When the match began, only 4,000 spectators were at the ground; however, crowd noise attracted additional interest (and attendance) as the game progressed. The Scarlets back left the field for a head injury assessment just after Biggar made it 6-0. A memorial was placed in Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral in 2010 to commemorate the tragedy. "[61], Wales returned to Ninian Park in 1978, where ongoing safety improvements had allowed 25,000 fans to attend a match against England. [58] Wales' next match, against England, celebrated the 100th anniversary of their first international fixture; at the Racecourse, 21,000 fans saw a 2–1 loss. The victory against Spain was Wales' eighth consecutive undefeated match at the Racecourse, and most of the Welsh players were eager to return to North Wales for the deciding fixture. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? Tompkins then received possession and produced an immaculate 30-metre finish and celebrated in style. Wales' final match in the competition was a 1–1 draw with Northern Ireland at Vetch Field, which was attended by 7,845 fans. Still, a 21-0 half-time lead was never going to be overturned. Tompkins’ first impressions on Test rugby were classy to say the least, but he had to return to the bench as McNicholl came back from his concussion checks. Although one match was moved to Anfield in Liverpool in 1977 as a result of crowd trouble, no other venue would host a Wales home international fixture between 1910 and 1989 (when the team began playing at the National Stadium in Cardiff). [80] When work began, the national side was forced to look for another venue. He has told his team they must not defend but earn the right to win their 2019 Grand Slam and Triple Crown all over again and while there will be much stiffer challenges to come than feeble Italy, Wales will travel to Ireland next Saturday with confidence. [48] Wales reached the quarter-finals, where they were defeated by Brazil. [72] The decision to move the UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying match to the National Stadium because of concerns that necessary safety improvements at Ninian Park would not be completed in time was controversial, and FAW secretary Alun Evans alluded to matches between Belgium and the Home Nations being deemed "sensitive" after the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster. [63] The early 1980s saw sporadic crowd numbers for the national side; football hooliganism was widespread, as club rivalries, including the South Wales derby between Cardiff City and Swansea City, carried over into international matches. [61][62] Despite promises to the contrary, Wales fans were outnumbered when the ticket-selling system was exploited by Scottish fans who travelled to Wales to buy them in bulk. It attracted only 10,000 spectators, despite Denmark's claim that it had a large following. Although the FAW agreed, Danish authorities complained to UEFA that they should receive the same treatment as the Italians to attract their planned 4,000 fans, who could not be accommodated at Ninian Park. [2][8] Wales had considerable success against the Irish side during the 1880s, winning by five or more goals on five occasions. Saracens centre Tompkins replaced McNicholl with North moving back to his more familiar wing position, albeit temporarily. It made him the first Welshman to score a home hat-trick in the Championship since 1969 and only the second after North to score a Six Nations treble. Despite organising free train travel for supporters in North Wales, only 5,000 attended the game, a crushing 9–1 defeat for Wales. [6][7] The Racecourse remained the only ground to host a Wales home international match until 1890, including the first meetings between Wales and England (1880) and Ireland (1882).