Whilst most stadiums are relegated to the edge of a city, the Millennium is located in the very heart of downtown Cardiff. Its most original feature is the fully retractable roof that can be closed at a moment’s notice - far more than a simple gadget in a country famous for its overcast, moody skies. It also has two lawns which can be exchanged in less than 24 hours, allowing it to host sports events and concerts in two-day intervals.
A few weeks after its inauguration in June, 1999, the Millennium held the France-Australia World Cup Final. Since that time, it has become one of Great Britain’s leading venues for British sports in general, and rugby in particular.
Traditionally, when the World Cup is held in Europe it reaches beyond the borders of the host country. With this in mind, the French organizers naturally included the iconic Welsh stadium. Of the four matches scheduled to take place there, three are Pool B contests - the pool that Wales belongs to. The series begins on 15 September with the Wales v Australia mêlée, followed by Canada v Fiji the next day, and Wales v Japan on 20 September. Finally, on 6 October, the Millennium will be the arena where the quarter-final battle between the winner of Pool C (New Zealand’s pool) and the runner-up team of Pool D (France’s pool). In other words, a colossal match in the making!
