Wales competed in the Nations Championship with mixed results across their opening fixtures. The team secured a 39-24 victory over Fiji in their opening match held in Cardiff under coach Steve Tandy. However, they subsequently faced decisive defeats against Argentina and South Africa, with the Springboks registering a 43-0 victory in their round three matchup.
Captain Jac Morgan expressed confidence that Wales is narrowing the performance gap with the sport’s top-ranked nations. Morgan noted that the team has demonstrated improvement since the autumn international window and highlighted positive performances during the Six Nations and a win against Italy as evidence of progress. He pointed to the victory over Fiji as a significant achievement given that team’s competitive strength.
Wales concluded their inaugural season under Tandy with three victories from twelve Test matches, achieved against Japan, Italy, and Fiji. The team currently holds 11th position in the world rankings. Morgan, who recently transferred from Ospreys to Gloucester, had missed eight matches following a shoulder injury sustained during Tandy’s inaugural game in charge.
Looking ahead, Morgan emphasized the squad’s commitment to continuous development and improvement. He highlighted the close-knit nature of the group and noted that collective effort throughout the season had been substantial. Wales will contest four Nations Championship fixtures scheduled for November against Japan, New Zealand, and Australia in Cardiff, followed by finals weekend action at Twickenham against another southern hemisphere opponent. The team also faces a World Cup group stage draw featuring England, Tonga, and Zimbabwe in the following year.