Prince William visits Millennium Stadium

William had already seen Wales in action in Cardiff in the past, but Sunday’s visit was his first to the Millennium Stadium for rugby; he attended last year’s FA Cup Final, in his new role.

He met representatives of the age grade teams in Wales from U15 to U20; Rhys Thomas, Rhys Ruddock, Jack Short, Sam Warburton and Bradley Davies, Wales Women’s Captain Mellissa Berry, current Welsh international referee Nigel Owens and former Test official Nigel Williams, ex-Welsh captains Brian Price, Gerald Davies, Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams and Community Rugby representatives Keith Hulse (North Wales) and Gordon Adams (South East Wales).

“We are very excited as a Union at having William accept our invitation to become our Vice Royal Patron and we wanted him to get a feel for the whole spectrum of Welsh rugby by meeting people from all age groups and regions,” said WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis.

Cardiff Blues Chairman Peter Thomas also joined the line-up, along with his brother, Sir Stan Thomas, who represented the many charities in Wales. Injured players Shaun Parry-Jones, Paul Davies and Andrew Lewis were also introduced to William.

Other dignitaries in attendance at the game were Wales’s First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, the Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland, Peter Hain, and the Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern.