Wales Rugby

The Wales rugby squad is one of the sport's most formidable. As one of the most successful sides in the Six Nations history, Wales are internationally revered and they regularly reach the final stages of the Rugby World Cup.

Outlined on this page, you'll uncover everything you need to know about the Welsh rugby squad. Browse below to find details about Wales' Six Nations history, Rugby World Cup record and their latest results.

Wales are one of the European teams that compete in the annual Six Nations Championship. In fact, Wales' Six Nations record dates back more than a century; they were one of the founding teams in the original Home Nations Championship (1883-1909, 1932-1939).

Wales won their first Home Nations in 1893, a decade after the tournament began. Fifteen years later, they achieved their first Grand Slam in 1908. Then, in 1909, Wales retained their Six Nations title and again claimed the Grand Slam.

To date, the Wales rugby team boasts one of the best Six Nations records of all-time. The Wales Six Nations squad regularly outplays their competitors. In total, Wales have won 28 outright titles and enjoyed 11 shared wins. Additionally, Wales' Six Nations record also includes 12 Grand Slams and 22 Triple Crowns. 

Throughout the competition, Wales have proved their prowess as a Six Nations powerhouse. The formidable Wales Six Nations team of the 1960s and 70s claimed 11 titles, eight of which were outright victories. In recent years, the Wales Six Nations squad won six titles and four Grand Slams between 2005 and 2021.

Wales at the Rugby World Cup

Although they have appeared at every tournament, Wales have never won the Rugby World Cup. Wales' best Rugby World Cup result was in 1987, when the team finished in third place. Their other notable finishes came in 2011 and 2019, when they came in fourth. 

In 1987, the Wales squad secured their third-place finish after they defeated Australia 22-21 in the Bronze Final. In 2011, Wales took fourth place after they were defeated by Australia - the Wallabies won the match 21-18. They repeated this result in 2019, when they were defeated 40-17 by New Zealand. 

In contrast, Wales' worst Rugby World Cup finishes occurred in 1991, 1995 and 2007, when the squad failed to progress from the pool stage. They secured better finishes in 1999, 2003, 2015 and 2023, when Wales reached the quarter-finals.

Rugby union was first played in Wales during the 1850s, but it took around 30 years for the national team to form. The Wales rugby team played their first game in 1881 - a comprehensive loss against England - and they joined the Home Nations Championship two years later. 

Wales then entered into a golden age during the early 20th century. The Welsh team won the Home Nations in 1900, 1902, 1905, 1906, 1908 and 1909. During this period, they also defeated New Zealand during the side's 35-match tour of the northern hemisphere - they were the only team to do so!

Fast-forward to the professional era of rugby union and Wales have remained strong. In testament to their skill, Wales have consistently featured inside the top 10 of World Rugby Rankings. In 2019, they ended New Zealand's 508-week stint as world number one.

Wales Rugby Players

As one of rugby's finest sides, the Wales rugby team has historically been littered with the game's finest players. This includes many Hall of Fame members such as Gareth Edwards and Ieuan Evans. 

Today, the team is in a very strong position and the current Wales rugby squad is one of the best in recent memory. It features many of the sport's top stars, such as wing Louis Rees-Zammit, prop Tomas Francis and centre George North.