Cardiff Blues to play two matches at Cardiff City Stadium in January

Cardiff Blues played at the Cardiff City Stadium between 2009 and 2012 before returning to the Arms Park

Cardiff Blues will play two Pro14 Welsh derbies at Cardiff City Stadium in January as repair work continues at their Arms Park home.

The Arms Park was used to support the National Health Service during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While the stadium was out of action, Cardiff Blues used Rodney Parade in Newport as a temporary home.

They will return to Cardiff City Stadium to face Ospreys on New Year's Day and Scarlets on 9 January.

Cardiff Blues are planning return to the Arms Park in time to welcome Newcastle Falcons in a European Challenge Cup match on 23 January.

Cardiff Blues played at Cardiff City Stadium for three years between 2009 and 2012 before returning to the Arms Park.

They vacated the Arms Park in 2020 because it became part of the Principality Stadium field hospital complex.

The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have decommissioned the site, but the ground was not immediately ready for use because of damage to the surface with a new pitch installed.

On the opening two weekends of January at Rodney Parade, Newport County host Southend in League Two on 2 January before entertaining Brighton in the FA Cup third round eight days later.

Dragons travel to Scarlets on 1 January, while the Gwent-based region host Ospreys eight days later.

Cardiff City are away on the opening two weekends of January.