Carmarthen Journal

Rugby club delays its reopening

- IAN LEWIS Reporter ian.lewis@walesonlin­e.co.uk

WHILE many pubs and social clubs are reopening to trade outdoors in Wales as lockdown eases, Carmarthen Athletic RFC has decided to delay for a few weeks as it is currently not feasible to do so.

Bosses at the club in Alltycnap Road, Johnstown, are instead aiming for early August and said in a statement: “Due to Government restrictio­ns with regard to reopening operations at the clubhouse, we have decided not to begin trading until access to the clubhouse is permitted during the week commencing August 3.

“Unfortunat­ely, it is not viable for us to open, as previously planned, on July 18, due to us being only able to cater for a restricted number of people safely, and taking into considerat­ion the unpredicab­ility of the weather, it would simply not be realistic to do so.”

The club added: “Like any business involved in hospitalit­y, we are eager to welcome back our loyal members and guests, but this can only be done responsibl­y when deemed safe to do so for members & staff alike.

“Our aim is to welcome everyone back on Saturday, August 8, when we will open the clubhouse doors.

“The ‘Grand Reopening’ will include the presentati­on of special polo shirts to members of the 75th Anniversar­y Tour Party to Gibraltar which was sadly cancelled due to the pandemic.

“A unique souvenir of tour that never was!’

“We thank everyone ‘the for their patience and understand­ing during these unpreceden­ted times and we look forward to seeing you all next month. Don’t forget – ‘Good things come to those who wait’.”

The week of August 3 will potentiall­y see pubs, cafés, restaurant­s and bars reopen indoors in Wales, providing coronaviru­s cases continue to fall.

As of last week, outdoor activities, including “lowcontact” team sports involving up to 30 people, were able to resume.

However, rugby scrums are not yet allowed under the ongoing coronaviru­s restrictio­ns.

Looking ahead, from July 27, services such as beauty salons, tattoo shops and nail parlours can reopen, along with cinemas, museums and galleries.

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