Rugby League: Poor turnout doesn't faze coach

CARDIFF - A funereal atmosphere at a practically deserted Millennium Stadium does not translate to the demise of Welsh league, according to coach Neil Kelly.

The cavernous stadium seats 74,000 people, but only 8716 turned up for the Kiwis' victory yesterday, giving the test match a surreal atmosphere.

However, Kelly noted the attendance was only 400 short of the crowd which turned out for Wales' first rugby international of the season - a 40-3 defeat of Romania in Wrexham on Saturday.

"I'm not totally disappointed; there were only 9000 at the rugby and you probably wouldn't think 8000 was too bad at any other ground," he said.

"I'm sure all the players enjoyed the experience, albeit in an empty stadium.

"We're quite pleased overall and hopefully it will whet people's appetite to come down again."

He said the timing of the match could have been better, saying it would have been preferable to open the tour in Cardiff. "Some [players] who were unavailable might have been able to play," Kelly said.

He was referring to the late withdrawal of captain Keiron Cunningham, who pulled out on Friday after aggravating a hand injury in the gym.

Kelly found it difficult to mask his disappointment at losing a key player and not hearing from him before the game.

"We got several goodwill messages from [former representative] Iestyn [Harris] and [national soccer coach] Mark Hughes ... all different sports from Wales, but I didn't hear anything from Keiron."

Cunningham has a fitness test today to see whether he will be able to play for Great Britain against the Kiwis at Ewood Park in Blackburn on Sunday.

Kelly maintained the future of the code was bright, although matches against Russia are the only possible upcoming internationals.

Wales were denied entry to the reborn World Sevens Series at Sydney in February.

- NZPA