Scarlets’ home to play host to Scots
WALES will play their rescheduled Six Nations home match against Scotland at Parc y Scarlets, which will also be the setting for their first home Autumn Nations Cup clash with Georgia.
Meanwhile, the Welsh Rugby Union are still keeping their options open about staging their other two home games – including the big Nations Cup meeting with England – in London.
The likelihood is the two confirmed fixtures at Parc y Scarlets will be played behind closed doors, but the Union may yet explore whether either game could serve as a test event for crowds.
The Scotland match was originally due to be played at the Principality Stadium in March, but was postponed the day before because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It was then rescheduled for October 31.
With the stadium out of commission due to its conversion into the Dragon’s Heart field hospital and no supporters allowed at sporting events in Wales, the WRU had been looking to move the game to a football ground in London and play it in front of paying spectators to maximise revenue, given the massive financial shortfall caused by Covid 19.
But, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week scrapping plans to have crowds at sporting events in England from next month due to rising infection rates, the Union have now given up on that idea.
Yet they haven’t yet ruled out staging their final two home Nations Cup matches – England (Nov 28) and a team from the other pool (Dec 5) in London.
Clearly, that would require a change in policy from the Westminster government, but the WRU are going to leave it as late as they can before ruling out the idea, given they have Parc y Scarlets available as a fall-back option.
Chief executive Steve Phillips said: “We have taken the call to play our first two home matches this autumn in Wales.
“Given how vital Wales games are to the funding of our sport, it was only right that every option was explored.
“Obviously more important than that is the health of supporters, players and the nation as a whole and so, whilst making contingency plans, we have of course been conscious of following government advice closely every step of the way.
“We anticipate the two games will take place behind closed doors, however, if the ‘big picture’ changes, we would be open to exploring whether either game could serve as a test event for crowds.”
Phillips continued: “We hope supporters will understand that we are duty bound to continue to explore all options before making a final call with respect to England and the Autumn Nations Cup final match.
“We are hopeful that it will be deemed safe for at least some, perhaps socially distanced and restricted, crowds to attend these matches and also remain open to the prospect of using the Parc y Scarlets fixtures as test events with limited attendances if possible.
“While it is disappointing to play these matches without supporters, we would like to thank all of those who follow, support and participate in Welsh rugby and our partners for their patience during these hugely challenging times.”
All of Wales’ autumn matches will be shown live on S4C, with the Scotland Six Nations game also live on BBC.
WALES 2020 FIXTURES:
France v Wales, Saturday October 24, KO 21.00, Paris (S4C) Wales v Scotland, Saturday October 31, KO 14.15, Parc y Scarlets (2020 Guinness Six Nations) (BBC)
Ireland v Wales, Friday November 13, KO 19.00, Aviva Stadium, Dublin (Autumn Nations Cup) Channel 4/Amazon Prime Video/ S4C
Wales v Georgia, Saturday November 21, KO 17.15, Parc y Scarlets (Autumn Nations Cup) Amazon Prime Video/S4C Wales v England, Saturday November 28, KO 16.00, Venue TBC (Autumn Nations Cup) Amazon Prime Video/S4C Wales v TBC (Autumn Nations Cup Play-Off Final), Saturday December 5, KO 16.45, Venue TBC Amazon Prime Video/S4C