Debating whether the England or South Africa loss was more degrading for Welsh rugby seems futile.
The same applies when judging whether 2024 or 2025 was the more humbling year for the national men’s side. Abject failure is becoming the norm.
It is worth revisiting how low Welsh rugby has sunk since the World Cup quarter-final defeat by Argentina in Marseille in October 2023.
Since that loss, Wales have been beaten in 20 out of 22 matches in the two calendar years that have followed.
In 2024, Wales lost all 11 Test matches, while this year they have suffered nine defeats in 11 games, with the only two victories coming against Japan.
While 2025 has actually seen some success of sorts, it is arguably worse than 2024.
Wales have twice suffered record home defeats, shipped 50 points at home on four occasions against England, Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa, and had three head coaches in Warren Gatland, Matt Sherratt and Steve Tandy.
Wales started the year in January by being ‘nilled’ in their 43-0 Six Nations defeat by France in Paris.
They ended 2025 with another pointless performance against the Springboks. A neat bookend to another traumatic 12 months in Welsh rugby’s soap opera.