Welsh Sports Fixtures Postponed Due to Storm Darragh

The schedule of domestic Welsh football and rugby matches for Saturday has been cancelled because of anticipated storms. Cardiff City’s home Championship fixture against Watford, along with Newport County’s League Two match against Carlisle United, both slated for Saturday, have been postponed due to concerns regarding Storm Darragh. This development follows the decision by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) to postpone all domestic football and rugby matches in Wales scheduled for Saturday. Cardiff had initially indicated that their league fixture was set to proceed, with a safety inspection planned for 11:00 GMT on Saturday. However, the Welsh club has since announced that the game will now be rescheduled. A statement from the club read: “Due to new advice received from the Met Office, and the recommendations of Cardiff Council and South Wales Police, tomorrow’s match has now been postponed in the interest of supporter safety.” Newport also reached the decision to postpone their match after consulting with the Met Office, the English Football League (EFL), and the Safety Advisory Group (SAG). In a statement, Newport affirmed: “The safety of travelling fans, staff, players, and officials is the top priority, and this is considered the best decision given the circumstances.” The FAW held discussions with the Met Office, which has issued red, amber, and yellow weather warnings for the vast majority of Wales and is forecasting damaging winds and heavy rain, causing significant disruption and danger to life. Consequently, all fixtures from the Cymru Premier league downwards have been called off on Saturday. Additionally, Friday night’s Haverfordwest County v Briton Ferry Llansawel match was also cancelled due to the weather. An FAW statement conveyed: “It is not safe to drive in such weather, including travelling to and from football matches. Being outside in high winds increases the risk of injury and the Met Office advises people to stay indoors if possible.” Clubs have been advised to inspect for and secure any loose items around their grounds if it can be done safely. This includes bins, furniture, goalposts, and fences etc. Potential postponements of fixtures on Friday, 6 December, and Sunday, 8 December, will be considered on a case-by-case basis, in line with each individual league’s policy. Merthyr Town’s Southern League Premier South game against Basingstoke has also been postponed. The WRU similarly decided to postpone all domestic rugby fixtures across the country scheduled for Saturday. The WRU further stated: “For fixtures scheduled on Friday, 6 December and Sunday, 8 December, clubs are advised to only proceed should they feel it is safe to do so.” Horse racing in Wales was also affected, with Saturday’s Christmas Party Raceday event at Chepstow being cancelled.