verification process.
“This new arrangement seeks to protect supporters and promote our clubs as the primary sources for tickets to Welsh rugby matches and ensuring further investment into community clubs.”
Commenting on the agreement, Adam Newsam, Managing Director of Ticketmaster Sport, said: “This is a unique partnership that will benefit Welsh rugby, clubs and fans alike, as well as the grass-roots game.
“It’s a credit to the WRU that they have actively engaged with resale recognising the growing demand among fans to buy and sell tickets with confidence.
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with the WRU on this innovative market-based response to the challenges and opportunities around ticket resale.
“Their fans will be offered greater choice, flexibility and protection, whilst at the same time the WRU will obtain a greater level of insight and influence on the ticket resale sector for their matches.
“This forward-looking approach to ticket resale will deliver real benefits for the game, and keeps the revenue within the sport and will eradicate the risk of fraud for verified ticket sales.”
Welsh Rugby fans can access the official ticket resale platform online at http://www.seatwave.com/wru. For more information, fans should follow Welsh Rugby Union and Seatwave on social media.
Sport
South-West Wales Athletes Aiming to Shine at the Summer Olympics
Two of the finest athletes in south-west Wales are dreaming about bringing home medals from the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Track cyclist Emma Finucane and sailing star Micky Beckett will head to France in a buoyant mood after enjoying a successful build-up to their respective events.
Welsh athletes collected a record-equalling 11 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games and hopes are high that the tally could be beaten this year.
The Carmarthen-born rider cemented her rapid rise up the sprint ranks by winning a gold medal at the 2023 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.
She became Great Britain’s first women’s sprint world champion since Becky James in 2013 and is now on track to chase more medals at the Olympics across three events.
The 21-year-old has yearned to compete at the Summer Games since watching Team GB sparkle at London 2012 and she is eager to make her mark this summer.
“It’s a massive dream of mine and it’s pretty cool that I’m kind of living my dream,” Finucane said. “I’m just trying to enjoy the journey and hopefully I’ll get selected and compete for my country.
“And it’s exciting because as the Team GB women’s sprint. I feel like we’re in a really good place to do well at the Olympics, not just compete as Olympians.”
Pembrokeshire-born sailor Beckett will also head to Paris with his sights firmly set on winning gold in the hugely competitive ILCA 7 class.
He will renew rivalries with Australian Matt Wearn, who controversially claimed the World Championship title ahead of Hermann Tomasgaard and Beckett earlier this year.
Online bookmakers rate Wearn as the favourite to emerge victorious this summer, but Beckett’s recent form gives him every chance of turning the tables.
Several new sports betting sites in Australia cut the Welsh sailor’s Olympic odds after he completed a trio of World Cup successes at a recent event in Palma.
Beckett believes the hard work he has done over the past few months gives him every chance of toppling Wearn when the action gets underway this summer.
“There is still plenty of work to do and managing form is probably the most important thing of any athlete’s job,” Beckett said. “There is no point being the best in the world unless you are the best in the world when it counts.
Sport
Kilgetty and Carew Share Spoils in End-of-Season Showdown
In the picturesque setting of Kilgetty, under the soft glow of the evening sun, local football fans were treated to an enticing clash between Kilgetty and Carew in the Pembrokeshire League Division 1. With the season winding down, both sides took to the pitch amidst numerous squad rotations, following a hectic week of multiple fixtures.
The match kicked off in a leisurely pace, resembling more of an end-of-season friendly than a fierce competition. Kilgetty seized the early initiative, with the trio of Josh Bevan, Richard Tebbut, and Richard Cope causing headaches for the Carew defense, skillfully led by Gareth Lewis. It was Jac Waters who broke the deadlock for the home side, putting Kilgetty ahead 1-0 as the first half came to a close.
However, Carew emerged revitalised after the break, with Jonty Bennett, James Hinchcliffe, and Zac Rowell putting in the hard yards to level the score. The introduction of Harvey Drummond for the ineffective Sam Christopher added further depth to Carew’s attacking prowess, culminating in an equaliser courtesy of the excellent Hinchcliffe.
As tensions rose, the game took on a newfound intensity, marked by needless bookings, after a clearly offside goal and a few heated moments on the field. Despite the fatigue evident from their recent fixture congestion, both teams showcased their competitive spirit, treating the fans to an entertaining second half.
In the end, neither side could break the deadlock, with Kilgetty and Carew having to settle for a well-fought 1-1 draw. While neither team was at their absolute best, the match provided a fitting conclusion to their respective seasons.
Sport
The stage is set – Senior Cup Final
It’s the time of the year again, Saturday see’s Bridge Meadow host the senior cup final. The sun has been shining and both teams will be dying to get on the pitch. This year the final will be contested by Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road.
League champions Goodwick will go into the final as favourites, and most around the county expect a Goodwick win. It has been an outstanding season for Goodwick however cup success has evaded them so far. Clarbeston Road have impressed everyone this season and really deserve their place in this years final.
Neill Crawshaw will referee the game, with Tudor Walters and Stefan Jenkins running the line.
There will be a unique contest on the pitch as brothers Will Haworth and Laurie Haworth come face to face on opposing teams. Adrian their father was a great player in the county, and played in many cup finals himself.
The stage is set, Clarby will feel less pressure than Goodwick and will be a threat with Haworth, John and Davies in attack. Meanwhile Goodwick are also blessed with quality players in every department, there is no weak link in O’Sullivans team. Cup football and finals in particular never go as people predict. On paper Goodwick are firm favourites, Clarbeston Road will be happy the game will be played on grass though and not paper, anything can happen! Hopefully it’ll be a good crowd down at the Meadow for the show piece of Pembrokeshire football.
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