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Watch: The sensational acapella anthem as Wales took on the All Blacks

By David Owens
The Wales team belt out the anthem ahead of the match against the All Blacks (TNT Sports)

It was a special day - 120 years ago Wales sang Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau ahead of a rugby union international for the first time.

The event was marked by a sensational acapella anthem which sounded absolutely immense.

Just as the Football Association of Wales pioneered the acapella version of the anthem to such great effect at the Cardiff City Stadium, so should the Welsh Rugby Union now keep this approach in place.

Simply put, it sound so much better.

The sound of 70,000 voices bellowing out Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau as if their lives depended on it stirred both players and fans under the lights at the Principality Stadium.

When the opening burst of the anthem fades and the crowd takes over it is truly one of the greatest sights and sounds in world sport.

Watch and enjoy!

Now that was pretty special 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

120 years ago Wales sang Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau ahead of a rugby union international for the first time. That day they beat the All Blacks 👀 pic.twitter.com/dLpkXoK8xk

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) November 22, 2025

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3 comments

Y Cymro

Great spectacle. As usual our anthem sends shivers down the spine but sadly the fog left by the pyrotechnics lingered like the mistakes made by Wales, numerous sin bins and penalties that gifted a wounded New Zealand many a try. Sadly the end score didn't reflect the effort made by our players, but to be honest with the ongoing upheaval in Welsh rugby politically will always be in the back of players mind, not forgetting you can't expect players at a certain level to compete with the best in the world. Hurts to say admit. But it's true. Comparing like for like our attack was very slow where NZ quick, had flow, impetus and intensity. Their players regularly play against South Africa and Australia where ours once in a blue moon. But our problems run deep. Why is Irish & Scottish club and international rugby faring better than ours? What are they doing right? Infighting in Wales doesn't help. The only true region is the Ospreys. And it looks like they will be made the sacrificial lamb by the WRU to appease the Scarlets, Blues and Dragons. Unfortunately more pain ahead on the horizon with the Boks for Wales. I suppose to learn from your mistakes you've got to make them to get better. Not pleasant viewing. Hopefully one day we'll fix all the ills in Welsh rugby.

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Frank

So, now that Zammit is back, he will be in almost every picture we see in reports of Cymru rubgy reports. He may be good but don't forget he abandoned Cymru for the US and then walks back in here to be the main attraction. This sort of publicity will undoubtedly cause resentment within the team. Who can blame them!

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Adrian

Fantastic news that the WRU have seen sense and are now replicating what the FAW have implemented at the CCS. As a longstanding member of the Red wall the crowd led anthem at the CCS where the whole stadium sing in unison raises the roof. After attending a few of the autumn internationals at the Principality stadium in the past few years the anthem has usually been shambolic at best. The band and choir sing it far too slow which results in the crowd and the piped sound from the tannoy system being out of sync. Saturday was a million times better and with a full stadium will be deafening for the away team. Well done WRU.

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Great spectacle. As usual our anthem sends shivers down the spine but sadly the fog left by the pyrotechnics lingered like the mistakes made by Wales, numerous sin bins and penalties that gifted a wounded New Zealand many a try. Sadly...

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