{"id":47835,"date":"2020-02-03T22:53:14","date_gmt":"2020-02-03T22:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jomec.co.uk\/intercardiff\/?p=47835"},"modified":"2020-09-25T10:51:28","modified_gmt":"2020-09-25T09:51:28","slug":"unity-in-diversity-amid-cardiffs-rugby-celebration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/global-city\/unity-in-diversity-amid-cardiffs-rugby-celebration","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;I&#8217;m here for the rugby but I&#8217;m a pro-European supporter&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2>The Six Nations commencement in Cardiff brought rugby revelry to the city centre but many fans still felt the weight of a Brexit finalisation.\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"366\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/IMG_09DE3F074307-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/IMG_09DE3F074307-1.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/IMG_09DE3F074307-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/IMG_09DE3F074307-1-500x282.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/IMG_09DE3F074307-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/IMG_09DE3F074307-1.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/IMG_09DE3F074307-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/IMG_09DE3F074307-1-500x282.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Kerry Thomas flew both EU and Wales flags as pro-EU rally speakers told the crowd the fight against Brexit was not at its end. CC: Caitlin Powell. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On Saturday morning, Cardiff woke up earlier than usual.<\/p>\n<p>It donned its rugby shirt, applied its face paint generously. Its pubs flipped signs from closed to open and began filling, downing and refilling its pints accordingly. Outside, Italian flags rippled around a cadre of blue-jumpered shoulders. Sprite yellow daffodil-heads sprouted into a happily fattening crowd. Among rattling vendors deluged with scarves, flower crowns and scarlet bucket hats, fans roamed from Queen Street to Principality Stadium painting the city in red, green, white and blue while chanting broken snippets of their anthems like two choirs in battle.<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday morning, one feeling saturated the Cardiff air: The Six Nations was back.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"369\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/SixNationsCardiffStadium.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/SixNationsCardiffStadium.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/SixNationsCardiffStadium-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/SixNationsCardiffStadium-500x284.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"369\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/SixNationsCardiffStadium.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/SixNationsCardiffStadium.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/SixNationsCardiffStadium-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/SixNationsCardiffStadium-500x284.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption> This weekend marked the start of the 21st Six Nations Championship with Wales and Italy taking the pitch at 2:15 p.m. at Cardiff\u2019s Principality Stadium. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But as Welsh and Italian flags flapped buoyantly in\nthe Cardiff breeze, one flag rippled amongst them that hasn\u2019t had as prominent\na place on the pitch during past matches.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, it\u2019s not a six nation at all.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m here for the rugby,\u201d said Wales fan Kerry Thomas, \u201cbut I\u2019m a pro-European supporter today.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gathered around the Aneurin Bevan statue on Queen Street, a pro-European Union, flag-waving soapbox rally filled the air with a very different melody than the ones echoing from Womanby Street. Organised by the ground roots pro-EU community Cardiff for Europe, the protesters shared two simple messages: We will always be European. This is not the end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to show some support here now,\u201d Thomas\nsaid. \u201cWe\u2019re welcoming our Italian friends more warmly than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"649\" height=\"364\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUProtestCardiffSixNations.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUProtestCardiffSixNations.jpg 649w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUProtestCardiffSixNations-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUProtestCardiffSixNations-500x280.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 649px) 100vw, 649px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"649\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUProtestCardiffSixNations.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUProtestCardiffSixNations.jpg 649w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUProtestCardiffSixNations-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUProtestCardiffSixNations-500x280.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 649px) 100vw, 649px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Flags fly in Cardiff City Centre Saturday morning at Cardiff for Europe&#8217;s rally. CC: Caitlin Powell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It was nearly meme-esque: \u2018When you have work at 5\nbut the game at 7.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But as some fans awoke anxiously wondering whether Wales would clinch a home triumph or if Italy might pull a rabbit from its hat, fans like Susanne Koenig and her daughter Lillith woke still submerged in the previous night\u2019s events.&nbsp;Thus the red rugby shirts would have to wait. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s important for all of the young people,\u201d says\nKoenig. \u201cWithout the European Union, they have no future, no jobs, no\ninternational friendships. A lot of international European Union members like\nme will leave this country and take our children with us.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"649\" height=\"364\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUprotestorsCardiffQueenStreet.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47854\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUprotestorsCardiffQueenStreet.jpg 649w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUprotestorsCardiffQueenStreet-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUprotestorsCardiffQueenStreet-500x280.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 649px) 100vw, 649px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"649\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUprotestorsCardiffQueenStreet.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47854\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUprotestorsCardiffQueenStreet.jpg 649w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUprotestorsCardiffQueenStreet-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/EUprotestorsCardiffQueenStreet-500x280.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 649px) 100vw, 649px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Susanne (right) and Lillith (left) Koenig hold flags at the pro-EU rally. Credit: Megan Feringa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While sporting organisations rarely involve\nthemselves vis-\u00e0-vis politics, the start of the Six Nations has seen fans\nembrace a friendship between nations that surpasses bureaucratic and\ngeographical borders, the very one protesters like Koenig fear is in jeopardy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Which is not to say a rugby game day contends with that of the EU Parliament in terms of political venue. But while the Six Nations has no doubt transpired over the last three and a half years of Brexit suspense, it has yet to play amidst Brexit success, let alone on the very morning following the UK\u2019s official departure.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Credit: Caitlin Powell<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 2000, the annual brawl between Ireland,\nEngland, Wales, Italy, France, and Scotland has evolved into cross-country\npilgrimages for fans to hoist their flags and shout for their respective teams\nas loudly as they humanly can, usually louder.&nbsp; The world\u2019s oldest\ninternational rugby tournament is an enshrined fixture in any sport\nenthusiast\u2019s calendar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From 1st February to 14th March, weekends are marked off, sick-days leveraged and tickets bought and boasted well in advance. The wearable merch is properly laid out &#8212; washed or unwashed depending on the last time that jersey saw a lucky game day and just how much faith someone puts in superstition.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"652\" height=\"366\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/ItalianRugbyFansSixNationsCardiff.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/ItalianRugbyFansSixNationsCardiff.jpg 652w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/ItalianRugbyFansSixNationsCardiff-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/ItalianRugbyFansSixNationsCardiff-500x281.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 652px) 100vw, 652px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"652\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/ItalianRugbyFansSixNationsCardiff.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/ItalianRugbyFansSixNationsCardiff.jpg 652w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/ItalianRugbyFansSixNationsCardiff-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/02\/ItalianRugbyFansSixNationsCardiff-500x281.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 652px) 100vw, 652px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Italian fans outside The Old Arcade in Cardiff City Centre. Credit: Caitlin Powell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This year\u2019s tournament tails a World Cup dominated by a swathe of quick-footed southern hemisphere teams, giving the Six Nations teams a little more to prove to their fans: England as a reasserted worthy finalist that can stave off a World Cup repeat; Ireland, France and Wales&#8217;s new head coaches to nick a spot as indelible contenders.<\/p>\n<p>Put simply, the pitch stakes weigh a bit heavier in this year&#8217;s Six Nations realm.<\/p>\n<p>So on a day when ancient rivalries inevitably flare and fans parade city centres like their nations\u2019 personal mascots, it can be hard to believe that the street banter, pint rounds and erratic hugs from strangers inadvertently liken to anything more than exactly what they are.<\/p>\n<p>Those peering in from outside the insular rugby ring witness what could be the wardrobe department from a sports-pantomime, from grown men in Italian-striped Einstein wigs, to mock-gladiators proudly sporting red and white kilts. To the bemused bystander, the month-and-a-half long rugby slog is more like a 21st century bacchanalia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Credit: Caitlin Powell<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But to others, the Six Nations is much more than mornings and afternoons in crammed pubs staving off skittish angst as their chosen teams of 15 wrestle across goal lines in hopes of heaving a very large trophy above their heads.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRugby is for the soul,\u201d as one Italian-striped Einstein explained. The tournament is rooted in a cross-border camaraderie, in raising a glass to the stranger beside you dressed in opposing colours and very flagrantly cheering for not your team.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>And just like their rugby comrades flooding the narrow alley of The Old Arcade and pouring song from its front doors, the Queen Street rally was not one of enmity or spite, but one of companionship.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s why this year Louise Horton sells crowns laced with dovetailing red and blue petals, or why a proud Welsh man holds a beer in one hand, a Wales flag in the other and calls himself European.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>So as the Six Nations continues in its month-long splendour, a new team might continue to finesse its way through the crowd, flapping in the wind amongst its Welsh and Italian competitors like the old friend waving from the opposite side of the pitch.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Six Nations commencement in Cardiff brought rugby revelry to the city centre but many fans still felt the weight of Brexit.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":48118,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,14,17],"tags":[406,429,446],"coauthors":[672],"class_list":["post-47835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-global-city","category-politics-social-justice","category-sport-health","tag-queen-street","tag-rugby","tag-six-nations"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - 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