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Sydney Morning Herald
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Good craic, banter and beer – oh, and rugby – draw Lions fans to Melbourne game
For many fans, the Lions' first Australian tour in 12 years is the catalyst to sight-see and reunite with relatives. Joining Watkins at the MCG will be his uncle Kevin Adams, cousin Kevin Lloyd and godson Morgan Lloyd, 15, who are visiting from Wales. It will be the first holiday since Christmas for Watkins, who, as a publican, works seven days a week. The quartet will reserve extra cheers for the Lions' only Welsh player, Jac Morgan. They won't need much persuasion to gather with fellow spectators and sing the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of My Fathers). 'Crowd singing is part of our Welsh heritage,' said Watkins, who pointed to a YouTube clip of a stirring mass rendition of the anthem before a 2013 Wales versus England match in Cardiff. Saturday's MCG match against the Wallabies and this Tuesday's game against a First Nations and Pasifika team at Marvel Stadium are the Lions' first matches in Melbourne since 2013. Lions matches during this tour are being aired live on Channel 9 (Nine is the owner of this masthead). The Lions team, which was first formed in 1888, includes top players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In 2001, its name was changed from the British Lions to the British and Irish Lions. It 'doesn't roll off the tongue' says Irish-born fan Dave Dillon, but he says the team is usually just called 'Lions'. Dillon, from Wellington in New Zealand, will go to the MCG match with three of his brothers — Barry, from Kildare in Ireland, and Liam and Neil, now of Cape Cod, in the US. 'The games are great, but I'm looking forward to going for a pint with my brothers, and hanging out,' Dave said. Dillon says there's nothing like watching the best players, in an electric atmosphere at a big match. 'The craic and the banter is brilliant,' he said. 'Everybody's having a laugh, you're singing songs, you're making fun of each other,' Dillon says. 'It's always good-humoured.' Rebecca Grice, a Lions fan visiting from Lincolnshire, England, is going to the MCG test with her friend Georgia King, a Wallabies supporter from Sydney. They've been close since being pen pals as 11 years olds, 20 years ago. Grice, who played rugby union for nine years, and who supports Leicester Tigers, recently converted King, and King's four-year-old son, to the sport. 'Her enthusiasm is very contagious,' King said. 'Rebecca knows every player. She can answer every question.' Grice is a big fan of Lions player Ollie Chessum, who is from Lincolnshire, like her. On July 5, Grice, King and King's nan, Jill Wilkinson, watched the NSW Waratahs rugby union team play the Lions at Sydney's Allianz Stadium. 'The atmosphere was so great. I loved it,' said King. Earlier that day, in Sydney's George Street, Grice spotted Chessum and four other Lions players, and rushed up to take a selfie with them. 'It was very exciting,' Grice says. 'But I was so nervous and all I could think to say to them was: 'Are you having a good day off?' And they were playing that night! I'm mortified by that! 'One day I hope I'll meet them again and actually have a conversation with them.' While Grice has travelled to Paris, Wales, Ireland and Twickenham in England to watch England play, she will watch her first live Lions match at the MCG. King and Grice along with King's husband and father-in-law will drive to Melbourne from Sydney, and stay with King's relatives. On Saturday, they will get to the MCG early to 'soak in the atmosphere', Grice said. 'I'm so excited.' Lions games are held every four years in different countries. 'And that's what makes this so special. It's an occasion that brings everyone together, to experience something that you might never get to experience again.' King says Grice has been raving about the event for years.
The Age
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Good craic, banter and beer – oh, and rugby – draw Lions fans to Melbourne game
For many fans, the Lions' first Australian tour in 12 years is the catalyst to sight-see and reunite with relatives. Joining Watkins at the MCG will be his uncle Kevin Adams, cousin Kevin Lloyd and godson Morgan Lloyd, 15, who are visiting from Wales. It will be the first holiday since Christmas for Watkins, who, as a publican, works seven days a week. The quartet will reserve extra cheers for the Lions' only Welsh player, Jac Morgan. They won't need much persuasion to gather with fellow spectators and sing the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of My Fathers). 'Crowd singing is part of our Welsh heritage,' said Watkins, who pointed to a YouTube clip of a stirring mass rendition of the anthem before a 2013 Wales versus England match in Cardiff. Saturday's MCG match against the Wallabies and this Tuesday's game against a First Nations and Pasifika team at Marvel Stadium are the Lions' first matches in Melbourne since 2013. Lions matches during this tour are being aired live on Channel 9 (Nine is the owner of this masthead). The Lions team, which was first formed in 1888, includes top players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In 2001, its name was changed from the British Lions to the British and Irish Lions. It 'doesn't roll off the tongue' says Irish-born fan Dave Dillon, but he says the team is usually just called 'Lions'. Dillon, from Wellington in New Zealand, will go to the MCG match with three of his brothers — Barry, from Kildare in Ireland, and Liam and Neil, now of Cape Cod, in the US. 'The games are great, but I'm looking forward to going for a pint with my brothers, and hanging out,' Dave said. Dillon says there's nothing like watching the best players, in an electric atmosphere at a big match. 'The craic and the banter is brilliant,' he said. 'Everybody's having a laugh, you're singing songs, you're making fun of each other,' Dillon says. 'It's always good-humoured.' Rebecca Grice, a Lions fan visiting from Lincolnshire, England, is going to the MCG test with her friend Georgia King, a Wallabies supporter from Sydney. They've been close since being pen pals as 11 years olds, 20 years ago. Grice, who played rugby union for nine years, and who supports Leicester Tigers, recently converted King, and King's four-year-old son, to the sport. 'Her enthusiasm is very contagious,' King said. 'Rebecca knows every player. She can answer every question.' Grice is a big fan of Lions player Ollie Chessum, who is from Lincolnshire, like her. On July 5, Grice, King and King's nan, Jill Wilkinson, watched the NSW Waratahs rugby union team play the Lions at Sydney's Allianz Stadium. 'The atmosphere was so great. I loved it,' said King. Earlier that day, in Sydney's George Street, Grice spotted Chessum and four other Lions players, and rushed up to take a selfie with them. 'It was very exciting,' Grice says. 'But I was so nervous and all I could think to say to them was: 'Are you having a good day off?' And they were playing that night! I'm mortified by that! 'One day I hope I'll meet them again and actually have a conversation with them.' While Grice has travelled to Paris, Wales, Ireland and Twickenham in England to watch England play, she will watch her first live Lions match at the MCG. King and Grice along with King's husband and father-in-law will drive to Melbourne from Sydney, and stay with King's relatives. On Saturday, they will get to the MCG early to 'soak in the atmosphere', Grice said. 'I'm so excited.' Lions games are held every four years in different countries. 'And that's what makes this so special. It's an occasion that brings everyone together, to experience something that you might never get to experience again.' King says Grice has been raving about the event for years.
Irish Daily Mirror
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Japanese high school students perform incredible version of Welsh anthem
Ahead of this summer's Test series between Wales and Japan, Japanese high school students have delivered a stirring rendition of the Welsh national anthem, Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. The Welsh team, led by Matt Sherratt, is set to face off against the Brave Blossoms in two Tests next month. The first match will be held at Mikuni World Stadium in Kitakyushu on 5 July. This isn't the first time the Welsh side has visited Kitakyushu; they were warmly welcomed there during their pre-World Cup training camp in 2019. Gathered at Kokura Station, the students were dressed in Welsh rugby T-shirts while harmonising to the 'Land of My Fathers'. The collective received warm applause after completing their version of the anthem. Warren Gatland's Wales spent six days in the city prior to the 2019 World Cup, with hundreds of schoolchildren turning up to welcome the squad to their hometown. Chants of 'Go, Go, Cymru!' could be heard from the crowds at the airport. As well as this, Kokura Castle was illuminated in the colours of Wales. After Wales face Japan in the first Test next month, they will travel to Osaka Bay. The second and final match against the Brave Blossoms will take place in Kobe at the Noevir Stadium on July 12. Wales have lost 17 international matches in a row, and are looking for their first win since October 2023, with interim head coach Sherratt the man tasked with trying to steer the ship. Ahead of the tour, the Cardiff Rugby boss has drafted in T Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Danny Wilson and Gethin Jenkins onto his coaching staff. Wales legend Leigh Halfpenny is the latest to be added, and will take on his first international coaching role despite still being an active professional player. The iconic full-back is rumoured to be joining French second division outfit Beziers next season, but over the summer he'll be taking on kicking coaching duties from mentor Neil Jenkins in the Far East. At the helm for Japan is former England boss Eddie Jones, who has recently called up a university student ahead of the tour. There are 16 uncapped players in the squad, with an average age of just 26. There's just one player with more than 50 caps in the squad - veteran Michael Leitch, who has played in four World Cups and earned 87 appearances at Test level. The two nations have not faced each another for nine years. Current Grenoble fly-half Sam Davies knocked over an 80th-minute drop goal for Gatland's side to win 33-30 at the death in the autumn internationals of 2016.
Wales Online
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Schoolchildren burst into brilliant Welsh national anthem at Japanese train station
Schoolchildren burst into brilliant Welsh national anthem at Japanese train station It's the first time Wales will play Japan since November 2016. Japanese high school students produced an impressive version of Wales' Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau ahead of this summer's Test series between the two nations. Matt Sherratt's Welsh side will face the Brave Blossoms in two Tests next month, with the first game taking place at Mikuni World Stadium in Kitakyushu on July 5. Wales previously visited Kitakyushu for their pre-World Cup training camp in 2019, where they were given a fine welcome by the host nation. Japanese pupils have now done something similar. Gathered at Kokura Station, the students were dressed in Welsh rugby T-shirts while harmonising to the 'Land of My Fathers'. The collective received warm applause after completing their version of the anthem. The Japanese translation for the Welsh national anthem was provided on the big screen for spectators, with images of the Wales team on the walls ahead of their visit to the Kyushu Island city. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Warren Gatland's Wales spent six days in the city prior to the 2019 World Cup, with hundreds of schoolchildren turning up to welcome the squad to their hometown. Chants of 'Go, Go, Cymru!' could be heard from the crowds at the airport. As well as this, Kokura Castle was illuminated in the colours of Wales. Article continues below After Wales face Japan in the first Test next month, they will travel to Osaka Bay. The second and final match against the Brave Blossoms will take place in Kobe at the Noevir Stadium on July 12. Wales have lost 17 international matches in a row, and are looking for their first win since October 2023, with interim head coach Sherratt the man tasked with trying to steer the ship. Ahead of the tour, the Cardiff Rugby boss has drafted in T Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Danny Wilson and Gethin Jenkins onto his coaching staff. Wales legend Leigh Halfpenny is the latest to be added, and will take on his first international coaching role despite still being an active professional player. The iconic full-back is rumoured to be joining French second division outfit Beziers next season, but over the summer he'll be taking on kicking coaching duties from mentor Neil Jenkins in the Far East. At the helm for Japan is former England boss Eddie Jones, who has recently called up a university student ahead of the tour. There are 16 uncapped players in the squad, with an average age of just 26. There's just one player with more than 50 caps in the squad - veteran Michael Leitch, who has played in four World Cups and earned 87 appearances at Test level. Article continues below The two nations have not faced each another for nine years. Current Grenoble fly-half Sam Davies knocked over an 80th-minute drop goal for Gatland's side to win 33-30 at the death in the autumn internationals of 2016.
