Wales Profile and Anthem

Published: Thursday, 1. September, 2011 in category Rugby Anthems

Official Site
Nicknames: Dragons
Colors: Red
Homeground: Millenium Stadium, Cardiff
Major Honors: Four Nations Grand Slam (1908, 1909), Four Nations (1893, 1900, 1902, 1905), Five Nations Grand Slam (1911, 1950, 1952, 1971, 1976 & 1978), Five Nations (1920, 1922, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1975, 1979, 1988 & 1994).
Anthem: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of My Fathers)
Traditions: Singing "Bread of Heaven"

World Rugby Shop - buy Wales rugby gear.

First played in 1881 (against England).

Wales have won the Six Nations 23 times, the last being in 2005. Their best result in the Rugby World Cup is third, which they achieved in 1987. They also hosted the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Welsh players are eligible to play for the British and Irish Lions.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) regard Wales as a Tier One rugby nation. In particular, several Welsh players of the 1970s are acknowledged as some of the best in the game's history. Although several poor results in the late 1980s and 1990s hurt the team’s reputation, a resurgence in form in the 2000s and a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2005 has helped reverse that. Due to this success, Wales became the first team ever to win the Grand Slam while playing more matches away than at home.

Anthem

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau (Land of My Fathers)

As Wales is currently part of the United Kingdom and thus officially falls under the British national anthem, "Mae hen wlad fy nhadau", or "Land of My Fathers", has long been adopted as the national anthem of the Welsh people.

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau
yn annwyl i mi
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion,
enwogion o fri,
Ei gwrol rhyfelwyr,
gwladgarwyr tra mad,
Tros ryddid gollasant
eu gwaed.

Gwlad, Gwlad,
pleidol wyf i'm gwlad,
Tra mor yn fur
i'r bur hoff bau.
O bydded i'r heniaith,
barhau.