WRU defend late call-off of Scotland clash

Cardiff meeting postponed 24 hours before kick-off after football shutdown

Scotland’s Guinness Six Nations game against Wales was finally postponed after the Welsh Rugby Union bowed to the inevitable as one sporting event after another fell to the coronavirus threat.

Just as Scotland’s pre-match captain’s run at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff was due to start at 2pm an WRU official confirmed that the game would be postponed, just a matter of hours after they had assured fans that it would go ahead and only 24 hours before the scheduled kick-off.

That earlier statement referred to consultations with the Welsh health minister and other “medical experts” which had approved the game taking place.

However, as one major sporting event after another was cancelled or delayed as a result of the coronavirus spread, the Welsh authorities switched position as it became clear it would be the only major sporting event going ahead in the entire world at the weekend.

With football in England and Scotland both closing down, Scottish Rugby announcing a immediate cancellation of all games and the prestigious Masters Tournament joining the rest of golf by announcing a postponement, the WRU had little choice but to fall into line.

“The WRU has maintained an open dialogue with, and continued to seek advice from, the National Assembly for Wales and other stakeholders, including the Six Nations, on this fast-moving issue,” read an WRU statement.

“Whilst medical advice remains consistent, we have decided it is in the best interests of supporters, players and staff to fall into line with recent measures taken across the UK and global sports industries.

“Given the fluid and unprecedented nature of this issue, a postponement became the only viable option.”

WRU chairman Gareth Davies later explained how the nationwide postponement of football fixtures prompted a U-turn.

Davies said that the governing body had found themselves “probably the lightning rod for the virus, and for the publicity”.

“It’s been a tough week,” said Davies, who told BBC Radio Wales that the WRU had given the go-ahead to the game being played at an emergency board meeting on Thursday night.

“We obviously followed the advice of the central government, Welsh Government in terms of the scientific and medical evidence and that was the case until last night (Thursday) when we met to consider everything.

“We still thought that bearing in mind the advice that was the way to go.

“The Premier League, for example, were carrying on but that had changed for maybe obvious reasons.

“The English Football League went on a similar course, as did the CelticRangers game, so I think we found ourselves probably the lightning rod for the virus and for the publicity.”

A Scottish Rugby spokesman added: “While it is disappointing the fixture could not go ahead there are clearly wider public safety issues unfolding at this unprecedented time.

“We support the WRU in the difficult decision they have had to make and will continue to have a strong relationship with them going forward.

“All the Scotland players and management team would like the pass on their thanks to the Scotland fans who were aiming to attend the match and share their disappointment this game now will not be played.”

The game is likely to be moved until October, when it’s believed the other two games from the Six Nation’s Super Saturday finale postponed last week, Italy vs England and France vs Ireland, will be played.

SNS. Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones will likely have to wait until October to find out whether his team can retain the Doddie Weir Cup which they won at Murrayfield last year.