MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 20:25:22| >> :600:2510868:2510868:

Wales bosses to explore playing matches at the Principality Stadium again

Wales bosses to explore playing matches at the Principality Stadium again
© Reuters
The Dragons were regular guests at the home of Welsh rugby between 2000 and 2009.

Welsh football bosses are to explore the idea of playing games at the Principality Stadium again.

Wales have played only once at the 74,500-capacity rugby citadel since 2011 – a high-profile friendly against former European and world champions Spain in October 2018.

The 33,280-capacity Cardiff City Stadium has proved a popular and successful base for the men's national team over the last decade, with Wales having qualified for the European Championship finals in 2016 and 2020.

Noel Mooney File Photo
New FAW chief executive Noel Mooney says it is possible that Wales could play games at the Principality Stadium again (Brian Lawless/PA)

"We have an agreement with Cardiff City Stadium and everyone really likes going there," Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney told the PA news agency.

"But we'll actually speak to the Welsh Rugby Union late next week. Absolutely we're in discussions with them.

"Just to make sure that if a match comes that, for whatever reason, Cardiff City Stadium is not available.

"Or if there's a real big feeling that people want to go to the Principality Stadium."

Wales v Italy
Craig Bellamy (left) scored the winner in a famous Wales victory over Italy at the Millennium Stadium in 2002 (David Jones/PA)

From 2000 to 2009, the then-named Millennium Stadium was the almost-permanent home of Welsh football.

Wales packed out the stadium in the early years when beating the likes of Germany and Italy and boasted the largest attendances in the whole of Europe.

But the crowds dwindled as the team struggled and the far smaller Cardiff City Stadium was seen as a better fit for the national team.

Next year, Wales face a potential World Cup play-off game in March as well glamorous fixtures in June and September after being promoted to the top tier of the Nations League.

Wales v Estonia – FIFA World Cup 2022 – European Qualifying – Group E – Cardiff City Stadium
Cardiff City Stadium has become a popular home for Wales fans in recent years (Nick Potts/PA)

The draw for the 2022-23 Nations League will be made in December and Wales could attract large crowds if paired with the likes of England, world champions France and European champions Italy.

On the possibility of switching games to the Principality Stadium, Mooney added: "It's something we could well do. Why not?"

Mooney joined the FAW in July after spending 10 years at UEFA, most recently as the European football governing body's head of strategic development.

The Irishman says he has spoken "briefly" to Wales manager Ryan Giggs, who has been on leave from his post since November 2020.

Giggs faces charges of assaulting two women and controlling or coercive behaviour and is due to stand trial in January. The former Manchester United and Wales star denies the charges.

Ryan giggs court case
Wales manager Ryan Giggs is on leave from his position ahead of his court date in January (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Mooney said: "I spoke to Ryan briefly when I joined. He's on a contract with us and we had a pleasant phone call.

"We're just waiting. It's in a process. We're waiting to see how that pans out."

Robert Page, who was a member of Giggs' backroom staff, has been in charge for the last 11 months.

Page led Wales to the last 16 of the delayed 2020 European Championship in the summer and has overseen the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.

ID:465960:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect8297:

Click here for more stories about Ryan Giggs

Click here for more stories about Wales

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale in action with Deportivo Alaves' Pere Pons in La Liga on August 14, 2021
Read Next:
Gareth Bale suffers long-term hamstring injury?
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
Read more about Ryan Giggs Rob Page Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Result
Blanch
Nadal
1 0
6 6
Result
Cachin
Ofner
6 6
3 3
Result
Elahi Galan
Bautista-Agut
64 6 1
77 4 6
Result
Gasquet
Sonego
2 5
6 7
Result
Hanfmann
Mensik
4 63
6 77
10am
Koepfer
Carballes Baena
Result
Kovacevic
Medjedovic
6 5 4
3 7 6
Result
Lajovic
Monteiro
4 3
6 6
Result
Machac
Ruusuvuori
6 1 6
4 6 2
Result
Michelsen
Fonseca
6 0 2
4 6 6
Result
Nishioka
Auger-Aliassime
6 1 4
4 6 6
Result
O'Connell
Arnaldi
4 1
6 6
Result
Purcell
Giron
4 6 77
6 4 62
Result
Ramos-Vinolas
Kotov
3 4
6 6
Result
Tabilo
Cobolli
7 4 4
5 6 6
Result
Zhizhen
Kecmanovic
3 2
6 6
Result
Azarenka
Maria
6 6
3 1
Result
Eala
Cirstea
3 78 4
6 66 6
Result
Annie Fernandez
Potapova
7 6
5 3
Result
Gauff
Rus
6 6
0 0
Result
Keys
Camelia-Begu
77 78
63 66
Result
Podoroska
Navarro
2 1
6 6
Result
Karolina Schmiedlova
Jabeur
4 7 3
6 5 6
Result
Swiatek
Wang
6 6
1 4
Result
Sorribes Tormo
Svitolina
6 7
3 5
Result
Vekic
Sakkari
3 2
6 6
Result
Arango
Yastremska
6 5 4
0 7 6
Result
Osaka
Samsonova
2 6 5
6 4 7
Result
Ostapenko
Bouzas Maneiro
6 6
3 1
Result
Haddad Maia
Errani
6 6
3 2
Result
Lourdes Carle
Kudermetova
6 6
4 4
Result
Mertens
Stephens
6 3 1
3 6 6
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool34228475344174
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!