Interesting historical pre-match ceremonials

Snickers Man

I hope that the over sensitive mods don't close this prematurely, nor that some overzealous loudmouths give them excuse to because this is quite interesting from a historical standpoint.

I just came across this on Youtube where, judging by the notes and the commentary, it was uploaded by a French person. It is the prematch ceremonials before the Wales France match in Cardiff Arms Park (as was) in 1968. This was the match in which France claimed the Grand Slam for the first time in their history! (The second time was at Lansdowne Road nine years later and I was there)

What surprises me is the fact that they played God Save the Queen as one of the Welsh anthems before the match. They then proceeded to play Land of My Fathers.

Now 1968 was before my time but I watched loads of games throughout the 1970s and NEVER remember God Save the Queen being played as the Welsh anthem. I DO remember it being played as the Scottish anthem at Murrayfield, were it received similar accompaniment from the Scottish crowd as it did from the Welsh here. I think it was only in the 1980s (possible as late as the Grand Slam decider of 1990) that the Scots switched to playing Flower of Scotland as their anthem.

Does anyone know when the Welsh stopped playing it as their anthem? Or at least stopped giving it equal billing with Land of My Fathers?

I'm curious. And I only want factual answers, not comments on the advisability or otherwise of playing God Save the Queen. As I'm sure do the Mods

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiF4QI5nIIY

Wales v France Cardiff Arms Park 1968

CatFromHue

I'm not sure tbh but I'm fairly sure Scotland used to have God Save the Queen as their anthem before Flower of Scotland came on the scene.

Actually Wikipedia states it better:

"Flower of Scotland" has been used since 1990 as Scotland's unofficial national anthem. It was written by Roy Williamson of The Corries in 1967, and adopted by the SRU to replace "God Save the Queen". In the first year of using "Flower of Scotland" as an anthem, Scotland walked onto the pitch at the beginning of the Five Nations Championship deciding match against England. This combination was explosive and Scotland went on to beat England 13–7 and win the Five Nations Championship with a Grand Slam.

The song has been used as a National Anthem by the Scotland national rugby union team, ever since the winger, Billy Steele, encouraged his team-mates to sing it on the victorious Lions tour of South Africa in 1974.[4] The song was adopted as the pre-game anthem during the deciding match of the 1990 Five Nations Championship between Scotland and England, which Scotland won 13–7 to win the Grand Slam.[5] The Scottish Football Association adopted "Flower of Scotland" as its pre-game national anthem in 1997[6] although it was first used by them in 1993.[citation needed] Usually only the first and third verses are sung

Snickers Man

As I already said: I certainly remember God Save the Queen being played as the Scottish anthem at Murrayfield, where the crowd gave it the same accompaniment you can hear the Welsh crowd giving it in the clip.

I remember the first time I ever heard Flower of Scotland was from hordes of drunken Scotsmen celebrating their Triple Crown win in Dublin in 1984. So it wasn't played as the official anthem much before then. If Wikipedia says it didn't become official until 1990, I think they're probably right.

But I wonder when Wales switched to only playing Land of My Fathers.