The RAF’s world-renowned Queen’s Colour Squadron elite drill team will take to the pitch at Principality Stadium as part of the pre-match entertainment when they perform their drill to music by the Central Band of the RAF.
To give the crowd some ‘hwyl’ before the game the RAF musicians will then accompany the choirs with some Welsh classics such as Cwm Rhondda, Sospan Fach and of course, Hymns and Arias.
Before kick-off, they will be joined by RAF personnel, many from Wales, with a number playing rugby for the senior RAF men’s or women’s teams. Also on the pitch will be Air Cadets, from cities, towns and villages across Wales and members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
A video featuring the RAF’s story, past and present, will be played on the stadium’s big screens before the kick-off.
Spectators are encouraged to arrive early and not miss what will be an afternoon of pre-match entertainment.
Air Commodore Adrian Williams OBE ADC RAF said:
“It’s a great privilege for the RAF to be part of the Wales v New Zealand match.
“In 2018, the RAF will be marking its centenary, holding a number of public events, including across Wales. We hope you can join us at an event next year. But today we mark another special RAF anniversary, for it was on 28 November 1917 that the Act of Parliament creating the RAF received Royal Assent. A key architect in creating the RAF, the world’s first independent Air Force, was Prime Minister David Lloyd George. One hundred years on, the RAF are honoured to be in the Welsh capital to salute David Lloyd George, a great wartime Prime Minister and a great Welshman.
“The RAF centenary will allow us to celebrate many other strong links between the RAF and Wales but today, we have the opportunity to celebrate RAF links with Welsh Rugby. I know Welsh Rugby supporters will have fond memories of Jeff Young, who won 23 caps for Wales in the late 1960s and early 1970s and also achieved senior rank in the RAF, finishing his career as a Wing Commander. And, very appropriate to mention today, is that Bleddyn Williams, the last Welsh captain to lead us to victory against the All Blacks (1953) was also a Second World War RAF pilot and Ken Jones, the scorer of the winning try was an ex-Flight Sergeant.
“Today Sian Williams is a Wales Women’s international and Wales Sevens captain She won her first international cap against Scotland in the 2011 Women’s Six Nations Championship. She joined the RAF in 2008 and holds the rank of Senior Aircraftsman, serving as a logistician at MoD St Athan near Cardiff.These are just some of the magical memories and links that we can share and celebrate together and hopefully they can spur us to success today.
“Thank you for your continued support to the RAF. I hope the RAF centenary celebrations will allow you to meet some of the fine men and women who currently serve in your Royal Air Force. Mawr ddiolch i chi gyd.”
