Wales Rugby Team

The Wales senior men’s rugby team is the top-level representative side, carrying the hopes of Wales in international competition.

Administered, owned and funded by the Welsh Rugby Union, Wales play in two major competitions – the annual Six Nations and the Rugby World Cup every fourth year.

They also compete in an annual autumn series of matches in November and play away Test matches on tour most summers.

The Wales team has been a showcase for some of the greatest players in the history of the sport such as Cliff Morgan, Sir Gareth Edwards, Barry John, Shane Williams and Alun Wyn Jones.

Wales have consistently been among the strongest rugby nations in the world, but in 2024 they went a whole calendar year without winning a match for the first time since 1937.

That led to a record low position of 12 in the world rankings and the eventual departure of coach Waren Gatland in February 2025.

Matt Sherratt was placed in caretaker position for the 2025 summer tour to Japan, before the full-time appointment of Steve Tandy, who took up his position on September 1, 2025.

Gatland’s second stint in charge was in sharp contrast to his success as head coach between 2008 and 2019, one of the three “Golden Eras” Wales have enjoyed in their history.

The first Triple Crown in 1893 signaled the beginning of the first ‘Golden Era.’ Wales dominated the early international game, famously defeating the touring Maoris in 1888 and Dave Gallaher’s formidable New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ 3-0 in 1905, a match that elevated rugby union’s global status.

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The early 20th century saw further triumphs, including a record unbeaten streak from 1907 to 1910 and multiple Grand Slams (1908, 1909, 1911). 

Legendary players such as Gwyn Nicholls and Billy Trew cemented Wales as a major force in world rugby. 

Despite the dominance, Wales faced challenges in the 1920s and 1930s, with highlights including their first victory at Twickenham in 1933 and a second win over the All Blacks in 1935.

World War II halted international rugby, but the post-war period saw a resurgence. 

The 1950s brought Grand Slams in 1950 and 1952, alongside a historic third victory over New Zealand in 1953. 

Icons like Cliff Morgan, Bleddyn Williams, and Ken Jones emerged, reinforcing Wales’s standing on the global stage.

The second ‘Golden Era’ arrived in the 1970s with a team regarded as one of the best in rugby history. 

Players such as Edwards, John, JPR Williams, and Phil Bennett spearheaded an era of dominance with Grand Slams in 1971, 1976, and 1978, along with five Triple Crowns. 

Welsh talent also shone on the British & Irish Lions tours, with 11 Welshmen contributing to the 1971 Test series win in New Zealand and six playing key Test roles in the unbeaten 1974 South Africa tour.

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There were no official world rankings at this time, but it was generally accepted that Wales were perhaps the second best team in the world, behind only the New Zealand All Blacks.

The two giants only met twice in that decade, with Wales narrowly losing both games – 19-16 in 1972 and then 13-12 in controversial circumstances in 1978.

But this was the Wales era most synonymous with the flair and excitement of the national teams in its pomp – with Edwards, JPR Williams, Bennett, Gerald Davies, JJ Williams, Derek Quinnell and Mervyn Davies all key figures.

The 1980s saw Welsh rugby celebrate its centenary, and while the team’s performances declined, a notable achievement was finishing third in the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987. 

Adrian Hadley, Paul Thorburn, Ieuan Evans, John Devereux, Mark Ring, Jonathan Davies and Robert Jones were all key players in a high quality back line.

The 1990s ushered in professionalism and a period of struggle. The likes of Hadley, Devereux,  Davies and others had all left to play rugby league.

Neil Jenkins became the first international player to surpass 1,000 points but it was not until the turn of the century that a resurgence emerged.

The World Cup tournaments of 1991, 1995 and 1999 all proved unsuccessful for Wales.

But with Mike Ruddock and then Gatland in charge, Wales won Six Nations Grand Slams in 2005, 2008, 2012, and 2019, alongside a championship title in 2013. 

Wales reached the 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-finals under Gatland and then again in 2019. 

Players such as Shane Williams, Sam Warburton and fellow captain Alun Wyn Jones mirrored the fame and adulation given to the players from the Seventies.

In 2019, Wales briefly reached number one in the official world rankings after winning 14 consecutive matches.

England, Ireland, France, Argentina, Australia and South Africa were all beaten in that sequence, although there was no fixture against New Zealand.

There was another Six Nations title under coach Wayne Pivac in 2021.

With Gatland’s departure midway through the 2025 Six Nations, caretaker coach Sherratt was put in charge.

Tandy – who had been previously working as an assistant coach with Scotland – was appointed in July 2025, before starting his role on September 1.