Bread Of Heaven
On 'All Things Considered' this week Sunday 9 September at 7.31am, (repeated on Wednesday 12 September at 7.32pm) as the Welsh rugby team begin their World Cup campaign, Roy Jenkins explores the relationship between rugby and religion.
Whatever happens to Wales in Nantes during the Rugby World Cup, the players can be certain of one thing - they'll be borne up by the familiar strains of Cwm Rhondda.
Fervent pleas for the bread of heaven will bear no relation at all to the intention of the hymn writer William Williams Pantycelyn, but few are likely to notice.
Hymns have been wedded to Welsh rugby for so long that they're now more of a tribal chant than any expression of religious faith.
It's not always been so, and today we explore the relationship between rugby and religion in Wales, and how it's developed over the years; and we also meet some people who are as enthusiastic about their faith as about their sport - and want to see the links between them strengthened.
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Mal Pope replays highlights from this week's programmes on Radio Wales, and delves into the archive.
