A PITCH INVADER stops a massive try-scoring opportunity for Wales’ Liam Williams… calling into question the security at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium
- In the 63rd minute a man dressed in black entered the field on the left wing
- Welsh wing Liam Williams had to hurdle him as he ran for the try line
- The trespasser was quickly tackled by a steward and he was booed by the crowd
- The incident calls into question the security at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium
A pitch invader disrupted a key Wales attack during their five-point defeat to South Africa, calling into question the security at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
In the 63rd minute a man dressed in black entered the field on the left wing and was tackled to the ground, with Welsh wing Liam Williams having to hurdle him as he ran for the line.
It is the second time in consecutive weeks someone has rushed onto the field in Cardiff – after a prankster ‘Jarvo 69’ joined the New Zealand team during their anthems seven days previously.
LIam Williams had a clear try-scoring opportunity scuppered by a pitch invader in Cardiff
The pitch invader stopped Williams running freely onto the ball and South Africa recovered
He was dragged off the pitch by stewards as Wales’ Josh Adams looked on in disbelief
This time the trespasser was quickly tackled by a steward, and fans threw pints of beer at him as he was bundled away.
Principality Stadium manager Mark Williams said in a statement after: ‘We condemn this type of behaviour in the strongest possible terms. He was intercepted and immediately escorted from the stadium and handed over to South Wales Police.’
Wales boss Wayne Pivac commented: ‘You don’t want to see that in the game. It’s very disappointing that happened, but nothing the officials could do about that.’
Asked if Wales might have scored from the move the man disrupted, Pivad added: ‘I don’t know. At the time, I thought “here we go”. We had a one-man advantage. I haven’t had a chance to speak to the players.
The invader was booed and had beer thrown at him as he was ejected from the stadium
‘They might have been distracted but there wasn’t much more the officials could have done. They’ve got to deal with that the way they did.’
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said: ‘There was nothing we could have done. Both teams reacted to the situation.
‘You just see someone getting tackled. I thought it was well taken care of by the stadium staff.’