So did anyone catch the rugby game on Saturday? The weekend kicked off the 2014 Autumn Internationals, and Wales were all set to defeat the might Australian team, which would see their first win in almost 10 matches against the “Wallabies”.

Sadly though, it wasn’t to be. The Welsh team started fantastically, and by half time the scores were an even 21 apiece. However, Wales just couldn’t quite hang on to their sniff of victory, and by the end of the game, they had been defeated 28-33. But, by all accounts it was a thrilling match, and we certainly enjoyed cheering on the Welsh boys here at the Oakeley Arms.

So, what’s happening this weekend? Well, it’s another 2014 Autumn International game; this time Wales are playing the pacific team Fiji. Wales and Fiji have met 9 times previously, and of those, Wales have won 7 games and drawn once, so the odds are looking good for a win this time round. Nicknamed the “Flying Fijians”, the Fiji rugby team have travelled over 10,000 miles to join the Welsh team at the Millenium Stadium this weekend.

The Fijians are relatively new to Rugby Union – their first official game was in 1913 against the formidable All Blacks. A defeat of 67 points to 3 didn’t put the Flying Fijians off though, and their team has since gone from strength to strength. Fiji is one of the only countries in the world where Rugby is the main sport – no football, golf or tennis for the Fijians, and their international team is currently ranked tenth in the world. Not bad for a group of tiny islands with a population of less than a million people.

And did you know that at the beginning of each match, a war dance called a Cibi is performed by the team?!

So, let’s see what unfolds this weekend with Wales v Fiji at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Will Wales bag their first victory of the 2014 Autumn Internationals, or will it be a repeat of last weekend? We’re rooting for a win of course!

Come and join us here at the Oakeley for the match – Wales v Fiji, Saturday 15th November, kick off 14:30.

See you soon!

The Fijian team performing the Cibi war dance….