Wales are under pressure to sell out their Six Nations match with Scotland.
Following the government’s decision to ease coronavirus restrictions and allow fans back into stadiums, Wales' Rugby Union boss Steve Phillips says they now face a "race against time" to fill the ground.
Due to a surge in coronavirus cases, all sports events in Wales have been held behind closed doors since Boxing Day.
Many rugby fans chose not to purchase tickets for the Six Nations amid the uncertainty surrounding the possibility of the game being played without an audience.
However, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced Wales will allow crowds back into stadiums from January 21, giving supporters just three weeks to fill the Principality Stadium.
The Dragons are due to face their home nation rivals on February 12, which will be followed by a Friday night match against France on March 11 and a final home game against Italy on March 19.
The Wales Rugby Union (WRU) even explored the idea of contesting home games in England to generate income for the games.
Bnow that has been removed from the equation, the team’s chief executive Martyn Phillips says they are playing catch-up over selling out their 74,500-capacity home in Cardiff.
"We're delighted that full crowds can return for the Six Nations in Wales," said WRU chief executive Phillips.
"The difference a crowd makes to performance on the field is immeasurable and a number of our senior players have been very vocal about the positive impact a capacity crowd in Cardiff can make.
"The atmosphere supporters bring to Principality Stadium is unrivalled, and this news will be greatly welcomed by coaches and players.”
He added: "Having watched the Six Nations 2021 tournament without crowds, the recent update from Welsh Government is hugely encouraging.
"We all want to see capacity crowds at all three games but, because of the pandemic, we are now in a race against time to achieve what would usually come naturally; this is especially the case for the match against Scotland given its proximity.
"It's no secret that supporters have been waiting to see what would happen with restrictions, but the hugely positive news today should kick start a fresh surge for tickets."
Recent research concluded that each Six Nations games contested in Cardiff boosts Wales' economy by more than £20million.
Drakeford said: "The pressure that my Cabinet respond to are the pressures that are in the data. Those are the things that lead us to take the actions that we do and not the understandable representations by people in the individual parts of Welsh society that they occupy."
