Rugby union in Wales

Rugby Union is the national sport of Wales. It is particularly strong in the south of the country.

Social aspects

Rugby union has a particular hold on the national psyche of Wales, especially the Six Nations tournament. The phenomenon of fans inexplicably claiming to be ill and taking sick leave around the Six Nations championship was described in Max Boyce's 'We All Had Doctor's Papers.' Welsh people living outside the country will go to extraordinary lengths to watch the games.

Related Topics:
Six Nations

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 notoriously passionate rugby followers, he was taken aback by the fervour of Welsh supporters: he was somewhat surprised for example when informed of one supporter's decision to sell the lead off the roof of his house to be able to buy World Cup tickets.

Related Topics:
1999 World Cup - Cardiff - Graham Henry - Welsh culture - New Zealand - Lead

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Wales-England match of the 2005 Six Nations, achieved international attention far beyond the usual interest that would have followed a rugby match http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0500rugbyunion/0200news/tm_objectid=15165945&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=welsh-rugby-fan-cuts-off-own-testicles-name_page.htmlhttp://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_world_story_skin/472828%3fformat=html. Before the match, Welsh supporter Geoff Huish was drinking in the Leigh social club in Senghenydd, Caerphilly. He declared that he was so certain that England would win, that if Wales won he would "cut balls off". After Wales achieved their first win over England since 1999, Huish returned home, castrated himself and returned to the pub with his testicles in a bag.

Related Topics:
2005 Six Nations - Caerphilly - 1999 - Castrated - Testicle

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For the match against Scotland in 2005, 40,000 Welshmen went to Edinburgh to watch the game. This is remarkable as that is 1 in every 70 Welshmen. Over 400,000 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 with national delirium and was even used to explain a sudden economic surge.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~