Tickets go on sale this Monday (21st August) for Wales Rugby League’s World Cup qualifying campaign which kicks-off against Scotland at the Brewery Field on Sunday 29th October.

It is destined to be an exciting campaign for Wales as in addition to Scotland, they have been drawn in the European Qualifying Group A with Russia and will travel to Moscow for their second game a week later, before the fixtures are reversed at the end of the 2007 domestic season.

The winner of the group qualifies automatically for the World Cup Finals in Australia in 2008 while the runners-up will enter a “Repechage Round” with the runners-up of European Group B (Ireland, Lebanon or Georgia), the third-placed side in the Pacific Group (Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa or Tonga) and the winners of the Atlantic Group (West Indies, South Africa, USA and Japan). The winners only of the Repechage Round will also qualify for the Finals.

Wales Rugby League’s Executive Chairman Mark Rowley said: “This is an exciting time for Wales Rugby League as we approach our centenary year in 2007 and we would love to celebrate by qualifying for the World Cup Finals in Australia in 2008. However we have to get past Scotland and Russia first, neither of whom are strangers to Wales and know a lot about our style of rugby.

“The match against Scotland at the Brewery Field on Sunday 29th October is destined to be one of the biggest rugby league internationals to have ever hit South Wales. With the news that Iestyn Harris and Keiron Cunningham may at last pull on a Wales shirt once again, we’ve had enquiries about tickets already so we’re pleased to announce that tickets for this match go on sale this Monday.

“Once again, Wales Rugby League has showed that they are leading the way. We are the first country in Europe to make our tickets available for the autumn internationals.”

The tickets are on sale on Monday exclusively to the Wales Rugby League and Celtic Crusaders websites. Fans will also be able to order them in person at the Celtic Crusaders v Featherstone Rovers match on September 10th at the Brewery Field and at any home play-off games that the Crusaders may feature in. Ticket prices are £10 for adults, £5 for children and £20 for a family ticket of four (one adult and three children or two adults and two children). Go to www.cymrurl.com shop and click on the tickets link to buy.

The full World Cup qualifying fixtures in Wales’ group are:

• Scotland v Russia Oct. 21/22 2006
• Wales v Scotland Oct. 29 2006
• Russia v Wales Nov. 4/5 2006
• Wales v Russia Oct. 21 2007
• Russia v Scotland Oct.27/28 2007
• Scotland v Wales Nov. 3/4 2007

Wales have released a list of 49 players that they will be considering for selection for the World Cup qualifiers which includes Iestyn Harris, Keiron

Cunningham as well as 29 others who are affiliated with Super League or NRL clubs and four players from new Welsh side Celtic Crusaders. Rowley also commented that this is not a closed list and more players may be considered.

Both Harris and Cunningham have announced their retirements from Great Britain, Harris on May 10th and Cunningham just this weekend. Harris signaled then that he could appear for Wales in the World Cup series but at time of writing, he has still yet to confirm his availability to coach Martin Hall. Cunningham has also been approached to resurrect his Wales career. Cunningham last appeared for Wales in 2002 against New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium while Harris hasn’t played for the international rugby league side since the 2000 World Cup.

Rowley adds: “We will be speaking to all the players regarding their availabilities over the next few weeks. This includes Iestyn and Keiron. We want to get the strongest Wales squad out on the field as we’re determined to qualify for the Finals in 2008.

article by Ian Golden
20 August 2006