AJ-Fury boxing fight won’t impact Cardiff Champions Cup rugby game
Cardiff Rugby’s Investec Champions Cup match against Bath Rugby will not be moved even if it clashes with the blockbuster fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
The Battle of Britain boxing bout is closing in on Cardiff’s Principality Stadium as its host, with 11 December pencilled in as the date.
Bath Rugby’s trip to Cardiff Arms Park, which is adjacent to the Principality Stadium, to take on Cardiff Rugby is happening on 12th December.
But given the late start time planned for the biggest British boxing card this century to coincide with US prime time broadcasting hours, the main event is likely to get underway in the early hours of 12 December.
City AM understands, however, that Investec Champions Cup governing body EPCR is not expecting to shift the date of Cardiff’s tie against their opponents from across the River Severn.
Cardiff’s second home fixture will not take place until January, when they take on Montpellier at Cardiff Arms Park.
Big Cardiff weekender
EPCR does have rules in place for late delays to matches, including rescheduling, with the fixture expected to be staged within 24 hours of the original kick-off time. This, however, is often only deployed when severe weather impacts pitch surfaces or regional conditions.
Earlier this year a second-tier Challenge Cup match between the Toyota Cheetahs and Ulster was initially delayed and then moved before being cancelled. Away side Ulster were awarded a 28-0 victory due to Toyota Cheetahs breaching hosting-responsibility rules.
Cardiff will be the only Welsh representative in the Investec Champions Cup this season, with the Ospreys, Scarlets and Newport taking part in the Challenge Cup.
Bath, who are one of eight English teams in the competition, reached the semi-finals last year before losing to eventual champions Bordeaux Begles at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.