It doesn’t matter which team’s colours you’re wearing, rugby is an inclusive sport. However, after a disappointing season in 2020, mostly because of COVID-19, we thought this years campaign would be winning for the pub and hospitality industry. The Six Nations starts on the 6th of February and ends on the 20th of March 2021.
Lockdown restrictions not being looked at in England until the 15th February. In Wales it is the 30th January, and then reviewed every two weeks. Even though nothing has been mentioned officially, rumours are that this won’t change until the end of March. But, this means that for the second year running the Six Nations will be watched in a different way.
Six Nations predictions for hospitality
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) predicted that the knock-on effect of 2020 Six Nations will see more than 7 million pints poured in UK pubs. That’s enough to quench the thirst of every adult of drinking age in Scotland and Wales, or water the 82,000 capacity of Twickenham Stadium 85 times over.
What’s more, the industry body had forecast that the 2021 Six Nations fixture would boost pubs by £27 million over the six weeks. As an avid rugby fan – supporting the best team – Wales of course – for me, there is no better place to enjoy live sport than in the pub, with friends and family.
Matchday in Cardiff
There is nothing better than match day in Cardiff. The atmosphere is electric. The streets are packed with everyone wearing red, singing and chanting. Regardless of which team you support, everyone you meet is friendly. Pubs, bars and restaurants are packed to standing room only.
With matches taking place on weekends, and at favourable times, the Six Nations would be welcome news to publicans and restaurants up and down the country. Not forgetting the influx of tourism and boost to hotels, into the different parts of the country. It would be fantastic to see rugby fans watching the Six Nations at their local, or in the city centres in 2021. However, I can’t see it happening.
Six Nations sports buzz
To many, the 2021 Six Nations is the most hotly anticipated sporting event of the sporting calendar. According to MatchPint, they forecasted that the number of people searching for a pub to watch this year’s Six Nations will grow by close to a third (29.5%) versus the previous tournaments, driven by the lack of live sport in 2020 and solid ratings of the Home Nations and the 2019 World Cup.
Forget about the Premier League and boxing, 43% of sports fans surveyed stated the Six Nations is the event they were most looking forward to.
Will the Six Nations 2021 go ahead?
At the time of writing this, the Six Nations is expected to go ahead, without supporters being present. This is despite the rising number of Coronavirus cases in Britain, Ireland and the rest of Europe. Organisers are working on convincing France that the tournament can go ahead safely
Rugby in Wales
I call the Six Nations, Welsh Christmas. It is our national sport. The country does go into a mini lockdown. Families and friends gather together; around the TV, in the rugby or social club, or in the pubs. If you don’t like the sport, you do become a social pariah. Of course, you have to watch all of the games – not just the Welsh games. So, ultimately the tournament becomes 5 all dayers, with a big blow out on Super Saturday. Cardiff comes alive on match day, and the atmosphere is infectious.
How will you be watching the Six Nations?
The hospitality industry is on its knees. It has ravaged the economy; hotels, bars and restaurants have suffered. For more than nine months they have stepped in and out of lockdowns and firebreaks, and thought the Six Nations 2021 would be the saving grace.
Even though the tournament is a war between the six teams, we are all rugby fans together. It seems that the only real losers this year will be the hospitality.
Where will you be watching the 2021 Six Nations?
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