This Sunday, March 10, I had the opportunity to go to CARDIFF with a group of friends, not in search of the ghost of Roald DAHL (he was born in CARDIFF), but to attend the rugby match of the 6 nations tournament: Wales – France. It was my first time in Wales and of course, my first time in CARDIFF.
We visited
the castle, Cardiff bay, the Millennium Centre and the Pierhead Building.
We spent the pre-match walking the streets and arcades of Cardiff, particularly St Mary Street, the main street of the city.
The French
supporters were really numerous.
It seems there were almost 10,000!
Very good atmosphere. No violence with the Welsh.
Despite the cool temperature (between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius), most of the girls were in very short mini-skirts and with amazing cleavage.
I can tell
you that all the French boys had a magnificent view of Welsh chests!
I am sure
that alcohol helped them to resist the cold.
They didn’t drink only mineral water…
As for the
stadium, I didn't realise how right in the city centre it was, very close to
Cardiff Castle.
The French team was going to tackle a major challenge: playing against Wales, in this world- renowned place : the Millennium Stadium (renamed Principality Stadium since January 1, 2016 for a period of 10 years because of a naming rights deal).
Why this name? Principality is a Welsh mutual banking institution, specialised in savings and property loans, sponsoring the Welsh rugby championship since 1969.
It’s the
national stadium of Wales.
It was built for the Rugby World Cup in 1999 on the site of the old and famous stadium: Arms Park.
*The
setting:
The vision
is almost surreal. A few hundred metres from Cardiff Castle, in the city
centre, the Principality Stadium sits like a liner, stuck in the middle of the
Welsh capital.
*Some
numbers :
The
Principality Stadium has a capacity of 74,000 seats.
It’s the
third largest stadium of the Six Nations Tournament behind the Stade de France
(80,000 spectators) and Twickenham Stadium (82,000 spectators).
It is also
the second largest stadium in the world with a fully retractable roof.
Many observers say it is the most beautiful stadium in the world.
It was an old dream for me to finally attend a rugby match in this stadium, so renowned for its architecture but above all for its atmosphere.
*The
atmosphere :
The smells
emanating from the food trucks, the numerous pubs near the stadium, the music,
the songs of supporters, the setting... and of course, the show on the pitch.
Match days
always have something special, in some stadiums more than others.
It's difficult to dethrone this famous stadium of the Welsh capital.
The
Principality Stadium is also, during rugby matches, inevitably enhanced by
Welsh songs.
This crazy
atmosphere that reigns there comes in part from the resonance chamber formed by
its roof.
For the match, the stadium roof was closed. It was like we were in a cathedral.
Rugby is considered a religion in Wales.
How can you
not get chills when tens of thousands of Welsh supporters sing their national
anthem: “Land of my fathers”? It’s very impressive!
Click on the photo to hear the Welsh anthem : ‘Land of my fathers’.
*The game:
The match
was indecisive for all the first half-time.
The Welsh
team did its best, but in the end, the power of ‘the Blues’ made the
difference.
After the match, a large majority of the spectators, Welsh and French together, went to St Mary Street area to drink a glass of beer either to celebrate the victory or to forget a painful defeat.
So. One of my old dreams has now come true.
Well done
FRANCE for your victory.
And thank you, Welsh public, for the chills and this moment of happiness.
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