Many rugby fans rely on the Cambrian Line to travel to Cardiff

Arriva Trains is not laying on extra services, which means anyone travelling by rail on the day will be late for kick-off - or miss the game altogether.

The train company said the decision to stage the match on Sunday limited the number of services it could provide.

The only service from Aberystwyth will pull into Cardiff 90 minutes after the game ends.

Wales' first home match of this season's Six Nations tournament will kick off at 1500 GMT.

The service is poor in mid Wales without them disrupting the rugby as well Rugby fan Nick Evans

But while the train will leave Aberystwyth at 1234 GMT, it will not arrive in the capital until 1815 GMT.

Fans could drive over the border to catch the 1143 from Shrewsbury, arriving in Cardiff at 1352.

But Aberystwyth is a near two-hour drive from the English town - although it is only 30 minutes from Welshpool.

In north Wales, there is a similar situation. The earliest train from Bangor leaves at 1042 GMT, but does not arrive in Cardiff until 1530, half-an-hour after kick-off.

Supporters in the Wrexham area face a similar dilemma, with the earliest train from there not arriving in Cardiff until 1530.

Arriva Trains said extra services from Milford Haven and from other areas in south Wales had been laid on for fans on Sunday.

However, it said engineering works by Network Rail near Shrewsbury, which were out of the firm's control, affected services for other supporters.

Graeme Bunker, managing director of Arriva Trains Wales, said the firm was "committed" to delivering the best possible service for fans.

Wales beat Scotland 23-10 in their last Cardiff Six Nations clash

He added: "However, when Wales play Scotland this weekend, our intention to deliver the best possible service for rugby fans will be challenged by the fact that the game will be played on a Sunday, in line with television schedules.

"With the game being played on a Sunday, we are limited by the number of services that can be provided.

'Left in the lurch'

"Whilst we will be providing extra services and carriages where possible, we regret that we are not in a position to provide as many services as we would be able to do if the game was played on a Saturday."

With match tickets costing up to �50, the added pressure of making alternative travel arrangements is making some fans unhappy.

Nick Evans, 32, from Newtown, Powys, who has attended dozens of international matches since 1996, said: "Travelling by rail on Sunday has always caused a problem for fans and this Sunday's no exception.

"But matches have been on Sundays for years. Why hasn't this problem been sorted out?

We regret that we are not in a position to provide as many services as we would be able to do if the game was played on a Saturday Graeme Bunker, Arriva Trains

"I'm disappointed we have been left in the lurch by the rail company. The service is poor in mid Wales without them disrupting the rugby as well."

Rail users' group, Passenger Focus, said there were "very few" trains operating on Sunday.

"Trains play a major part in major sporting events and we expect train companies to react and work with the rugby authorities," said a spokeswoman.

There is better news for fans in the Carmarthen area. There are two services that arrive in time for the match - the first leaving the town at 1015 GMT.

Elsewhere in Wales, services from Merthyr Tydfil, Neath, Llanelli and Newport arrive in Cardiff in time for kick-off.

It is not the first time rugby fans have encountered such difficulties. In 2004, a Sunday match against France meant many arrived late for the match.