Season-ticket numbers pass 09/10 total

The extended Early Bird offer is running until this weekend, and with more than two weeks until Gloucester arrive at the Liberty Stadium for a pre-season fixture on Saturday 21st August (KO 2.30pm), the number of season-ticket holders is set to rise even higher, providing the Ospreys with the perfect boost ahead of the new campaign.

The Liberty Stadium Ticket Office reported that last season's total was passed last Friday, and Ospreys Managing Director Roger Blyth said that everybody at the region is delighted by the response from fans this summer:

"It's fantastic news" he said. "To have passed last year's final total already, when we are only at the start of August with a month to go until we get the new Magners League season underway, is a fantastic achievement and a real sign of the progress we made last year. We had a fantastic end to the season, and that has created a sense of excitement around the place. The momentum we saw building on the pitch over the final weeks of the season has continued over the summer and we are delighted to be in a position where we know that we will be kicking off next season with more season-ticket holders than we had last season.

"To have achieved this at a time when there is still considerable economic uncertainty, particularly in this area, make it all the more satisfying. We have made sure that the packages available are affordable for everyone, keeping costs low despite the additional two home games this season, and I think we've been rewarded for that foresight.

"Season-tickets offer incredible value for money, with Category C tickets working out at just £9.70 game instead of paying £20 on a match-by-match basis, and I don't think anyone could argue that to see top flight rugby and some of the best players in the world game for under £10 a game is incredible value for money.

"They are a worthwhile investment even if you know now that you won't be able to get to every game. Using Category C prices as an example, if you only manage to get to see nine games over a season, paying matchday prices would cost you £180 - £15 more than a season-ticket bought before the Early Bird Deadline this weekend, which gives you the added convenience of having your seat secured for all our big matches, as well as entry into a special prize draw and the full range of extended benefits for season-ticket holders. I'd say that you can't afford not to be a season-ticket holder."

Adult season-tickets start at just £165, with OAP's and students paying just £125, when purchased before the Early Bird deadline on Saturday 7th August.

With the introduction of Benetton Treviso and Aironi to the Magners League for next season, the package offers better value for money than ever. Season-tickets cover 11 Magners League fixtures in the regular season (not play-offs), Heineken Cup and LV= Cup pool stages and a pre-season friendly.

Additional benefits include free entry to all age-grade fixtures stages within Ospreylia, priority access to tickets for away matches and any knock-out games in the Magners League or Heineken Cup, as well as 10 per cent discount on all Ospreys merchandise purchased at the Ospreys Superstore and 10 per cent discount on additional tickets purchased for non-knock-out fixtures at the Liberty Stadium.

Under the terms of the Introduce-A-Friend initiative, any existing season ticket holder who introduces a friend who has never previously held a season ticket, will receive a 25 per cent discount on the price they pay. That discount rises to 50 per cent when two friends are introduced, and an incredible 100 per cent for three introductions, meaning that existing season ticket holders then get to experience top flight rugby without paying a single penny.

Fans can now take advantage of a special Ospreys payment plan to spread the cost of a season-ticket over 10 monthly instalments, for as little as under £18 per month. For full details of our season-ticket packages, please see www.ospreysrugby.com.