‘Something has got to change’: Ex-Wales internationals fume at lack of improvement

Former Wales internationals Philippa Tuttiett and Sioned Harries questioned what was next for the nation after they finished at the foot of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

The pair were on co-commentary duties for BBC Sport as Wales, for the third year in a row, picked up the Women’s Six Nations wooden spoon. The team are still yet to register a win in the competition under second year head coach Sean Lynn.

Their 2026 campaign with a 43-24 loss to Italy at Cardiff Arms Park. Wales led the contest 19-17 at half-time before Fabio Roselli’s team scored four second half tries to put the contest beyond any doubt.

As the BBC Sport cameras flicked between jubilant Azzurre faces and desolate Welsh ones, Lynn appeared onscreen and looked almost numb.

“He genuinely does believe in this team and he knows they’re on a journey and he knows it is going to take time,” Philippa Tuttiett said. “Equally it is hard after loss, after loss.

“Changes are being made, more progressions are happening, but they are not happening quick enough. Other teams in Six Nations are progressing. Other teams in World Rugby are progressing.

“It is going to be another difficult review of this campaign. Players left it all out there. You can never doubt that. But something has got to change.”

Positives for Wales this Women’s Six Nations have been hard to find. Jorja Aiono has emerged as a verifiable star in the pack. They have picked up bonus points in two matches. Outside of that, you really are scratching around a bit.

Ahead of the tournament all the noise was positive from Wales. They wanted to put their group stage exit at the Women’s Rugby World Cup behind them, focus on performances and put out a much better account of them.

Now they must wait several months to before regathering as a group when the WXV Global Series takes place. Already the Welsh Rugby Union have confirmed September fixtures against the Springboks Women and USA Women’s Eagles.

“[You] talked about; they’re on a journey,” Sioned Harries said. “How long does one team have to be on a journey for? How long are you on that journey? I feel, at this point, we’re running out of excuses possibly.

“We still have the same player group, we don’t have the pool of players available to us as other nations – they are developing at a quicker pace – but we have got experienced players. There was a combined 542 caps in the starting 15 today.

“For me, I imagine for both of us being frustrated former players, how long are we on a journey?”