A ground which has previously been described as "the world’s biggest pub" went "partly teetotal" on Saturady as the Welsh Rugby Union began its trial of an alcohol-free zone within the Principality Stadium, according to Sam Peters of the SUNDAY TIMES. Years of complaints from spectators "fed up with the amount of time they were forced to stand up mid-game as fellow fans went to and from the bars within the stadium built to a crescendo last season." A steward was "butted" during Wales' autumn test against New Zealand "while a disabled man was verbally abused by a group of drunken louts in the same match." Time will tell if the ban, introduced on a trial basis in parts of the North Stand for the four tests this autumn, "is here to stay" but early signs were "not overly encouraging" in terms of ticket sales as "barely half" the allocated 4,000 seats were sold. Rugby has "long prided itself" on the good behavior of its fans and there is "no suggestion of football-style blanket alcohol bans for fans at their seats being introduced across the game." The WRU will seek feedback from every fan who sat in the North Stand section via an online questionnaire. WRU CEO Martyn Phillips is "refusing to rule out retaining the ban" for next year's Six Nations if the trial proves successful. There was a "noticeably calmer atmosphere" with few fans leaving their seats during the match, while other areas of the stadium "heaved throughout with people going to and from the bars" (SUNDAY TIMES, 11/4).
