As a Welshman working in England I can assure you it can be an absolute treat. I can honestly say I’ve never been happier than when England picked up the Webb Ellis Trophy in 2003. It was a ‘glorious’ and ‘splendid’ time and I was delighted to hear about the victory over and over and over again… in fact I’m still hearing about it. Thanks for sharing.
I don’t know about you but it’s also one of those times in life when I feel even more Welsh than usual. National pride comes to the fore and deep-seated instincts kick in. We in the British Isles haven’t had it so much with the football because the Scots, the Welsh and both Irish teams have struggled to qualify for the big tournaments, so the RWC is our chance to let it all out. And boy is it let out!
During one World Cup Wales lost a match and I came into work on the Monday to find that my office had been papered from floor to ceiling with various pictures of sheep to cheer me up. At the 1991 tournament, Wales lost to Western Samoa. On this occasion my office had been decorated with maps showing me where Western Samoa was…and pointing out that Wales were lucky not to have been playing the whole of Samoa.
And do you know what? I loved it. And I still love it. It’s all good fun. No one gets hurt. And the laughs and camaraderie will continue throughout the tournament (until Wales are crowned champions).
So enjoy it. Bring on the funnies and in that vein can I make a start?
What do you call an Englishman holding a bottle of Champagne after playing Wales in the RWC? The waiter.
