The date was December 16, 1905. The match was Wales versus the All Blacks at Cardiff Arms Park. It was an occasion where the singing of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau went down in history as the first ever recorded anthem at an international rugby game.
The match between the two sides came with huge gravitas, and was billed as the match of the century. New Zealand were on their inaugural tour of the northern hemisphere, and had racked up some serious points, winning 27 matches in a row. Having won the Triple Crown, Wales were also undefeated that year.
New Zealand performed their iconic haka in the Welsh capital, adding another exciting element to an already hugely-anticipated fixture. In response, the Wales players suddenly sang their anthem in response to the All Blacks haka and the epic presence that created, and supporters in the stands joined in with the chorus to create an incredible atmosphere in the ground.
A clip from the 'Gem y Ganrif/Game of the Century' DVD, which was released in 2005 via S4C and left viewers awe-struck, stunningly recreates Wales' epic 3-0 victory that day - using CGI technology to recreate the 47,000-strong crowd scene for the match.
It was actually the day that Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was cemented as the Welsh national anthem. It was a popular song by all means, but this game gave it the platform to become one of the most revered national anthems on the planet.
The newly-created tradition of singing a country's anthem before an international match would transcend from the popular gentleman's game to the ultra professional era, and would etch its way into rugby folklore with Wales' anthem being one of the most favoured across the globe by spectators.
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