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Nel Metcalfe and Louis Rees-Zammit hit the headlines for Wales in 2025 [Huw Evans Agency]
Wales suffered a miserable past year on the international stage, but can 2026 bring some brighter moments?
Men's head coach Steve Tandy takes on his first Six Nations campaign in charge, while Sean Lynn must now wait until April for the chance to improve on last year's last place finish and early World Cup exit.
Off the pitch it promises to be a dramatic year for the professional game due to the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) plans to cut from four men's clubs to three.
But Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets will also aim to prove a point on the field amid uncertainty.
Wales men
Tandy's first six months as Wales head coach were sobering, but 2026 offers a much-needed fresh start.
First up is a new-look Six Nations, with the championship taking place over six weeks rather than seven.
The revised schedule will see three consecutive weekends of matches, followed by a single rest week, and then two final rounds of play.
There are concerns it will lead to more injuries, but a schedule change will be the least of Tandy's worries after consecutive Wooden Spoons.
The new Nations Championship starts in the summer against Fiji before away Tests against Argentina and South Africa, after both sides inflicted record defeats on Wales last autumn.
Wales finish the year by welcoming Japan, New Zealand and Australia to Cardiff in November.
Wales in the Six Nations
- Saturday, 7 February: England v Wales (16:40 GMT), Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
- Sunday, 15 February: Wales v France (15:10 GMT), Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- Saturday, 21 February: Wales v Scotland (16:40 GMT), Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- Friday, 6 March: Ireland v Wales (20:10 GMT), Aviva Stadium, Dublin
- Saturday, 14 March: Wales v Italy (16:40 GMT), Principality Stadium, Cardiff.
Wales in the Nations Championship
- Saturday, 4 July: Fiji v Wales, venue tbc
- Saturday, 11 July: Argentina v Wales, venue tbc
- Saturday, 18 July: South Africa v Wales, Kings Park, Durban.
- Weekend of 6 November: Wales v Japan, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- Weekend of 13 November: Wales v New Zealand, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- Saturday, 21 November: Wales v Australia, Principality Stadium, Cardiff.
Wales women
Lynn's first year as an international head coach was filled with harsh lessons and learnings.
Unlike 2025, Lynn has more than just a few days to prepare for the tournament that has been pushed back by two weeks.
Wales kick-off in the Principality Stadium against Scotland on the first of five 'super Saturdays' that will include all three championship matches.
A new WXV Global Series replaces the WXV competition this autumn.
It will see 18 teams compete across two tiers up until 2028, with results feeding into Rugby World Cup qualifying.
Wales are in the top tier alongside Australia, Canada, England, France, Italy, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and the United States.
Each nation is allowed to choose their fixtures and how many they play, with Wales yet to announce their autumn calendar.
Six Nations
- Saturday, 11 April: Wales v Scotland (16:40 BST), Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- Saturday, 18 April: Wales v France (15:35 BST), Arms Park, Cardiff
- Saturday, 25 April: England v Wales (14:15 BST), Ashton Gate, Bristol
- Saturday, 9 May: Ireland v Wales (18:30 BST), Ravenhill, Belfast
- Sunday, 17 May: Wales v Italy (12:15 BST), Arms Park, Cardiff
WXV Global Series
Fixtures TBC: September and October
- A year to remember and a year to forget for Wales
- Single-day 'super' rounds for 2026 Women's Six Nations
Key club dates
Amid the regional uncertainty, Wales' four men's teams continue to battle in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and Europe.
Scarlets were Wales' sole representative in last season's URC play-offs, but a top eight finish by mid-May looks a distant dream.
Fourth-placed Cardiff look Wales' best hope, despite losing head coach Matt Sherratt just days before the season kicked-off, while Ospreys are also in the hunt.
Welsh derbies return in April and May, but the traditional double-header Judgement Day at Principality Stadium has been scrapped due to poor attendances.
Europe resumes this weekend with Scarlets still chasing a first win in a tough Champions Cup Pool while Cardiff, Dragons and Ospreys are all in Challenge Cup contention.
The WRU said it is committed to improving the top level of Wales' domestic game by investing more money into Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC).
The salary cap has risen to £160,000 after last year's inaugural season in a bid to close the gap with the regional game.
Last year's beaten finalists Ebbw Vale already have their sights set on a first title in 10 years having stormed into a 20-point lead at the top of the table after losing just one of their 13 games so far.
Llandovery, title holders Newport and Cardiff are also looking good for quarter-final spots at the end of the regular season on 11 April before the Grand Final in May.
The SRC Cup will be played during the Six Nations from 24 January.
- Lightning ease to Welsh derby victory over Thunder
- Crabb leaves Gloucester-Hartpury to return to Wales
In the women's domestic game, Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder again carry Welsh hopes in the Celtic Challenge.
Lynn has stressed the importance of the cross-border competition in the lead up to the Six Nations in terms of providing fresh Welsh talent and game time to players not featuring for Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) sides.
The WRU also sees it as vital in halting the player-drain to England.
Like the Six Nations, the third edition of the Celtic Challenge has also undergone a revamp this season.
Ten regular rounds of competition will culminate in two semi-finals followed by a grand final on the weekend of 27 March.
United Rugby Championship
End of regular season: Weekend of 15 May
Quarter-finals: 30 May
Semi-finals: 6 June
Final: 20 June
Champions Cup
Final: Saturday, 23 May
Challenge Cup
Final: Friday, 22 May
Celtic Challenge
Semi-finals: Weekend of 20 March
Final: Weekend of 27 March
Super Rygbi Cymru
Play-offs, wildcard round: 18 April
Play-offs, quarter-finals: 25 April
Play-offs, semi-finals: 2 May
Grand final: 9 May
SRC Cup and Plate finals: 7 March
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