Wales set to play Tests at Twickenham

WELSH Rugby Union chiefs are reportedly in advanced negotiations to stage up to four matches at Twickenham this autumn.

WalesOnline previously revealed Wales were considering playing this autumn’s fixtures in England, with the Principality Stadium likely to still be on standby as a field hospital.

Now the Daily Telegraph report the WRU are close to reaching an agreement with their Rugby Football Union counterparts over a deal that would also see their outstanding 2020 Six Nations Championship game staged at the London Stadium.

World Rugby meet this week to thrash out the remainder of the 2020 Test calendar, that will be put to a vote by their Council next week.

The likely scenario would see a second tournament this autumn featuring the Six Nations, plus Japan and Fiji as guest teams.

And the Telegraph report Wales are keen to play the four matches at Twickenham because the venue can cater for 40,000 spectators, even while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

The stadium pact with Wales would also provide the RFU with some much-needed extra revenue as the governing body looks to recover from forecasted loss of £107m due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With crowds unlikely to return to the Principality Stadium until 2021, the WRU could stand to lose up to £50million if these fixtures cannot be fulfilled.

The final of the proposed eight nations tournament would also take place at Twickenham on December 5.