As the RaboDirect PRO12 reaches the business end, Ospreys bosses have moved to reward their loyal season-ticket holders by offering them a free ticket to the final two home fixtures, allowing them to bring a friend to help cheer on the region in the battle for the play-offs.
Benetton Treviso (Saturday 31st March) and Newport Gwent Dragons (Friday 20th April) are the visitors for the remaining games at the Liberty Stadium in the regular season as the Ospreys look to secure a home semi-final in May, and Chief Operations Officer Andrew Hore is hoping that a bumper crowd will help the team towards its goal.
“It’s getting very tight in the race for the play-offs so it’s vitally important that we win our two final home games” said Hore.
“Coming off the back off a successful Six Nations where 11 of our players have been involved, playing in front of big, passionate crowds, they will be coming back to Ospreylia ready to help their region towards our third consecutive play-off spot. We want to have a packed out, blacked out Liberty Stadium to welcome them home, and then to back them all the way to the semi-finals.
“When you get to this stage of the season, the difference between success and failure can be the finest of margins, and if we’ve got a loud, proud and large Ospreylian crowd here then they can help make all the difference.
“Our season-ticket holders are our biggest asset as a business. They put their money into the organisation every summer and back their region with a passion, so we wanted to reward them as the season reached an exciting conclusion, by giving them the opportunity to introduce a friend or family member to the Ospreys, and live rugby, at these two big games.
“With the buzz surrounding Welsh rugby thanks to the national team’s achievements at the World Cup in New Zealand earlier this season and over the last six weeks or so, I’ve no doubt that there’ll be no shortage of rugby fans eager to come and see some of the stars of the Welsh team in action for the Ospreys.”
Under the terms of the offer, all season-ticket holders are entitled to a free match-ticket for both games, upon production of their season-ticket at the Ticket Office. The free ticket must be the same category as the season-ticket in question, or alternatively, you can pay the extra for an upgrade. Free child season-ticket holders can claim an additional free child ticket only.
As well as being crucial games in terms of play-off qualification they are both special occasions in themselves, with the Ospreys welcoming Adam Jones back to the Liberty for the first time since he signed a new two-year contract last month for the Treviso game, while the Dragons match has been confirmed as Shane Williams’ final home game before he retires from professional rugby at the end of the season to take up an ambassadorial post with the region. Hore believes the season-ticket holder initiative, in conjunction with a special kids go free offer unveiled on Thursday, will ensure that both players, and the rest of their Ospreys colleagues, will get the backing they need for these important games:
“Adam and Shane are true Ospreys legends and it’s only right that we do all we can to ensure their service is duly recognised. Adam is one of the most sought after players in world rugby but opted to stay with his home region, while Shane’s record with both the Ospreys and Wales speaks for itself.
“By making these offers available for the two games we are giving fans the chance to say thanks to both of these Ospreys ‘originals’ and ensuring that the team gets the backing it needs for two crucial fixtures.”
The offer will remain available until 48 hours before kick-off for the relevant fixture.