Wales A national rugby union team
Encyclopedia
The Wales A team are the second national rugby union team behind the Welsh national side
. They have not played a game since April 2002.
On the 20th February 2003, the Welsh Rugby Union
were given permission to withdraw from the "A" team Six Nations Championship
, citing costs as the primary reason. In September 2007 it was reported that the union turned down an offer to enter a "Wales A" side into the 2008 Churchill Cup
competition. In August 2011, an agreement was reached between the Welsh Rugby Union and the Welsh Rugby Players Association
which expressed a desire to bring back the side. Match funding has been assured, meaning that the team is likely to make a return in the future.
Prior to their current period of inactivity, their last coach was Mike Ruddock
for the 2002 Six Nations "A" tournament, and included notable Wales internationals such as Tom Shanklin
and Shane Williams
.
The side also has a history of playing matches against touring Southern Hemisphere sides, the last being a 34-15 defeat to South Africa
in 2000.
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
. They have not played a game since April 2002.
On the 20th February 2003, the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
were given permission to withdraw from the "A" team Six Nations Championship
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
, citing costs as the primary reason. In September 2007 it was reported that the union turned down an offer to enter a "Wales A" side into the 2008 Churchill Cup
2008 Churchill Cup
The 2008 Churchill Cup took place between 7 June and 21 June 2008 in what was the sixth year of the tournament. Six rugby union teams took part: , England Saxons, Ireland A, Scotland A, the , and an Argentinian XV.-Participation:...
competition. In August 2011, an agreement was reached between the Welsh Rugby Union and the Welsh Rugby Players Association
Welsh Rugby Players Association
The Welsh Players Association , founded in 2003, is the representative body for professional rugby union players in Wales. Its General Secretary is Neil Maclean-Smith, who succeeded previous General Secretary, Dean Sheehan and former Chief Executive, Richard Harry. Rhys Williams, former Wales and...
which expressed a desire to bring back the side. Match funding has been assured, meaning that the team is likely to make a return in the future.
Prior to their current period of inactivity, their last coach was Mike Ruddock
Mike Ruddock
Mike Ruddock, OBE is a Welsh rugby union coach, currently coach of the Ireland Under-20 Rugby Union Team and Lansdowne FC . Ruddock was the coach of the Worcester Warriors until his resignation on 28 April 2010 following their relegation from the Guinness Premiership...
for the 2002 Six Nations "A" tournament, and included notable Wales internationals such as Tom Shanklin
Tom Shanklin
Tomos George L. Shanklin is a former Welsh rugby union player who played Outside Centre for Cardiff Blues and Wales. He is Wales' most-capped centre...
and Shane Williams
Shane Williams
Shane Mark Williams is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Ospreys and who can also play scrum-half. Williams is the record try scorer for the Wales national team and he is third on the international list of leading Rugby union Test try scorers behind Daisuke Ohata...
.
The side also has a history of playing matches against touring Southern Hemisphere sides, the last being a 34-15 defeat to South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
in 2000.