Six Nations 2022: WRU 'delight' at 63,000 fans for France game after Friday night criticism

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has responded to criticism of hosting France in a Six Nations Friday night game that failed to draw a capacity crowd.

The attendance of more than 63,000 fans was around 11,000 shy of the Principality Stadium capacity.

Former chairman Gareth Davies was among the critics, citing ticket pricing and the Friday night factor.

But the WRU expressed "delight" at 63,000-plus fans attending.

However, Davies argued the France game's timing and cost were a barrier to attendance by Welsh fans.

"It's a bit of both in the sense that, £100 for a ticket, so if you are going as a family it almost renders it impossible I'd have thought for most people in Wales," Davies told Radio Wales Breakfast ahead of the encounter.

"Plus of course the fact the Friday night is not that attractive for any travelling French fans as well.

"The French normally pile into Cardiff in big numbers but that Friday night with work commitments makes it more challenging.

"If there are 10,000 tickets available for tonight then, the Union will be disappointed because France is one of the attractive games at home and it will be a financial hit."

Davies admits it is hard to discount tickets once prices have been set.

"It makes it difficult for the people that have already paid £100, that's the problem," added Davies.

"Perhaps if the WRU had seen it coming a bit earlier and maybe some intelligence coming from clubs that they couldn't offset the cost.

"Having pitched the price it does make it unfair then to change the price having seen people having already paid out the full amount."

Tickets remained on the WRU website in the build up, while some were sold via Welsh rugby clubs who pay the governing body for them months in advance.

Clubs can then be left having to cover the cost if they are unable to sell them to their members.

The WRU said in a statement: 'We're delighted to confirm over 63,000 supporters were able to attend the game on Friday and enjoy a match day experience at the Principality Stadium which is the envy of rugby supporters the world over."

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The governing body says it expects "another near-capacity crowd" when Wales' tournament ends against Italy in Cardiff on Saturday, 19 March.

"In total, with Wales' second-round match against Scotland a 74,000 sell-out, nearly 200,000 fans will have passed through Principality Stadium turnstiles during the 2022 competition and this is hugely positive for Welsh rugby, especially in light of the Covid-19 restrictions in place just a few short months ago," the WRU added.

"We were immensely proud of the successful and safe delivery of the Autumn Nations Series at Principality Stadium earlier this season, especially during such a challenging time.

"We saw a record number of sales for the games as Principality Stadium hosted 270,000 supporters across four matches.

"Following the autumn matches uncertainty around Covid-19 pre-Christmas temporarily dented consumer confidence and ticket sales stalled during what would ordinarily be an extremely buoyant sales window over the festive season.

"This, coupled with significantly fewer supporters travelling from overseas (which usually equates to around 10,0000 visitors for a match against France) for a Friday night match, may have negatively affected the gate.

"We always hope to sell-out every game but, to put the 2022 Championship attendances into perspective: a 200,000 attendance over these three home matches would have been a hugely welcome outcome for Welsh rugby during the recent Christmas period - when crowds at events were at one time limited to their hundreds."

Three home matches in one tournament means Wales sometimes host a game on a Friday night or Sunday.

In 2017, Davies said the Principality Stadium would not host Friday night matches for a couple of years but it has now returned to Cardiff, while other countries refuse to stage fixtures in this slot.

"The media, more particularly television pay a lot of money for the rights so they need games spread on Friday, Saturday and Sunday," added Davies.

"Going back to my time, it does become a negotiation around the Six Nations table where every nation has to stage a fixture away from Saturday.

"The intelligence we had at the time was that Sunday was less popular than a Friday, but that may very well have changed."

Biggar's perspective

Wales captain Dan Biggar admitted he prefers playing on a Saturday afternoon.

"It (Friday night rugby) is a little bit different and probably not quite the same as a Saturday afternoon," said Biggar.

"If it was purely down to us and me I would like to see Saturday afternoon.

"Even Sundays don't quite feel the same for Six Nations. I've always felt like a Saturday afternoon in the Six Nations is special and traditional.

"I think getting to the ground for people is more of a pain on a Friday night.

"It is what it is, we have had quite a few games on Friday nights and you just get on with it.

"It's not a huge issue for us, it's just that if you were going to ask me what I associate with Six Nations rugby it would be Saturday afternoon."

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