CBSC Supporters Guide for Bilbao — Page 1

Wow!! A third European final!

Our boys getting to this year’s European Challenge Cup Final means a first opportunity to visit Spain on a Cardiff Blues rugby trip. What an awesome city to visit too, despite the challenges we’ve all had getting here and booking accommodation! We’re sure to be very warmly welcomed in Bilbao.

Finals like this bring together supporters, players, player’s families, coaches, staff and sponsors and this not only adds to the sense of occasion, but inevitably brings us all closer together. As a Supporters’ Club one of our key roles is to encourage support for the team - at home and away, and occasions like this remind us why all the hard work is worth it. As supporters it also makes up for the freezing cold, wet evenings on the terraces and in the stands.

We have absolute confidence in our boys and we’re sure they will do us proud on 11th May 2018. We will need to play our part from the terraces and make ourselves seen and heard, and many hundreds more will pack out Cardiff Arms Park to watch the game too.

Enjoy the weekend in Bilbao and Vamos Cardiff Blues!!!!

Cardiff Blues Supporters’ Club Committee

European Challenge Cup Final

Cardiff Blues v Gloucester Rugby San Mames Stadium,

Friday 11th May — 21:00 CET Bilbao, Spain

Bilbao 2018

Getting there and Accommodation

Whether you are on the official trip through Thomas Cook Sport in conjunction with Cardiff Blues, or are travelling independently, Bilbao2018 is the destination! We are aware of supporters staying as far afield as Santander and Barcelona, the latter is 6 hours+ by train from Bilbao.

At the time of writing the official trip at https://www.thomascooksport.com/event/Gloucester-Rugby-v-Cardiff-Blues---Challenge-Cup-Final-2-Night-Trip/14084 or the camping option (accommodation only) at http://www.theglamping.com/rugbyeng.html are still available

Supporters’ HQs

On Thursday 10th May, our Bilbao HQ is at Bar Poyes located at Sabino Arana Etorbidea, 18, 48013, Bilbao and for those staying in Santander Pub Blues located at Calle Gómez Oreña, 15, 39003 Santander.

On Final day, Friday 11th May, our Bilbao HQ is at Molly Malone which is located at Estraunza Kale Partikularra, 8, 48011 Bilbao, found behind a Renault/Dacia car dealership located on Don Diego López Haroko Kale Nagusia. The venue has a capacity of 300 to 400 plus outside space, and is located 5-10 mins walk from the San Mames Stadium.

There will be live music on Final day at Molly Malone and food will also be available. The normal menu includes sandwiches, burgers, pizza and salad. Further details can be found at www.mollymalones.info

Useful apps to download to your phone or tablet for use during your stay include Bilbobus and Bilbao Now and Bilbao Finals 2018/EPCRugby

CBSC Supporters Guide for Bilbao — Page 2 Bilbao is a city in northern Spain, the largest city in the province of Biscay and in the Basque Country as a whole. It is the 10th largest city in Spain. Bilbao is situated in the north-central part of Spain, some 10 miles south of the Bay of Biscay. Its main urban core is surrounded by two small mountain ranges with an average elevation of 400 metres/1,300 ft.

CBSC Supporters Guide for Bilbao — Page 3 Getting to the Stadium

The game is taking place at San Mames Stadium which is located in central Bilbao. It is no more than a 30-minute walk from most city centre areas as well as Bilbao’s two main railway stations, which lie next to each other. Take the metro at Casco Viejo in the old centre or at Abando from the railway stations and alight at San Mames station. Further information can be found at http://www.bilbaoturismo.net/BilbaoTurismo/en/mapas-de-transporte

At the Stadium

Courtesy of Cardiff Blues and CBSC, there will be plenty of flags available on the day of the game for supporters to turn the San Mames Stadium Blue, with some Yellow. There will be CBSC banners on display in the stadium.

CBSC Supporters Guide for Bilbao — Page 4 Useful Spanish phrases

Given that this is our first trip to Spain, we thought we would take some of the hard work out of understanding Spanish for those who don’t already speak it. So here are some useful phrases and words for getting around, getting fed and watered, and cheering on the boys! (Gracias/Thanks to our Spanish speaking friends who helped with this!)

Come on Cardiff/Blues! — Vamos Cardiff/los Blues! (Va-mos Cardiff/los Blues)

We’re here for the Challenge Cup final, the Europa League of Rugby — Estamos aqui para ver la final de la Challenge Cup, la Europa League del rugby (est-amos akee para vair la fee-nal de la Challenge Cup, la ewropa league del rugby)

I like Bilbao — Me gusta Bilbao Good morning — Buenos dias (bwhenos dee-as)

Good afternoon — Buenos tardes (bwhenos tar days)

Good evening — Buenos noches (bwhenos noh chayss)

Please — Por favor (por fav orr) Thank you — Gracias (grah cee ahs)

Where is the bathroom? - Donde esta al bano? (don-day es-tah el banyo?)

The bill please — La cuenta, por favor (la kwenta por fa-vor)

How much? - Cuanto? (Kwan toh?) Water — una agua (oo-na ag-wa)

Red/white wine — un vino tinto/blanco (oon vee-nah tin-toh/blan-koh)

Beer — una cerveza (oo-na ser-vay-sa) A litre of beer — Un cachi (cahcee) de cerveza

About half a litre — Una jarra de cerveza A pint (particularly Irish Bars) - Una pinta (peenta)

White coffee — Café con leche (ka-fay con lesh) Black coffee — Café solo (ka-fay solo)

1 — uno, 2 — dos, 3 — tres, 4 — cuatro, 5 — cinco

CBSC Supporters Guide for Bilbao — Page 5 Shopping, Sightseeing and Culture

Bilbao is a cultural highlight of northern Spain. Highlights include the Guggenheim Museum, the surrounding Bilbao Art District, Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao, Casco Viejo, Bilbao Cathedral, the largest indoor market in Europe La Ribera Market and the Bilbao Maritime Museum. Further information can be found at http://www.bilbaoturismo.net/BilbaoTurismo/en

To you, from the Cardiff Blues

Firstly, can I thank you for all your support home and away this season, especially in our European campaign. To have your presence at the Edinburgh quarter final helped us get over the line and then to come back to a packed Arms Park is something I will always remember. Looking forward to seeing you all in Bilbao for the final and hopefully we will come home with some Silverware. Safe travels. Danny.” - Danny Wilson, Head Coach, Cardiff Blues

“Hey guys, just a quick message to say thanks for all the support this year it’s been outstanding all year and really made a difference to our season and performances. Hoping for a big crowd in Bilbao to go get the challenge cup” - Jarrod Evans, Player, Cardiff Blues “What an occasion we have ahead of us in Bilbao! We’ve had our fair share of ups and downs over the last few seasons, and I’m delighted to end this season on a high. You, our supporters stick through is through thick and thin, and now we get to enjoy the Challenge Cup Final together. Thank you for your loyal support, play your part as our 16th man and enjoy the weekend.” - Richard Holland, Chief Executive, Cardiff Blues

“I’d like to thank all of the supporters for making the effort to come on this trip to Bilbao. It was really special seeing you all there in Edinburgh. Having you there to support us in Bilbao will be a real boost for us all. Thanks.” - Josh Navidi, Player, Cardiff Blues and Wales

“CBSC and all our supporters have been amazing this season. Thank you all!! You’ve helped us get this far and brought plenty of noise so we’ll do everything we can to finish with a bang and give you all something to shout about on Friday. Ellis.” - Ellis Jenkins, Player, Cardiff Blues and Wales

“Hi Blues supporters, firstly I would like to say a big thank you for all your unwavering support throughout the year, the atmosphere you created at the arms park against Pau was something I won’t forget. I hope you enjoy your weekend in Bilbao, make sure you are loud! Looking forward to seeing you guys with the trophy afterwards!! Gareth” - Gareth Anscombe, Player, Cardiff Blues and Wales

CBSC Supporters Guide for Bilbao — Page 6 To you, from the Cardiff Blues

“Hi all, well what a journey it’s been to get here!! It’s unbelievable to think we’ve played our way to a European final! Many have doubted us along the way but not the Supporters Club — we as players can always count on your support and it means so much to us all!! I hope you all have an amazing time in Bilbao and we will do our very best to bring home the silverware! #EuropeanFinal #BluesFamily Thanks again.” - Kris Dacey, Player, Cardiff Blues and Wales

“I’m not surprised to be in the Challenge Cup Final. This is where we should be, and this is what we should expect. Cardiff Blues is a big club, and every big club should have a core of supporters who back us through thick and thin. At Cardiff I have been through the ups and downs over the last 10 years, but one thing has remained the same. The loyalty, faith and support shown from our Supporters club. This is one of my favorite pictures, saved on my phone, from an away fixture in Europe a few seasons ago. I can’t emphasize enough, how much the players value your support. When we win on Friday, the players will know you will have as much enjoyment, if not more, and deservedly so! Enjoy your trip, and thanks for being there the whole way. Warby.” - Sam Warburton, Player, Cardiff Blues, Wales and British and Irish Lions Captain

“Hello Cardiff Blues Supporters! Blaine Scully here. Just wanted to write a quick message thanking you for your outstanding support this season. The squad can’t wait for the Cup Final and we are all looking forward to you joining us in Bilbao. Safe travels and Go Blues.” - Blaine Scully, Player, Cardiff Blues and United States of America Rugby Captain

“Dear supporters, your support week in and week out does not go unnoticed it really makes a lot of difference to our performance, all the boys are looking forward to seeing you after the game, and celebrating the win, see you all soon, Seb Davies.” - Seb Davies, Player, Cardiff Blues and Wales

“To all the blues supporters, just want to say a massive thank you, not just from me but the whole squad, your support this year has made the difference. As a group we’ve had some tough times but to be able to have this opportunity Friday night and to finish the season with a bang, let’s make it an occasion to remember. Thanks again for your support and looking forward to hearing you Friday night. Josh T.” - Josh Turnbull, Player, Cardiff Blues and Wales

And finally...

Keep up to date with CBSC’s Twitter page @cardiffbluessc in the days building up to the Final for up to date information. A member of the CBSC Committee can also be contacted on 07825 219354.