"There are strong Welsh links to the Rugby World Cup tournament that stretch back to our former President, Keith Rowlands, being a director, our former Secretary, Ray Williams, being the Director of the 1991 Tournament and the Millennium Stadium hosting the 1999 final," said WRU Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis.

"To be able to bring part of the tournament back to Wales so soon after we hosted the finals in 1999 is a tribute to the way the organisers feel about us and the Welsh nation feels about their tournament.

"The Rugby World Cup is the pinnacle of our game, the Holy Grail for all our players. Richard Moriarty's trailblazers took third place in 1987 and that represents the best finish by a Wales team.

"The challenge for our current, highly talented squad is to better that achievement. It will be a tough task but, with two Pool matches to be played on home turf, reaching the knock-out phase is well within their grasp.

"Bringing events like the Rugby World Cup to Wales is not something a governing body can do in isolation and the WRU is grateful for the ready support and financial help it receives from the Wales Assembly Government and Cardiff Council."

Wales staged seven games in the 1991 Rugby World Cup, including matches at Stradey Park, Sardis Road and Pontypool Park, and nine in the 1999 tournament. Eight years ago fixtures were taken to Llanelli and Wrexham's Racecourse ground.

"In previous tournaments we have been able to take games on the road in Wales and it is fantastic that fans the length and breadth of the country were able to get involved with this very special event," added Lewis.

"But the Rugby World Cup has grown from its humble beginnings to become one of the world's biggest and most successful sporting competitions. There has been huge demand for tickets and we expect the Millennium Stadium to be packed for all four games.

"Back in 1999, nobody expected the Pool game between Argentina and Japan to attract a crowd of more than 40,000 to the Millennium Stadium. Since then, attendances have grown even more and that is why we have had to house all four fixtures at the home of Welsh rugby.

"The figures showed that the 1999 Rugby World Cup brought more than £80m into the Welsh economy and the four games we host this time will once again give Wales a huge financial boost."

But the biggest boost of all to the Welsh nation will come from a long run in the tournament by Gareth Jenkins' men. While tickets for their two Pool games in Nantes have virtually sold-out, along with those for the key clash with the Wallabies at the Millennium Stadium on 15 September, there are tickets still available for the game against Japan, available from Ticketmaster (http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/ / tel 08705 582 582).

"For those Welsh fans who still want to be a part of the Rugby World Cup and want to support their team, there are still tickets available for the Pool match against Japan on September 20th," added Lewis.

"And if you just want to taste the atmosphere of this great tournament then there is also space at the Fiji v Canada match on Sunday September 16th. Tickets are available via the official website, www.ticketmaster.co.uk, and on 08705 582 582."

Previous Rugby World Cup Games in Wales

1991
Pool 3
4 October: Australia 32, Argentina 19 (Stradey Park, Llanelli)
6 October: Wales 13, Western Samoa 16 (Cardiff Arms Park)
9 October: Australia 9, Western Samoa 3 (Pontypool Park, Pontypool)
9 October: Wales 16, Argentina 7 (Cardiff Arms Park)
12 October: Wales 3, Australia 38 (Cardiff Arms Park)
13 October: Western Samoa 35, Argentina 12 (Sardis Road, Pontypridd)

3rd Place Play-Off,
30 October: New Zealand 13, Scotland 6 (Cardiff Arms Park)

1999
Pool D
1 October: Wales 23, Argentina 18 (Millennium Stadium)
3 October: Samoa 43, Japan 9 (The Racecourse, Wrexham)
9 October: Wales 64, Japan 15 (Millennium Stadium)
10 October: Argentina 32, Samoa 16 (Stradey Park, Llanelli)
14 October: Wales 31, Samoa 38 (Millennium Stadium)
16 October: Argentina 33, Japan 12 (Millennium Stadium)

Quarter-Final
23 October: Wales 9, Australia 24 (Millennium Stadium)

3rd Place Play-Off
4 November: New Zealand 18, South Africa 22 (Millennium Stadium)

RWC Final
6 November: Australia 35, France12 (Millennium Stadium)