9th April 2021
| Mallory Gray
Cricket Wales are encouraged by today’s announcement by Welsh Government to bring forward the scheduled date of return to permitted organised outdoor activity for adults, to Monday 26th April - and we thank colleagues in Government for their agility in decision-making, in the context of the ever-improving public health statistics in Wales.
To confirm, subject to continued favourable public health conditions, outdoor organised activity for adults, in groups of up to 30, is now scheduled to be permissible from Monday 26th April. This will include cricket fixtures and larger training sessions, which are currently restricted by the up to 2-household/6-person maximum exercise regulations. This date is due to be finally confirmed at the next formal, legal Welsh Government review of Coronavirus regulations, on 22nd April.
Travel restrictions from Wales into England will also be lifted from Monday 12th April, it was confirmed today.
Our guidance for currently permitted outdoor cricket activity in Wales can be found here. This includes match-play guidance for under-18s, which is currently allowed in Wales, under the regulations as they stand.
In conjunction with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), we will update the standing guidance as soon as possible, once Welsh Government have published their revised guidance documents on sport’s phased return, and any additional specific conditions or FAQs related to adult activity.
Cricket Wales CEO, Leshia Hawkins said, “We are obviously buoyed - but also feel quite vindicated - by Welsh Government’s decision to re-prioritise sport in this latest announcement; We have long stated Welsh cricket’s clear desire and commitment to be part of the solution to the challenges that our communities have faced over the last 14 months.
“While we are now fully-focussed on delivering our safe return to play, and as full a cricket season as possible for everyone in our sport, I must also take a moment to express my deep gratitude to colleagues at the Welsh Sports Association (WSA) for their particular commitment to supporting the sector in our dealings with Welsh Government, especially in the last week, which, in my view, will have been critical in bringing us to this positive outcome today.”
As always, clubs should contact their Cricket Wales Area Team officers with any specific queries; we will be happy to answer and support.