Crusaders set for record crowd

Correspondent

Crusaders RL are urging Rugby League supporters to move quickly to secure their seat for the club’s historic Engage Super League opening match against Leeds Rhinos at Wrexham on Friday night.

With just three days to go before Crusaders welcome the defending champions to The Racecourse Ground for the first time, the Welsh club are experiencing phenomenal demand for tickets.

All hospitality packages for the Engage Super League XV opener were sold out weeks ago and as of close of business today Crusaders had sold almost 7,400 tickets for the eagerly anticipated clash.

That pre-sale already guarantees Crusaders a club-record attendance and a bigger crowd than the last two international Rugby League fixtures staged at their new home from 2010.

Crusaders’ biggest crowd in 2009 was 6,351 for their match against St Helens in Bridgend last March while The Racecourse Ground’s top attendance for a Rugby League game was 6,373 for Wales v England in 2001.

“The interest in the game in Wrexham and across North Wales is tremendous and at this rate we’re not ruling out the possibility that Friday is going to be a sell out,” said Crusaders’ Chief Executive Mike Turner.

“The town is buzzing with talk of Crusaders RL and Super League and it promises to be a fantastic night for all the family.

“Our message to anyone thinking of coming on Friday has to be to move quickly because this is a match you don’t want to miss out on.”

Leeds Rhinos have sold around 500 tickets for the match and Turner is keen to see more supporters of the 2009 Engage Super League Grand Final winners at The Racecourse Ground on Friday night.

“We’re only an hour and 40 minutes away from Leeds and we can promise all the Rhinos fans a warm welcome – but not as hot a reception as their team will get on the field,” said Turner.

“It’s been a hectic few months for the coaching staff but they have put together an exciting squad and who knows what might happen?

“We are going into the game as underdogs, nobody expects us to win and in situations like that who knows? One thing is for certain: our coach Brian Noble will know more about Leeds and their likely game plan than Leeds know about us.”

Tickets for Friday’s Engage Super League match at The Racecourse Ground are priced from £15, £7 concessions, and are available from the Crusaders’ Ticket Office on 01978 262129, the Wrexham FC club shop or by visiting www.crusadersrfl.com/

Leeds Rhinos also have a range of travel packages and tickets available by visiting www.therhinos.co.uk/buytickets or calling 0871 423 1315.