Match tickets for the pre-season fixture against Bath at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday 18th August have gone on sale today.
It will be the first chance for Ospreys supporters to see their heroes in action following their PRO12 Final win over Leinster in Dublin at the end of May, and with record season membership figures in excess of 8,600 already sold, the first bumper crowd of 2012/13 is guaranteed.
The Aviva Premiership team will bring a squad packed with familiar faces, providing a stern test for Steve Tandy’s men as they step up their preparations for the forthcoming campaigning.
Among those likely to feature at the Liberty are 2011 Rugby World Cup winner Stephen Donald, who kicked the winning penalty in last year’s final for New Zealand. He should be joined by the likes of England internationals Dan Hipkiss, Sam Vesty, Olly Barkley, Matt Banahan and Lee Mears, as well as summer signings such as Argentina wing Horacio Aguila and ex-Scarlets lock Dominic Day. The game will also provide an early return to Ospreylia for Paul James who moved to Bath following the region’s PRO12 Final win in Dublin at the end of May.
The fixture comes eight days after the Ospreys face French giants Clermont Auvergne, a game which is the culmination of a four day training camp in the picturesque town of Issoire, part of the Puy-de-Dome area.
The game is covered by the 2012/13 season membership while match tickets are available to purchase now, with all accompanied child tickets in standard seating areas costing just £5.
Ospreys skipper Alun Wyn Jones said he is looking forward to returning home to the Liberty Stadium for the game:
“It should be a fantastic family day out. It’s 3.00pm on a Saturday afternoon, a great time for a visit to the rugby as a family.
“It seems such a long time since we played here last in that fantastic PRO12 semi-final against Munster when the crowd created such a wonderful atmosphere. After going to Leinster for the final we’re all excited about coming back home to the Liberty to our own fans, and enjoying playing in front of an Ospreylian crowd.
“With almost 9,000 season memberships for next season already we’re all buzzing as we know we are going to get big crowds and atmospheres to match it week-in week-out. This Saturday afternoon game against Bath is the perfect way to kick-start 2012/13.”
You can buy your tickets for the game now at the Liberty Stadium Ticket Office, online at www.ospreysrugby.com/buytickets or via the Ticket Hotline on 0844 815 6665.
Alternatively, why not take advantage of our fantastic season membership package and join the record number of Ospreys fans who have committed ahead of 2012/13? With adult memberships starting at just £185, for 17 home games including all 11 RaboDirect PRO12 regular season fixtures and three Heineken Cup Pool matches including up to four free children plus for the first time ever an incredible buy one, get one free deal, if you love the Ospreys can you really afford not to be part of the cause this season? For more details on our season memberships click here.