And so it begins, the latest iteration of the Six Nations. I was super excited to be a part of the Six Nations 2023 opening fixture with the rest of the Gullivers team Claire, David and Sally.

The four of us arrived in Cardiff Friday afternoon. The city centre was calm, with flocks of Welsh and Irish fans nestled away in bars and cafes speculating how the titanic game would unfold. We welcomed Gullivers clients as they arrived at their respective hotels and helped them check in where needed. With travelling fans flying in from as far as Australia and the US, anticipation for the game was high. Clients enjoyed the first day exploring Cardiff and the many restaurants, lively bars, and Victorian and Edwardian arcades the Welsh capital has to offer.

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The following morning, the skies were blue, and the streets of Cardiff were the opposite of the previous day. The atmosphere was buzzing, and as far as you could look down the high street all you could see was a sea of red and green. With the hotels and Principality Stadium located in the heart of the city centre, everyone travelling with Gullivers was able to soak-up the game day atmosphere at one of the many bustling pubs and bars before walking to the stadium a couple of streets away.

Arriving at the Principality was unlike anything else! The stadium was packed, and the roof was on as the fireworks and flamethrowers welcomed the teams to the pitch. The noise from the crowd was deafening.

Ireland scored three tries in the opening 20 minutes as Wales started slow. Ireland's storming start saw tries from Caelan Doris, James Ryan and James Lowe - and 12 points from Johnny Sexton - establishing a 27-3 half-time lead.

But the Welsh fought back in the second half, and Warren Gatland's men were much improved, hitting back through Liam Williams. Yet, the game was won by the Irish as they scored a fourth.

It was fantastic to be a part of the opening fixture of the Six Nations 2023. Clients, both Welsh and Irish supporters, were iterating that they had not experienced an atmosphere quite like it. After the game, clients enjoyed watching the England v Scotland game at one of the many sports bars in the city centre and at one of the hotels where the mood was cheerful. Not having to rush home due to having one more night in Cardiff, clients enjoyed a delightful evening, capping off what was an excellent weekend.

- Cameron Renshawe, Marketing Executive