Tuesday 11 October 2011

Come on Wales!

We'll be cheering for Wales this weekend in their semi-final World Cup Clash with France!

Of course, we couldn't let this momentous occasion slip past without a shout out on the blog! After an outstanding performance last Saturday against Ireland, the Welsh Internationals are all set to face their European rivals, France, at the Eden Stadium in Auckland.

Photo by "Unofficial England Rugby's photos", Flickr.

Predictions are positive for a win against Les Bleus, which would take the Welsh team to the finals, to fight against the winners of Sunday's match between hosts The All Blacks and their Tri-Nations rivals, Australia.

During the team's glory days of the late 1960's and early 70's, the Welsh team were considered one of the finest rugby squads in the world, but more recently the Welsh team has sometimes been troubled. But, to celebrate the fact that our fantastic national team are on the up again, here are some fabulous Welsh Rugby facts!

  • Wales are ranked 6th in the world by the IRB (International Rugby Board)
  • Wales first played The All Blacks in 1905, where they beat them 3-0
  • Wales hosted the Rugby World Cup in 1999, although many matches were played outside of the country. Sadly Wales were knocked out in the quarterfinals by Australia.
  • Ten players from the Welsh team have been inaugurated into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.
  • The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) was formed in Neath in 1881
  • Wales were the first team to win three consecutive Triple Crowns in the Five Nations Championships (now the Six Nations) during the 1970s.
  • Current sponsors of the team Admiral Insurance are the only Welsh company on the FTSE 100.
  • The Prince of Wales Feathers logo that adorns the shirt was chosen over 100 years ago by the WRU over a leek emblem. It was to show Wales' loyalty to Britain.
  • The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is the team's home ground, and it regularly sells all of the 74,500 seats on international match days. 
  • If Wales are successful on Saturday, then it will be the first time they have ever played in a World Cup final.
Good Luck boys! Just play with your usual grace, patriotism and charm and you'll do us all proud.
We'll be cheering so loud you'll be able to hear us in New Zealand!
Don't miss it! 9am Saturday morning, ITV

Picture by Al-Green, Flickr


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