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Some Cymru Premier matches are set to go ahead as Wales enters a national "firebreak lockdown" even though most will have to be rearranged.

The measure announced on Monday is designed to provide a circuit-breaker to the spread of Covid-19.

Wales' professional sports teams are allowed to continue playing.

Former champions The New Saints are fully professional, while title holders Connah's Quay Nomads, Bala and Haverfordwest also meet the criteria.

As a result, matches between two teams who meet the professional sport criteria - as stipulated by the Welsh Government - will be allowed to go ahead.

But other teams in the league, who are part-time, would come under the Sport Wales elite programme and as such their fixtures will be postponed.

All matches in the Welsh Premier Women's League - which is largely an amateur competition - during the period of lockdown will be postponed.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said on Wednesday: "The elite programme, overseen by Sport Wales that includes the Cymru Premier and Welsh Premier Women's football leagues, will be suspended during this firebreak period but we will be making exemptions to allow certain elite women's team sports fixtures to take place. These include the Wales women's rugby and football internationals."

However, the Welsh Government confirmed to ´óÏó´«Ã½ Sport Wales that "professional sports teams can continue to operate", hence the exemption for those Cymru Premier teams in that position.

Training during this time is also not permitted for teams that have had their fixtures suspended.

A league statement read: "The JD Cymru Premier League consulted with its member clubs overnight and decided to sanction some fixtures between clubs who could safely meet the stipulated criteria.

"Some member clubs, understandably, didn't feel that they had enough off-field professional staff to fully meet the stated requirements during this difficult period and their position is fully respected."

The lockdown period will run from Friday, 23 October until Monday, 9 November.

That means the only fixture that will be played this weekend will be TNS' home match against Haverfordwest County, who have enough full-time players and staff to meet the Welsh Government's criteria for professional sports teams.

Other matches will be postponed and rearranged to be played at a later date.

The Cymru Premier also intends to change some fixtures during the lockdown period in order to pair the league's professional teams.

For example, Bala Town would not travel to Cefn Druids - who do not meet the criteria - on 7 November and could instead play against TNS or Connah's Quay.

Barry Town United say they would have had the resources to play during lockdown but decided against it.

"We want to, and are ready to, continue playing with 21 professionally registered players," a read.

"However, it was our opinion that we should only continue to play football if the whole league was able to do so. As a result, our fixtures during the lockdown period will be postponed.

"We believe the decision should be one that is in the best interest of the whole JD Cymru Premier. 50% of the clubs in the league would be unable to continue playing as they do not have enough professional players registered.

"It is our opinion that either the whole league should have its elite status reinstated and we all play, or no team in the league should continue to play."

A Welsh Government statement on Monday said: "Sportspeople who work and earn a living through sport are allowed to continue working.

"Fixtures involving professional sportspeople are allowed to continue behind closed doors. All participants, such as players, officials, coaches, and broadcasters, are there in a working capacity.

"Like everyone else they can leave home to do so if they cannot work from home.

"However, the elite programme, overseen by Sport Wales, will be suspended during this circuit breaker period."

Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County and Wrexham, who play in the English Football League and the National League, can fulfil their fixtures.

The Football Association of Wales believes the national senior women's European Championship qualifying match against Norway on 27 October at Cardiff City Stadium can go ahead.