28 March 2020

Principality Stadium in Wales to be converted into field hospital for coronavirus patients

The Principality Stadium, home of Welsh rugby, is set to be turned into a 2,000 bed field hospital for people affected by the coronavirus.

The Wales Rugby Union and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have combined forces to make the 74,500 capacity stadium in Cardiff available to help the effort.

Len Richards, CEO of the health board said: "I understand the concern that this will cause, not only in the community but among my staff too.

"However we are planning on the basis of what we think we might need to ensure we are as ready as we can be."

Work has already begun on converting the stadium.

Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health and Social Services, said: “I have made £8m in capital funding available to Cardiff and Vale to help with that planning for hospital and community beds." 

Martyn Phillips, chief executive at the WRU, said it is a 'privilege to be able to offer our services, facilities and a significant number of operational staff, at their individual choice, to help at this time of national emergency'.

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