A mother who took her seven-year-old son to his first international rugby game says she was shocked by what she described as "drunken, foul mouthed" behaviour which left her feeling "embarrassed and ashamed to be a Welsh rugby supporter".
Menna Watkins, 32, from Ystrad Mynach was at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Friday evening to watch Wales beat France .
But instead of celebrating a special occasion with her boy, the mum said she walked away from the experience less than impressed.
In an open letter, Menna described how she was mocked for confronting rowdy fans, and said she would never take her son to the stadium again.
'A special occasion for my son'
Menna wrote: "This was a special occasion as my son, a keen rugby player and supporter, had never been to the national stadium before and was keen to see his heroes play for his country.
"Before the match we wandered around Cardiff to soak up the wonderful, friendly match day atmosphere, all of which added to my son's experience.
"However, our whole evening changed when we arrived at our seats in the Principality Stadium.
"We were surrounded by drunken, foul-mouthed adults.
Throughout the match we had to listen to language that no adult should have to endure let alone a seven year-old child.
"I have grown up in a rugby family and totally accept that swear words are used during rugby games but the people around us had absolutely no respect.
'Mocked' for asking swearing to stop
"They were at the game just to drink and their continual use of the 'C word' was horrifying."
Menna said she asked the fans to mind their language and consider her son was sitting in front of them.
She added: "My pleas fell on deaf ears and I was mocked for asking.
"I felt intimidated and shocked by the behaviour and total lack of respect for myself, my son and other supporters in the surrounding area.
"The seat tickets in the area were all allocated through the schools and I cannot understand how these tickets could have fallen into the hands of such drunken, foul-mouthed people.
"My other concern was that these people were clearly drunk and were still back and forth from the bar buying pints, four at a time.
"Surely the WRU have a legal as well as a moral responsibility to ensure that drunken people are not served alcohol.
"I have attended many international rugby games over the years and was shocked to experience this behaviour at an evening international game.
"The behaviour of these supposed Welsh rugby supporters does not present an image of our country that we can be proud of.
"I want my son to be proud to be Welsh and proud of our national game, but on Friday night I was embarrassed and ashamed to be a Welsh rugby supporter."
Police comments
Menna's observations follow controversial comments made by a senior police officer who slammed middle-aged men who go on all-day drinking sessions when Wales play rugby, thinking 'they can behave any way they like'.
Superintendent Andrew Morgan of the British Transport Police said rugby fans could be more difficult to deal with than football fans, who pushed boundaries but generally listened to police officers and kept to a routine.
A spokesman for the WRU said: "Crowd behaviour is a subject that we take very seriously at Principality Stadium.
"We are vigorous in our stewarding of the supporters attending any game or event at the stadium.
"The stewards are well trained and will intervene in any necessary situation, if they see or are informed of it by other spectators.
"We remind fans of the need to be respectful during games and for the duration of their attendance at the stadium by using the big screens and PA system at regular intervals.
"Our bar staff are also trained to identify problem individuals and will not serve them alcohol if they are judged as such.
"They all attend pre-match briefings on licensing regulations and are instructed not to sell alcohol to inebriated individuals.
Read more: We asked middle-aged rugby fans criticised by police if they thought they were badly behaved
"We also employ ex-police alcohol licensing officers who patrol the bars and make sure the staff are abiding by the licensing regulations.
"We always take any complaints extremely seriously and regret that Ms Watkins and her family had a negative experience on this occasion and will be writing to her to this effect, but we would urge any visitors to the stadium to contact stewards immediately if they observe unsociable behaviour so that appropriate action can be taken."
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/mum-took-young-son-first-10966881
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