Save the Wales, they're endangered

DAFFODIL hats, red dragon flags and red rugby shirts and scarves were all over the streets and bars of Edinburgh yesterday - as loyal Welsh supporters poured into town for the clash at Murrayfield.

But despite the buoyant good humour of the fans who made the pilgrimage there were fears that the popularity of the Six Nations clash was declining - with reports of thousands of tickets still on sale yesterday and vacant rooms in hotels across town.

Licensees and hotel owners said they believed the decline was due to the economic downturn, while even the fans themselves acknowledged numbers were down. In 2005 an estimated 50,000 Welsh fans made the trip north. Estimates for this year's migration put the figure nearer 20,000.

Colin Paton, chairman of the Edinburgh Hotels Association, said the declining numbers of fans had been felt by the hotel trade. "I think over the last five years there has been a softening of demand," he said. "It is not good for Edinburgh.

"Just as there are unsold tickets, there will be more unsold bedrooms than there were five years ago. It is all down to the economy."

A spokesman for the licensed trade association said pubs had also noticed a fall in the numbers of Welsh fans. "I think everybody has noticed a decline in the number of people who come to these games. I think the timing of the games also has an effect. When you have a game on a Sunday or a Friday it doesn't help the situation."

• Fewer fans but no let up in the passion

Rhys Lewis, founder of rugby website Gwlad, said: "I came up on an early train from London. In the past there have been plenty of Welsh supporters but there seem to be fewer and fewer people coming up.

"Four or five years ago Rose Street or Princes Street would have been a sea of red.

"I think it is the money really. People have got less money - and it is a 300, 400, 500 trip.

"What used to happen was a lot of people would come up and not go to the game, just watch it in the pub. Now tickets are easier to get."

According to figures released yesterday morning, 61,000 tickets had been sold for the game, which leaves around 6,000 unsold. Tickets were on sale up until midnight last night.

A spokesman for the Scottish Rugby Union said yesterday: "Tomorrow at Murrayfield there will be very very strong home support.We can say that the game at Murrayfield tomorrow will be the biggest sporting event in Scotland by far."

Helen McLaughlin, licensee of the Bow Bar on Victoria Street, said last night she was expecting a busy weekend taking care of Welsh visitors who had come to Edinburgh for the rugby.

"I'm expecting it to be very busy tonight and tomorrow. We may see a decline in numbers because people are short of money everywhere. But we are always pleased to see the Welsh rugby fans. Most of them are absolute sweethearts. They're lovely."