Wales finished bottom of the Six Nations for the third year running but ended the campaign with hope and excitement for the future.
Steve Tandy’s side were handed another wooden spoon when Alex Coles fired his fourth try for England on a brilliant Super Saturday in Paris.
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Before that, Wales ended a three-year run of 15 consecutive Six Nations defeats with a long-awaited victory over Italy.
After five grueling games, there will be a tinge of disappointment as Wales have no chance of building on their encouraging results.
Impressive performances against England and France were followed by fine performances against Ireland and Scotland, culminating in a bonus-point victory over the Azzurri.
BBC Sport Wales looks back at some of the highlights and winners from the Welsh Championships.
Wainwright leads the charge
Aaron Wainwright won a Grand Slam with Wales in 2019 [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Taulupe Faletto is arguably Wales’ greatest ever number eight and remains a quality player, but has been sidelined by injury since the first Test in Japan last summer.
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Aaron Wainwright’s performance led to Tandy being asked ahead of the match against Italy if Wales would remember him after the Lions legend returns from a calf problem.
“I don’t think you can overlook anybody, especially a guy like him,” the head coach said.
“But ultimately we have a lot of young guys starting to perform, starting to get consistent, so for me it’s always about performance.”
Wainwright was man of the match with two tries against the Azzurri, while also showing his defensive work-rate and his physicality on the ball.
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The Leicester-bound Dragons talisman ranks fourth in the official Six Nations rankings for rushes (67), ninth for defenders beaten (17), fourth for dominant contacts (13) and fifth for meters after contact (80).
“I still think I can do more,” Wainwright said. “There’s always room for more.”
Wales’ flankers have also been blessed following strong performances from the Championship’s top tacklers Alex Mann and James Botham, while British and Irish Lionel Jac Morgan is also close to returning from injury.
Carre’s Champagne Moment
Dan Edwards’ strike against Italy put Wales within touching distance of a long-awaited victory, but it was an unexpected scoreline for a defeat that would be repeated for years to come.
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Mad prop Rhys Carre’s dodge-and-turn run over Dublin’s 25-metre mark delivered a champagne moment for the entire 2026 Six Nations, let alone Wales’ campaign.
It prompted a flood of social media clips, questions at press conferences and, when the squad was read out ahead of the final against Italy, front row players’ names being cheered as loudly as Louis Rees-Zammit.
Saracens were revitalized under Tandy and his effort in Dublin was more than just a brilliant individual score but a key moment in Wales’ resurgence.
They went into half-time trailing 12-10 at the Aviva Stadium and kept fighting to set up a victory against Italy.
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Strong running James achieved breakthrough campaign
Eddie James missed the fall series due to injury, but the Scarlet center started all five games upon his return with Max Llewellyn sidelined.
The 23-year-old, making his Test debut in 2024, leads the championship in meters per drive after contact (2.2m) and is joint-leading with Wainwright (13m) for Wales’ most dominant contact meters.
James starts as No. 13 in all games, but his physical attributes and ability to offload mean he could be an option at No. 12, where he had mainly played before this season.
Wales have opted for Joe Hawkins and Ben Thomas as playmakers inside centre, but also have Llewellyn, who has returned from injury, and the promising Louie Hennessey, who made his debut as a substitute for Ireland.
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“I feel like I’m getting more and more confident in my time in the shirt,” James said after his first senior win for Wales.
“I’m really grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been given and hopefully if I get more opportunities in the summer I can do well.”
Unsung Heroes returns to beta
Tomas Francis to leave Osprey for Provence in 2023 [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Tomas Francis doesn’t feature in any statistical rankings, but the level-headed player is well-liked on the international stage.
The 33-year-old has not played for Provence in France’s second division since the 2023 World Cup.
He was recalled to the Six Nations by Tandy before moving to Sale in the summer, where he would link up with free agent Nicky Smith.
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Wales were without Keiron Assiratti, who had a strong autumn season, through injury, leading to Francis sharing the load with Bath’s Archie Griffin.
Francis has made four starts since returning from the bench for England, ensuring consistency and some unassuming weight from set-pieces.
The former Ospreys man offers the experience and reliability that should make him worthy of a fourth World Cup.
ambassador of uncertainty
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has not changed plans to reduce the men’s professional teams from four to three as Wales continue to play amid off-field turmoil.
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Tandy and captain Devi Lake must be the faces of Welsh rugby and their performance was impeccable.
The hooker will play his final game for the Ospreys before moving to Gloucester in the summer, when Wales join forces again.
“This is what we work for and this team deserves this,” Lake said after the win over Italy.
“We’ve been through a lot of tough things emotionally lately, both on and off the field.”
It remains a concern as Wales head towards the World Cup, with the Scarlets and Ospreys’ Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) set to expire in the summer of 2027.
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Tandy’s side next face the Barbarians at Twickenham in June before playing three Nations Championship games against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa in July.
The WRU will then convene an extraordinary general meeting, with chairman Richard Collier-Keywood facing a vote of no confidence, as well as a legal battle with Swansea Council over the future of the Ospreys.
Tandy has created a positive environment for his players after outlining his approach before the season.
“If they have something to share, if they seek more clarification or anything they want to talk about, then we have to stay open,” he said.
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“The one thing we can’t do is run away from it or pretend it didn’t happen.”
Tandy has allowed his players to develop in the Vale Resorts bubble and his goal is to continue taking everything in his stride in the summer.