Wales endure record winless run as Italy claim Six Nations Wooden Spoon

Italy have condemned Wales to a third consecutive Wooden Spoon in the Women’s Six Nations, extending the Welsh team’s winless run to a record nine Tests. The victory in Cardiff secured a second win for the Azzurre in the current campaign, while marking a significant low point for the hosts, who finished bottom of the tournament standings for the third year running.

The match, played in the Welsh capital, served as a farewell for Italian lock Valeria Fedrighi, who bid a fitting goodbye to her international career. Italy’s performance was anchored by five tries, with Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi and Alyssa D’Inca each crossing twice. Francesca Granzotto and Veronica Madia also found the try line, while Michela Sillari added four conversions to ensure the visitors surpassed 40 points in total.

Wales, described as a deflated host side, responded with four tries from Courtney Keight, Carys Cox, Kelsey Jones, and Kayleigh Powell. Keira Bevan successfully landed two conversions, but the effort was insufficient to halt Italy’s momentum. The result leaves Wales with a clean sweep of losses in the tournament, raising serious questions about the team’s trajectory and leadership.

The contest was finely balanced at the interval, with Wales holding a slender two-point lead. This mirrored the scoreline at the break in last year’s final in Parma, where Italy similarly pulled away after the restart. However, the hosts fatigued under sustained pressure, and Italy’s superior structure allowed them to dominate the second half. A yellow card shown to Francesca Granzotto for a dangerous tackle offered Wales a brief period of man-advantage, but they failed to capitalise on the opportunity.

The defeat intensifies scrutiny on Wales head coach Sean Lynn, who has won only one of 15 Tests since taking charge. Following a disappointing showing in Belfast the previous weekend, Lynn had urged his players to use the full 80 minutes to rectify their form. Instead, the team struggled to contain Italy’s attack, with Lleucu George charged down a kick and defensive errors leading to easy overlaps for the visitors. The post-mortem for Wales now begins as they face the prospect of another winless season.