2024 Six Nations Fixtures: What’s in It for Wales?
Close-up of of sports player holding ball against rugby pitch
2024 is going to be quite a ride for the Wales rugby fans. Here, the Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby competition, will commence, and six national teams of prominent European countries will compete against each other for the title.
On February 2, France and Ireland will kick off the 2024 Championships, with another two matches for the remaining countries. After that, another four rounds will commence, totalling 15 matches per championship. Keeping track of the Wales matches may be challenging with these games happening simultaneously. Thus, here are the dates for such to narrow your list:
Wales vs. Scotland (February 3, 2024)
During the opening weekend of the Championship, Wales will battle Scotland for the first round at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. This match will be exciting, as Scotland scored 28 more points than Wales during the 2023 Championship.
Last February 11, Scottish player Finn Russell went full battle mode when he kicked Scotland with an early lead. Moreover, the first half ended with 13-7, and it only went uphill for Scotland from there.
Although Wales took advantage of Ken Owens when he bundled for a try, the team needed more push to win the game. However, this won’t close any opportunities for Wales, as the 2024 match will allow them to redeem themselves.
In the following season, fans anticipated the announcement of the 2024 roster as the selection process was kept a closely guarded secret. Moreover, there are prospects of star players returning to the Wales squad. Although there is no official announcement, be sure to check FanDuel Sportsbook for the latest news updates on such.
England vs. Wales (February 10, 2024)
Wales will face England on Saturday at the Twickenham Stadium for the second round of the games. Since their first match in 1881, England and Wales have contested for 141 test matches. Of all these matches, England won 68, Wales won 61, and there are another 12 drawn matches. With Wales not too far behind the number of wins, there’s no denying a fierce showdown in the second round of the Championships.
Also, Wales won the Triple Crown in 2021 after dismissing England with a 40-24 score at the Principality Stadium. Here, Wales was unstoppable with backed-up victories against Scotland and Ireland, and their win against England only strengthened such.
However, Wales also suffered during last season’s games. In 2023, England scored three tries and won a 20-10 victory over Wales. During this game, Wales gave away a few critical turnovers and dropped a few balls, ultimately leading to their downfall. With this, head coach Warren Gatland emphasized the team’s need to strengthen its transition from offence to defence.
Ireland vs. Wales (February 24, 2024)
Ireland will host Wales for the third round at the Aviva Stadium. This game will happen on February 24, marking the 135th match between the two teams. Over these matches, Wales have won 70 and Ireland 57 – with another seven drawn matches between the two.
The most memorable match between the two happened in 1999 when Wales secured an iconic 27-25 victory in Cardiff. This match was notable due to Welsh winger Shane Williams’ stunning try, where he broke through Ireland’s defence and scored winning points for Wales. Such an attempt showed the team’s passion and determination, and it remains one great standout moment for Williams’ career.
Wales vs. France (March 10, 2024)
The fourth round will happen between Wales and France on March 10 at the Principality Stadium. Since 1908, Wales and France have competed against each other for 103 rugby matches – Wales has won 51, France 49, and the last three matches were a draw.
These two teams are known to bring an intense match every season. On a rainy night in 2019, Wales made a historic fight against their final Grand Slam under Warren Gatland. During this game, Wales only needed a 15-minute purple patch to prove they were an unstoppable force – with their offence firing out of a few blocks and winning 24-19.
In 2023, France took the crown with a 41-28 score, as they had big carries on the left before releasing the ball to French wing player Damian Penaud. Although Wales didn’t crumble under the pressure, France still had the upper hand throughout the game. Nonetheless, this season will see another thrilling match.
Wales vs. Italy (March 16, 2024)
The last match will be on March 16 at the Principality Stadium, and it will be Wales against Italy. Compared to the other teams, Wales and Italy don’t have that much history together. Since 1994, they have only contested 32 tests, where Wales won 28 matches, Italy three, and one match.
Moreover, Wales had a morale-boosting game last season as they completely swept Italy with a 29-17 victory. Here, Welsh players Rio Dyer and Liam Williams went in for tries, which piled up with a penalty try from Taulupe Faletau. Although Italy tried to avenge themselves through Sebastian Negri’s tries, Wales proved determined for Italy.
Final Thoughts
Although these games are still months away, you can already feel the heat underway. Moreover, you should secure your tickets to watch the matches live. On the other hand, you could also tune in to BBC or S4C for the live TV coverage.