Judgement Day: Welsh Domestic Rugby Season Finale Approaches
As the prolonged and oftentimes arduous Welsh domestic rugby campaign enters its final stage, the annual regional double-header known as Judgement Day is upon us this weekend. However, this year’s event will take place at a venue more associated with football – the Cardiff City Stadium, as opposed to the traditional Principality Stadium.
On Saturday, Scarlets will face off against the Dragons (3:00 PM BST), followed by a clash between Cardiff and the Ospreys (5:30 PM BST). The Principality Stadium, which has typically hosted the Welsh rugby showdown, is unavailable due to the venue’s busy concert schedule, which includes performances by Bruce Springsteen, Pink, Taylor Swift, and Foo Fighters in May and June.
Former Wales flanker Josh Navidi will provide some musical entertainment of his own, with a DJ set at the Cardiff City Stadium. Traditionally held around Easter, this year’s Judgement Day event was pushed back due to the delay in the United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign caused by the 2023 World Cup.
With a capacity of 33,280, the Cardiff City Stadium is significantly smaller than the Principality Stadium’s 74,500 seats. Last season’s Judgement Day event at the national stadium attracted a crowd of 41,139, and Welsh rugby bosses are bracing for lower attendance figures this time around, hoping for at least half of the previous year’s numbers.
From a team perspective, there is little on the line, as the four Welsh sides currently occupy the lower half of the URC table. Ospreys, in 11th place, are the only team with a slim chance of finishing in the top eight and reaching the play-offs. The regional shield has already been won by Ospreys.
However, individual players will be eager to impress Wales head coach Warren Gatland, who will name his squad for the upcoming Tests against South Africa and Australia just two days after the Judgement Day fixtures. With several key players unavailable due to injury or club commitments outside of Wales, there are opportunities for new faces to stake their claim.
🔗 Source
