Cardiff Blues

The Cardiff Blues (Welsh: Gleision Caerdydd ) are a rugby union team from the Welsh city of Cardiff. They are the first team of Cardiff Rugby Football Club and play in the international championship Pro12 and in the Anglo- Welsh Cup competition Anglo -Welsh Cup. The home games are played at Cardiff City Stadium.

History

Until the 2003/04 season the Welsh Rugby was divided in a typical pyramid leagues, with nine professional clubs in the top league. Thus, the system was similar to the Guinness Premiership in England and the Top 14 in France. However, the Welsh market proved to be too small for nine professional teams. Then began the nine professional clubs to join together in regional teams. The Cardiff Rugby Football Club merged as the only not with other clubs and founded on 6 June 2003, the professional team Cardiff Blues. The amateur and junior teams continue to operate under the original name.

Regional breakdown

The professional rugby in Wales is based on four franchises that are owned by the Association Welsh Rugby Union, covering a specific area. The franchise of the Cardiff Blues includes the city of Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, parts of the old county of Mid Glamorgan and the southern Powys. The Cardiff Blues must absorb all the players who play in this area in their squad.

Originally covered the Cardiff Blues only Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan from. The remaining areas were among the Celtic Warriors. This franchise but was disbanded in 2004 after only one season. The Cardiff Blues are working closely with schools and clubs in the area allotted to it together and have a rugby academy for elite players in the junior age (16 years and older).

Stadium

Since June 2009, the Cardiff Blues play their home games played in Cardiff City from Stadium, which has a capacity of 26,800 seats. Also this stadium used by the football club Cardiff City. Previously, the Blues at Cardiff Arms Park had their home, the former Welsh national rugby stadium, which is dominated by the immediately adjacent Millennium Stadium. Occasionally, the Millennium Stadium will be used for games with a large audience interest.