Wales Make Special Request For Six Nations Games Versus Ireland & England

Wales have formally requested that the Principality Stadium roof be closed for their home Six Nations matches this year.

Rob Howley’s side face Ireland and England this year in Wales, and in order for their request to be accepted, usually both teams must be in agreement. The roof would stay open otherwise.

Howley believes that playing conditions are better when the roof is closed and with the added incentive of bonus-points this year-  the best possible playing conditions should be paramount.

The interim head coach hopes this may sway the Six Nations chiefs.

“I have asked the question, and believe it should be a closed stadium,” said Howley.

“You could have a scenario down the line when you played three home games that the away team need to win and we need to win with a bonus point. What are the best conditions?

“The higher echelons are, I hope, making a decision as we speak. Questions are being asked over the next week (about making it a closed stadium for the Six Nations), and I put it in the autumn when bonus points were coming in.

“We generally play in the autumn with the roof closed, and I made a mistake against Australia and kept it open because it was a fine day. I underestimated the occasion, and we did not have the best conditions for the team. We all make mistakes.

“The roof has to be closed (going forward) for the best conditions and the game to be played to the benefit of both teams. It has to be the best conditions for the game of rugby.

“Tries in the Six Nations are generally scored in March because weather dictates the games in early February.

“Rugby should be played in the best conditions, and if we are able to create that in the Principality Stadium, I would like to think those decisions will be made sooner or later. I hope bonus points provide a nudge.

“The roof being closed would give us the best conditions for the best rugby.”

What do you think? Should the roof remain closed or open? Does it matter?