Lions to train at Cardiff base
Wales’ Grand Slam heroes will find themselves on familiar territory before they head to New Zealand with the Lions this summer.
The Lions are set to base themselves at Wales’ state-of-the-art training base near Cardiff for a week before departure.
The facilities, which include an indoor pitch, are based at the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel and leisure complex, just outside the city.
In addition to Mike Ruddock’s Wales squad, the venue has previously been used by the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool before Millennium Stadium cup finals.
The Lions, it is understood, will assemble in Wales on May 17, leading up to their pre-tour Millennium Stadium clash against Argentina on May 23. They depart for New Zealand two days later.
And for 10 of the Lions squad – Welsh contingent Gareth Thomas, Shane Williams, Tom Shanklin, Gavin Henson, Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel, Gareth Cooper, Gethin Jenkins, Martyn Williams and Michael Owen – it will be like a home from home.
Some 45,000 tickets, meanwhile, have already been sold for the Argentina game with Welsh Rugby Union chiefs confident of achieving a 70,000-plus sell-out.
“It will be a big occasion in its own right,” said Millennium Stadium manager Paul Sargeant today.
“Argentina won’t be coming along for the ride. They are going to bring a strong squad, and it has all the makings for a fantastic game of rugby.
“We are anticipating the game will sell out, kicking off probably biggest the Lions tour to date.”
