SRU cuts top-price tickets to just £20 for two World Cup warm-up games

TICKET prices have been heavily cut for Scotland's pre-World Cup warm-up matches at Murrayfield, with a top price of £20 for a seat, £10 cheaper than the equivalent fixtures four years ago, and £25 cheaper than the most expensive seats for the New Zealand and South Africa matches last November.

The price cuts come after the SRU struggled to fill Murrayfield during the RBS Six Nations Championship, after which a disappointed SRU chief executive Gordon McKie revealed there would be a re-think for the EMC Tests against Ireland and Italy in August. But ticket prices for next year's Six Nations fixtures against France and England have gone up by 5 and 3.50 in two adult price categories - and fallen by just 1 in the other category.

Tickets for the World Cup warm-ups go on sale today and cost either 10 or 20 for adults and 5 or 10 for children and students. If an adult buys a ticket for either of the EMC Tests that entitles them to a discounted 10 day ticket for the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s at Murrayfield at the end of May.

McKie said: "The prices we have set for our EMC Tests linked to the offer for the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s underline our commitment to ensure there is an opportunity for everyone to watch international rugby live in Scotland and that we continue to welcome a family audience to our high profile sporting events.

"We do have to strike a balance because the majority of our investment in rugby activity throughout Scotland at all levels comes from the international arena.

"In a Rugby World Cup year - when we don't have the revenue from three Test matches in the autumn - we have to look very carefully at our pricing structure - all the more so when we have only two home matches in the 2012 RBS Six Nations."

Tickets also go on sale today for those Six Nations matches against England and France. They are 35, 50 and 75 for adults and 17.50, 25 and 37.50 for children. Adult ticket prices have thus increased compared to this year by 5 at the lowest level and 3.50 at the highest level and have been reduced by 1 at the middle level. The discounted tickets will also be available to students for the France game. The SRU will also offer further discounts to supervised groups of children travelling from schools or rugby clubs.

McKie added: "There has been a slight increase for Six Nations tickets but our prices remain below what was charged by Ireland and England in this year's championship and we remain the only country in the tournament to have child tickets discounted in all price categories."

Tickets go on sale online today from noon at www.scottishrugby.org, then from 9am tomorrow tickets can be bought via the 24-hour credit card hotline [phone] or in person at the Ticket Centre at Murrayfield Stadium. A booking fee applies.

EMC Test: Sat 6 August

Scotland v Ireland, Murrayfield Stadium, kick-off 3pm Adults: 10 and 20; Students and children: 5 and 10

EMC Test: Sat 20 August

Scotland v Italy, Murrayfield Stadium, kick-off 3pm

Adults: 10 and 20; Students and children: 5 and 10

Six Nations: Saturday 4 Feb

Scotland v England, Murrayfield Stadium, kick-off 5pm Adults: 35, 50 and 75; Children: 17.50, 25 and 37.50

Six Nations: Sun 26 Feb

Scotland v France, Murrayfield Stadium, kick-off 3pm Adults: 35, 50 and 75; Students and children: 17.50, 25 and 37.50.