Warrington ready for international giants
Sports fans will have Warrington on their minds when the biggest rugby match of the weekend takes place in the Southern Hemisphere on Sunday, according to RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood.
While much of the media will focus on events in New Zealand, the most exciting 80 minutes of high speed, free-flowing, skilful ball handling will take place across the Tasman Sea in Newcastle where Australia and New Zealand do battle in a dress rehearsal for their Gillette Four Nations match at The Halliwell Jones Stadium later this month.
“It’s a huge weekend for rugby fans of both codes but I know many people’s eyes will not be on the World Cup semi-final but on the warm up game between Australia and the reigning World champions, New Zealand,” said Wood.
“These games are always special and fans in this country rarely get to see them: that won’t be the case the next time because Australia and New Zealand are coming to Warrington on October 28.”
The trans-Tasman test will be shown live on Sky Sports 2 at 6.00am on Sunday and will give fans a chance to watch some of the greatest players in the world and get a taste for what will be seen at Warrington in three weeks time.
With the likes of talismanic leaders Benji Marshall and Darren Lockyer set to clash head-to-head in the Australian captain’s last ever home test and with other stars such as Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Jason Nightingale and Nathan Fien in action, Sunday’s game is set to be an enthralling encounter.
“There will be no holds barred this weekend because neither country will want to board a plane having lost,” said Wood. “Clearly one of them has to lose and that can only make the rematch in a little over two weeks’ time even more mouth-watering.
“Rugby fans have not been slow on the uptake and we have experienced hot demand for tickets since The Halliwell Jones Stadium was confirmed as host venue: my advice to anyone who doesn’t want to miss out on seeing this sensational fixture is to move quickly to purchase their ticket.”
Tickets for the 2011 Gillette Four Nations fixture, Australia v New Zealand at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, on Friday October 28 (8.00pm) cost from just £10 standing and £15 seating and are available by calling the RFL Ticket Office on 0844 856 1113 or by visiting www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk