A MAN’S WORLD
YOU’RE PUMPED UP ON EMOTION... IT’S LIKE YOUR SENSES ARE IN OVERDRIVE
RHYS WILLIAMS Ou r ma n at Ca rdif f Blues
SING IT LOUD In the midst of the Six Nations, it’s time to stand up and be counted...
T
his might be a bold statement, but to my mind, Cardiff is the best city in the world when it comes to hosting international rugby. There, I’ve said it! Although obviously inspirational to Wales, the Principality Stadium is a daunting place to play for visiting teams. Unlike any other home nation stadium, it’s slap-bang in the middle of town, with all the restaurants, bars and clubs you could want. I’ve been fortunate enough to wear the Three Feathers and it’s the greatest honour you can have in rugby, with the exception perhaps of playing for the Lions, which I never had the opportunity to do. Forget stuff on the pitch – the main thing I remember is that journey from the Vale Resort to the Principality (Millennium Stadium, as was) and all the passion and emotion of it. It was all part of the matchday experience – there would always be a crowd of supporters clapping you onto the bus and asking for autographs. Then you’d drive down the M4 and the link road with a police escort, and the coaches would put a motivational video on to fire the boys up – as if they needed it! From the moment we passed Leckwith, it was a sea of red.
I will always remember the journey into the stadium for the Grand Slam game against Ireland in 2005. More than 250,000 supporters descended on our great city that day and seeing all of that was probably the best bus journey of my life. The nerves began to set in and the heartbeat went up as you zoned in on the game. As you came round the corner past The Angel Hotel, that red sea parted and the police horses escorted you down the home straight. It was an amazing sight and a brilliant feeling. The noise and support was incredible, and it dawned on you just how important rugby – the heartbeat of our country – was to our nation and the public psyche. As a venue, the Principality is a cauldron, and people often ask me what it was like to run out of the tunnel with 75,000 fans around you. It’s difficult to describe, but it’s like all your senses are in overdrive – you’re pumped up on emotion and your whole body feels light. As a devout and proud Welshman, I always relished singing our national anthem. My first memory of going to an international match was with my father. When it came to Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, he turned to me and told me, “Stand up proudly and sing the
anthem.” So naturally I did, and I will always remember that. But with all that emotion, it’s important to remain focused. You are there to do a job and perform for your country, your team-mates, your family, friends, coaches – everyone who has helped you along the way. You use all that to your advantage, to accentuate your performance – it’s what former All Blacks and Wales coach Graham Henry used to call ‘the edge’. As a supporter of all Welsh rugby, I am so grateful to have experienced that, and I have so much pride in the way our city and country hosts such occasions. The city truly comes alive on international day. And we have the best supporters in the world – I know that from experience. So I say to you reading this article – you are the 16th man in our international team, you create the atmosphere, you can get the players to ‘the edge’, and you can help blow the roof off the Principality Stadium. So make it count – your country needs you! Rhys Williams is an ex-Wales and Cardiff Blues rugby star, now commercial director at the club. For more, see cardiffblues.com