Hotels for Cardiff Rugby v Zebre Parma

A United Rugby Championship fixture, and a Friday night one at that, which changes the rhythm of the day for travelling fans and locals alike. Expect a pre-match build-up through the afternoon, pubs filling early, and a crowd walking in together as the floodlights take over from the last of the daylight.

Zebre Parma's visits are infrequent, so this is a chance to see an Italian side test themselves against Welsh opposition rather than another domestic derby. The rugby itself tends to be open and try-heavy when these two meet.

Wales's national stadium sits dramatically in the heart of Cardiff, its retractable roof rising above the River Taff, hosting rugby and football internationals plus the biggest touring concerts. Few major venues are so central, with the city's bars, shops and restaurants literally on the doorstep. Cardiff Central station is a short walk away, linking across Wales and to England. Booking a room in the compact centre means you can walk to the event through the pre-match buzz and be back within minutes afterwards.