Wales rugby update: Six Nations & Autumn Internationals

Wales rugby news: RBS 6 Nations & Autumn Internationals

Wales 67-14 Italy: Wales finish 2nd in 2016 Rugby Six Nations Championship

Italy was overwhelmed by Wales as they secured a second place finish in the 2016 RBS 6 Nations tournament at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Seeking revenge, the Azzurri will host Wales on February 5, 2017 at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy in next season’s Rugby Six Nations event.

Buy Italy v Wales Tickets Six Nations 5 Feb Stadio Olimpico Rome, Italy

Rhys Webb got Wales off to a great start and opened the scoring for Wales. Half-back partner Dan Biggar racked up 21 points in total. Centre duo Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts extended the advantage with a try each. A superb George North finish made it five unanswered tries. Williams finished off a flowing move shortly before the hour mark. Ross Moriarty scored two second-half tries for Wales – one of which was his first international try. Biggar added all the extras as he converted a total of 5 times.

Leonardo and Jacopo Sarto combined in an attempt to reinvigorate Italy’s hunt for their first point. Guglielmo Palazzani and Gonzalo Garcia each answered for Italy. Palazzani earned a yellow card but added three points after Martin Castrogiovanni was caught offside while winning his 119th international cap. Kelly Haimona converted twice. But the Azzurri were not able to create and continue the pressure needed to cope with Warren Gatland’s powerful Welsh side as Italy conceded nine tries for the second consecutive game.

Italy’s head coach Jacques Brunel's Azzurri farewell was an unhappy one. To date the Azzurri have never earned a victory in Wales in the Championship. Wales have won the RBS 6 Nations 26 times outright, joint-first with England. Wales most recent Six Nations Championship win was in 2013. England officially won the 2016 Championship after defeating France 21-31.

Stats for Wales 67-14 Italy

Wales (27) 67

Tries: Webb, Biggar, J Davies, Roberts, North, L Williams, Moriarty 2, G Davies Cons: Biggar 5, Priestland 3 Pens: Biggar 2

Italy (0) 14

Tries: Palazzani, Garcia Cons: Haimona 2

After the stunning win, Wales head coach Warren Gatland commented about the match. "We know sometimes we've been slow starters in campaigns, but we've just got to keep working hard on that - and today was a good response by the players,” said Gatland. "We conceded a couple of tries which was disappointing, but I thought we scored some outstanding tries and put the ball through the hands and some players put up some pretty big performances."

Wales v Italy Six Nations Squads

Wales Squad

Williams; North, J Davies, Roberts, Amos (Anscombe 48); Biggar (Priestland 58), Webb (G Davies 62); Faletau, Tipuric (Moriarty 16), Lydiate (captain); Charteris, B Davies (Ball 58); Lee (Jarvis 58), Baldwin (Owens 49), Evans (Jenkins 49)

Italy Squad

Odiete; Sarto, Pratichetti (Haimona 36), Garcia, Bellini (McClean 33); Allan, Palazzani (Lucchese 64); Parisse (captain), Zanni, Minto (Steyn 58); Bernabo (Sarto 46), Geldenhuys; Castrogiovanni (Chistolini 46), Giazzon,(Fabiani 49), Lovotti (Zanusso 64)

Sin Bin: Palazanni (18)

Referee: Romain Poite (France)

Man of the Match George North

George North was named man of the match after he scored one of Wales’ nine tries. North messed up Italy’s defense from the start of the match, scored a cracker, carried the ball for 143 metres, and assisted Davies’ try. The big Northampton wing’s try tally for this year’s Six Nations event is four.

Wales National Team

The Wales National Rugby Union Team represents Wales in international rugby union. Wales compete annually in the RBS 6 Nations Championship against England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland.

Manager: Warren Gatland (Head coach)
Captain: Sam Warburton
Most caps: Gethin Jenkins (123)
Top scorer: Neil Jenkins (1,049)
Top try scorer: Shane Williams (58)
Arena - Stadium: Millennium Stadium
Union: Welsh Rugby Union

Meanwhile Wales’s hooker Richard Hibbard is targeting a Wales recall this summer. Gloucester rugby union player Hibbard made it clear to Wales head coach Warren Gatland that he hopes to get his place back for Wales’ tour to New Zealand this summer.

"I understand that Warren sees Scott and Ken as his main hookers and that is only fair because they have done a really good job,” said Hibbard. "But if anyone has a bump then of course I'd be up for representing my country. I haven't retired from international rugby, nor have I thought about it. If you go down that road you may as well pack in the game altogether. You never give up hope of playing for Wales,” continued 2013 British & Irish Lion Hibbard. "My goal is to win back my place, but I appreciate Scott is the man in possession and Ken has been playing well, too."

Wales 6 Nations 2016 Results

Round 1
Ireland 16-16 Wales
Round 2
Wales 27-23 Scotland
Round 3
Wales 19-10 France
Round 4
England 25-21 Wales
Round 5
Wales 67-14 Italy

Wales face England at Twickenham on May 29, 2016, followed by three Test matches in New Zealand in June. When the 2016 Autumn Internationals begin in November, Wales host Australia, Argentina, Japan, and South Africa at Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. The very best rugby tickets for Autumn Internationals are for sale now!

2016 - 2017 Wales Rugby Tickets

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November 2016 – Wales Autumn Internationals Tickets

Wales v Australia Tickets Autumn Internationals 5 Nov Millenium Stadium Cardiff, UK
Wales v Argentina Tickets Autumn Internationals 12 Nov Millenium Stadium Cardiff, UK
Wales v Japan Tickets Autumn Internationals 19 Nov Millenium Stadium Cardiff, UK
Wales v South Africa Tickets Autumn Internationals 26 Nov Millenium Stadium Cardiff, UK

February 2017 – Wales Six Nations Tickets

Don’t miss Wales hosting champions England in a world-class Six Nations match on February 11 at Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, United Kingdom.

Italy v Wales Tickets Six Nations 5 Feb Stadio Olimpico Rome, Italy
Wales v England Tickets Six Nations 11 Feb Millenium Stadium Cardiff, UK
Scotland v Wales Tickets Six Nations 25 Feb Murrayfield Stadium Edinburgh, UK
Wales v Ireland Tickets Six Nations 10 Mar Millenium Stadium Cardiff, UK
France v Wales Tickets Six Nations 18 Mar Stade de France Paris, France