There are probably bigger priorities for Welsh rugby right now — what with the regions lamentably under-funded, the national team having just lost to Italy, Wales U20s having suffered the same fate and an average-sized family car probably able to accommodate all those who are pleased with the way the game is governed this side of the River Severn right now — but, still, what did happen to the Wales A team?
Resurrected in 2016, it was supposed to be what Welsh rugby had been looking for, a stepping stone between regional rugby and the under-20s game for potential international players. The hope was that it would prove an important link in the development chain, with the side playing a couple of matches a season.
Six years on, it has become Welsh rugby’s ghost team, a side that hasn’t played since it was brought back because of lack of opposition, lack of space in a congested calendar and existing demands on players and regions. “We just need 60 weeks in a year, really,” said former Welsh Rugby Union chairman Gareth Davies when speaking of how to accommodate an A-team programme of matches.
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Many still remember the side fondly, though.
The team last played on April 5, 2002, coached by Mike Ruddock, before being scrapped on grounds of cost.
Welsh rugby was in another of its deep lows amid problems all around.
But out of the Wales A XV which beat Scotland 30-23 at Wrexham two decades ago, six players would go on to feature in the Six Nations Grand Slam campaign of 2005.
MARK ORDERS takes a look at the team that ran out at the Racecourse that night.
15. Adrian Durston
Lyn Jones described Durston as “one of Welsh rugby’s enigmas” after signing him for Neath in 2002. But there was no doubting his raw talent. He was with Bridgend when the A team played their final game. The two Wales caps he was to finish his career with had already been won, on the tour of Japan the previous year. Other teams he played for included the Ospreys, Viadana, Oyannax and Club Sportif Beaunois. Durston moved into the property sector after finishing playing.
14. Gareth Wyatt
He was one of the most stylish wings on the scene during a playing career that took in spells at Pontypridd, Celtic Warriors, the Dragons and Newport. Wyatt won just two full caps; many felt he deserved more. Moved into coaching, with a stint in charge of Wales Women on his CV.
13. Gareth Thomas
You may have heard of this chap. If not, what was that 30-year holiday on Neptune like? Thomas went on to win 100 caps for Wales and skipper them, notably in the Grand Slam campaign of 2005. He also led the Lions. Announced himself as gay in 2009 and as HIV positive in 2019. A bona fide TV personality, he has featured on Dancing on Ice and Celebrity Big Brother and has just finished a run of Six Nations Sin Bin with Gabby Logan. Is also a campaigner for various causes, and can occasionally be found in a TV studio working as a pundit. An online poll once found him to be the 912th most popular person of all time.
12. Tom Shanklin
Another who would play an important role in the Grand Slam season of 2005, plus the clean sweep of 2008. On Saracens’ books in 2002, Shanklin was still climbing the rugby ladder and displaying the promise he would convert into outstanding achievement with Wales. Also toured with the Lions in 2005. Now involved in hospitality, event presentation and media work.
11. Matthew Watkins
Tragically passed away in 2020 after a long battle with cancer. All who knew him hailed him as one of life’s good guys. After a stint with Newport, he moved to west Wales to play for Llanelli and then the Scarlets, before heading to Gloucester and rounding off his playing days with spells at the Dragons and Newport. Won 18 Wales caps.
10. Lee Jarvis
One of Welsh rugby’s great points accumulators, the metronomic Jarvis had impressive stints with Pontypridd, Cardiff, Neath and the Dragons, keeping the scoreboard ticking over for each of those teams. His speciality involved booming long-range shots at goal, but, really, he was consistent and deadly accurate from any distance. Came up with one of his finest hours in rugby in 2001-02 when he scored all Neath’s points in a 30-22 win over Munster at The Gnoll. Picked up a solitary senior cap, against Romania at Wrexham in 2003. Now working in the railway industry. Has been known to post the occasional tweet as well.
9. Andy Moore
The skilful scrum half won four senior caps for Wales between 1995 and 1996. His playing career also saw him for Cardiff, Richmond, Benetton and Neath. Has since overseen a number of successful business ventures, worked as a TV commentator and is a triathlete.
1. Gethin Jenkins
Well, here's a big name — or at least a man who would go on to become a big name. Indeed, Jenkins was to morph into a Welsh rugby legend, winning his first senior cap in 2002 and going on to complete 134 appearances in Test rugby — 129 for Wales and five for the Lions. Along the way, many turnovers were achieved and many piledriving tackles put in. There were four Six Nations title successes, including three Grand Slams. Now Wales’ defence coach.
2. Mefin Davies
Wales A were not the only team which vanished from the Welsh rugby scene while Davies was playing for them. A couple of years later he was at Celtic Warriors when they were wiped off the map. At the time Davies was left without a club. “What happened to Mefin was disgusting,” said the man who coached the Warriors at the time, Lynn Howells. But the former hooker, who captained Wales A that night against Scotland, is nothing if not resilient and he went on to bounce back with Wales, Neath Gloucester, Leicester and the Ospreys. Moved into coaching with Worcester and is now overseeing the forwards at the Dragons.
3. Andrew Millward
In 2002, Bully, as Millward was known, was a strong-scrummaging tighthead with Neath. He went on to anchor the Ospreys’ set-piece, playing an important role in the Celtic League title success of 2004-05. Went on to become performance manager with the Welsh Rugby Union before holding senior roles with Ospreys, including that of managing director. Left to pursue other interests last autumn.
4. Robert Sidoli
Pontypridd were a powerful outfit at the time with a youthful Sidoli running their line-out. He went on to win 42 caps for Wales and was another who played in the sunny Grand Slam campaign of 2005. The Merthyr-born lock also featured for Celtic Warriors, Cardiff Blues, Bristol and the Dragons before retiring as a player in 2014. Has coached at Pontypridd and Merthyr. Is now a much-respected director of rugby at Newport High School rugby academy.
5. Gareth Llewellyn
He stacked up 92 caps for Wales during a marathon Test career that spanned 15 years. There were also many rich and varied experiences for Llewellyn in the club game with Neath, Harlequins, the Ospreys, Narbonne and Bristol.The former Wales captain and lineout ace showed a lot of early promise as a coach with a successful stint at English club Thornbury. He also held the reins at Tonmawr and Neath. These days he works as an account manager. You can read an interview with him here.
6. Michael Owen
If there’s been a better ball-handling Welsh back rower over the past 25 years — Owen’s old Pontypridd team-mate Geraint Lewis aside, maybe — could the chap in question please break cover. What a passer of a ball Owen was. Stepped up to skipper Wales after Gareth Thomas fell injured during the 2005 Grand Slam campaign. Toured with the Lions in the same year. When he played, rugby always looked easier on the eye. From September 2013 he took up a post as director of rugby at Haileybury College in Hertford.
7. Brett Sinkinson
He had been one of Henry’s Heroes when the Wales team coached by Graham Henry swept to 10 straight victories during 1999, with highlights being the win over South Africa and the Test series triumph in Argentina. Sinkinson performed as well as anyone against the Springboks as Wales secured their first ever victory over them. The Test rugby fun didn't last. The following year saw the New Zealander caught up in the Grannygate row when it was discovered he and Shane Howarth lacked the necessary paperwork to play for Wales. Sinkinson later qualified on residency grounds. The likeable and modest Neath flanker won 20 caps all told. Returned home to work as a landscape gardener in New Zealand.
8. Nathan Bonner-Evans
An immensely powerful ball carrier, the big No. 8 played some of his best rugby during his time at Neath. Also had spells with Newport, Sale Sharks and London Welsh.
In a tongue-in-cheek pen pic back in the day, Rowland Phillips wrote of NBE: “Didn’t have the best start to senior rugby — went to Llanelli, then they signed Scott Quinnell. Went to Newport, then they signed Gary Teichmann and, to top it all, he came to Neath and they signed me!”
Phillips went on to describe Bonner-Evans as a future Wales cap. Such an honour sadly never came his way, with injuries not helping. Bonner-Evans eventually moved into coaching with Neath and then Swansea. Along the way he was an owner and director of NRJ Motor Company.
