Murray Kinsella reports from Principality Stadium, Cardiff
THE ROOF OF the Principality Stadium will be open for tomorrow’s Six Nations clash between Wales and Ireland, at the request of Joe Schmidt’s team.
Despite heavy rain being forecast for tomorrow’s 2.45pm kick-off, Ireland have ensured that the roof will not be closed.
The roof will be open for tomorrow’s clash in Cardiff. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
The retractable roof of the Cardiff city centre is invariably a talking point before big games in the championship.
The Six Nations leaves the decisions in the hands of the unions involved, with both nations having to agree on closing the roof. In the event of a disagreement, the roof stays open.
Despite the forecast for rain and wind tomorrow in Cardiff, Ireland have requested that the roof stay open for tomorrow’s clash, when Wales will attempt to secure a Grand Slam.
Ireland agreed to close the roof the last time they played Wales in Cardiff in 2017, but Schmidt was unhappy with the pitch being watered heavily before kick-off.
This week, Wales made a direct request to the Six Nations for the roof to be closed, but the decision was left in Ireland’s hands as per the previous protocol.
“We know, as players, that it’s going to be open,” said Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones before his team’s captain’s run this afternoon.
Source: The42 Rugby Weekly/SoundCloud
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