TODAY was the first big travelling day of the tournament for the Wales media, who were on planes, trains and automobiles from Brittany to Bordeaux.

I tackled the 336-mile trip by road with BBC Radio 5 Live for company in the north of the country and was amused to hear former Newport County AFC manager Terry Butcher chatting about England from Marseilles.

This time last year he was being harassed by yours truly about Exiles signings and pre-season friendlies.

I asked him at the start of last season if he’d be out in France for the Euros as a pundit and he said: “Nah, I’m done with that.”

Obviously his departure from Rodney Parade in October last year prompted a re-assessment of the merits of punditry – it’s not all bad, even if you do have to spend a month with Alan Green.

Arriving at the media centre in Bordeaux it was clear that the tournament was kicking into gear with the arrival of big beasts like Robbie Savage, who is doing co-commentary on Wales v Slovakia for BBC TV.

Almost as soon as he walked through the door he launched into a tirade at BBC Wales man Rob Phillips, who was in shorts and T-shirt after the long drive down.

“What have you come as?” joked Savage, resplendent in jeans, smart jacket and carrying a Louis Vuitton man bag.

“We’re not on holiday,” he added, tongue firmly in cheek. “We’re here to work – you wouldn’t catch the England press dressed for the beach.”

A recent documentary revealed that former Wales boss Bobby Gould was not a fan of Phillips’ dress sense either.

Archive footage showed Gould telling his startled interviewer: “I’ve enjoyed your company but your choice of ties is abysmal.”

Wardrobe choices aside, Phillips’ presence in France has come as a real blow to 5 Live stalwart Ian Brown.

Phillips - who also has a starring role in the Manic Street Preachers' Euro 2016 song Together Stronger (C'mon Wales) - is providing commentary on Wales matches for the national station over the coming weeks.

And that means that Cardiff-born Brown, who has suffered through many Welsh failures in the past, misses out.

Meanwhile, Savage revealed that he’s spoiling for a fight with fellow former Wales international-turned media personality Kevin Ratcliffe.

The 606 co-host is angry with Ratcliffe over a line in the latter’s after-dinner speech routine.

Rats apparently joked that Savage was lucky to win one cap for Wales and, needless to say, that has not gone down well with the former Leicester midfielder.

South Wales Argus: