Wales rugby fans ready for Cardiff Six Nations opener

The crowds building before the opening Six Nations match in Cardiff

Rugby fans and shoppers going to Cardiff on Saturday have been warned all travel routes will be "very busy" for Wales' first 2020 Six Nations game.

About 80,000 people are expected in the Welsh capital for Wayne Pivac's first game as Wales coach versus Italy at the Principality Stadium.

People have been told to "travel early" as the M4 motorway and all roads into Cardiff will be clogged.

City centre roads shut at 10:45 GMT ahead of the 14:15 kick-off.

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World Cup semi-finalists Wales begin their Grand Slam defence in Cardiff, the first of three 2020 Six Nations games at the 74,500-capacity Principality Stadium.

Travelling to Cardiff?

Drivers have been told to "make allowances for busy motorways and trunk roads" by Cardiff council and that central road closures will be in place until 17:15 GMT.

Scarves on sale in central Cardiff

Rail passengers have been advised to leave plenty of time for their journey as "trains in the Cardiff area are expected to be busy all day".

Passengers from north Wales, Shrewsbury and Manchester will need to take a bus replacement service between Abergavenny and Hereford after 20:00 on Saturday as the line is shut for repair.

Wales Six Nations 2020 fixtures

A fan in the build-up to the Wales v Italy match

• Saturday 1 February: Wales v Italy 14:15

• Saturday 8 February: Ireland v Wales 14:15

• Saturday 22 February: Wales v France 16:45

• Saturday 7 March: England v Wales 16:45

• Saturday 14 March: Wales v Scotland 14:15

Cardiff Queen Street station will close to outbound Valley Lines passengers at 15:30 and a post-match queue system will be in place for fans at Cardiff Central.

Transport for Wales says rail services will "have extra capacity where possible".

Buses will be unable to use city centre bus stops between 10:45 and 17:45 so Cardiff Bus services will depart and terminate at different stops.

Cardiff's city centre taxi rank at St Mary Street closed at 10:45 and will re-open at 17:15.

Fans in Westgate Street before the game

Going to the game?

Rugby fans have been told to arrive at the Principality Stadium in good time before kick-off due to the "unprecedented security situation" following "recent tragic events in the UK".

Stadium gates opened at 11:30 - two hours and 45 minutes before kick-off - and fans were advised to leave bags at home.