LOUIS Rees-Zammit, amongst many in Welsh rugby, has expressed the need for fans to attend games on Twitter.
Link: https://twitter.com/LouisReesZammit/status/1478849188255436807
The social media reaction came after Mark Drakeford made clear the stance the Welsh government were taking and why rugby crowds remained capped at 50 after their most recent review.
With the maximum attendance at sports events in Wales remaining capped at 50 spectators, many took to Twitter to voice their concern.
Louis Rees-Zammit retweeted the news that the WRU are looking at the possibility of playing their upcoming Six Nations home fixtures at a venue in England, should the restrictions continue into the tournament.
The tweet was captioned “Rugby is nothing without the fans, make it happen”.
Liam Williams retweet (left) https://twitter.com/SanjayWills/status/1479142068203237378
Jonathan Davies retweet (right) https://twitter.com/JiffyRugby/status/1479146168210931724
Fellow Wales international Liam Williams appeared supportive of his teammate, while tv presenter and former Welsh international Jonathan Davies said it was in the government’s hands.
Link: https://twitter.com/Coronavirusgoo1/status/1479533065546477572
Former Wales international Tom Shanklin reposted promising statistics from England, with the number of hospital admissions due to Covid dropping in the past week.
Daily patients admitted to hospital as of 6 January according to gov.uk, as sourced by Peter Gillibrand (left) Link: https://twitter.com/GillibrandPeter/status/1480156687696908295
meanwhile case rate in Wales drops (right) Link: https://twitter.com/GillibrandPeter/status/1480156687696908295
However, the most recent figures in Wales suggest a rise in admissions to hospitals, with the expected peak still yet to hit, alongside the annual wave of flu.
Promising figures have continued to circulate on social media in other categories such as a decline in the amount of reported new daily cases.
The restrictions could have severe financial implications on teams in all Welsh sport and the concern can be seen at all levels of rugby across social media.
Chairman of Dragons, David Buttress, expressed his view on the situation stating it is “devastating” for the sport in Wales. Link: https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19798425.dragons-chairman-david-buttress-ban-fans-brutal/
Many have questioned the effectiveness of the restrictions, with the example of Caerphilly RFC who played a game on the 27th in front of the maximum 50 fans outside.
This was with a further 140 indoors, which is still in keeping with Welsh law and the game made headlines in Wales.
“The decisions on where to play matches are in the end for the WRU to make, not the Welsh government to make.” Said Drakeford.
“I want to put on record my appreciation for the way in which the WRU has conducted its business for the whole of the pandemic,
“It was the WRU who decided to cancel a match between Wales and Scotland at the start of the pandemic before government was asking them to do that.
“It was the WRU that made the Principality Stadium available to be a Nightingale Hospital and it was the WRU that very successfully ran four internationals in Cardiff during the Autumn.”
Drakeford has stated “we have to see the tide turn” on Covid, and that the restrictions are unlikely to be lifted before the expected peak of the most recent wave.
The peak is expected to be in two weeks, by the time the next government review will take place.
Hawkinsport 