In Ancient Rome the colour red symbolised blood and courage, whilst in China, it is regarded as a vibrant optimistic colour symbolising success, happiness and warmth, along with good luck and wealth.

In Wales the colour red has been a symbol of our nationality, and heritage, the Red Dragon on our national flag, the red shirted heroes of our national rugby team.

But on a damp night at Eden Park, Auckland, on 15 October 2011, the colour red came to symbolise the end of a glorious dream, the cruel twist of fate that cost Wales the place in a Rugby World Cup final for the first time in their history.

With Nineteen minutes on the clock, Sam Warburton upended France’ Vincent Clerc, referee Alain Rolland pulled a card from his pocket, the colour ? Red.

Fast forward to 2019, in Japan the colour red is believed to bring good luck particularly when paired with white.

The red packaging of Kit Kat has made the chocolate a good luck token to the Japanese and it is a popular gift for students at exam time.

So far the colour red is doing rather well at the Rugby World Cup maybe a few kit Kat’s could be delivered to the Wales squad currently residing in Otsu, as they prepare to face further stern examinations and tests next week and hopefully beyond.

Fire and passion are also associated with the colour red, both of which were visible by the bucket load when Wales beat Australia in Tokyo in one of the most thrilling and brutal games of the tournament so far, a result that has given Wales a huge foothold in their ascent to the world crown.

Next up are Fiji, on Wednesday followed by Uruguay on Sunday, five days which will determine the men in red’s World Cup future.

Under Warren Gatland there will not be a single morsel of complacency, Welsh fans still shudder at the mere mention of Fiji which evokes memories of Nantes 2007 for which many of us are still getting flashbacks in the dead of night,

There is still a long way to go in the 2019 tournement and we dare not get involved in the arithmetical accumulation of fowl, but maybe,  just maybe the colour red will, be the colour in which we Welsh will paint the town on November 2 ?… now where’s that Kit Kat ?