New venue for Wales v England.

[druzik]

From welsh Rabbitoh at another forum

Wales will face England in a one off international match on Saturday 17th October at The Gnoll,the home of Neath Rugby union club in South Wales.The Gnoll which has a capacity of 7387 is a joint Rugby,Soccer,cricket stadium that no longer stages first class rugby union matches. The game was originally scheduled for Newport but once again the union authorities saw to it that the game wasn t permitted use of the ground.

 

[cumberlandsashes81]

Is there some reason they aren't playing it at Brewery Field?

 

[kiwileaguefan]

You would think with the ammount of England supporters that will come down, the ground will not be big enough?

 

[Evil Homer]

So instead they play it at a ground with smaller capacity?

No, there's just no obligation to play it at Brewery Field. They get plenty of top class RL matches a year, Neath gets none.

 

[jim_57]

Would have liked to see it at a 10-15k stadium, although this way I imagine it will sell out or go very close.

Still very nice to see the fixture becoming annual, and even nicer seeing new areas of Wales get the game.

 

[druzik]

Is there some reason they aren't playing it at Brewery Field?

Brewery will have 4 internationals this year anyway.

Wales v Ireland in the Euro cup and the final, 3/4 and 5/6 games in the Euro cup also with a big festival of League there.

I think Its good they are trying to spread it around a bit.

 

[druzik]

You would think with the ammount of England supporters that will come down, the ground will not be big enough?

Not sure that many will travel actually, not with the 4N for them to do as well this year.

I think if they can push the capacity to 8k it would be very nice, a full ground on TV should look great, and I hear the Gnoll is a very nice ground.

 

[druzik]

So instead they play it at a ground with smaller capacity?

No, there's just no obligation to play it at Brewery Field. They get plenty of top class RL matches a year, Neath gets none.

How much smaller si it than Brewery? I though Brewery was about 7-8k though I think for the lisence it was fudged uptio 10k.

 

[druzik]

Would have liked to see it at a 10-15k stadium, although this way I imagine it will sell out or go very close.

Still very nice to see the fixture becoming annual, and even nicer seeing new areas of Wales get the game.

Yes, they are looking at making this an annual event, switiching between countries each year... I hope that Wales may be able to get one more, maybe against France.

 

[jim_57]

Yes, they are looking at making this an annual event, switiching between countries each year... I hope that Wales may be able to get one more, maybe against France.

If France played Wales wouldn't it make sense to have all 3 teams compete for a trophy? we are only 1 game away from that. Although if you made it a tournament and put Wales in ahead of Ireland and Scotland there would be some complaining.

 

[druzik]

If France played Wales wouldn't it make sense to have all 3 teams compete for a trophy? we are only 1 game away from that. Although if you made it a tournament and put Wales in ahead of Ireland and Scotland there would be some complaining.

Well you could I guess, it could be something separate to the other ones. I only suggested france as this year they dont play them, but it could be a different team each year with england being the regular match.

Personally I still would prefer to see a European nations cup spread over 2 years with a proper qulifying process and finals hosted in a nation with 8 teams in the finals and engalnd and France competing with everyone.

Same as the Pac nations cup.

 

[druzik]

Plus I would hazzard a guess that france a looking for a warm up game this year before the 4N... so wales, or one of the Euro Cup teams would be very nice.

 

[jim_57]

Plus I would hazzard a guess that france a looking for a warm up game this year before the 4N... so wales, or one of the Euro Cup teams would be very nice.

In RLW I'm sure Goulding said he wanted to play 2 games before the 4N and something about trying Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

 

[Coastbloke]

If they wanted to play it in Wales and make the game credible couldn't they have tried to play it here:

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/united_kingdom/wales/llanelli_scarlets.shtml

or maybe here:

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/united_kingdom/wales/swansea_stadium.shtml

None of these are more than 20,000 capacity and surely the stadiums would be pleased with the chance to host a match along with catering and associated spending by fans...??

 

[cumberlandsashes81]

Brewery will have 4 internationals this year anyway.

Wales v Ireland in the Euro cup and the final, 3/4 and 5/6 games in the Euro cup also with a big festival of League there.

I think Its good they are trying to spread it around a bit.

Sounds fair enough. :thumn

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Yeah I dont really understand why the match isnt being played at a bigger stadium.

Sure its almost a guarenteed sell out because of the English fans that will head down there, but will that really be a good thing? Having a national side out numbered by another nations fans? I think A few years ago, Australia played Turkey in a Soccer match in Melbourne and there were more Turkish fans at the game, I remember for days that Australian Soccer had the reputation of not being supported by Australians. (now that we are considerably succesful, we get good crowds.)

If they want more Welsh fans to go to the game, why not offer a deal, if you buy a Welsh Jersey, you get in free, some sort of promotion that will get people into the game, have them leave the game with something of value and hopefully some of those jerseys will be worn out and about in Wales. You guys in the UK are renowned for taking gambles, id love to see something like this done. (Id also wouldnt mind seeing similar international progress down here as we do up in the NH.)

 

[druzik]

If they wanted to play it in Wales and make the game credible couldn't they have tried to play it here:

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/united_kingdom/wales/llanelli_scarlets.shtml

or maybe here:

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/united_kingdom/wales/swansea_stadium.shtml

None of these are more than 20,000 capacity and surely the stadiums would be pleased with the chance to host a match along with catering and associated spending by fans...??

Union stadiums... if they couldnt get Newport cause of Union, I am assuming that its close to the start of the Union season, then I can see the other stadiums getting a go ahead either. Plus I dont they would get close even filling 1/2 a 20k stadium. This was it will be a full 8k stadium that will look good on TV at least... which as I am led to belive is more important in the UK than how big the stadium is.

 

[druzik]

In RLW I'm sure Goulding said he wanted to play 2 games before the 4N and something about trying Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

Yes I just went back and read that. Good.