Scarlets crowd passes 16,000

Ospreys Chief Operations Officer, Andrew Hore, said:

"This is always the biggest game of the year in the fan's eyes, the traditional Christmas derby fixture against our closest rivals, and demand for tickets is always high.

"More than 16,000 tickets have already been snapped up and the expectation is that the remaining tickets will all go ahead of Boxing Day so if anyone wants to be there for the game then they need to get their tickets now."

The Ospreys have enjoyed an unbeaten run in the festive sell-out games against the Scarles at the Liberty Stadium. In 2006 they romped to a 50-24 win, before a much closer affair in 2008, the hosts securing a 20-6 victory. Two years ago though it was a different story as the Ospreys ran in seven tries on their way to a record win over their local rivals, the game ending 60-17. The Ospreys have tasted defeat just once in five years against the Scarlets, with the region winning seven and drawing one in the last nine derby fixtures between the two teams.

Hore's words were echoed by stand-in Ospreys skipper, Kahn Fotuali'i, who is looking forward to savouring his first experience of the Boxing Day atmosphere at the Liberty Stadium:

"The boys have all told me about how great the atmosphere and that it's a really special occasion" he said.

"I played down their place last Boxing Day and got a taste of it but I'm really looking forward to hopefully being involved in front of a sellout crowd at the Liberty this Boxing Day and enjoying what should be a fantastic atmosphere. Our fans have been great since I came here but to be part of a 20,000 crowd, with the passion that the local derby generates will be fantastic. It looks as though we'll have a full house so anyone without a ticket needs to act quickly.

"It'll be great to see the Liberty packed out and blacked out."

Tickets for the match remain available to buy at the Liberty Stadium Ticket Office, online at www.ospreysrugby.com/buytickets or via the Ticket Hotline on 0844 8156665.