SCOTTISH Rugby has confirmed that the national team’s first home game in the Six Nations, against Wales on 13 February, will be held behind closed doors. The governing body has still to announce arrangements for Scotland’s two subsequent Championship matches at BT Murrayfield, against Ireland and Italy on 14 and 10 March respectively.

SRU chief executive Mark Dodson expressed the hope in the autumn that crowds of up to 25,000 would be able to attend games, but last month accepted that the deteriorating pandemic situation had “put back the prospect of having meaningful crowds at the Six Nations this year”. The SRU announced its decision on the Wales game via Twitter yesterday, saying: “To comply with current Scottish Government public health guidance on Covid-19, Scottish Rugby's Six Nations fixture vs Wales on Sat 13 Feb at BT Murrayfield will be played behind closed doors. Access to home matches vs Ireland & Italy respectively are under current review.”

It was already known that Scotland’s opening game of the Championship, away to England on 6 February, would go ahead without fans. The team’s other away game, against France on 28 February, is also set to be behind closed doors.