You have to go back 43 years for the first time Wales played a capped match on a Sunday – against Australia in Brisbane. It didn’t go well.
Gerald Davies and debutant Brynmor Williams scored tries at Ballymore, but the Wallabies came out on top against the recent Grand Slammers, 18-8. Worse still, they went on to clinch the series 2-0.
Things didn’t get any better in the next Sunday fixture, Wales’ opening game at the 1991 World Cup. Western Samoa were the opponents at the national Ground, Cardiff Arms Park, and managed to pull off one of the greatest upsets in the history of the tournament with their 16-13 triumph.
Sunday’s just didn’t prove to be happy days for Wales. Their first Five Nations game on the Sabbath was at Wembley Stadium in April, 1998. The French arrived seeking a Grand Slam, the sun shone and Wales were beaten 51-0.
A year later it was England’s turn to come out to play on a Sunday. They, too, were chasing the Grand Slam at Wembley. We all know how that turned out!
Moving into the Six Nations, matches on Sunday have become a more regular theme. This weekend’s clash with the Irish will be the 17th time Wales have played on a Sunday in the tournament.
While they trail the Irish 4-1, with one game drawn, they lead 9-6 in all Sunday Six Nations matches. Ireland won the only previous Sunday fixture between the two teams in Cardiff, 19-9 in 2007, but have won in the Welsh capital in the competition since 2013.
WALES FIRST SUNDAY OUTING
Sunday, 11 June, 1978 – AUSTRALIA 18 – 8 WALES (Ballymore, Brisbane)
Australia: Laurie Monaghan; Paddy Batch, Andrew Slack, Martin Knight, Phil Crowe; Paul McLean, Rod Hauser; Steve Finnane, Peter Horton, Stan Pilecki, Garrick Fay, David Hillhouse, Tony Shaw (captain), Greg Cornelsen, Mark Loane
Try: Phil Crowe; Con: Paul Mclean; Pens: Paul McLean
Wales: JPR Williams; Gerald Davies, Ray Gravell, Steve Fenwick, JJ Williams; Gareth Davies, Brynmor Williams; Charlie Faulkner, Bobby Windsor, Graham Price, Allan Martin, Geoff Wheel, Terry Cobner (captain), Jeff Squire (Stuart Lane 78), Derek Quinnell
Scorers: Tries: Gerald Davies, Brynmor Williams
Referee: Bob Burnett (Australia)
WALES’ FIRST HOME SUNDAY OUTING
6 October, 1991 – WALES 13 – 16 WESTERN SAMOA (National Ground, Cardiff Arms Park)
Western Samoa: Andrew Aiolupo; Timo Tagaloa, To’o Vaega, Frank Bunce, Brian Lima; Stephen Bachop; Mathew Vaea; Vili Alalatoa, Stan To’omalatai, Peter Fatialofa (captain), Mark Birtwistle, Mat Keenan, Apollo Perelini, Sila Vaifale, Pat Lam
Scorers: Tries: To’o Vaega, Sila Vaifale; Con: To’o Vaega; Pen: To’o Vaega 2
Wales: Tony Clement (Mike Rayer 48); Arthur Emyr, Scott Gibbs, Mike Hall, Ieuan Evans (captain); Mark Ring, Robert Jones; Laurance Delaney, Ken Waters, Mike Griffiths, Phil May (Martyn Morris 29), Kevin Moseley, Richie Collins (Garin Jenkins 52), Emyr Lewis, Phil Davies
Scorers: Tries: Arthur Emyr, Ieuan Evans; Con: Mark Ring; Pen: Mark Ring
Referee: Patrick Robin (France)
WALES’ SUNDAY BEST
11 April, 1999 – WALES 32 – 31 ENGLAND (Wembley Stadium)
Wales: Shane Howarth; Gareth Thomas (Nick Walne 63), Mark Taylor, Scott Gibbs, Dafydd James; Neil Jenkins, Rob Howley (captain); Peter Rogers (Andrew Lewis 68), Garin Jenkins, Ben Evans (Dai Young 68), Chris Wyatt, Craig Quinnell, Colin Charvis, Brett Sinkinson, Scott Quinnell
Scorers: Tries: Shane Howarth, Scott Gibbs; Cons: Neil Jenkins 2; Pens: Neil Jenkins 6
England: Matt Perry; Steve Hanley, Barrie-Jon Mather, Jonny Wilkinson, Dan Luger; Mike Catt, Matt Dawson; Jason Leonard, Richard Cockerill, Darren Garforth (Victor Ubogu 68), Martin Johnson, Tim Rodber, Richard Hill, Neil Back, Lawrence Dallaglio (captain)
Scorers: Dan Luger, Steve Hanley, Richard Hill; Cons: Jonny Wilkinson 2; Pens: Jonny Wilkinson 4
Referee: Andre Watson (South Africa)
WALES’ SIX NATIONS SUNDAYS
v Ireland: P 6 W 4 D 1 L 1
Overall: P 16 W 9 D 1 L 6
2001: Italy 23 – 33 Wales
2002: Ireland 54 – 10 Wales
2004: Ireland 36 – 15 Wales; Wales 22 – 29 France
2005: Scotland 22 – 46 Wales
2006: Wales 28 – 19 Scotland; Ireland 31 – 5 Wales
2007: Wales 9 – 19 Ireland
2009: Scotland 13 – 26 Wales
2012: Ireland 21 – 23 Wales; Wales 27 – 13 Scotland
2014: England 29 – 18 Wales
2015: Scotland 23 – 26 Wales
2016: Ireland 16 – 16 Wales
2017: Italy 7 – 33 Wales
2018: Wales 38 – 14 Italy
