Taking Wales out of the Valleys

Welsh rugby has had more peaks and troughs than a roller-coaster ride in recent years. The only saving grace being that the peaks have been pretty constant and extremely rewarding.

Three Grand Slams, a fourth Six Nations title and fourth place at the World Cup is a rich return for a country that boasts a mere 12,000 senior players and has a cradle-to-grave playing population that is half that of Ireland and Scotland, dwarfed by France and England and smaller even than Italy.

Mixed in with the successes from 2005 are a triumph in the IRB Rugby Sevens World Cup (2009) and a runners-up spot in the Junior World Championships (2012).