Asda's in Aberpandy this Saturday?

One thing that people never get about rugby in Wales, is that its not just a sport - its taken as seriously and as part of the fabric of life as a religion. Its a fair summary to say that if Wales lose on Saturday, it could be the best days weather in history - and Cardiff would still be like a wet and dank morgue. Win, and who cares about the rain ...... :)

My reintroduction to this fact was sitting on Radyr station a few years ago, when Wales were playing Scotland in Cardiff. Two little old ladies, one with a walking stick and the second with a Zimer frame, came bouncing down the platform wearing obligatory scarves discussing the detailed tactical intricacies of the present three quarter line versus the classic one of the 1970's...... ;)

Not to be left out at any point when a rugby event occurs, BBC Wales long ago invented the fictional valleys village of Aberpandy. As the Welsh like all celts have a fairly robust sense of humour, Aberpandy is what the PC English would call politically incorrect - much like a Welsh-set recreation of Ashes to Ashes, it includes blonde barmaids, men in tweed who drink beer; and the centre of life and culture is the rugby club. The present Aberpandy advert for BBC Wales coverage of the grand slam decider against France includes a man hitting his Peugeot with a large stick, and women getting excited about another Welsh try.

This classic of Aberpandy is from last years series for the Rugby World Cup coverage - but it does look like a recreation of what my local Asda's will be like at 17:00.


PS: And just in case you thought this was just a male PC phenomenon, look here - shot in the Hilton 4star hotel in Cardiff!