Wru Refuses Canada Slice Of Ticket Sales
The Welsh Rugby Union has reportedly turned down Canada’s request for a percentage of tickets sold during their friendly at Millennium Stadium.
Canada, which is making efforts to increase the standard of domestic rugby competition, had allegedly asked for 50p for every ticket sold at their game against Wales. With an expected 50,000 tickets to be sold, the total would have amounted to a little more than £25,000.
The WRU, who announced a record turnover this year, is expected to gross £17m from the four internationals played in Cardiff this month. The governing body has also reportedly been granted £70,000 from a special International Rugby Board fund set up to help developing rugby nations such as Canada.
While Wales is touring Canada next summer on the Canada Rugby Union’s bill, Canada’s coach Kieran Crowley has expressed the challenges of raising the standard of the sport in his country. The mission may become even more difficult, as New Zealand recently suggested that countries schedule their own tours, rather than allowing the IRB to do it, which would increase revenue. That would mean countries such as Canada and Pacific Islanders (whose financial please also reportedly went unanswered when they played England at Twickenham) would struggle to find meaningful matches outside World Cups.
