The James Bevan Trophy is a rugby union trophy which was created in 2007, and named after James Bevan, the Welsh Australian who was the first ever captain of the Wales rugby union team in 1881. The trophy was established after a decision on 10 May 2007 by the Welsh and Australian rugby unions to celebrate the 100 years of Test rugby between the two sides.[1] Australia are the current holders.

James Bevan Trophy
SportRugby union
Instituted2007
Number of teams2
Country Australia
 Wales
Holders Australia (2022)
Most titles Australia (11 titles)

The Trophy was commissioned by International Business Wales, the economic arm of the Welsh assembly government.

Trophy history edit

Australia snatched victory in the inaugural James Bevan Trophy test match 29–23 with a last minute try on Saturday 26 May 2007 at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney. They followed this up with a whitewash 31–0 victory at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.[2]

Wales captured the trophy the following year in 2008 with a 21–18 victory in Cardiff, but since then it has remained in Australian hands. Three victories in Cardiff in 2009–11 were followed up by a 3–0 series win in Australia in 2012, all by narrow margins. In the return match in Cardiff, Australia once again won with a last minute try.

The 2011 Rugby World Cup brought Australia and Wales together again for a third place play-off and once again it was a close finish with Australia claiming third place in a reversal of the first World Cup in 1987 when Wales won the play-off 22–21.

In three previous trophy matches Wales were leading, only for Australia to score the winning points in the 80th, 74th and 79th minute. Wales ended a run of thirteen consecutive defeats against Australia on 10 November 2018, narrowly winning 9-6.They retained the Trophy in Cardiff. Wales on 20 November 2021 29-28.

Matches edit

Details Total   Australia   Wales D Australia points Wales points
Matches in   Australia 5 5 0 0 132 84
Matches in   Wales 12 9 3 0 311 234
Overall 17 14 3 0 443 318

Results edit

Year Date Venue Home Score Away Trophy
Winner
2022 26 November Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Wales   34–39   Australia  
2021 21 November Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Wales   29–28   Australia  
2018 10 November Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Wales   9–6   Australia  
2017 11 November Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Wales   21–29   Australia  
2016 5 November Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Wales   8–32   Australia  
2014 8 November Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Wales   28–33   Australia  
2013 30 November Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Wales   26–30   Australia  
2012 1 December Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Wales   12–14   Australia  
2012 23 June Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Australia   20–19   Wales  
16 June Docklands Stadium, Melbourne 25–23
9 June Lang Park, Brisbane 27–19
2011 3 December Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Wales   18–24   Australia  
2010 6 November Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Wales   16–25   Australia  
2009 28 November Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Wales   12–33   Australia  
2008 29 November Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Wales   21–18   Australia  
2007 2 June Lang Park, Brisbane Australia   31–0   Wales  
26 May Stadium Australia, Sydney 29–23

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ James Bevan Trophy unveiled in Sydney, Welsh Rugby Union, 24 May 2007
  2. ^ James Bevan trophy, Australian Rugby Union

External links edit