Publisher's Synopsis
Wales has long been famous for its sport. For over 100 years rugby has been one of the powerful images associated with the nation. For the Welsh and others, the sport has been a symbol of the vitality and passion of the principality. Defeats on the sacred turf of the Arms Park have driven men and women to drink, tears and laments for the state of the nation; victories have driven them to drink, tears and celebrations of the state of the nation. Wales's sporting heritage extends far beyond rugby though. Football, cricket, snooker, darts, athletics, golf and other sports and games have produced Welsh triumphs and failures.;This text is journey through the history of sport in Wales over the last 200 years. It charts the story of Welsh sport from the days of cock fights and bull baiting through to the rugby World Cup and Millennium Stadium. The men and women who played and watched the sports are explored, along with the famous and not-so-famous victories and defeats that enthralled communities in north and south.;Sport was shaped and driven by wider forces like nationalism, commercialism and industrialization and the book shows how sport fits into the wider history of Wales. It thus makes up an important part of what Wales actually is.
