 Alan MacDonald promotes the free invite to under 18s |
Edinburgh Rugby players Alan MacDonald and Alex Black joined over a hundred youngsters at the Inch Park multi-sports camp today to rally support for their free to attend warm-up fixture against Newcastle Falcons next month.
To allow as many young supporters as possible to enjoy the new spectator experiences in place for the up and coming RaboDirect PRO12 season, up to ten under 18s can cheer on the capital club for free with every paying adult, as Edinburgh take on Alan Tait’s men at Murrayfield on Friday 26 August (kick-off 7.30pm).
Up to ten under-18s can go free when accompanied by paying adult, student or senior citizen (free U18s do not require a ticket). Tickets for adults are priced at: £10 (adults) and £5 (students and senior citizens).
With seating moved to the east stand, supporters will be right on top of the action, while standing areas around the rest of the pitch will allow fans to stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the most exciting players in northern hemisphere rugby.
Edinburgh and Scotland back-row, MacDonald, welcomed the latest efforts being made by the club to engage with fans.
He said: “The new layout for our matches at Murrayfield, combined with free entry for anyone under 18, underlines the efforts being made by the club to make things better for our supporters and get the message out there that this is a club of which anyone from the east of Scotland can feel part of and be proud.
“The prospect of having the supporters willing us on from the touchlines is something the players are really excited about and I’m sure it’ll prove a big success in the season ahead.
“The players are grafting in pre-season to give ourselves the best chance of success in the PRO12 and Heineken Cup so hopefully we can get a good crowd out this season and show the our fans that we mean business."
The players arrived on the fourth and final day of the multi-sports camp organised by jointly funded development officer Eric Jones who works with schools in the Inch to promote rugby, cricket and football in local schools.
Jones said: “Our aim is to use sport to bring all of the schools together at our great facility at the Inch and create a community base. We work in every local primary school in our catchment area and the two high schools Liberton and Gracemount.
“The ones that play rugby were very excited to see the Edinburgh Rugby players here today while the footballers and cricketers got an insight into the top level of rugby and sport in general, as you don’t often get that kind of access to other athletes.
“Cost is often a big barrier for kids and their families to engage in sport as a participant and as a spectator so it’s great that, like us, Edinburgh Rugby is working to give kids maximum access to their games."
SIGN UP FOR NEW PERSPECTIVES IN SEASON 2011/12! All of Edinburgh's Heineken Cup home games are included in our 2011/12 season ticket package, where supporters can get closer to the on-field action with seating in the east stand and new pitch-side standing areas. Buy before 30 June and you could win a hospitality package for ten people to one of our home Heineken Cup matches! Season tickets are prices at £35 for under-18s, £90 for students/senior citizens and £180 for adults. For more information on the benefits of being an Edinburgh season ticket holder, and to book in for the campaign under new head coach Michael Bradley, visit www.edinburghrugby.org, call 0131 346 5180 or visit the Murrayfield Ticket Centre (just off Roseburn Street) in person.
