Wales for the most part stayed loyal to the union game. There were some attempts to run professional rugby league sides in Wales but the heartland of Welsh rugby was simply too far from Yorkshire and Lancashire for this to be sustained. There has always been an element of nationalism to rugby union in Wales. In 1977 Phil Bennett's pre-game pep talk before facing England produced a memorable quote: Look what these bastards have done to Wales. They've taken our coal, our water, our steel. They buy our homes and live in them for a fortnight every year. What have they given us? Absolutely nothing. We've been exploited, raped, controlled and punished by the English — and that's who you are playing this afternoon. The Welsh valleys north of Cardiff produced so many quality number tens that it was often referred to as 'The Outside Half Factory' immortalised in a song by Max Boyce. Boyce's humour refers to rugby union very often and he has written many songs about the trials and tribulations of following the game as a fan e.g. 'Asso Asso Yogoshi', 'The Scottish Trip', 'Hymns and Arias'. The national team Wales compete annually in the Six Nations, which they have won 28 times, the last being in 2021. Wales have also appeared in every World Cup that has been held, and achieved their best result in the 1987 tournament, when they finished third. The national team play at the Millennium Stadium, built in 1999 to replace the old National Stadium. Wales play in scarlet jerseys, white shorts and green socks, with the jersey sporting the Prince of Wales's feathers as their official badge. Every four years the British and Irish Lions go on tour with players from Wales as well as England, Ireland and Scotland. See also Rugby union in the British Isles History of rugby union Welsh Rugby Union Wales national rugby union team Wales national rugby sevens team Welsh rugby union system United Rugby Championship Cardiff Rugby Newport Gwent Dragons Ospreys Scarlets WRU National Leagues Welsh Premier Division WRU Challenge Cup Welsh Championship Welsh Rugby Players Association Rugby league in Wales Bibliography Richards, Huw A Game for Hooligans: The History of Rugby Union (Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, 2007, ) References External links The BBC's Welsh rugby union news page IC Wales's rugby union news page Gwlad Popular fan site for supporters of rugby union in Wales