After it was announced that fans could return to sporting events starting January 21, Wales is racing against the clock to sell the Principality Stadium in Cardiff for their match against Scotland.
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Massive brawls break out during rugby match Wales
Wales must sell out their Six Nations match in Scotland.
Following the government’s decision to ease coronavirus restrictions and allow fans back into stadiums, Wales’ Rugby Union boss Steve Phillips says they now face a “race against time”Fill the ground.
All sports events in Wales are now closed due to an increase in coronavirus cases since Boxing Day.
Many rugby fans decided not to purchase tickets to the Six Nations due to uncertainty around the possibility that the game would be played without an audience.
First Minister Mark Drakeford, however, announced that Wales would allow fans back into stadiums starting January 21st. This will give supporters only three weeks to fill the Principality Stadium.
The Dragons will face their rivals in home on February 12th. On Friday, the Dragons will play against France on Friday night and then take on Italy on March 11.
The Wales Rugby Union (WRU), even considered the possibility of hosting home games in England as a way to generate income.
Bnow that has been removed from the equation, the team’s chief executive Martyn Phillips says they are playing catch-up over selling out their 74,500-capacity home in Cardiff.
“We’re delighted that full crowds can return for the Six Nations in Wales,”Phillips, chief executive officer of WRU, said.
“The difference a crowd makes to performance on the field is immeasurable and a number of our senior players have been very vocal about the positive impact a capacity crowd in Cardiff can make.
“The atmosphere supporters bring to Principality Stadium is unrivalled, and this news will be greatly welcomed by coaches and players.”
He said: “Having watched the Six Nations 2021 tournament without crowds, the recent update from Welsh Government is hugely encouraging.
“All of us want to see large crowds at all three games, but because of the pandemic we are now in an uphill battle to get what would normally come naturally. This is especially true for the match against Scotland due to its close proximity.
“It’s no secret that supporters have been waiting to see what would happen with restrictions, but the hugely positive news today should kick start a fresh surge for tickets.”
Recent research concluded that each Six Nations games contested in Cardiff boosts Wales’ economy by more than £20million.
Drakeford said: “The pressure that my Cabinet respond to are the pressures that are in the data. Those are the things that lead us to take the actions that we do and not the understandable representations by people in the individual parts of Welsh society that they occupy.”
