Rugby Anthems

The Six Nations Championship, known before 2000 as the Five Nations Championship, is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

The winners of the Six Nations are seen as being the European Champions.

Ireland are the current Grand Slam title holders, for the first time since 1948, having won the competition in 2009 by beating all other teams, and winning the Triple Crown by beating England, Scotland and Wales.

One of the most exciting and moving moments of the Championship is the singing of the national anthems.

Welsh anthem, Hen Wlad fy Nhadau (Land of my Fathers), at Cardiff Millenium Stadium (formerly known as Cardiff Arms Park):

This anthem is, of course, sung in Welsh. Here is a translation into English of its lyrics. Maybe there is a lesson we could learn from it:

The old land of my fathers is dear to me,

Land of poets and singers, famous men of renown;

Her brave warriors, very splendid patriots,

For freedom shed their blood.Nation, Nation, I pledge to my Nation.

While the sea is a wall to the pure, most loved land,

O may the old language endure.

Old mountainous Wales, paradise of the bard,

Every valley, every cliff, to me is beautiful.

Through patriotic feeling, so charming is the murmur

Of her brooks, rivers, to me.

If the enemy oppresses my land under his foot,

The old language of the Welsh is as alive as ever.

The muse is not hindered by the hideous hand of treason,

Nor is the melodious harp of my country

English anthem, God Save the Queen (you can actually hear the players' voices):

God save our gracious Queen,

Long live our noble Queen,

God save the Queen:

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us:

God save the Queen.

Scottish anthem, Flower of Scotland, before the famous 1990 match Scotland vs. England:

O Flower of Scotland,

When will we see

Your like again

That fought and died for

Your wee bit Hill and Glen

And stood against him

Proud Edward's army

And sent him homeward

Tae think again

Those days are past now,

And in the past they must remain,

But we can still rise now,

And be the nation again,

That stood against him,

Proud Edward's Army,

And sent him homeward,

Tae think again.

Irish Rugby anthem, Ireland's Call (NB - Not the Irish national anthem!):

Come the day and come the hour

Come the power and the glory

We have come to answer

Our Country's call

From the four proud provinces of Ireland

Ireland, Ireland,

Together standing tall

Shoulder to shoulder

We'll answer Ireland's call

If you want to learn more, click here.

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