In the wake of a Six Nations tournament which was played in empty stadiums, and amidst speculation about whether the British and Irish Lions will be permitted to tour South Africa, it is understandable that sports fans have been looking ahead to the Autumn Internationals.
These exciting test fixtures are never short of drama and give many Northern Hemisphere fans a rare opportunity to see the best Southern Hemisphere sides playing outside of their comfort zone. Unfortunately, this annual touring tournament was overcast by the Coronavirus shadow for much of the last year, but the Welsh national side is now bucking the trend.
Wales last week announced a thrilling list of 2021 fixtures, to be played in front of fans at the Principality (Millennium) Stadium in Cardiff.
First up will be the indomitable All Blacks, New Zealand, in a game fans simply won’t want to miss. The All Blacks are one of the most talented teams ever, so when they come to town on 30 October it is guaranteed to be a momentous event.
General sale tickets for the New Zealand match are expected to start at £40. Furthermore, for this fixture and all the games in the series, under-17s will qualify for half-price tickets, meaning a family of 4 could see the All Blacks for just £120! If you’re after something that bit more luxurious, then special hospitality options are going on sale this week, so be sure to check out each fixture for more information.
Current World Cup holders South Africa will be the next team to take on Wales on 6 November, followed by Fiji on 14 November. Playing 2 Southern Hemisphere sides of such a high calibre back-to-back will be a herculean task for Wales, especially because South Africa and Fiji offer such conflicting styles of rugby.
The Springboks’ attritional, big-hitting tactics will push the home pack to its limits, whilst Fiji’s fearless pace will require Wales’ speedier stars, such as Liam Williams and Louis Rees-Zammit, to be on the top of their game. It will be testing for the players, but it should make great entertainment for the fans! Tickets for these 2 games are expected to start at £25 and £10, respectively.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, Wales’ final Autumn game will be against Australia, with ticket prices expected to start from £25. The Welsh side comes into these fixtures looking for a third victory in a row against their opponents. The Wallabies do not lose easily however – expect this final match to have an extra-special edge to it!
Although we are still waiting on an official announcement regarding spectator capacity and the opening of general ticket sales, the signs are so far positive, with hospitality packages confirmed to go on sale. Another vote of confidence comes courtesy of the Principality Stadium’s new ticketing app; quicker, queue-free entry will be pioneered by the new software, and track-and-trace data is also managed automatically. These Autumn fixtures have evidently been scheduled with safety in mind, as well as value for money and unbeatable excitement!