Editing Wales (section)

===Sport===
{{Main|Sport in Wales}}
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[[File:Millennium Stadium (aerial view).jpg|thumb|[[Millennium Stadium]], Cardiff]]
More than 50 [[Governing bodies of sports in Wales|national governing bodies]] regulate and organise their sports in Wales.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2010 |title=NGB websites: About us: Sport Wales – Chwaraeon Cymru |url=http://www.sportwales.org.uk/about-us/how-we-can-help/working-in-partnership/national-governing-bodies-of-sport/ngb-websites.aspx?lang=en& |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310074525/http://www.sportwales.org.uk/about-us/how-we-can-help/working-in-partnership/national-governing-bodies-of-sport/ngb-websites.aspx?lang=en& |archive-date=10 March 2012 |access-date=29 November 2010 |website=[[Sport Wales]] website |publisher=[[Sport Wales]]}}</ref> Most of those involved in competitive sports select, organise and manage individuals or teams to represent their country at international events or fixtures against other countries. Wales is represented at major world sporting events such as the [[FIFA World Cup]], [[Rugby World Cup]], [[Rugby League World Cup]] and the [[Commonwealth Games]]. At the [[Olympic Games]], Welsh athletes compete alongside those of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland as part of a [[Great Britain at the Olympics|Great Britain]] team. Wales has hosted several international sporting events.<ref name="walessportsevents">{{cite news |date=1 July 2015 |title=How Wales became a magnet for major sports events |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33342995 |access-date=14 September 2015 |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref> These include the [[1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games|1958 Commonwealth Games]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games |url=http://www.thecgf.com/games/intro.asp?yr=1958 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414195235/http://thecgf.com/games/intro.asp?yr=1958 |archive-date=14 April 2017 |access-date=14 September 2015 |publisher=Commonwealth Games Federation}}</ref> the [[1999 Rugby World Cup]], the [[2010 Ryder Cup]] and the [[2017 UEFA Champions League Final]].<ref name=walessportsevents/><ref>{{Cite web |date=3 June 2017 |title=Highlights: Juventus 1–4 Real Madrid |url=http://www.itv.com/champions-league/highlights-juventus-1-4-real-madrid |access-date=26 June 2017 |publisher=ITV plc}}</ref>

Although football has traditionally been the more popular sport in [[North Wales]], [[rugby union in Wales|rugby union]] is seen as a symbol of [[Welsh national identity|Welsh identity]] and an expression of national consciousness.<ref>Davies (2008) p. 782</ref> The [[Wales national rugby union team]] takes part in the annual [[Six Nations Championship]] and has also competed in every [[Rugby World Cup]], hosting the tournament in [[1999 Rugby World Cup|1999]]. The five professional sides that replaced the traditional club sides in major competitions in 2003 were replaced in 2004 by the four regions: [[Cardiff Blues]], [[Dragons (rugby union)|Dragons]], [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] and [[Scarlets]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 April 2003 |title=Questions facing Wales' regional plans |work=[[BBC Sport]] website |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/2913753.stm |access-date=2 October 2010}}; {{Cite news |date=1 June 2004 |title=WRU axe falls on Warriors |work=[[BBC Sport]] website |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3754959.stm |access-date=2 October 2010}}</ref> The Welsh regional teams play in the [[United Rugby Championship]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pro14 Clubs |url=https://www.pro14.rugby/clubs |access-date=30 April 2020 |archive-date=13 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813115816/https://www.pro14.rugby/clubs |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[Heineken Champions Cup]] if they qualify<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heineken Champions Cup |url=https://www.epcrugby.com/champions-cup/clubs/ |access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref> and the [[European Rugby Challenge Cup]], again dependent on qualification.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nick Verier |date=10 April 2014 |title=European Rugby Statement |publisher=The Rugby Paper |url=https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/featured-post/15722/european-rugby-statement/ |access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref> [[Rugby league in Wales]] dates back to 1907. A professional [[Welsh League]] existed from 1908 to 1910.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lush |first1=Peter |title=Tries in the Valley: A History of Rugby League in Wales |last2=Farrar, Dave |publisher=London League Publications |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-9526064-3-7 |location=London |page=19}}</ref>

Wales has had [[football in Wales|its own football]] league, the [[Welsh Premier League]], since 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Alun |title=A Brief History of the League |url=http://www.welshpremier.com/History.ink |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720112816/http://www.welshpremier.com/History.ink |archive-date=20 July 2011 |access-date=23 November 2010 |publisher=Welsh Premier League}}</ref> For historical reasons, five Welsh clubs play in the [[English football league system]]: [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]], [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]], [[Newport County A.F.C|Newport County]], [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]], and [[Merthyr Town F.C. (2010)|Merthyr Town]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 November 2010 |title=The Cardiff and Swansea Derby |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2010/11/the_cardiff_and_swansea_derby.html |access-date=23 November 2010 |website=[[BBC Cymru Wales]] website |publisher=BBC}}</ref> The country has produced a considerable number of [[List of Wales international footballers|footballers]] who have played at international level.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 October 2014 |title=Gareth Bale: Ryan Giggs says winger can be Wales' greatest |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29607612 |access-date=14 September 2015 |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref> At [[UEFA Euro 2016]], the [[Wales national football team|Wales national team]] achieved their best ever finish, reaching the semi-finals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UEFA 2016 |url=https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/euro/2016/2017905_fr.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709115842/http://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/euro/2016/2017905_fr.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 July 2016 |access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref>

In international [[cricket]], Wales and England field a single representative team, administered by the [[England and Wales Cricket Board]] (ECB), called the [[England cricket team]], or simply 'England'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What we do at the ECB |url=http://www.ecb.co.uk/ecb/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624020944/http://www.ecb.co.uk/ecb/ |archive-date=24 June 2014 |access-date=23 November 2010 |publisher=[[England and Wales Cricket Board]]}}</ref> Occasionally, a separate [[Wales national cricket team|Wales team]] play limited-overs competitions. [[Glamorgan County Cricket Club]] is the only Welsh participant in the England and Wales County Championship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Welsh county cricket |url=http://www.glamorgancricket.com/detail-item.php?int_id=54&str_page_name=13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328032604/http://www.glamorgancricket.com/detail-item.php?int_id=54&str_page_name=13 |archive-date=28 March 2009 |access-date=23 November 2010 |publisher=[[Glamorgan County Cricket Club|Glamorgan Cricket]] }}</ref> Wales has produced notable participants of individual sports including [[snooker]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Snooker |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sport/community/pages/snooker.shtml |access-date=23 November 2010 |website=BBC Wales south east |publisher=BBC}}</ref> track and field,<ref>{{Cite news |year=2009 |title=Colin Jackson, Record breaking 110m hurdler |work=BBC Wales south east |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/halloffame/sport/colin_jackson.shtml |access-date=23 November 2010}}; {{Cite news |date=29 March 2010 |title=Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson becomes people's peer |work=[[BBC News]] website |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/wales/8593755.stm |access-date=23 November 2010}}</ref> [[Cycle sport|cycling]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 January 2013 |title=Nicole Cooke Retires |url=http://www.cardiffajaxcycling.co.uk/news/nicole-cooke-retire/ |access-date=16 February 2017 |publisher=Cardiff Ajax Cycling Club}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 July 2018 |title=Geraint Thomas seals maiden Tour de France title with Paris procession |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jul/29/geraint-thomas-seals-tour-de-france-title-paris-team-sky-chris-froome |access-date=31 July 2018 |website=Guardian}}</ref> and [[List of Welsh boxing champions|boxing]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joe Calzaghe, Wales's greatest ever boxer? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/halloffame/sport/joe_calzaghe.shtml |access-date=23 November 2010 |website=BBC Wales south east |publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Sean |date=25 March 2008 |title=Wales' boxing world champions |work=[[BBC Sport]] website |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7313653.stm |access-date=23 November 2010}}</ref>