Wales A national rugby union team

Wales A
Union Welsh Rugby Union
Emblem(s) the Prince of Wales's feathers
Ground(s) Various
1st kit
2nd kit

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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

References