WHILE it maybe a while since the Dragons have been Down Under, just like in 1975, the Welsh will be looking to cause an upset or two when they head to Australia and Papua New Guinea for their pool matches.
History
Wales has had links to Rugby League since the code broke away from Rugby Union back in 1895. After the formation of the Northern Union, a number of Welsh Rugby players were coaxed north, signing with the breakaway clubs.
By 1904, the numbers of Welsh players were significant enough that the Northern Union organised England’s first ever representative clash, taking on an ‘Other Nationalities’ side made up of predominately Welsh players. The clash took place on April 5, and the Other Nationalities team emerged victorious, defeating England 9 – 3.
A repeat match was held in 1905 where England won 21 – 11. It would take until 1908 for Wales to play their first ever-international clash as an independent representative team. That game took place on January 1, when the Dragons defeating the touring New Zealand ‘All Golds’ 9 – 8 in Aberdare, Wales.
Domestic Rugby League hit Wales in 1907, when clubs Ebbw Vale and Merthyr Tydfil joined the Northern Union. Aberdare, Barry, Mid-Rhondda and Treherbert joined the following season as Rugby League established a foot-hold in the valleys, however the foothold soon disappeared with a number of these clubs gone just two seasons later.
Over the next 90 years, domestic clubs and competitions would come and go in Wales before the establishment of the Welsh Conference in the early 2000’s.
At the national level, Wales would continue to play regular fixtures against the English each year, and taking on the touring Kangaroos and Kiwi sides until the mid-1930’s when France took up Rugby League.
The addition of the Les Chanticleers to the international schedule saw the creation of the European Championship; a tournament the Welsh won three of the first four competitions.
Wales continued to play regular international fixtures up until 1975 when the Dragons were finally invited to participate in a World Cup as a separate nation. Up until then, the best Welsh players played in the Great Britain team.
The 1975 Welsh side notched up victories over New Zealand, France and England, with the 12 – 7 victory over the English in Brisbane costing the England the 1975 World Cup.
Wales would not get the chance to compete as an independent nation again in a World Cup until 1995, when the Dragons once again surprised many, making it to the tournament semi-finals before going down 25 – 10 to England.
In 2000, the Welsh again made it to the World Cup semi-finals, this time taking on eventual champions the Australian Kangaroos. Despite a remarkable first half, which saw the Welsh leading 20 – 8 at one stage, the superior skill of the Kangaroos meant that the Welsh would not make their first ever world cup final.
Following the highs of 2000 the domestic scene would see more than a decade of significant growth for the Welsh, with the re-formation of a local league and the establishment of professional teams in the shape of the Crusaders and Scorpions (now Ironmen).
Unfortunately despite things improving at the grassroots structures, Wales went from being a consistent performer in the international arena, to going through a period of mixed performance.
An appearance in the Four Nations in 2012, plus a European Championship win in 2011 were the highlights of a period that saw the Welsh fail to qualify for the 2008 World Cup and went through the 2013 tournament winless.
Realising things needed to change, the Welsh Rugby League brought in a new coaching and representative structure for the Dragons, changes which have already paid off with the Welsh winning the 2015 European Championship and saw the Dragons qualify for 2017 World Cup.
National Team Stats
* Moniker: Dragons
* Colours: Red, white and green
* Coach: John Kear
* First Test: Wales 9 d. New Zealand 8 – Aberdare, Wales, 1 Jan 1908
* Best world cup result: Semi-finals (1995, 2000)
Players to watch
Heading into the Rugby League World Cup 2017, let’s look at some of the players who will be integral to the success of the Dragons in the upcoming tournament.
Rhys Williams: Rhys will come to the 2017 World Cup as the Dragon’s most capped and highest scoring active player. With 18 tries from 24 Tests, the Mynydd Isa born back will bring some much-needed experience to the Dragons outfit at World Cup 2017.
Craig Kopczak: Captain of the Dragons, Kopczak has built a reputation in both the English Super League and on the international arena as a powerful forward. Against the likes of the Kumuls, Bati and Wolfhounds, Kopczak will be looked to, to help give the Welsh backs the momentum they need.
Rhys Evans: Brother to other Welsh representative player, Ben Evans, Bridgend born Rhys is renown for his tremendous footwork, agility and speed at Super League.
World cup group stages
Being grouped with Papua New Guinea and playing a pool game in Port Moresby is unlikely to concern the Welsh with the Dragons undefeated against the Kumuls.
In fact, Wales have racked up more than 50 points in two of their previous encounters against the Papua New Guineans and will be confident that they can continue their undefeated ways against the Kumuls.
Wales will also be reasonably confident against the Irish, again holding a superior record over the Wolfhounds in all previous fixtures, including defeating the Irish 30-4 in the 2015 European Championship at home in Bray.
The biggest unknown for the Welsh however will be taking on Fiji Bati with the two teams never meeting before, despite playing in three World Cups together (1995, 2000, 2013).
Wales fixtures
Vs Papua New Guinea
Played: 3W 3 – D 0 – L 0
Papua New Guinea v Wales in Port Moresby on 28/10/2017
Vs Fiji
Played: 0W 0 – D 0 – L 0
Fiji v Wales in Townsville on 05/11/2017
Vs Ireland
Played: 8W 5- D 0 – L 3
Ireland v Wales in Perth on 12/11/2017
