Rihanna Anti tour: Singer cancels Sunderland and Cardiff shows for 'logistical reasons'

Fans will be offered tickets to other dates on the Anti world tour instead, but availability is limited

Rihanna has postponed eight dates at the start of her Anti tour due to 'production delays' (Getty Images)

Rihanna has cancelled her Sunderland and Cardiff gigs due to “logistical reasons beyond the tour’s control”, with eight US dates postponed until March.

The “Work” singer was due to perform at the Stadium of Light and Principality Stadium but both shows have been pulled and an apology statement issued to fans by email.

“Unfortunately this is something that can happen with major tours and naturally we are sorry for those concert-goers who were looking forward to the show,” said Gary Hutchinson, commercial director at Sunderland’s AFC.

“We still have an exciting summer of events planned at the Stadium of Light however, including the sell-out Beyoncé concert, which everyone is looking forward to.”

Refunds will be issued from the point of sale, or fans can swap their tickets to one of the other dates on the tour - either London’s Wembley Stadium on Friday 24 June, Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on Tuesday 25 June or Manchester’s Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground on Wednesday 29 June.

Of course, availability for these other shows is limited, so requests will be fulfilled on a “first-come, first-served basis”. Any fans unable to be offered the same tickets (standing, gold circle etc) will be booked into the next best available area and refunded for any difference in the price.

Elsewhere, Rihanna will start her Anti tour in California two weeks later than scheduled. The 27-year-old’s representative told Billboard that “production delays” are to blame.

It has been a trying time for Rihanna and her fans recently, after she was forced to pull out of her Grammys performance with bronchitis earlier this week.