Wales kick off their Nations Championship campaign against Fiji on Saturday, but the match will be played at Cardiff City Stadium rather than the Principality Stadium.
Why is the match not at Principality Stadium?
The fixture is officially a home game for Fiji, who have opted to play their summer home matches in the UK. Following this match, Fiji will face England at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool and Scotland at Murrayfield.
The decision is believed to be financially motivated, with Fiji's governing body considering it more lucrative to host matches on British soil. Fiji reportedly wants to expand its facilities in Suva before hosting Nations Championship matches at home.
Why Cardiff City Stadium?
While Scotland's match is at their home ground Murrayfield, Wales' match is not at Principality Stadium. The reasons have not been explicitly stated, but factors may include ticket demand and scheduling.
Wales recently played the Barbarians in London, partly due to a Metallica concert at Principality Stadium. This weekend, there are no concerts, but staff are preparing the pitch for the Community Shield in August.
Ticket demand may also be a factor, given Wales' recent struggles. Six Nations ticket sales were patchy, though they improved as performances did. A July match against Fiji may not draw the same crowd as a Six Nations or autumn international.
About Cardiff City Stadium
The home of Cardiff City and the Wales national football team holds around 33,280 fans, significantly fewer than Principality Stadium's 74,000. It has been used sparingly for rugby, including Cardiff Blues matches between 2009 and 2012, Judgement Day in 2024, and the 2011 Challenge Cup final.
