Parc y Scarlets to host Wales Autumn internationals, including England

Wales will play all three of their Autumn Nations Cup home games – including against England – at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli.

The Welsh Rugby Union had contingency plans in place to maximise potential revenue from attendances by hosting matches at a London venue – believed to be the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Those fixtures would potentially have been against England on November 28 and a Nations Cup play-off encounter seven days later.

Hartley’s Prem final red card

Hartley’s Prem final red card

But with no immediate prospect of crowds returning to grounds because of the coronavirus pandemic, the WRU confirmed the England and play-off games for Parc y Scarlets.

Next Saturday’s delayed Guinness Six Nations appointment with Scotland and a Nations Cup game against Georgia on November 21 had already been announced as taking place in Llanelli.

Wales’ Principality Stadium home in Cardiff is currently unavailable due to its ongoing status as a field hospital.

WRU chief executive Steve Phillips said: “It is no secret that more than three-quarters of the annual income which supports Welsh rugby at all levels comes directly from our international game, and specifically from hosting Wales matches in front of capacity crowds.

“That is why we made contingency plans to play matches in London and why we have waited as long as possible before resigning ourselves to the prospect of playing behind closed doors in Wales.

“This news, however inevitable it may have become during recent days, is a financial setback, but it has not been unforeseen and measures have been, and will be taken, to mitigate for our losses.

Fresh after winning the double, Rowe has taken aim at 'greedy' England and their use of his players. https://t.co/aExQXMFuvT

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 25, 2020

“Of course, we understand there is a bigger picture at play, and the health of the nation and its individuals, which include our supporters, players, administrators and the many volunteers in our game throughout the country, must come first.

“We know the nation will be tuning in and will be with us at Parc y Scarlets in spirit if not in person, and we look forward to the day when we will all be able to gather together once again in more familiar circumstances at Principality Stadium.”

Wales’ Nations Cup campaign starts against Ireland in Dublin on November 13.