Wales Six Nations Rugby Guide

Wales Rugby Union

Wales The Welsh play rugby like they sing, well sometimes, certainly in their heyday when the likes of Cliff Morgan, Barry John, Phil Bennett, Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams were in the line up. These were some of the best players ever seen on a rugby pitch who played rugby with a flair and panache that at the time could only be matched by the All Blacks. .

Wales 2010 Six Nations

Wales will start this year’s Six Nations as third favourites with odds of around 9/2, behind France and current Grand Slam champions, Ireland. They have a very tricky start however with an away game at Twickenham against England on February 6th. (see Wales Six Nations Fixtures Below).

Head coach, Warren Gatland has been forced to name a scrum half newcomer, in Richie Rees, of Blues, due to the long term injury worries concerning Mike Phillips and Dwayne Peel. He has called up four newcomers in total.

Wales Squad

The Welsh squad for the 2010 Six Nations is as follows:

Forwards

Bradley Davies, Gethin Jenkins, Deiniol Jones, Andy Powell, Sam Warburton, Gareth Williams, Martyn Williams (all Cardiff Blues), Huw Bennett, Ian Gough, Paul James, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Jonathan Thomas (all Ospreys), Matthew Rees, (Llanelli Scarlets), Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate (both Dragons, Eifion Lewis-Roberts (Sale Sharks), Rhys Gill (Saracens)

Backs

Gareth Cooper, Leigh Halfpenny, Tom James, Richard Rees, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin (all Cardiff Blues) Dan Biggar, Andrew Bishop, Lee Byrne, James Hook, Kristian Phillips, Tom Prydie, Shane Williams (all Ospreys), Jonathan Davies, Stephen Jones, Martin Roberts (all Llanelli Scarlets).

Wales 2010 Fixtures

6 February, 17:30 - England 30 - 17 Wales at Twickenham
13 February, 14:00 - Wales 31 - 24 Scotland at Millennium Stadium
26th February, 20:00 - Wales 20 - 26 France at Millennium Stadium
13th March, 14:30 - Ireland 27 - 12 Wales at Croke Park
20 March, 14:30 - Wales v Italy at Millennium Stadium.

Wales Background

Recently the Welsh have been going through a golden patch with Grand Slam wins in 2005 and 2008 with teams packed full of International stars. They under performed in 2009 when they started as favourites and they will be strong once again in 2010 and will fancy their chances of winning another crown.

The Welsh very first international was on February 19, 1881 against England, at Richardson's field in Blackheath. Now this is a record that will be difficult to beat in the modern era in that between 1900 and 1913 they were unbeaten at home.

Then the really great era began in 1969 where for over a decade they won five Five Nations titles, three Grand Slams and five Triple Crown wins, as well as beating England in nine out of 10 games and defeating Australia four from six.

In recent times Neil Jenkins holds the world record for Test points with 1,049 points in 87 Tests for Wales.