S4C is delving into the archives to give viewers another chance to enjoy some unforgettable moments from Wales’ rich sporting past.
With the sporting season brought to a standstill by the COVID-19 pandemic, the broadcaster has commissioned several programmes to be shown over the coming weeks, including a host of classic rugby and football matches, sports documentaries and series looking at the latest sporting developments.
Rugby fans can enjoy some memorable matches featuring the Wales national and Under 20s teams, in Dyddiau Da. The series will re-live classic matches from three competitions:
Five and Six Nations – Four programmes, starting at 9.00pm on Friday 8 May, looking back on England v Wales 1988, Wales v France 1994, Wales v England 2005 and Wales v England 2013, with the stars who played their part in each match,
Rugby World Cup – Two programmes focusing on classic World Cup encounters; Wales v New Zealand 2003 and Wales v France 2011, Wales v England 2015 and Wales v Australia 2019.
Under 20 World Rugby Championship – Starting at 10.00pm on Friday 4 May, a look back at six matches, from the inaugural championship in 2008 to last year’s competition, including Wales’ win over New Zealand in 2012.
What are the issues affecting the world of rugby during the lockdown? And how do players and fans keep themselves busy during these strange times?
In Tŷ Rygbi, which begins on Monday 27 April at 9.30pm, Rhys ap William will be speaking to a host of familiar faces from his home, including Mike Phillips, Shane Williams and Sioned Harries, to get their perspective on the issues and to hear some of their colourful tales from rugby past.
There will also be plenty of light-hearted items to keep rugby fans entertained.
Clasuron Cwpan Ewrop, starting on Saturday 30 May, looks back at three memorable matches in the European Heineken Champions Cup – Toulouse v Scarlets 2006, Cardiff Blues v Leicester 2009 and Cardiff Blues v Toulon 2010.
The World Rugby Bermuda Classic is a rugby tournament played by ex-pros every year on the Caribbean island.
Starting at 9.30pm on Wednesday 8 June, Clasuron Bermuda, will look at the highlights of tournaments gone by. Dafydd James, Chris Wyatt, Shane Williams and Ceri Sweeney are among the Welsh players to have represented a Classic Lions team in the competition over the years, and this series will round-up the action from the last few years of this highly entertaining competition.
The documentaries to be shown over the coming months includes: Y Gamp Lawn 2019 – an opportunity to re-live Wales’ Grand Slam-winning 2019 Guinness Six Nations campaign; Cofio Dydd y Farn – Friday 1 May at 9.00pm – the best of the action from Judgement Days gone by, featuring all four rugby regions; Syr Gareth Edwards – Friday 5 June at 9.00pm – looking back at the career of the legendary Wales scrum-half, and; Clasuron y Clybiau – Saturday 23 May at 5.45pm – another chance to enjoy some special moments from the WRU National Cup, Plate and Bowl finals over the years.
Supporters of the Wales national football team are not neglected, with full match re-runs of some of the team’s best matches over the last two years, on Sgorio Rhyngwladol.
The series began with Wales v Republic of Ireland 2018, which is available to watch on S4C Clic now, and continues at 5.30pm every Saturday from 25 April, with; Slovakia v Wales 2019, Wales v Croatia 2019, Azerbaijan v Wales 2019 and Wales v Hungary 2019.
Sgorio will also be replaying some classic matches from the Welsh Premier League and Welsh Cup, in Clasuron Uwch Gynghrair Cymru.
The series, which starts on Sunday 10 May, will feature Bangor City v The New Saints 2010, Caernarfon Town v The New Saints 2014 and Bala Town v The New Saints 2017.
There will be another chance to look back at Geraint Thomas’ unforgettable victory in the 2018 Tour de France, in Geraint Thomas: Vive le Tour, at 9.00pm on Friday 24 April.
Netball fans to look back to Wales’ performances during last year’s summer series, in Pêl-Rwyd: Uchafbwyntiau Cyfres Cymru 2019, on Wednesday 20 May.
