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Rugby union in Wales
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Rugby union is the national sport of Wales and is considered a large part of national culture. Rugby is thought to have reached Wales in the 1850s, with the national body, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) being formed in 1881. The national team play out of the WRU-owned Millennium Stadium, and compete annually in the Six Nations Championship, as well as having competed at every Rugby World Cup. Wales are ranked as a tier-1 nation by the International Rugby Board (IRB). The main domestic competition in Wales is the Magners League, in which Wales have four sides, in the competition which is also contested by Irish and Scottish clubs. Welsh teams also compete in the European Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup.
HistoryRugby-like games have a long history in Wales, with games such as cnapan being played for centuries. Rugby seems to have reached Wales in 1850, when the Reverend Professor Rowland Williams brought the game with him from Cambridge to St. David's College, Lampeter (now the University of Wales, Lampeter), who became the first Welsh rugby team that same year.
Although several clubs had been in existence since the mid 1870s the Welsh Football Union (later renamed Welsh Rugby Union) was not formed until 1881. Wales have played in red since 1881 prior to this they had worn black, though these pre-1881 games were never against national teams. However, the strength of Welsh rugby developed over the following years, which could be attributed to the 'big four' South Wales clubs of Newport (who lost only seven games between 1891 and 1895), Cardiff, Llanelli (who lost just twice in 1894 and 1895) and Swansea. A large number of international team players were killed in the World Wars.
The zenith of Welsh rugby was the 1970s, when Wales had players such as Barry John, Gareth Edwards, Phil Bennett and JPR Williams. Wales won four consecutive Triple Crowns. All of these players are considered amongst the best players of Welsh rugby[], especially Edwards who was voted the greatest player of all time in a players poll in 2003 and scored what is widely regarded as the greatest try of all time[] in 1973 for the Barbarians against New Zealand.
Many attributed Welsh success to the fact that their forwards were toughened by manual work, according to the theory when Welsh industry declined and players started to be drawn from 'soft jobs' the team suffered[]. The strong Pontypool front row of Graham Price, Bobby Windsor & Charlie Faulkner were all manual workers, and Robin McBryde was formerly the holder of the title of Wales's strongest man.
The 1980s and early '90s were a difficult time for Welsh rugby union when the team suffered many defeats. Harsh economic times in the eighties meant that players such as Jonathan Davies and Scott Gibbs were tempted to 'go North' to play professional rugby league in order to earn a living. They often faced social ostracism as a result as many believed that they were traitors to Wales[].
In 2003/4 the Welsh Rugby Union voted to create five regions to play in the Celtic League and represent Wales in European competition. This soon became four when the Celtic Warriors were liquidated after just one season.
Governing bodyThe Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Wales. Their responsibilities include producing the national team and the four regional franchises Cardiff Blues, Llanelli Scarlets, Newport Gwent Dragons and the Ospreys from the Neath-Swansea region.
Competitions- See also Welsh rugby union system
Wales' four professional rugby regions play in the Celtic League and take part in the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup. Since 2006 they have also competed in the EDF Energy Cup against clubs from the English Guinness Premiership.
There is also a Welsh league and Welsh Cup competed for by Wales' traditional club teams. Recently there have been talks about the potential founding of a regional rugby franchise in the north of Wales, starting with a semi-professional team in the Welsh Premier Division.
PopularityRugby union has a particular hold on the national psyche of Wales, especially the Six Nations tournament. Welsh people living outside the country have been known to go to some effort to watch the games.
At the time of the 1999 World Cup held in Cardiff, Graham Henry, the new Welsh coach, was relatively unexposed to Welsh culture. Despite coming from New Zealand, a country with passionate rugby followers, he was taken aback by the fervour of Welsh supporters[]: he was surprised when informed of one supporter's decision to sell the lead from the roof of his house to be able to buy World Cup tickets[].
For the match against Scotland in 2005, 40,000 Welsh people went to Edinburgh to watch the game[]. Over 10,000 gathered on "Henson Hill" to watch a big screen of Wales v. Ireland that gave Wales its first Grand Slam since 1978. The result was greeted well amongst fans and was even used to explain a sudden economic surge[].
The choral tradition of Wales manifests itself at rugby games in singing[]. Popular songs among the fans are 'Delilah' by Tom Jones, 'Cwm Rhondda' and 'Calon Lan'. Wales has had an important impact on the game, providing many well-known British and Irish Lions and Barbarians players as well as being well respected international team in its own right[].
StatisticsAccording to the IRB, Wales has 239 rugby union clubs; 2321 referees; 28,702 pre-teen male players; 21,371 teen male players; 19,000 senior male players (total male players 69,073) as well as 1,000 teen female players; 1,056 senior female players (total female players 2,056).
DemographicsWhereas Rugby in England fractured into the two separate sports of rugby union and rugby league over the issue of money, Wales for the most part stayed loyal to the union game. There were some attempts to run professional rugby league sides in Wales but the heartland of Welsh rugby was simply too far from Yorkshire and Lancashire for this to be sustained.
There has always been an element of class warfare to rugby union in Wales[]. In 1977 Phil Bennett's pre-game pep talk before facing England produced a memorable quote: "Look what these bastards have done to Wales. They've taken our coal, our water, our steel. They buy our homes and live in them for a fortnight every year. What have they given us? Absolutely nothing. We've been exploited, raped, controlled and punished by the English — and that's who you are playing this afternoon."
The Welsh valleys north of Cardiff produced so many quality number tens[] that it was often referred to as 'The Outside Half Factory' immortalised in a by Max Boyce. Boyce's humour refers to rugby union very often and he has written many songs about the trials and tribulations of following the game as a fan e.g. 'Asso Asso Yogoshi', 'The Scottish Trip', 'Hymns and Arias'.
The national teamWales compete annually in the Six Nations, which they have won 24 times, the last being in 2008, making them the current champions. Wales have also qualified for every World Cup that has been held, and achieved their best result in the 1987 tournament, when they finished third. The national team play at the Millennium Stadium, built in 1999 to replace the old National Stadium. Wales play in scarlet jerseys, white shorts and red socks, with the jersey sporting the Prince of Wales's feathers as their official badge. Every four years the British and Irish Lions go on tour with players from Wales as well as England, Ireland and Scotland.
See also
External links-
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- Popular fan site for supporters of rugby union in Wales
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