Posted by The covers have come off the Cardiff Arms Park pitch as the decommissioning of Ysbyty Calon y Ddraig begins in earnest in the capital’s city centre.
Since April the plastic pitch has been covered over as the historic ground has provided storage, offices and a staff breakout area for the field hospital which was set up on the pitch of the Principality Stadium next door.
Thankfully the hospital was not required to reach even close to full capacity in the fight against COVID-19, but both grounds have remained on standby in case of a second spike in the virus, with the end of October spelling the end of the current deal struck by Cardiff Blues, the Welsh Rugby Union, the NHS and the Welsh Government.
Now though, with a suggestion that the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board are organising a field hospital elsewhere in the city, the decommissioning of both grounds has got underway with some of the upper levels of the Principality Stadium clear and the Arms Park pitch in the light of day again.
At this point there is no suggestion that Cardiff Blues will be able to train or play at the ground in the immediate future, but there remains a hope that we will be able to host festive derbies at our home with the possibility of supporters, pending how hard the virus hits during the winter.
Image credit: @math_armspark
Cardiff Rugby Life 