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World Rugby statement: England versus Argentina World Cup fan delays
An investigation has been started by World Rugby after Saturday night’s Rugby World Cup match in Marseille began with a number of fans stuck outside the stadium due to delays in gaining entry to Stade Velodrome.
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Long queues formed in advance of the 9pm local time kick-off and some of the eventual 63,118 official attendance were said to have missed the early action – including Tom Curry’s yellow-upgraded-to-red-card – in a Pool D fixture that 14-man England comfortably won 27-10.
According to social media videos and pictures, queues had formed on the steps up to the stadium on the Boulevard Michelet side of the ground.
A World Rugby statement read: “The France 2023 Organising Committee can confirm that it is taking steps to improve access to Stade de Marseille following delays ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool D match between England and Argentina, which resulted in a number of fans taking their seats after kick-off.
“While all 63,118 ticket holders were able to take their seats and there were no reported incidents, fan experience is paramount to everyone involved in the staging of the tournament and we would like to reassure fans visiting Marseille that the following actions are being taken in partnership with all
stakeholders:
- France 2023 are deploying more service volunteers to welcome fans to the Stade de Marseille and direct ticket holders to the appropriate entry points
- There will be an increase of announcements on public transport in French and English to ensure that fans are directed to the right metro stop
- Direct communications are being deployed to ticket purchasers reiterating key information including transport, entry points and gate opening times
“Communication to ticket purchasers via direct messaging, social, digital and news media will include reminders on the following information:
- Access to the Stade de Marseille is via two metro stops (Line 2) depending on seating:
– Rond-point du Prado stop for Jean Bouin access and North Stand – Entry 1
– Marguerite Dromel stop for Ganay access and South Stand – Entry 2 - The Stadium plaza will open three hours prior to kick off. The initial ticket and security check will take place on both sides of the stadium
- We encourage ticketholders to enter the initial checkpoint early and enjoy the entertainment, food and beverage options on offer in the stadium plaza
- Two hours prior to kick off a second ticket check will open for fans to access their seats and further food and drink options inside the venue. We encourage fans to proceed through this second check as early as possible
- Fans are also reminded that limited food and (non-alcoholic) drinks are permitted inside the venue, this includes uncapped plastic bottles below 500ml, baby bottles, homemade sandwiches and any other food or drink required for duly proved medical purposes
“Fans are the heartbeat of the tournament and we would like to apologise to fans impacted by yesterday’s access challenges. We are working hard to enhance the experience for all visiting Marseille for Rugby World Cup 2023.”
The next game that will take place in Marseille is Sunday’s Pool B fixture featuring defending champions South Africa and Scotland, which has a 5:45pm local time kick-off.
Comments on RugbyPass
Big empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
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