Former captain Ryan Jones believes the Wales squad have been given”a huge lift” before the Rugby World Cup, following 15,000 individuals flocked to watch their open training session at Kitakyushu.
Wales arrived in the scene where they’re training to some rendition of the Welsh national anthem from sailors, also are based at the southern Japanese city, which will not host any games during the tournament.
The staff of warren Gatland get their championship under way on Monday, September 23 from Georgia, and triple Grand Slam winner Jones claims will benefit the players.
“I have never experienced anything like this in my own career. It is astonishing and it’s been very emotional,” said Jones, who played for Wales from 2004-2014.
“It’s been like hosting a party. We got up and we said’oh, I hope it goes well now and folks will develop’.
“Then to find the queues and then to observe the gamers’ faces when they came out, it was just magical.
“It’s surpassed all our expectations. Since the men are one week out from our very first game, and to get an adventure such as this brings it home how it is it’s great.
“It will give the gamers a massive lift. The fantasy was to turn the city red and we’ve done that.”
Jones, who helped build connections between the Welsh Rugby Union and Kitakyushu, included:”If you look back to things in your career, setting that has been magnificent.
“Seeing the players when they arrived at the welcome party the other night, and seeing their faces , they did not comprehend it.
“They’ve not seen anything like this and they’ll remember it forever. I know we will be back and long may it continue.”
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