We just didn’t want Grand Slam party to end

Mar 17 2008 by Laura Wright, South Wales Echo

As Wales won a memorable Grand Slam at the Millennium Stadium, our reporter Laura Wright and Katie Bodinger were at the Stadium and with fans at a city pub to cheer them on.

I WOKE up on Saturday morning with a buzz. Okay, that may not be entirely true. I woke up with a hangover from the night before, but nothing was going to bring me down for this momentous day.

I was lucky enough to be given a pair of Wales v France tickets for Christmas.

If I’m honest, I had half wished they were tickets against a lesser team because I love to see Wales win and after the World Cup flop, my head didn’t think they had much of a chance.

But as the weeks went by and the wins stacked up, I prized my Grand Slam decider tickets more and more.

Walking into the city centre on Saturday, it was very wet and very busy but nobody seemed to mind. We watched the England v Ireland match in the Wyndham Street Arcade, peering through a pub window for a glimpse of the screen among a bustling crowd.

When it was time, we made our way to the stadium, my ticket firmly gripped in my hand.

As we took our seats there was no amount of money I would have traded for my ticket.

From the moment the Wales team walked out the singing and cheering began – and didn’t stop until well into the night.

I have never cuddled more strangers, been more hoarse or jumped up and down as much in my whole life – but I wasn’t alone, another 74,000 jubilant fans joined me.

It was an intense match with a cracking atmosphere. But as soon as Shane bounded over the try line, the crowd erupted and had no reason to stop from then on. And when the final whistle blew, well that was it. We had won the Grand Slam – and it felt amazing.

We were all in raptures as the team celebrated, collected the cup and did the lap of victory around the pitch.

Even when they were walking out to the dressing rooms, we were still cheering and applauding, not wanting it to end – and it didn’t. The celebrations continued long into the night.

Even today I am filled with glee and the feeling is far from fading.

Laura.wright@mediawales.co.uk

View images from a glorious Grand Slam weekend click here
More Grand Slam news, views and reports click here

Drinks may have been spilled but nobody cared - page 2
Slam coach Ruddock leads the tributes - page 3
Wales can now show the world - page 4