Wales v Italy Six Nations road closures in Cardiff

Here is everything you need to know ahead of Wales' final Six Nations game at the Principality Stadium

16:20, 10 Mar 2026

View Image

Wales fans have been urged to check their travel plans before the final game of the Six Nations campaign(Image: Mark Lewis)

Wales' international rugby team will take to the field at the Principality Stadium this Saturday for their final Guinness men's Six Nations Championship 2026 match against Italy. Following two strong performances against Scotland and Ireland the team will look to end the campaign on a high despite their current position at the bottom of the table. Flanker Alex Mann says the squad is confident they can secure a win.[1][2]

Road closures will be in effect across Cardiff[3] on matchday, March 14, with streets around the stadium closed from 12.30pm until 9pm.

Kick off is at 4.40pm and congestion on the M4[4] is expected to be heavy. Fans are encouraged to plan ahead and consider using the park and ride at the Vindico Arena car park in International Drive in the Sports Village (CF11 0JS) to avoid delays.

For real-time traffic updates on motorways and trunk roads check the Traffic Wales website or follow @TrafficWalesS on Twitter and Facebook. Visitors are also reminded to check the stadium's prohibited items list, especially the bag policy, before heading into the city.

Don't miss a rugby story, sign up for our newsletter[7].[5][6]

Road closures

Early closures:

• From 7am Scott Road and Park Street will close to prepare gate five and protect queuing fans.

Full city centre closures:

• Kingsway (North Road to Duke Street)
• Cowbridge Road East (Cathedral Road to Westgate Street)
• Tudor Street (Clare Road to Wood Street) - residents and traders can access via Fitzhamon Embankment
• Plantagenet Street and Beauchamp Street (Despenser Place to Tudor Street) - residents and traders only
• Fully closed streets: Duke Street, Castle Street, High Street, St Mary Street, Caroline Street, Wood Street, Central Square, Westgate Street, Quay Street, Guildhall Place, Golate, Park Street, Havelock Street, Scott Road

Penarth[8] Road will also be closed 30 minutes before the game finishes and up to an hour after the final whistle on safety grounds for train passengers arriving and departing from the train station.

Access to part of the Civic Centre will be controlled throughout the day with access allowed only for event parking, limited commuter parking, loading, and access to private car parks. Roads affected include King Edward VII Avenue, Museum Avenue, City Hall Road, College Road, and Gorsedd Gardens Road.

Trains

Great Western Railway (GWR)

GWR will run additional services to help customers get home from this year's Six Nations fixtures at the Principality Stadium. Extra trains will operate from Cardiff Central to Swansea[9], Newport[10], Bristol, and London with plenty of parking available at station car parks.

Trains are, however, expected to be very busy immediately after matches and a queueing system will be in place outside the station to help people board trains safely.

Those travelling from further afield should check connecting services at www.gwr.com/check[11].

Transport for Wales (TfW)

TfW will trial a new post-match crowd management approach for Wales vs Italy on March 14 aimed at improving the matchday experience for fans and prepare for major works at Cardiff Central.

Fans heading home on Valleys and Vale services will be directed to Cardiff Queen Street station instead of Cardiff Central.

Mainline queues will remain on Cardiff Central Square with Valley and the Vale queues now at Cardiff Queen Street Station.

• Platform 2 - Cardiff Bay, Barry Island, Penarth, Bridgend
• Platform 3 - Aberdare
• Platform 4 - Pontypridd, Treherbert, Merthyr Tydfil
• Platform 5 - Bargoed, Caerphilly, Rhymney, Coryton, Ystrad Mynach

To save time at the station fans are reminded to have a valid ticket before travelling and are encouraged to use the contactless pay as you go system across the South Wales Metro network or the TfW app.

Passengers using pay as you go payment method should tap in at their departure station and then tap out using same payment method via the dedicated pay as you go revenue lanes when exiting at Cardiff Central.

Transport for Wales volunteers will be available to assist with tapping in and out.

Pay as you go is currently available on the TfW and Cross-Country services across the South Wales Metro network (not available on Great Western Railway (GWR) services).

Cardiff Bus Interchange will close at 12.30pm and re-open at 9pm.

Park and ride facilities

The event park and ride facilities will be using the car park by Vindico Arena in International Drive in the Sports Village, Cardiff Bay[12], CF11 0JS.

The drop-off point in the city centre is Tresillian Way.

The car park opens at 9.30am and first bus is at 10am and last bus from city centre is at 7.30pm.

The cost is GBP15 paid by cash only.

Event-day parking

Civic Centre:

• Directions: Exit junction 32 M4, head south on A470, follow signage
• Cost: GBP20 cars, GBP30 coaches (card payments available)
• Hours: 8am to 12am

Sophia Gardens:

• Exit Junction 32 M4
• Cost: GBP20 cars, GBP30 coaches (card payments available)
• Hours: 8am to 12am
• Staffed until 7pm; vehicles left at owner's risk

City centre car parks:

• North Road, St David's Shopping Centre, John Lewis, Capitol Shopping Centre, NCP (Adam Street, Dumfries Place, Greyfriars Road)

Disabled parking:

• Sophia Gardens and various private car parks (check websites for availability)

Bus

Local buses

Local bus routes will be diverted while city centre road closures are in effect.

• For Stagecoach services click here[13].
• For Cardiff Bus services click here[14].
• For NAT Group services click heres[15].

National Express coaches will operate as usual using Sophia Gardens.

Cycle

The cycleways and the pop-up cycleways within the road closure area will remain open for cyclists to use during the event but due to the number of people expected to attend the match Cardiff council[16] has asked all cyclists to take due care and attention.

The road closures apply to all motor vehicles of any kind but not to bicycles with pedals.

T

St Mary Street taxi rank will close at 12.30pm and re-open at 9pm.

Article continues below

References

1. ^ Six Nations (www.walesonline.co.uk)
2. ^ Alex Mann says the squad is confident they can secure a win. (www.walesonline.co.uk)
3. ^ Cardiff (www.walesonline.co.uk)
4. ^ the M4 (www.walesonline.co.uk)
5. ^ Twitter (www.walesonline.co.uk)
6. ^ Facebook (www.walesonline.co.uk)
7. ^ sign up for our newsletter (www.walesonline.co.uk)
8. ^ Penarth (www.walesonline.co.uk)
9. ^ Swansea (www.walesonline.co.uk)
10. ^ Newport (www.walesonline.co.uk)
11. ^ www.gwr.com/check (www.gwr.com)
12. ^ Cardiff Bay (www.walesonline.co.uk)
13. ^ here (www.stagecoachbus.com)
14. ^ here (www.cardiffbus.com)
15. ^ click heres (www.natgroup.co.uk)
16. ^ Cardiff council (www.walesonline.co.uk)