Sport
There is no better way of understanding Welsh identity than to go to an international rugby match and listen to Hen Wlad fy Nhadau (Land of my Fathers) ringing around the stadium. Rugby is the national game, played with huge enthusiasm and commitment. The Welsh Rugby Union is based in Cardiff (tel: (029) 2078 1700; website: www.wru.co.uk) and home international matches are played at the Millennium Stadium (tel: (0870) 558 2582; fax: (029) 2023 2678; website: www.millenniumstadium.co.uk). The local club team, Cardiff RFC (tel. (029) 2030 2000; fax: (029) 2030 2001; website: www.cardiffrfc.com) plays on a ground adjacent to the Millennium Stadium. The home team was Welsh League Champions in 1994-95 and has claimed the Welsh Cup seven times. However, the Cardiff RFC’s main claim to rugby fame is that they have never lost to Australia. The club is a breeding ground for national players and the current Welsh captain, David Young, is a Cardiff player.
Cardiff City Football Club, Nationwide League Division 2 (tel: (029) 2022 1001; website: www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk), plays at Ninian Park, Sloper Road. Glamorgan County Cricket Club (tel: (029) 2040 9380; e-mail: glam@ecb.co.uk; website: www.glamorgancricket.com) plays some of its home games at Sophia Gardens. The Wales National Ice Rink, Hayes Bridge Road, is home to Findus British National Ice Hockey League team, the Cardiff Devils (website: www.thecardiffdevils.co.uk).
Tickets to sporting events are available for purchase from the individual venues or via their websites.
Athletics: Cardiff Athletic Stadium, Leckwith Road (tel: (029) 2022 5345), is an international standard stadium with a capacity for 5000 spectators. In addition to the athletics track and sports field, the stadium has an enclosed skateboard area, a multifunction area for keep-fit, aerobics, ‘boxercise’, the ‘Strides’ gym and floodlit artificial surface playing fields. The stadium is open to all and is home to the Cardiff Athletic Club and stars such as Darren Campbell and Jamie Baulch.
Fitness centres: Centres equipped with swimming pools as well as sport and fitness facilities include Eastern Leisure Centre, Llanrumney Avenue (tel: (029) 2079 6616), Fairwater Leisure Centre, Waterhall Road, Fairwater (tel: (029) 2055 2210), Llanishen Leisure Centre, Ty Glas Avenue, Llanishen (tel: (029) 2076 2411), Pentwyn Leisure Centre, Bryn Celyn Road, Pentwyn (tel: (029) 2054 9211), and Western Leisure Centre, Caerau Lane, Ely (tel: (029) 2059 3592).
Golf: There are about a dozen golf courses in and near the city. Cardiff Golf Club, Sherbourne Avenue (tel: (029) 2075 3320), has 18 holes on a parkland course. Visitors are welcome but must be accompanied by a member at weekends. The green fee for visitors is 35. Cottrell Park (tel. (01446) 781781; fax: (01446) 781 187; e-mail: admin@cottrell-park.co.uk; website: www.cottrell-park.co.uk), located at St Nicholas, 11km (seven miles) from Cardiff city centre, also welcomes visitors and offers two 18-hole courses and a floodlit driving range. Green fees start from 29.95 for two players (including the sue of a buggy). Prices in all clubs vary depending on the time of week.
Riding: Cardiff Riding School, Pontcanna Fields, Llandaff (tel: (029) 2038 3908), is home to about 40 horses and ponies and caters for all ages and abilities. All instructors are approved by the British Horse Society.
Tennis: The Welsh National Tennis Centre is located at Ocean Park, Cardiff Bay (tel: (029) 2045 2000).
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Sport