WRU PRESS RELEASE
Issued: 07 September 2009
STADIUM CELEBRATES 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSIARY WITH SPECIAL TICKET GIVEAWAY
Welsh rugby bosses are offering free family tickets to Wales' Invesco Perpetual Series clash with Samoa this November to all 10-year-olds born on the Millennium Stadium's official opening day in 1999 or the opening day of the Rugby World Cup that same year.
Wales recorded a 29-19 victory over South Africa on the 26th of June 1999 in front of a part capacity crowd at the first Millennium Stadium as construction workers raced to be ready for the RWC.
And just over 10 year ago, October 1st 1999, the 74,500 capacity Millennium Stadium then revealed itself to the world as the finished article it is today when Wales kicked off rugby's flagship tournament with a 23-18 victory over Argentina.
As part of its celebrations for a decade of sport at Cardiff's national ground the WRU is offering a free, four-person, family ticket to the Samoa match on Friday 13 November, to any child born on either of these landmark occasions.
Two Welsh rugby players now competing at a senior level in the game also have a special reason for celebrating a decade of sport at the Millennium Stadium.
Cardiff Blues academy player Scott Andrews and Cardiff RFC's Ashley Sweet to name just two, started their links with top class rugby as flag bearers, alongside many District Under 11 players throughout the competition.
"I remember it well. I was really nervous, waiting in the bottom corner of the ground to walk out onto the pitch with my flag to take part in the opening ceremony," said prop Andrews who has since moved up through the age groups and just finished his second season as an U20s international.
"We had practiced what we had to do in the weeks before but I was very scared walking out in front of 70,000 plus people with cameras flashing and people cheering.
"I know I pinched a piece of grass at the time and took it home for my granddad to grow it for me."
Sweet, currently a second row with Cardiff rugby club, has himself played in two Rugby World Cups at age grade level and remembers the opening ceremony in '99 as a moment of inspiration.
"We were very young but the atmosphere made the biggest impression on me," added Sweet.
"To see the professional players competing on the world stage like that at the World Cup was the best inspiration for me and is something that I have never forgotten.
"I've been to two age grade tournaments myself now and am hoping to make the step up to professional rugby if I'm good enough and obviously the ultimate aim would be to complete the journey and play in a senior world cup, but it all starts with that moment of inspiration."
The young flag bearers at the RWC in 1999 to have successfully progressed through the regional and international player pathways include Jason Tovey, then an Islwyn Under 11 player, now a regular in the professional Dragons side who carried the USA flag at the closing ceremony.
Andrews and Justin Tipuric, Wales Under 20 captains last season, were Pontypridd and Swansea Schools Under 11 players 10 years ago and carried the Tonga and Ireland flags respectively.
Rhys Williams, Pontypridd and Blues academy hooker, and Cardiff lock Sweet who played for Cynon Valley and Pontypool Schools then were flag bearers for South Africa and Fiji.
To claim the free family ticket for Wales v Samoa on Friday 13 November (7.30pm) the relevant child must have been born on either June 26 1999 (the day of the Millennium Stadium's opening game between Wales and South Africa) or October 1 1999, the day of the opening game of Rugby World Cup 99 between Wales and Argentina.
Families should send a photocopy of the relevant child's birth certificate by email on garethd@wru.co.uk or by post to Gareth Davies, WRU Ticketing, Millennium Stadium, Westgate Street, Cardiff CF10 1NS or fax: 02920 822474.
Tickets for Invesco Perpetual Series matches are still available. Call 08442 777888.
To see video footage of Scott Andrews and Ashley Sweet talking about their memories of walking out on the Millennium Stadium pitch, and of the inspiration they got from their RWC 1999 experiences go to wru.co.uk
