[3][4] After agreement from the Cardiff Athletic Club, the freehold of the south ground was transferred solely to the WRU in July 1968.

Glamorgan County Cricket Club would move to Sophia Gardens and the cricket ground to the north would be demolished and a new rugby union stadium built for Cardiff RFC, who would move out of the south ground, allowing the National Stadium to be built, for the sole use of the national rugby union team.

The official opening was celebrated by a match between Wales and a WRU President's XV made up of players from other international teams.

[7] The first evening game to be played under floodlights was held on 4 September 1991 at 8.00 pm, between Wales and France.

[8] The last international match to be held at the National Stadium was between Wales and England on 15 March 1997, and the last ever match held at the National Stadium was on 26 April 1997 between Cardiff and Swansea, Cardiff won the SWALEC Cup (WRU Challenge Cup) by 33 to 26 points.

The National Stadium hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World Cup, including the third-place play-off.

[11] The National Stadium was also host to the inaugural Heineken Cup final of 1995–96 when Toulouse beat Cardiff RFC by 21–18 after extra time, in front of 21,800 spectators.

The National Stadium was known primarily as the venue for massed voices singing such hymns as "Cwm Rhondda", "Calon Lân", "Men of Harlech" and "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" ("Land of my Fathers" – the national anthem of Wales).

[21] The legendary atmosphere including singing of the crowd was said to be worth at least a try or a goal to the home nation.