Wales have won the Grand Slam 12 times, spanning the Home Nations, Five Nations and Six Nations eras: 1908, 1909, 1911, 1950, 1952, 1971, 1976, 1978, 2005, 2008, 2012 and 2019.
Every Wales Grand Slam
- Home Nations (before France joined the championship): 1908, 1909
- Five Nations: 1911, 1950, 1952, 1971, 1976, 1978
- Six Nations: 2005, 2008, 2012, 2019
Those 12 titles cluster into three golden eras: the Edwardian side of the 1900s, the great Five Nations team of the 1970s, and the run of four titles between 2005 and 2019 under coaches Mike Ruddock and Warren Gatland. The 2005 Grand Slam, Wales's first in the Six Nations, was won under captain Gareth Thomas and coach Mike Ruddock, with wins over England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. The 2019 Grand Slam, Wales's third under Gatland, was completed with a 25-7 win over Ireland in Cardiff.
What a Grand Slam means
A Grand Slam is awarded to the team that wins every match in a single Five Nations or Six Nations championship, all five games in the modern format. It differs from simply winning the championship outright, which a team can do by finishing top of the table even after a loss or a draw along the way.
Wales among the home nations
Among Five and Six Nations Grand Slams, England lead with 13, Wales have 12, France have 10, Ireland have 4 and Scotland have 3. Wales's 12 titles span 111 years, from 1908 to 2019, under three different names for the same prize: the Home Nations, Five Nations and Six Nations championships.
For a fan settling an argument about bragging rights, the number to remember is 12, and the years above are the full list; check sixnationsrugby.com or the WRU for any addition once Wales next complete a clean sweep.
