Train row over Friday Six Nations

It will be the first Friday Six Nations fixture at the Millennium Stadium

Train companies have criticised the late start time of next year's Friday night Six Nations clash between Wales and France in Cardiff.

First Great Western and Arriva Trains Wales warn they might struggle to cope with the crowds who attend the match at the Millennium Stadium on 26 February.

They have urged a rethink of the 2000 GMT kick-off, saying they are worried about getting fans home afterwards.

The Welsh Rugby Union said it was "confident" a solution could be found.

Next year's fixture will be the first Friday night Six Nations game to be held in Cardiff.

The two sides faced each other in the tournament's first Friday night game this year when France beat Wales 21-16 at Stade de France in February.

Announcing the 2010 fixture, David Pickering, Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and Six Nations chairman, said Wales was "delighted to be involved in the ongoing experiment in the fixture schedule".

It is now common place for the Millennium Stadium and other stadia around the UK to host evening events of various kinds throughout the year

WRU

He said the match in Paris this year generated the biggest TV audience for a game in France at an average audience of 5.9m and TV audiences throughout the UK, Ireland and Italy where the second largest of all the 15 tournament games, at 11m.

"We are very much looking forward to what should be a great night out in Cardiff for the fans," he added.

However, the train companies say they will struggle to cope with an estimated finish time of around 2200 BST.

First Great Western spokesman, John Pockett, said the company will be raising the issue with the WRU and the Millennium Stadium's management.

"We are disappointed that the WRU have agreed to the late timing of this fixture," he said.

"Holding a rugby fixture so late on a Friday night in the centre of Cardiff has no regard for the transport requirements of the tens of thousands of spectators in the stadium and other supporters who will be watching the game in Cardiff's bars and pubs.

"With a finishing time of approaching 10pm this will put an extra strain on the services at Cardiff Central station."

'Safe service'

Arriva Trains Wales Head of Stations Peter Northcott said the company has not objected to the Millennium Stadium organisers.

But he said the company was concerned about some of the potential problems of safely transporting thousands of fans at such a late hour.

"We feel that public transport provision and the effect it may have on fans who wish to travel home after the match needs further consideration," he said.

"Providing a safe and effective service for spectators before and after the match is our number one priority and we will be consulting with stakeholders and rail colleagues about how this can be achieved and if we can do so we will."

In a statement, the WRU said: "We have maintained a dialogue with Arriva Trains with regards the issue of evening events at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

"It is now common place for the Millennium Stadium and other stadia around the UK to host evening events of various kinds throughout the year.

"We fully understand that there are difficulties associated with evening concerts and sporting occasions but we are confident that they can be resolved so that cities like Cardiff and the surrounding areas can reap the rewards of the commercial benefits associated with these occasions."