Fans In Wales To Return To Stadiums This Week
Restrictions on large outdoor events in Wales, including football matches and concerts in stadiums, are to be lifted from this coming Friday, allowing fans to return to stadiums in time for supporters to be able to attend Wales' first home Six Nations game against Scotland on February 12th. At last Wales' rugby and football clubs can also now plan for fans returning with First Minister Mark Drakeford saying “there are some very early positive signs,” regarding Wales' Covid rate, with Omicron cases coming down “rapidly” and rules can be relaxed “gradually”. The Welsh government also pointed to the success of the booster campaign in enabling it to lift restrictions, with 1.8m having received an extra dose.
Outdoor events will be able to operate at full capacity from January 21st, with indoor events resuming without restrictions from Friday, January 28th the First Minister explained “There will be no limits on the number of people who can take part in outdoor activities, crowds will be able to return to sporting events and outdoor hospitality able to operate in the way they would have earlier in the pandemic. Provided the numbers continue to reduce then on January 28th, we'll move alert level zero for all indoor activities and premises... hospitality able to operate indoors as they would have earlier on.”
Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County and Wrexham will all be able to have fans in attendance from this coming weekend, with Swansea City looking forward to welcoming fans back to their stadium as they welcome Preston North End. Swansea said in a statement they are “delighted to be able to welcome supporters back” for the Preston game on , which will revert to a 3pm kick-off. The kick-off had been brought forward to 12:30 so it could be live streamed, but that will not now happen as fans are able to attend. Head coach Russell Martin commented, “It's really positive and fantastic news for everyone, not just for football but for society in general. The numbers seem to be going the right way so restrictions can be lifted. Hopefully it's the last time we ever have to deal with that.”
In the rugby, Scarlets will be able to welcome back fans for their European Champions Cup home tie against Bristol on Saturday, January 22nd. The Cymru League, including the Cymru Premier, will resume in full from Friday, January 21st after a break prompted by the Covid restrictions. The Cymru Leagues, Adran Leagues and Ardal Leagues were suspended shortly before Christmas. Friday, January 28th will see fans return to Rodney Parade for Dragons v Benetton in the United Rugby Championship, while the following day supporters will be able to attend Ospreys v Edinburgh and Cardiff v Leinster.
In ice hockey, Cardiff Devils will have to play three more home games behind closed doors before fans can return to Ice Arena Wales for their Elite League fixture with Fife Flyers on Friday, January 28th.
Indoor events resuming from January 28th gives the go-ahead for Welsh boxer Liam Williams' middleweight fight with Chris Eubank Jr at the Motorpoint Arena on Saturday, February 5th to take place after fears it may be moved to another venue, with the Premier League darts now able to welcome fans at the same venue on Thursday, February 3rd.
The development also allows English club Chester, whose stadium is on the Welsh side of the Wales-England border, to welcome fans again to their home games in the National League North after they faced disciplinary action after resuming with crowds in a potential breach of the Welsh covid rules as mentioned by Football & Stadium Management last week.
