Latest news with #MaeHenWladFyNhadau
Wales Online
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson left 'intimated and emotional' by fierce Red Wall support at Euro 2025
Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson left 'intimated and emotional' by fierce Red Wall support at Euro 2025 Welsh fans marched in their thousands to Allmend Stadion. Despite suffering defeat, Wilkinson took time to pay thanks to the Welsh support in Switzerland. (Image: (Photo by Aitor Alcalde - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) ) The Red Wall were so fierce in Wales' Euro 2025 opener that manager Rhian Wilkinson says she felt "intimidated and emotional". While Cymru may have suffered a 3-0 loss at the hands of Netherlands, the unwavering support in Lucerne was simply superb. The antics started with a pre-match march to the stadium from the fan zone, with waves of orange and red flowing through the streets and bringing the city to a standstill. Welsh fans belted out epic renditions of Yma O Hyd, Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau and 'Don't Take Me Home', setting an exhilarating tone for the day's action. The atmosphere spilled into the stadium, too, with The Red Wall's song emphasised by the acoustics within Allmend Stadion. Then, Wilkinson entered the field to greet the fans ahead of kick-off, and she was met with a thunderous reaction. Wilkinson looked visibly shocked despite her grateful smile, with cheers roaring on as she exited the field. The players received an equally rapturous applause from the fans once it was their turn to enter the field, smiling and laughing to each other at just how good the occasion was. Article continues below Speaking in her post-match press conference, Wilkinson acknowledged how good the fans were. "Even better," said Wilkinson, when asked whether the support was as good as the players had dreamt of. "I spoke to the players before the game as well, and I said: 'These people have shown up to thank you for getting them there. "They want to see you give it everything you have and they're right there behind you.' And that's exactly what they did. "From the second I walked out before the players, I got a little bit intimidated, it was quite emotional! "And of course it was for the players as well. So a huge thank you to all the fans here and back home. "Of course, we want to push our standards and make sure to get the game a little tighter and make our moments count in these two games. "But, a huge thank you to the crowd tonight and the Dutch fans, what a cool atmosphere for both teams." Vivianne Miedema bagged her 100th goal for Netherlands to break the deadlock against Wales, with further strikes from Esme Brugts and Victoria Pelova securing the win. Article continues below Welsh supporters will have been concerned to see Ceri Holland with a suspected injury in the second half, but Wilkinson confirmed it was simply a cramp. And while it may have been a loss, Cymru made history with their first-ever appearance at a major women's football tournament. Up next are some tough tasks against France and England in Group D, with both matches set to take place in St Gallen.
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.
