Rugby fans caught up in traffic to miss first half (From Oxford Mail)

Rugby fans caught up in traffic to miss first half

11:10am Monday 31st December 2012 in News

A RECORD rugby crowd caused traffic misery on Saturday with an estimated 1,000 fans missing part of the first half.

Heavy delays were reported around Oxford’s Kassam Stadium as the London Welsh rugby game attracted a crowd of 10,045.

There were jams around the Heyford Hill roundabout before the kick-off at 3pm in the Aviva Premiership match which saw London Welsh lose 15-34 to Wasps.

Managing director John Taylor last night told the Oxford Mail the club had tried to get Wasps to delay the kick-off when they realised the traffic problems.

He said: “The problem was not the ground itself, it was getting to the ground. Obviously that is something that is a little bit out of our control.

“We are going to have to embark on a real education process of the different routes to the ground.”

Wasps fan Alan Davies said on Twitter: “Parking was a disgrace and missed most of 1st half.”

London Welsh, which moved to Oxford in September, apologised to fans in September after traffic and parking problems marred their first game in the city.

City council leader Bob Price, a London Welsh fan, travelled to Saturday’s game by bike.

He said: “My impression is the road system simply isn’t adequate for crowds of that size travelling by car.

It’s very much a stadium geared up for local crowds – for those walking or going by bus.”