Welsh rugby was fairly much from the doldrums through the late nineties and well to the first two or three years following the millennium.

In 1999 Wales hosted the on Rugby World Cup in the newly build Millennium Stadium, although many of the matches were held outside the country. Wales kicked off the ceremony by beating Argentina 23 - 18 in the first match followed by beating Japan by 64 - 15, but they then dropped to Samoa 31 - 38. Wales went on to play Australia in the Quarter Finals and lost 9 - 24 knocking them from the competition. Australia went on to win this World Cup.

Wales went on to come forth from the 2000 and 2001 Six Nation Championships; they came fifth at the 2002 Championship and sixth in the 2003 and forth in 2004 Championships.

This high note for Wale seemed short lived as the following year in 2006 and 2007 they came in at fifth place in the six nations. What followed in 2007 was a Rugby World Cup held in France, at the swimming stages Wales conquer Japan by 72 - 8 and Canada 42 - 17 but dropped to Australia 20 - 32 and subsequently dropped to Fiji 34 - 38, this meant that Wales took an early exit from the World Cup without even making the Quarter Finals. The coach was sacked before he even left Fiji and also a caretaker coach, Nigel Davies, was instated until a new trainer was discovered.

The new coach arrived in the kind of Warren Gatland and also in tow with him was Shaun Edwards. The pair had been a component of the coaching setup which took Wasps into a Heineken Cup triumph in 2004. Things began to appear from this point.

In 2008 the world observed when a very competent and exciting Wales side win with a very persuasive margin, the brand of rugby played was getting back into the old magic ways that the Welsh teams of the 70's used to play with flair and unpredictability, this was precisely the exact same approach that won the Welsh that the 2005 Grand Slam and it looks set to be the future of Welsh rugby.

The 2009 Six Nations saw the Welsh team perform just a tiny bit more stayed but a few little changes here and there might have made enormous differences; they finished forth this year but might have done a lot better.

Looking to the near future, Wales only came within seven points of a draw with New Zealand and are set to take on Samoa, Argentina and Australia in the next few weeks, they should stand an excellent chance in these matches and what of the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, well the Welsh can look forward with optimism since there is no reason why they could not achieve anything, on their day they are as good as any side in the world.