While I’m not Welsh, I’ve lived in Wales for some time and I’ve been informed the reputation comes from after the English conquest in the middle ages; English law of the time apparently demanded death for those who stole sheep but lesser penalties for those caught shagging them. Therefore Welsh poachers when caught red-handed would claim to be having their way with the livestock rather than stealing it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep_shagger
Sounds like it could be used both ways.
and the Welsh, they’re the real sheep shaggers
While I’m not Welsh, I’ve lived in Wales for some time and I’ve been informed the reputation comes from after the English conquest in the middle ages; English law of the time apparently demanded death for those who stole sheep but lesser penalties for those caught shagging them. Therefore Welsh poachers when caught red-handed would claim to be having their way with the livestock rather than stealing it.
That’s their excuse