Where were you when Wales won the Grand Slam in 2005? Or when we beat the Springboks in the first game ever played at the Millennium Stadium in 1999? And what did you do to celebrate after Wales beat England 30-3 in 2013?
In a one-off programme, veteran commentator and broadcaster Huw Llywelyn Davies delves through the BBC archives to pick out the most memorable games with contributions from some of the most familiar faces in Welsh rugby, past and present. Goreuon Rygbi Huw Llywelyn Davies will be shown on S4C on Thursday, February 5.
Huw Llywelyn Davies was the voice of national, club and regional Welsh rugby from S4C’s inception in 1982 until last year. From the Triple Crown of 1988 to the Grand Slam in 2005, beating England to win the championship in 2013 and the 1995 South Africa World Cup fiinal, Huw takes viewers on an exciting and emotional journey through the ups and downs of Welsh rugby.
“After commentating on rugby games in Welsh for over 30 years, there are so many memorable games, not only in terms of the quality or excitement of the game but also the importance of the occasion,” says Huw, who’s originally from Gwaun Cae Gurwen in the Amman Valley.
“The final of the Rugby World Cup in 2015 was an unforgettable experience. Nelson Mandela had been elected president in the previous year, and he wore a Springboks shirt – a very powerful and symbolic gesture.
“Timing is everything when it comes to rugby. And I had to wait 26 years to get the chance to commentate on a Grand Slam-winning match in 2005. That was a real buzz and such an honour, especially since Wales won the Grand Slam three times during the ‘golden age’ of the 1970s.
“One of the best games in my opinion was the match between France and New Zealand in the 1999 Rugby World Cup, when Jonah Lomu rammed through the French in the first half and France dancing circles around the All Blacks in the second half!”, explains Huw, who now lives in Pentyrch near Cardiff.
Many famous faces from the world of rugby also share their favourite memories, including former Wales captain and presenter Jonathan Davies, Wales forwards trainer Robin McBryde, former international players Kevin Morgan and Craig Quinnell and current players such as Ryan Jones and Dwayne Peel among others. They’ll be discussing the games that made the biggest impression on them and telling the story of Welsh rugby over the decades.
Goreuon Rygbi Huw Llywelyn Davies.
Thursday, February 5, 9.30pm on S4C.
English subtitles.
