Rugby Union in Wales

Rugby union is regarded as the national sport of Wales. The first games were held in 1850, the Association Welsh Rugby Union was founded in 1881. The most important competition is the professional Celtic League, are represented in the teams from Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy. Welsh teams take part in common with English cup competition EDF Energy Cup. The Welsh national team is among the most successful in the world; it is the annual Six Nations tournament held involved and reached at the 1987 World Championships in third place.

History

Cnapan, a rugby - like game was played in the Middle Ages in Wales. The beginnings of rugby union in Wales go back to the year 1850, after Rowlands Rowland Williams, the game had met in Cambridge and at St. David 's College, Lampeter ( now part of the University of Wales ) introduced. Although since the mid- 1870s, there were numerous associations, the Association of Welsh Football Union (later Welsh Rugby Union) founded until 1881. In the same year the first international match took place.

Competitions

Highest rugby union league in Wales Celtic League, which applies in meaning as the third most important league in Europe. It consists of twelve professional teams from Wales, Ireland and Scotland. Wales provides four teams Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, the, the Scarlets and Ospreys the. They are organized on the basis of franchises awarded by the association.

The most important competition for the traditional club teams is the Welsh Premier Division, which includes 14 semi-professional teams. Players of these clubs can always be called into the squad on their assigned Celtic League team. Below the Premier Division followed by six more leagues for amateurs, who are divided into regional groups.

The Heineken Cup is the higher of the two European cup competitions. Represented are teams from England, France, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy. The second European Cup is the European Challenge Cup, also take part in the Romanian teams. Since 2005, the four Welsh teams in the Celtic League in the EDF Energy Cup will be eligible, a swept along with teams in the English Guinness Premiership Cup competition. The trophy winner will automatically qualify for the Heineken Cup.

National

The Welsh team is the second most successful at the traditional Six Nations tournament. She has so far won 33 times the tournament and reaches nine Grand Slams and 18 Triple Crowns.

Best result in Welsh at World Championships is the third place in the inaugural tournament in 1987. The team belongs in the IRB world rankings to the top ten of the total of 95 teams. The home games are played almost exclusively at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the traditional venue Cardiff Arms Park replaced in 1999. Approximately every four years, go to the British and Irish Lions tour, a team with players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.