LOCAL TESCO STORES TO SELL RUGBY TICKETS

Wales captain Matthew Rees visited his local Tesco store this week to launch an initiative which will see fans able to buy rugby tickets - to see Wales face England and Argentina at the Millennium Stadium– at their local customer service desks from Monday 4 July.
The Wales and British Lions hooker took time out before leaving for the national squad training camp in Poland to deliver the first batch of tickets to Tesco’s Talbot Green store, a short distance from training headquarters at the WRU National Centre of Excellence, the Vale Resort, Hensol, and his home in Tonyrefail.
Fans will be able to purchase tickets to the Rugby World Cup warm-up internationals against England on Saturday 13 August and Argentina on Saturday 20 August (both 2.30pm) at the customer service desk in larger Tesco stores throughout South Wales*.
Tickets will be available without booking fees or credit card charges and the WRU has also extended its ‘buy one get one free’ offer for tickets to the Argentina match to include any purchased at the major supermarket chain.



Rees is thrilled to support the initiative which has proved popular with Welsh rugby supporters since it was first launched in 2003, when tickets for Wales’ games against England and Scotland where made available in this way ahead of the Rugby World Cup in Australia.
“This is a fantastic initiative for Welsh fans and I’m delighted to have been invited to visit my local store to promote the sale of tickets to see Wales face England and Argentina at Tesco stores in Wales,” he said.
“Like my own family I’m sure the majority of Welsh fans visit their local supermarkets at least once a week, and now they can pick up tickets to support the squad ahead of the Rugby World Cup whilst doing their weekly shop.
“We would like two full houses at the Millennium Stadium in August before we head off to New Zealand, it will be the memory of the atmosphere at those two games in Cardiff which will be ringing in our ears when we get to the World Cup.
“I can’t stress enough the importance of the feeling that the whole nation is behind you in these big games. The RWC is going to be an amazing experience but we will be a long way from home and, particularly for the youngsters in the squad, it will make such a difference to be reminded that the whole of Wales is behind us.
“The excitement is really starting to build for the 2011 tournament in New Zealandso I hope fans come out in their droves and get their tickets in Tesco this summer and play a significant part of our World Cup preparations at the Millennium Stadium.
“The support for Wales at the Millennium Stadium is like no other rugby venue I’ve experienced and I know that the squad will be hoping for the biggest and best send-off before we head to New Zealand.”
A spokesperson from Tesco commented: “We have thousands and thousands of shoppers visiting our stores in South Wales every week, many of whom will be rugby fans.
“This initiative will not only provide our customers with greater access to Rugby Cup warm-up games, it also offers them the convenience of getting their weekly shop and tickets all under one roof. A great time-saver for busy people!”
Fans can also purchase their tickets for the Millennium Stadium clashes offer online at www.wru.co.uk/tickets or by calling the ticket hotlines 08442 777 888 or 02920 230130.

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Wales tickets for 4 Nations released

Wales fans will be able to watch some of the best players in the world clash at Wembley stadium for only £10 after the RFL today announced ticket details for the Gillette Four Nations.

The Wembley double-header will see Wales take on New Zealand at 1pm before England face up to fierce rivals Australia at 3.30pm in the national stadium.

To celebrate the return of International Rugby League to Wembley, the RFL have introduced a special promotional offer, giving fans the chance to purchase a £25 ticket for only £10 if they book before Friday July 22 by quoting promotional code ‘4NWEM01’.

Wales coach Iestyn Harris said: “The Four Nations is something that we’ve been looking forward to since we won the European Cup last year. All of the games are important to us but as some of our players have not played at Wembley before, the New Zealand date will be extra special for them.

“We’d love to see a full house at Wembley and lots of fans from Wales cheering us on. It’s fantastic that the RFL and Wales Rugby League have made the ticket prices affordable for all fans and hopefully we’ll see travelling support like we had in the 1995 and 2000 World Cups which were very special to our country.”

Supporters can take advantage of this special 2011 Gillette Four Nations Wembley double-header ticket offer by calling 0844 856 1113 or by visitingwww.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk and quoting promotional code ‘4NWEM01’.

The Wembley double-header will come one week after the Four Nations officially begins when Australia face defending Four Nations champions New Zealand at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, on Friday October 28 (8.00pm) in the opening fixture of the competition. Ticket details for the clash between these two sides will be released on Monday July 11.

On Saturday October 29, Wales kick-off their campaign when they take on England at Leigh Sports Village (2.30pm) with tickets priced at only £10 Adults and £5 concessions.

England’s remaining game against New Zealand will be played at the KC Stadium in Hull on Saturday November 12 (6.00pm) and tickets are priced from £20 Adult and £10 concession.

Wales will play Australia in their final group fixture at The Racecourse Ground in Wrexham on Sunday November 13 and fans will be able to attend the game for £10 Adult and £5 concessions.

The 2011 Gillette Four Nations final will be played at Elland Road in Leeds on Saturday November 19 (6.00pm) and tickets are priced from £20 Adult and £10 concession.

Tickets for the 2011 Gillette Four Nations can be purchased by calling 0844 856 1113 or by visiting www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk

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Innocence Project

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Ron Paul 2012

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The supermodel strutted his stuff today. I wanted to get his ribbons on for some photos since we never took any when he won them. I think he looks pretty proud of himself, what do you think?

And after the ribbon photos I let him go and have a run around. Of course one of the first things he did when my back was turned was roll in the mud! He's such a smart ar$e!

Karen has found Brennan his next saddle. Brennan is a very lucky pony to have his very own personal shopper - now he just has to earn enough money to pay for all this planned shopping, haha!!! And, on that note, I am still having no luck finding a job. Got another rejection over the weekend - have asked for some feedback regarding my application but, not surprisingly, I have had no response. I am over qualified for everything I apply for but I wish people would not assume that because you hold qualifiations above and beyond those required that you are not prepared to happily and professionally fill the role. I just want a nice, relatively low stress job that pays enough to cover the bills. *sigh* OK, whinge over, better get off this blog and on to applying for some more jobs :o)

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Philippines' Azkals blank Sri Lanka, march to World Cup 2nd round

THE Philippine National Football Men’s Team Azkals' dream to qualify in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil lives on, as the nationals blanked the visiting Sri Lanka Brave Reds, 4-0 Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The Azkals’ victory gave them the ticket to the 2nd round of the World Cup qualifying tournament against Kuwait on July 23 and July 28 on a home and away game.

In Sunday’s win, Ilonggo Azkals midfielder Chieffy Caligdong nailed a goal in the 19th minute to open up the scoring for the nationals.

Drilling from the left side just inside the box and passing through two Sri Lankan defenders, Caligdong struck the ball towards the right of keeper Manjula Fernando. The ball hit the right bar before it entered the goal.

With 1-0 advantage, the Azkals picked up the tempo, as striker Phil Younghusband scored the squad’s second goal in the 43rd minute.

In the second half, striker Angel Guirado fired the team’s third goal in the 50th minute on a pass from James Youghusband. Guirado drilled past a Sri Lankan defender and escaped Fernando’s defense for an open goal.

After seven minutes, the Azkals got another goal opportunity when Stephan Schrock was fouled on the right side of the goal just inside the box. Phil Younghusband was tasked to take the penalty kick and he nailed the squad’s 4th goal in the 57th minute.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chairman and Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Advisory Council member Monico Puentevella lauded the Azkals’ performance. “Our Azkals’s performance yesterday was great,” he said.

“But it would be an uphill game against Kuwait. We will be underdogs but we have a bigger chance. We will have a bigger crowd, too,” Puentevella stressed.

On the other hand, sportsman Oscar ‘Dodong’ Bascon praised the Azkals’ game. “They did great on defense and, most especially, improved their offense. It is noticeably that the team played well. They slowly got the chemistry. We just hope they play much better in the next round,” said Bascon.

Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on July 04, 2011

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Rafa Nadal lost the Wimbledon final on Sunday

 

Rafa Nadal lost the Wimbledon final on Sunday and will concede the number one ranking to his conqueror Novak Djokovic but the gritty Spaniard has known worse times. "You know what is the toughest moment? In Australia in 2010 when I had to go out with an injury. That is the toughest

moment," the 10-times grand slam winner told reporters.

Nadal is famous for his never-say-die mentality, so having to pull out of the Australian Open quarter-final against Andy Murray was as tough a time as the 25-year-old has known.

That withdrawal led to fears for his future, especially after the woes of 2009 where he missed the French Open and Wimbledon, but Nadal responded by winning three grand slams last year and his fitness troubles are now a thing of the past.

"After playing eight finals this year, winning Roland Garros a few weeks ago, playing the final here cannot be the toughest loss of my career," Nadal said, reflecting on a year that but for Djokovic could have ranked amongst his most dominant.

"Last five times wasn't my time. I'm gonna wait and I'm gonna try a sixth time," Nadal said of his five successive 2011 losses to Djokovic, all in finals.

"And if the sixth doesn't happen, or the seventh. It's going to be like this. That's the spirit of the sport.

"I understand the sport like this. When one player is better than you, at that moment the only thing you can do is work, try to find solutions, and try to wait a little bit for your time."

Given Nadal's bullish determination he will probably not have to wait long, and should Djokovic's form dip from the sensational 48 wins and just one defeat in 2011 the Spaniard will be waiting.

"For me when I was winning three grand slams last year, my level of last year is not forever. Probably the level of Novak of today is not forever. I'm gonna be here fighting all the time, waiting for my moment to beat him another time."

Source 

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