Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has backed calls to delay the 2021 Six Nations in order ensure games are played in front of spectators. Last month the UK government paused plans for fans to return sports stadia from October 1st due to a rise in infections across the country, plunging many sports relying on gate receipts into an uncertain financial future.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that the increased restrictions could be in place for six months, meaning the traditional February start to Europe's top national team competition may come too early to gain much-needed revenue from potential ticket sales. Wales missed out on gate receipts for their final Six Nations game against Scotland, which was hastily cancelled in March and will be played later this month at an empty Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli. They also had to postpone a summer tour to Japan and New Zealand.
Wayne Pivac's men will also play three home matches behind closed doors in the Autumn Nations Cup, another blow to the Welsh Rugby Union which relies on international matches and events at the Principality Stadium for more than half of it £90m annual income. Pivac named seven uncapped players in a 38-man squad on Tuesday ahead of these fixtures but revealed that fly-half Gareth Anscombe will be missing for a year. The 29-year-old sustained knee ligament damage in a warmup match against England ahead of the Rugby World Cup last year and has yet to return for either his club, the Ospreys, or country.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that the increased restrictions could be in place for six months, meaning the traditional February start to Europe's top national team competition may come too early to gain much-needed revenue from potential ticket sales. Wales missed out on gate receipts for their final Six Nations game against Scotland, which was hastily cancelled in March and will be played later this month at an empty Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli. They also had to postpone a summer tour to Japan and New Zealand.
Wayne Pivac's men will also play three home matches behind closed doors in the Autumn Nations Cup, another blow to the Welsh Rugby Union which relies on international matches and events at the Principality Stadium for more than half of it £90m annual income. Pivac named seven uncapped players in a 38-man squad on Tuesday ahead of these fixtures but revealed that fly-half Gareth Anscombe will be missing for a year. The 29-year-old sustained knee ligament damage in a warmup match against England ahead of the Rugby World Cup last year and has yet to return for either his club, the Ospreys, or country.
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