grand slam!

Last Saturday Cardiff was invaded by a strong contigent of red, white and blue-clad, beret-attired Frenchmen hoping to see the Franco-rugby team stop Wales in their last game of the Six Nations Tournament. Non chance. The Welsh dragons beat France to claim the Grand Slam, winning each of their games against the teams of Ireland, Scotland, England, Italy -- and the 2011 World Cup finalists, France.

It doesn't take long to become rugby-crazed in Wales. In mid-February, the lanes and streets of Cardiff city centre were marked by good numbers of kilt-wearing Scotsmen. A few weeks later a few intrepid Italians made the long journey. The French, however, came in multitudes. The hotel at which I work has more than 150 rooms and most of them were inhabited by the French.

As hotel guests, the French are welcome at any time! Reserved, so civilized, they exude a quiet seriousness and left the hotel rooms almost as immaculate as when they arrived. C'est si bon!

Cardiff's city centre buzzed a whole day before the big match and the Millennium Stadium is so near that the hum and roar of thousands can be heard from anywhere in the centre. It feels as if gladiators are thrilling the hordes at a nearby coliseum. At City Hall, only a mile or so from the stadium, a giant TV screen was erected for fans to watch the game. In The Hayes, smack in the centre of Cardiff, the square was filled with more watching the outdoor BBC screen. Pubs throughout Cardiff were packed with supporters of the Welsh brigade.

I watched a quiz show on TV the other night and was stunned that I actually knew the names of members of the Welsh rugby team. Rugby-mania is going to be hard to replace when I return to Canada.