Wales’ Principality Stadium at 25: 'The Eras Tour'

If you are ever fortunate capable to locomotion done nan meandering tunnels of nan Principality Stadium, you will carnivore witnesser to nan awesome array of sporting and euphony events staged location complete nan years.

Signed shirts, squad photos and performance promotions statement nan walls earlier you scope nan hallowed turf pinch 75,000 seats looking down connected you.

Just past week Taylor Swift became nan latest world icon to waste retired nan stadium, her Eras Tour nan hottest summons successful municipality and only past nighttime stone gods nan Foo Fighters entertained different raucous audience.

And while nan American singer-songwriter uses her latest performance to people nan ages of her career, this week offers an opportunity for Wales’ nationalist stadium to do nan same.

It was 25 years agone connected 26 June erstwhile nan past Millennium Stadium was officially opened successful nan bosom of nan Welsh capital. To nan Swifties procreation it is difficult to envisage nan Cardiff skyline not pierced by its iconic achromatic masts.

Since 1999, nan stadium has hosted world sporting events, from Six Nations Grand Slam showdowns, FA Cup finals, World title boxing bouts, a Rugby World Cup last and a Champions League final.

It has besides been transformed for immoderate of nan biggest names successful nan euphony industry; nan Rolling Stones, Madonna, nan Spice Girls, Beyonce and Bruce Springsteen to sanction conscionable a few.

Here we look astatine 25 memorable moments arsenic nan Principality celebrates a 4th of a century.

Wales hit nan Boks - 26 June 1999

Only 27,000 fans witnessed Wales beating South Africa for nan first clip successful their Test history.

The stadium was only half finished, activity was going connected astir nan timepiece to get it fresh successful clip for nan Rugby World Cup later that year.

The celebrated 29-19 win complete nan world champions was a worthy return for Graham Henry's Wales aft playing location matches astatine Wembley for 2 years.

Neil Jenkins put his sanction successful nan history books arsenic scoring nan first points, pinch Mark Taylor crossing for nan first try.

Aussies norm nan world - 6 November 1999

The stadium was thankfully vanished successful clip for nan World Cup and who tin hide Australia crushing France 35-12 successful nan final?

In doing so, nan Wallabies became nan first state to assistance nan trophy twice.

Full-back Matt Burke enjoyed a kicking haul of 25 points, pinch Waltzing Matilda ringing retired agelong into nan Cardiff night.

Liverpool precocious shows - 12 May 2001 and 13 May 2006

The Millennium Stadium hosted six FA Cup finals betwixt 2001 and 2006 while Wembley was rebuilt.

It proved a happy hunting crushed for Liverpool, starting pinch a smash-and-grab ambush against Arsenal.

The Gunners led 1-0, but Michael Owen scored doubly successful nan past 8 minutes to complete a thrilling comeback.

Five years later, Steven's Gerrard's 35 gait wonderment onslaught collapsed West Ham hearts.

At 2-1, nan Hammers had 1 manus connected nan trophy until Gerrard's 90th infinitesimal equaliser forced extra-time and past penalties, which Liverpool won courtesy of Pepe Reina's heroics successful goal.

The Italian Job - 16 October 2002

Mark Hughes' Wales enjoyed a memorable 2-1 triumph complete Italy in a Euro 2004 qualifier.

Captained by Gary Speed, Simon Davies opened nan scoring earlier Alessandro Del Piero levelled.

Craig Bellamy's emphatic victor ensured Wales hit a apical footballing federation successful a competitory crippled for nan first clip successful 11 years.

Wales vanished runners-up successful nan group, but hopes of making a first awesome title since 1958 were dashed by Russia successful nan play-offs.

Wales would person to hold different 12 years to play successful nan Euros - but it was worthy it!

Home municipality play-offs – 25 May 2003

Cardiff City secured promotion to nan aged First Division aft an 18-year absence pinch a 1-0 triumph complete Queen's Park Rangers.

There were conscionable six minutes of other clip remaining erstwhile Cardiff substitute Andy Campbell calmly lobbed Chris Day to seal triumph successful beforehand of a jubilant location crowd.

For 20 seasons since then, Cardiff City person played successful nan apical 2 flights of English football, spending 2 years successful nan Premier League.

The Grand Slam complaint - 19 March 2005

The 2005 Grand Slam is possibly 1 of nan astir fondly remembered by Wales fans.

Just 2 years aft nan dreaded Six Nations woody spoon, Mike Ruddock's broadside ensured a cleanable expanse pinch a 32-20 triumph complete Ireland.

Gethin Jenkins' complaint down, Messi-like shot skills and gait to get to nan effort statement are now nan worldly of prop legend.

Wales besides sealed Grand Slams successful Cardiff successful 2008 and 2012 - but 2005 is 1 that will unrecorded agelong successful nan memory.

A rugby convention cracker - 27 August 2005

Eight tries and a last-minute conversion to clinch triumph - location person been few, if any, matches much melodramatic astatine nan stadium than Hull's Rugby League Challenge Cup triumph against Leeds.

Leeds, nan overwhelming favourites, were beaten 25-24 successful 1 of nan competition's astir memorable finals.

It was played successful a metropolis wherever only a decade earlier rugby convention was nan unmentionable "other" codification played up northbound which took galore of Wales' champion rugby national players.

Trundle and T-shirts - 2 April 2006

Swansea City striker Lee Trundle had been nan astir talked astir subordinate extracurricular nan apical 2 divisions starring into this Football League Trophy final.

It took conscionable 3 minutes for Trundle to nutrient a top-class volley that gave nan Swans nan lead, and successful nan last stages he group up Adebayo Akinfenwa's winner.

Trundle's post-match celebrations sewage him successful problem though, he and Alan Tate were pictured wearing T-shirts and holding flags violative to Cardiff City

The brace were cautioned by nan constabulary and received a good and prohibition from nan Football Association of Wales.

Grey time for nan All Blacks - 6 October 2007

Playing successful Cardiff contempt being tourney hosts, France were fixed small chance successful this World Cup quarter-final against basking favourites New Zealand, who were almost unrecognisable successful grey kit.

But aft facing nan haka, France fought backmost from 13-0 down to triumph 20-18.

Kiwi coach Graham Henry called it nan "Train Crash astatine Cardiff", arsenic nan All Blacks grounded to scope nan semi-finals for nan first clip successful nan tournament's history.

Calzaghe's crowning infinitesimal - 3 November 2007

It was a nighttime and a conflict that secured Joe Calzaghe's spot among nan greats of British boxing.

The Welshman, past 35, gave nan capacity of a life successful his 44th outing, against Denmark's Mikkel Kessler, who Calzaghe says was his toughest opponent.

Both fighters were undefeated successful a mixed 82 bouts. Calzaghe held 2 ace middleweight titles, Kessler had nan others successful a uncommon unification battle.

A crowd of 50,000 meant this was a acold outcry from nan 2,800-capacity Wales National Ice Rink, wherever Calzaghe had fought respective opponents, arsenic the Welsh boxer sealed a unanimous points decision.

Staring down nan haka - 22 November 2008

As sporting theatre goes, Wales staring down nan New Zealand haka successful 2008 takes immoderate beating.

The teams stood oculus to oculus for what seemed an eternity earlier referee Jonathan Kaplan yet convinced them to return their starting places.

The hosts whitethorn person won nan stand-off, but nan 29-9 conclusion that followed extended their agelong hold for a triumph complete nan All Blacks that stretches backmost to 1953.

Ireland extremity decades of wounded - 21 March 2009

In 2009, Ireland celebrated their first Grand Slam since 1948 - and it each came down to nan past 2 seconds.

An Irish squad featuring nan likes of Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell and Ronan O'Gara had promised overmuch complete nan years, but grounded to present erstwhile it mattered.

That changed connected a melodramatic time successful Cardiff.

Wales were connected people for nan Triple Crown acknowledgment to Stephen Jones' driblet extremity pinch 5 minutes to go, but O'Gara responded successful benignant to put his broadside connected apical of nan Six Nations pile.

Rugby union's first shootout - 3 May 2009

Look distant now Martyn Williams - master rugby's first punishment shootout is 1 nan Wales rugby awesome will want to forget.

Leicester and Cardiff Blues drew 26-26 successful their Heineken Cup semi-final and could not beryllium separated by other time.

Cue a punishment shootout successful beforehand of nan posts connected nan 22.

The master kickers safely navigated their shots until Leicester's Johne Murphy was first to miss. But Tom James saw his chance to seal triumph for Cardiff fail.

The shootout continued and options moving out, flanker Williams stepped forward.

A chaotic hook was nan cruellest of blows and allowed Jordan Crane to triumph it for Leicester.

The top comeback - 13 February 2010

If you are ever reasoning astir leaving a crippled early, fto this beryllium a instruction to you!

Wales were 10 points adrift of Scotland successful nan 76th infinitesimal and staring down nan tube of defeat.

Some little optimistic location fans were already heading for nan train arsenic Dan Parks looked to person guided nan Scots to a celebrated triumph connected Welsh soil.

But successful a breathless finale, Wales went done shape aft shape until Scotland yet ran retired of defenders and Shane Williams darted nether nan posts to clinch a melodramatic 31-24 win.

Never opportunity dice Leinster - 21 May 2011

It was not truthful overmuch nan points quality that led to nan top comeback successful Heineken Cup last history, but nan measurement successful which Leinster did it.

Northampton led 22-6 astatine nan interval - and ohio to beryllium a alert connected nan wall successful nan Leinster changing room, because immoderate Joe Schmidt said to his broadside sparked a devastating blitz.

Leinster scored 27 unanswered points wrong 26 minutes to overrun nan Saints and declare a 2nd European Cup title successful 3 years.

Olympics comes to Wales - 25 July 2012

Did you cognize nan London 2012 Olympics really started successful Cardiff?

Before James Bond and nan Queen had parachuted into nan Olympic Stadium, Team GB's women's shot squad had beaten New Zealand 1-0 thanks to Steph Houghton's goal.

Other notable extremity scorers successful Cardiff during nan tourney included Brazil's Marta and, successful nan men's tournament, Aaron Ramsey, Neymar and a then-unknown Mohamed Salah.

England's chastening finale - 16 March 2013

England arrived chasing a first Grand Slam successful a decade, but they near Cardiff shell-shocked.

Ten of Stuart Lancaster's starting broadside had ne'er played astatine nan stadium and they were greeted by an electrical atmosphere.

Wales, coached by Rob Howley pinch Warren Gatland connected Lions duty, had a chance to snatch nan title, but needed a winning separator of astatine slightest 7 points.

Carried connected a activity of sound and elation, Wales romped to a celebrated 30-3 victory.

'Tunnelgate' - 6 February 2015

As if Wales v England connected a Friday nighttime successful Cardiff was not melodramatic enough, cue a guidelines disconnected successful nan tunnel.

The stadium was cloaked successful acheronian pinch each eyes connected nan ray of nan passageway - but nary players emerged.

Knowing Wales enjoyed letting their opponents stew successful a cauldron of sound agelong earlier making their appearance, England skipper Chris Robshaw stood his crushed and waited, and waited pinch nan crippled delayed by six minutes.

England went connected to win 21-16.

Real Madrid crush Juventus - 3 June 2017

Wales' nationalist stadium was ever intended to pull world-class athletics to Cardiff and they do not travel bigger than nan Uefa Champions League final.

Despite his homecoming, Gareth Bale played only a bit-part arsenic a 2nd half substitute arsenic Cristiano Ronaldo scored doubly to spot Real on their measurement to a 4-1 win and a 12th European title.

Bale would later person his infinitesimal though, scoring 2 goals successful nan 2018 last triumph against Liverpool.

Heavyweight attractions – 28 October 2017 and 31 March 2018

Anthony Joshua was not nan first heavyweight to conflict successful Cardiff, but he is among nan biggest successful position of beingness beingness and drafting power.

Not since Lennox Lewis hit Frank Bruno astatine nan aged National Stadium successful October 1993 had location been specified a buzz astir a heavyweight title successful nan Welsh capital.

Joshua stopped Carlos Takam successful beforehand of an expectant crowd and nan pursuing March besides hit Joseph Parker astatine a venue he describes arsenic his "boxing home."

Grand Slam again - 16 March 2019

Wales celebrated a 3rd Grand Slam successful 11 years arsenic they put Ireland to nan beard successful ruthless fashion.

Hadleigh Parkes scored an early effort and from past connected Gareth Anscombe's footwear kept nan people ticking over, pinch Jordan Larmour's precocious effort nary consolation as Wales triumphed 25-7.

Ireland had opted to support nan tile open, but nan Cardiff rainfall did small to dampen Welsh celebrations.

Controversial crown - 27 February 2021

The 2021 Six Nations was possibly nan astir surreal of nan title truthful far.

An outbreak of Covid-19 was highly anticipated, but Wales coming to wrong a whisker of a Grand Slam was not.

Wales vanished 5th successful 2020 nether caller caput coach Wayne Pivac, but recovered themselves unbeaten going into nan last crippled against France.

Prior to that they claimed nan Triple Crown pinch a 40-24 triumph complete England.

That lucifer will beryllium remembered for not 1 but 2 arguable Welsh tries.

Josh Adams scored from a speedy punishment while Louis Rees-Zammit looked arsenic amazed arsenic anyone that a knock-on was not fixed successful nan build-up to Liam Williams' try.

Last-gasp punishment - 20 November 2021

Test matches betwixt Wales and Australia are ever captivating and this autumn brushwood was nary exception.

Ill-discipline proved costly for nan Wallabies who were reduced to 14 players early on, but they sewage themselves backmost successful nan game.

Kurtley Beale looked for illustration he had travel backmost to haunt nan hosts pinch a precocious touchline conversion, but Wales sewage their rewards pinch a past gasp penalty.

Replacement fly-half Rhys Priestland slotted complete to secure nan 29-28 win.

Woeful Wales - 19 March and 19 November 2022

Wales suffered not one, but 2 humiliating defeats which yet costs Wayne Pivac his job.

The first came against Italy successful nan last crippled of nan Six Nations.

Edoardo Padovani scored aft Ange Capuozzo's superb break, pinch Paolo Garbisi converting pinch nan last footwear of nan match.

Josh Adams gave Capuozzo his man of nan lucifer medal afterwards.

Georgia rubbed brackish successful Wales' wounds by pulling disconnected nan finest consequence successful their history during nan autumn - again it was a precocious punishment which won nan game.

Pivac was sacked successful December and replaced by Warren Gatland.

Invading unrecorded interviews - 27 April 2024

Wales women were hopeless to debar nan woody spoon heading into their Six Nations finale against Italy.

It was nan first clip they played a standalone lucifer astatine nan Principality and location was a grounds crowd to spot them grind retired a 22-20 win.

It was acold from a classic, but nan measurement Wales celebrated afterwards will unrecorded agelong successful nan representation - players stormed caput coach Ioan Cunningham's post-match question and reply earlier emptying nan contents of a cool container complete his head.

It whitethorn person seemed complete exuberant, but aft 7 erstwhile losses, nan alleviation was clear to see.