On 16 December 1905, more than 40,000 Welsh rugby fans packed Cardiff Arms Park to watch Wales play New Zealand. Before the match, the Welsh team lined up to face the Maori haka, a traditional Maori war dance. As the Maori players stamped their feet and shouted, the crowd began to sing. They sang a hymn in Welsh, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. It was the first time a national anthem had been sung at a sporting event. Wales won the match, beating New Zealand 3-0 with a single try from Teddy Morgan.
How the anthem tradition began
The tradition of singing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau before Wales matches reflects the close link between Welsh rugby and national identity. The anthem, which translates into English as "Land of My Fathers", has been the go-to song for rugby fans since the 1905 international against the All Blacks, a tradition stretching back more than 100 years. The words and tune were written by Evan James and his son James James in 1856, decades before that first rugby singing in 1905.
Before many international matches, the Welsh players take to the field and sing the first verse of the hymn. Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau has been adopted by Welsh fans as their ritual, and the anthem reflects the close links between Welsh national identity and rugby. Rugby is the national game of Wales, and the anthem represents Wales, Welsh rugby and Welshness.
The songs that fill the terraces
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is just one of many songs belted out by Welsh rugby fans. Other songs make an appearance on match days, filling the terraces, including Cwm Rhondda, known to some as Bread of Heaven.
The hymns sung by fans have nothing to do with any official match programme; they are a spontaneous expression of Welsh identity. While the national anthem of Wales is in Welsh, secular songs that fill the terraces are sung in both English and Welsh.
Why the shirt and symbols matter
When you think of Welsh rugby, you think of red. The red shirts worn by Welsh players are a signature of the team, and the colour is closely tied to the red dragon at the heart of Welsh culture.
The Welsh crest shows the Prince of Wales's feathers: three white ostrich feathers rising from a coronet, with the motto "Ich Dien" (I serve) beneath. The badge was in use on the left breast of the shirt by the 1880s, and predated the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union.
When you see the leek or daffodil, you think of Welsh rugby. The leek was originally worn by patriots as an emblem on St David's Day, a tradition traced to Tudor times. Supporters wielding the daffodil are referencing the same ancient symbols as leek-fanciers: an older plant name, Cenhinen Bedr.
So when you go to a Welsh rugby match, get there early to avoid a queue, and expect the singing to continue long after kick-off.
