Elliot Dee visited his local leisure centre to launch a new initiative which will see supporters able to purchase Dragons tickets for home games at Rodney Parade from their local leisure centre.
The Wales and Dragons hooker took time out of training to help deliver the first batch of tickets to Newbridge Leisure Centre, a short distance from his home.
Supporters will be able to purchase tickets for United Rugby Championship and European Challenge Cup fixtures at reception desks of ten leisure centres around the region thanks to a new partnership with Caerphilly County Borough Council, Aneurin Leisure and Torfaen Leisure Trust.
Tickets will be available at discounted prices from the normal advance match day price and without booking fees or credit card charges from the sites which all enjoy huge footfall in providing services for their communities.
Dee is thrilled to support the initiative which will allow supporters across the region to access match tickets to support the Men of Gwent and said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for rugby fans to get their hands on Dragons tickets whilst they go about their normal daily routines and I'm delighted to have been back down to visit my local leisure centre to help promote the sale of tickets."
Dee is one of the many players in the Dragons squad that have played for clubs within the region, along with Jack Dixon and Ollie Griffiths who have also come through the academy structure from Newbridge junior teams to become professional. Dee, Dixon and Griffiths have their faces emblazoned on the side of Newbridge Leisure Centre, with other players featuring prominently at other sites around the region.
"I remember coming down to this leisure centre regularly as a youngster so giving people the chance to pick up their Dragons tickets at a discount here, helps keep the Dragons in people's minds and by bringing the tickets to their community will hopefully lead to more sales and more support for us," said Dee.
"As players we know we represent a region and most of the squad lives nearby. Every day the players go to Ystrad Mynach to train, so we prepare in the valleys, before we perform in the city on match day.
"Everyone knows the atmosphere at Rodney Parade is a real rugby experience, with the support and banter on the terraces at Rodney Parade well known in the game. We would love to see full houses at Rodney Parade as the support we get there can boost the team performances and with lots of new faces in the squad we need that backing to help bring us together."
Cllr Nigel George, Caerphilly Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services said: "It's great to see that our partnership with the Dragons continues to develop and grow, and having tickets for sale at four of our sites not only provides local people with easier access to tickets, but also enables us as a council to promote rugby and the benefits of rugby to the residents of our county borough.
"We're very proud that the Dragons call our Centre for Sporting Excellence home as their training base and look forward to seeing this partnership continue to grow into the future."
Angharad Collins, Torfaen Leisure Trust Chief Executive added: "We are really proud to commence a partnership with Dragons Rugby as one of their Ticketing outlets for the 2018/19 Season. With over one million visitors to our Centres at Torfaen Leisure Trust each year and many of those visitors travelling from out of area, it is a great opportunity to promote our partnership and Region to all those people who visit us."
Anthony Hughes Managing Director for Aneurin Leisure also welcomed the new arrangements: "We are very proud to partner with Dragons Rugby and provide regional support for them within our local communities. With thousands of rugby fans visiting our venues each week this will provide them with greater access to tickets."
Fans can also purchase their tickets for Dragons games online at www.dragonsrugby.wales/tickets or by calling the ticket office at Rodney Parade on 01633 674 990.
Aneurin Leisure Trust are participating in the scheme at their venues at Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre, Abertillery Leisure Centre, Tredegar Leisure Centre and Parc Bryn Bach.
Torfaen Leisure Trust at their venues in Cwmbran Stadium and Pontypool Active Living Centre and Caerphilly CBC at Caerphilly, Risca, Newbridge and at the Dragons training base in Ystrad Mynach Centre of Excellence.
