Storm Boelo brought widespread disruption to Welsh rugby's cup competitions at the weekend, with 13 second round matches resulting in walkovers and a further 40 games postponed across the pyramid.
Under Welsh Rugby Union rules, any team failing to fulfil a cup fixture automatically forfeits the match, with opponents advancing to the next round. The weather, featuring howling winds and heavy rain, compounded an issue that has affected the game in recent years, with 18 cup fixtures ending in walkovers at the same time last year.
Clubs across divisions affected
Clubs from Division 1 through to Division 5 were impacted, with round 2 of the Division 3 Cup the most badly hit, as five matches failed to go ahead. Rhyl and District, Teirw Nant, Tonmawr, Trimsaran and Whitehead all advanced after their opponents Bangor, Welshpool, Neyland, Whitland and Taffs Well were unable to fulfil fixtures.
In Division 4, Baglan, Furnace United, Nantymoel and St Davids progressed at the expense of Cwmgwrach, Pontyates, Briton Ferry and Penybanc. There were two further forfeitures in Division 5, with Cefn Coed advancing ahead of Llandaff North, while Llangefni Athletic were unable to fulfil their fixture at Porthmadog.
Premiership and other postponements
In Division 1, Ystradgynlais were handed a walkover against Nantyffyllon, while in Division 2 Kidwelly advanced instead of Pontarddulais. Around 40 other games across the country were called off entirely due to weather, with Merthyr's 38-5 win over Bedwas and Ystrad Rhondda's 0-15 defeat to Beddau the only games out of six to go ahead in the WRU Premiership.
Pontypool's Super Rygbi Cymru match against Newport was also postponed. Four further matches were abandoned this weekend, although one of them, the contest between Llangefni and Nant Conwy, was due to an injury.
