All Blacks tell Wales: We’re still coming OK
WALES’ money-spinning clash against the All Blacks will go ahead at the end of October after the New Zealand union said they would not be following the country’s Rugby League side which cited Covid fears when last week pulling out of the autumn World Cup in England along with Australia.
That decision was followed by the New Zealand government suspending the trans-Tasman travel bubble for two months from last Friday, prompting concerns for the upcoming Rugby Championship and the
Bledisloe Cup matches against Australia.
The Welsh Rugby Union contacted their New Zealand counterpart to check whether the All Blacks’ tour to Europe in November – they start in Cardiff before travelling to Italy, Ireland and France – was in doubt and were told it was as certain as anything could be at a time of Covid.
The October 30 match in Cardiff has been arranged outside the official Test window so New Zealand will receive a seven-figure fee for turning up while the WRU, hit hard financially by the pandemic, will gross more than £10m if the match is the expected 74,500 sell-out.
Tickets go on sale to the public on August 12, along with those for Wales’ other three matches in the autumn campaign against South Africa, Fiji and Australia.
The All Blacks are the draw card, despite the Springboks being the World Cup holders, with tickets up to 45 per cent higher across all categories than those for South Africa and the
Wallabies, with significant concessions for children.
The crowd limit for Wales’ three Tests at the Principality Stadium this summer was pegged at 8,200 because of the social distancing requirements, but that is set to change next month and the WRU is preparing to cater for sell-out crowds.
The Union announced a loss of more than £5m last year and their finances have not improved since then with the Autumn Nations Cup and Home Championship matches last season played behind closed doors, although it will be receiving a windfall after CVC bought a stake in the Six Nations.
The Union last year took out a £20m loan to fund their four regions, who have to repay the debt, and chief executive Steve Phillips said earlier this year:
“The majority of the CVC money will be needed to cover the future drop-off in income, via investment in capital projects.”
Which is why the Welsh Rugby Union cannot afford the All Blacks to stay at home.