LONDON / CARDIFF – To mark the Six Nations Championship match between Italy and Wales, the Embassy of Italy in London presents the exhibition “The Soul of Rugby: The Noble Game of Earth and Heart”. This display, featuring legendary memorabilia from the “Fango e Sudore” (Mud and Sweat) National Rugby Museum in Artena, will be hosted at the Cardiff Central Library Hub (The Hayes, Cardiff, CF10 1FL) from March 6th to 14th, 2026. The exhibition will be open to the public free of charge.
Created in collaboration with Welsh authorities and the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR), and with the generous support of Brit Customs, the exhibition offers an evocative journey through an extensive selection of original match-worn jerseys. These “cotton armours,” once donned by Italian, Welsh, and international icons, allow fans and visitors to retrace the epic history of a sport that serves as a profound historical and cultural bridge between Italy, the United Kingdom, and its nations.
This initiative is part of the “Sports Diplomacy” programme promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The objective is twofold: to strengthen Italy’s international profile through its athletic and human excellence, and to highlight how the core values of rugby—respect, resilience, and teamwork—act as vital drivers for the country’s economic growth and social cohesion.
