History of rugby union matches between France and Wales
France and Wales have played each other at rugby union since 1908. A total of 104 matches have been played, with Wales winning 51 times, France 50 times and the remaining three finishing as draws.
The early years of the fixture were dominated by Wales, who won 18 of the first 19 matches before France were expelled from the Five Nations Championship after the 1931 tournament. Since France rejoined the competition in 1947, they have won 49 of the 85 matches played, including a 12-match winning streak between 1983 and 1993. The teams have met twice in the Rugby World Cup, firstly in the semi-finals of the 2011 tournament, which France won 9–8, then in the quarter-finals of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which Wales won 20–19.[1][2]
Summary
[edit]Note: Summary below reflects test results by both teams.
Overview
[edit]| Details | Played | Won by France |
Won by Wales |
Drawn | France points | Wales points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In France | 49 | 28 | 20 | 1 | 787 | 681 |
| In Wales | 52 | 20 | 30 | 2 | 753 | 913 |
| Neutral venue | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 79 | 28 |
| Overall | 104 | 50 | 51 | 3 | 1,619 | 1,622 |
Records
[edit]Note: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was or last set.
| Record | France | Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Longest winning streak | 12 (19 March 1983 – 19 February 1994) | 15 (2 March 1908 – 9 April 1928) |
| Largest points for | ||
| Home | 41 (18 March 2023) | 49 (1 January 1910) |
| Away | 51 (5 April 1998) | 47 (23 February 1909) |
| Largest winning margin | ||
| Home | 33 (2 March 1991) | 35 (1 January 1910) |
| Away | 51 (5 April 1998) | 42 (23 February 1909) |
Breakdown
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Early history: Welsh domination
[edit]Early in the history of the France–Wales match-up, Wales dominated the encounters with big victories from the 1908 Home Nations Internationals to the 1911 Five Nations Championship. Between 1910 and 1929, France finished wooden spooners six times in the competition, more than any other team, going back-to-back on two occasions (seasons 1912–1913 and 1925–1926). During this period France only managed to beat Wales once from a total of seventeen games. Indeed, Wales was France's most difficult Five/Home Nations Championship opponent at the time, holding just a 5.88% win percentage against them, whereas they held a 6.67% win percentage (1/15) against England, a 20% win percentage (3/15) against Ireland, and a 21.43% win percentage (3/14) against Scotland. Wales, by contrast, held a win percentage above 39% against all other Home/Five Nations Championship opponents. By the end of 1959 France and Wales had played against each other a total of thirty-two times. And although France's win percentage had improved (to 18.75%), it was still significantly lower than their win percentage against the other Five Nations Championship opponents (their lowest being 26.67% against England; their highest being 37.93% against Scotland).
1960–1980: Turning the tide
[edit]From 1960 to 1980 the two sides had played each other on twenty-one occasions. The record was split 9–9, with three draws. By this point the tide had slowly turned to being a one-sided affair to a more competitive one. Up to that point Wales won 66.04% of their encounters and still remained France's most difficult Five Nations Championship opponent. French improvement remained consistent against all other Five Nations Championship competitors as well. Their win percentage at 1980 was 35.29% against England, 48.08% against Ireland, and 48% against Scotland.
1980s–1990s: French command
[edit]Similar to the first two decades between France and Wales, in which Wales won an overwhelming majority of fixtures played between the pair, between the years 1980 and 1999 France dominated the Welsh; they won seventeen out of twenty-three meetings (73.91%), including a twelve-match win streak between the years 1983 and 1993.
Six Nations era: 2000–present
[edit]Since the introduction of the Six Nations Championship, both France and Wales have won six titles each, including four Grand Slam's. Early during the 2000s France largely maintained the stronghold that they gained throughout the previous decade, winning eight out of eleven matches. Following Wales' 2008 Six Nations Championship win over France,[3][4] it took Wales four years before they would win another match (2012).[5][6] In both years Wales were crowned Six Nations Champions.
As of 2024, both teams are each others most competitive test side, with France holding a 48.08% win percentage against Wales in their match-ups, and Wales holding a 49.04% win percentage.
Results
[edit]| No. | Date | Venue | Score | Winner | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 March 1908 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 36–4 |  Wales
|
1908 Home Nations Championship |
| 2 | 23 February 1909 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 5–47 | Wales
|
1909 Home Nations Championship |
| 3 | 1 January 1910 | St Helen's, Swansea | 49–14 | Wales
|
1910 Five Nations Championship |
| 4 | 28 February 1911 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 0–15 | Wales
|
1911 Five Nations Championship |
| 5 | 25 March 1912 | Rodney Parade, Newport | 14–8 | Wales
|
1912 Five Nations Championship |
| 6 | 27 February 1913 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 8–11 | Wales
|
1913 Five Nations Championship |
| 7 | 2 March 1914 | St Helen's, Swansea | 31–0 | Wales
|
1914 Five Nations Championship |
| 8 | 17 February 1920 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 5–6 | Wales
|
1920 Five Nations Championship |
| 9 | 26 February 1921 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 12–4 | Wales
|
1921 Five Nations Championship |
| 10 | 23 March 1922 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 3–11 | Wales
|
1922 Five Nations Championship |
| 11 | 24 February 1923 | St Helen's, Swansea | 16–8 | Wales
|
1923 Five Nations Championship |
| 12 | 27 March 1924 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 6–10 | Wales
|
1924 Five Nations Championship |
| 13 | 28 February 1925 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 11–5 | Wales
|
1925 Five Nations Championship |
| 14 | 5 April 1926 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 5–7 | Wales
|
1926 Five Nations Championship |
| 15 | 26 February 1927 | St Helen's, Swansea | 25–7 | Wales
|
1927 Five Nations Championship |
| 16 | 9 April 1928 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 8–3 |  France
|
1928 Five Nations Championship |
| 17 | 23 February 1929 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 8–3 | Wales
|
1929 Five Nations Championship |
| 18 | 21 April 1930 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 0–11 | Wales
|
1930 Five Nations Championship |
| 19 | 28 February 1931 | St Helen's, Swansea | 35–3 | Wales
|
1931 Five Nations Championship |
| 20 | 22 March 1947 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 0–3 | Wales
|
1947 Five Nations Championship |
| 21 | 21 February 1948 | St Helen's, Swansea | 3–11 | France
|
1948 Five Nations Championship |
| 22 | 26 March 1949 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 5–3 | France
|
1949 Five Nations Championship |
| 23 | 25 March 1950 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 21–0 | Wales
|
1950 Five Nations Championship |
| 24 | 7 April 1951 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 8–3 | France
|
1951 Five Nations Championship |
| 25 | 22 March 1952 | St Helen's, Swansea | 9–5 | Wales
|
1952 Five Nations Championship |
| 26 | 28 March 1953 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 3–6 |  Wales
|
1953 Five Nations Championship |
| 27 | 27 March 1954 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 19–13 | Wales
|
1954 Five Nations Championship |
| 28 | 26 March 1955 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 11–16 | Wales
|
1955 Five Nations Championship |
| 29 | 24 March 1956 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 5–3 | Wales
|
1956 Five Nations Championship |
| 30 | 23 March 1957 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 13–19 | Wales
|
1957 Five Nations Championship |
| 31 | 29 March 1958 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 6–16 | France
|
1958 Five Nations Championship |
| 32 | 4 April 1959 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 11–3 | France
|
1959 Five Nations Championship |
| 33 | 26 March 1960 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 8–16 | France
|
1960 Five Nations Championship |
| 34 | 25 March 1961 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 8–6 | France
|
1961 Five Nations Championship |
| 35 | 24 March 1962 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 3–0 |  Wales
|
1962 Five Nations Championship |
| 36 | 23 March 1963 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 5–3 | France
|
1963 Five Nations Championship |
| 37 | 21 March 1964 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 11–11 | draw | 1964 Five Nations Championship |
| 38 | 27 March 1965 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 22–13 | France
|
1965 Five Nations Championship |
| 39 | 26 March 1966 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 9–8 | Wales
|
1966 Five Nations Championship |
| 40 | 1 April 1967 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 20–14 | France
|
1967 Five Nations Championship |
| 41 | 23 March 1968 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 9–14 | France
|
1968 Five Nations Championship |
| 42 | 22 March 1969 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 8–8 | draw | 1969 Five Nations Championship |
| 43 | 4 April 1970 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 11–6 | Wales
|
1970 Five Nations Championship |
| 44 | 27 March 1971 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 5–9 | Wales
|
1971 Five Nations Championship |
| 45 | 25 March 1972 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 20–6 | Wales
|
1972 Five Nations Championship |
| 46 | 24 March 1973 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 12–3 | France
|
1973 Five Nations Championship |
| 47 | 16 February 1974 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 16–16 | draw | 1974 Five Nations Championship |
| 48 | 18 January 1975 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 10–25 | Wales
|
1975 Five Nations Championship |
| 49 | 6 March 1976 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 19–13 | Wales
|
1976 Five Nations Championship |
| 50 | 5 February 1977 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 16–9 |  France
|
1977 Five Nations Championship |
| 51 | 18 March 1978 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 16–7 | Wales
|
1978 Five Nations Championship |
| 52 | 17 February 1979 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 14–13 | France
|
1979 Five Nations Championship |
| 53 | 19 January 1980 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 18–9 | Wales
|
1980 Five Nations Championship |
| 54 | 7 March 1981 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 19–15 | France
|
1981 Five Nations Championship |
| 55 | 6 February 1982 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 22–12 | Wales
|
1982 Five Nations Championship |
| 56 | 19 March 1983 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 16–9 | France
|
1983 Five Nations Championship |
| 57 | 18 February 1984 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 16–21 | France
|
1984 Five Nations Championship |
| 58 | 30 March 1985 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 14–3 | France
|
1985 Five Nations Championship |
| 59 | 1 March 1986 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 15–23 | France
|
1986 Five Nations Championship |
| 60 | 7 February 1987 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 16–9 | France
|
1987 Five Nations Championship |
| 61 | 19 March 1988 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 9–10 | France
|
1988 Five Nations Championship |
| 62 | 18 February 1989 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 31–12 | France
|
1989 Five Nations Championship |
| 63 | 20 January 1990 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 19–29 | France
|
1990 Five Nations Championship |
| 64 | 2 March 1991 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 36–3 | France
|
1991 Five Nations Championship |
| 65 | 4 September 1991 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 9–22 | France
|
1991 Rugby World Cup warm-up match |
| 66 | 1 February 1992 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 9–12 | France
|
1992 Five Nations Championship |
| 67 | 20 March 1993 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 26–10 | France
|
1993 Five Nations Championship |
| 68 | 19 February 1994 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 24–15 | Wales
|
1994 Five Nations Championship |
| 69 | 21 January 1995 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 21–9 | France
|
1995 Five Nations Championship |
| 70 | 16 March 1996 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 16–15 | Wales
|
1996 Five Nations Championship |
| 71 | 25 September 1996 | National Stadium, Cardiff | 33–40 | France
|
1996 France tour of Wales |
| 72 | 15 February 1997 | Parc des Princes, Paris | 27–22 | France
|
1997 Five Nations Championship |
| 73 | 5 April 1998 | Wembley Stadium, London (England) | 0–51 | France
|
1998 Five Nations Championship |
| 74 | 6 March 1999 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 33–34 | Wales
|
1999 Five Nations Championship |
| 75 | 28 August 1999 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 34–23 | Wales
|
1999 Rugby World Cup warm-up match |
| 76 | 5 February 2000 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 3–36 | France
|
2000 Six Nations Championship |
| 77 | 17 March 2001 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 35–43 | Wales
|
2001 Six Nations Championship |
| 78 | 16 February 2002 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 33–37 | France
|
2002 Six Nations Championship |
| 79 | 29 March 2003 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 33–5 | France
|
2003 Six Nations Championship |
| 80 | 7 March 2004 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 22–29 | France
|
2004 Six Nations Championship |
| 81 | 26 February 2005 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 18–24 | Wales
|
2005 Six Nations Championship |
| 82 | 18 March 2006 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 16–21 | France
|
2006 Six Nations Championship |
| 83 | 24 February 2007 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 32–21 | France
|
2007 Six Nations Championship |
| 84 | 26 August 2007 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 7–34 | France
|
2007 Rugby World Cup warm-up match |
| 85 | 15 March 2008 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 29–12 | Wales
|
2008 Six Nations Championship |
| 86 | 27 February 2009 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 21–16 | France
|
2009 Six Nations Championship |
| 87 | 26 February 2010 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 20–26 | France
|
2010 Six Nations Championship |
| 88 | 19 March 2011 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 28–9 | France
|
2011 Six Nations Championship |
| 89 | 15 October 2011 | Eden Park, Auckland (New Zealand) | 8–9 | France
|
2011 Rugby World Cup |
| 90 | 17 March 2012 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 16–9 | Wales
|
2012 Six Nations Championship |
| 91 | 9 February 2013 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 6–16 | Wales
|
2013 Six Nations Championship |
| 92 | 21 February 2014 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 27–6 | Wales
|
2014 Six Nations Championship |
| 93 | 28 February 2015 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 13–20 | Wales
|
2015 Six Nations Championship |
| 94 | 26 February 2016 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 19–10 | Wales
|
2016 Six Nations Championship |
| 95 | 18 March 2017 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 20–18 | France
|
2017 Six Nations Championship |
| 96 | 17 March 2018 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 14–13 | Wales
|
2018 Six Nations Championship |
| 97 | 1 February 2019 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 19–24 | Wales
|
2019 Six Nations Championship |
| 98 | 20 October 2019 | Ōita Stadium, Ōita (Japan) | 20–19 | Wales
|
2019 Rugby World Cup |
| 99 | 22 February 2020 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 23–27 | France
|
2020 Six Nations Championship |
| 100 | 24 October 2020 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 38–21 | France
|
2020 Autumn International |
| 101 | 20 March 2021 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 32–30 | France
|
2021 Six Nations Championship |
| 102 | 11 March 2022 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 9–13 | France
|
2022 Six Nations Championship |
| 103 | 18 March 2023 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 41–28 | France
|
2023 Six Nations Championship |
| 104 | 10 March 2024 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 24–45 | France
|
2024 Six Nations Championship |
| 105 | 31 January 2025 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 2025 Six Nations Championship |
XV results
[edit]Below is a list of matches that France has awarded matches test match status by virtue of awarding caps, but Wales did not award caps.
| Date | Venue | Score | Winner | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 December 1945 | St. Helen's, Swansea | 8–0 | Wales XV
|
Victory International |
| 22 April 1946 | Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes | 12–0 | France XV
|
Victory International |
References
[edit]- ^ Butler, Eddie (15 October 2011). "Rugby World Cup 2011: Wales fall to France as red card colours game". The Observer. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ Calvert, Lee (20 October 2019). "Wales 20-19 France: Rugby World Cup 2019, quarter-final – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ "Wales 29 France 12". wru.wales. Welsh Rugby Union. 15 March 2008.
- ^ Davies, Sean (15 March 2008). "Wales 29–12 France". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 14 February 2011.
- ^ Roberts, Gareth (17 March 2012). "Six Nations: Wales 16–9 France". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019.
- ^ Mockford, Sarah (17 March 2012). "Wales 16–9 France: The Grand Slam Verdict". Rugby World. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020.
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