Former captain Ryan Jones considers the Wales squad have been given”a huge elevator” before the Rugby World Cup, after 15,000 individuals flocked to see their open training session in Kitakyushu.
Wales are based in the southern Japanese town, which won’t host any games during the tournament, and came in the arena where they’re training to some rendition of the Welsh national anthem from sailors.
The staff of warren Gatland get their tournament under way on Monday, September 23 against Georgia, also also triple Grand Slam winner Jones claims will reward the players.
“I have never experienced anything like this in my career. It’s astonishing and it’s been very emotional,” said Jones, who played for Wales from 2004-2014.
“It’s been like hosting a celebration. This morning we got up and we said’oh, I hope folks will turn up and it goes well today’.
“Then to see the queues and then to observe the players’ faces when they came out, it was just magical.
“It has surpassed all our expectations. As the men are one week from our very first game, and also to get an experience like this makes it home how beautiful an event it is it’s great.
“It will give the players a enormous lift. The dream was supposed to turn the town red and we have done this.”
Jones, who helped construct links between the Welsh Rugby Union and Kitakyushu, included:”When you look back on things on your career, setting this has been magnificent.
“Viewing the players once they came in the welcome party the other night, and watching their faces here, they did not comprehend it.
“They have never seen anything like that and they’ll remember it forever. I understand we’ll be back and long may it continue.”
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