Wales’s third game of the 2025 Six Nations Championship sees them face Ireland today at the Principality Stadium.
The Welsh are enduring a miserable campaign, which began with a record 43-0 defeat in the Six Nations opener against France before another loss in Rome – their 14th straight Test defeat.
This torrid run resulted in Warren Gatland’s resignation as Wales head coach, with interim boss Matt Sherratt now taking charge. Gatland waived a potential six-figure settlement to leave his role after deciding he was no longer the right person to lead the national team.
In an exclusive interview with Telegraph Sport, Gatland opened up on why he decided to quit, what the WRU needs to do now and why systematic flaws in Welsh rugby go back to Margaret Thatcher.
Defending champions Ireland, meanwhile, have kept their Grand Slam hopes firmly on track with two wins from two. They are bidding to become the first country to win three consecutive Six Nations titles.
Their quest for a place in history is taking place without head coach Andy Farrell, who has temporarily stepped aside as he prepares to lead the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
When is Wales v Ireland?
Wales host Ireland today – Saturday, February 22. The match will kick-off at 2.15pm (GMT).
Also on the schedule for the third weekend of the Six Nations is England v Scotland, at 4.45pm on Saturday, and Italy v France at 3pm on Sunday.
Where is Wales v Ireland taking place?
The Millennium Stadium, now officially called the Principality Stadium since 2016 following a sponsorship deal. With a capacity of 73,931, it is the largest stadium in Wales and fourth largest in the United Kingdom.
Construction of the stadium began in 1997 and it was completed in 1999 at a total cost of £114 million. The first match played there was a friendly between Wales and South Africa. The stadium has a fully retractable roof which can be opened in 20 minutes.
Six Nations 2025 table
Will the roof be closed for the match?
Yes, Wales will play all their international fixtures with the roof closed for the next two years. It follows a change of protocol agreed with the Six Nations who previously required both teams to agree for the roof to be closed.
The WRU has stated that being able to close the retractable roof will guarantee conditions, maintain consistency for players and improve the fan experience.
How to watch Wales v Ireland on TV
It will be on the BBC. The BBC and ITV will once again share coverage of the Six Nations in the UK.
Alternatively, you can bookmark this page and follow Telegraph Sport’s live coverage of the game.
Who are the officials?
Referee: Christophe Ridley (ENG)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (GEO) and Gianluca Gnecchi (ITA)
TMO: Ian Tempest (ENG)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (ITA)
What is the Wales team news?
Interim coach Matt Sherratt has made sweeping changes to the side that lost to Italy. He has decided to call up Max Llewellyn and Gareth Anscombe – Llewellyn will start alongside Ben Thomas in midfield, with Sherratt shifting Thomas to 12 and Anscombe slotting in at fly-half.
Ellis Mee will make his debut for Wales on the wing and will be joined by Blair Murray and Tom Rogers in the back three.
In the front row, Nicky Smith is selected at loosehead prop and make his first start in this year’s Six Nations, as does Elliot Dee who is at hooker.
Wales XV: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Ellis Mee; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, WillGriff John, Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Gareth Thomas, Henry Thomas, Teddy Williams, Aaron Wainwright, Rhodri Williams, Jarrod Evans, Joe Roberts.
What has Sherratt said in the build-up?
Matt Sherratt said he arrived in Wales as a rugby coach a decade or so ago with local critics calling him “an unknown little Englishman”.
Yet now the West Countryman acknowledges that on Saturday he could be transformed into “a Welsh legend in a single afternoon” when the Dragons try to defy extreme odds in the Six Nations match in Cardiff.
After Warren Gatland’s brisk departure last week following Wales’s losing streak extending to 14 against Italy, Sherratt, the Cardiff head coach, was enlisted as the emergency replacement.
Sherratt insists he is only in the hot seat temporarily as he tries to avoid Wales falling to two successive clean sweeps for the first time in the near 150-year existence of the championship. But, as unlikely as it might seem, after naming his side to face Ireland, the 1-100 favourites, he refused to rule out an astonishing triumph.
“The first time I did this job [as an assistant coach in domestic Welsh rugby] I was referred to as an ‘unknown little Englishman’, so I deleted my social media pretty quickly,” Sherratt said.
When later asked about the opportunity to cement his name in the famed history of nation’s rugby books, he replied: “You mentioned the word ‘opportunity’ and it really is. It is. But I haven’t really over-thought it. It’s a game of rugby ultimately with 80,000 people watching.
“It will be faster, there’s more pressure, the collisions will be bigger. But that word opportunity is the one we used when we were speaking to the players.”
Sherratt was forced into a late change in his selection when Josh Adams was injured in training on Wednesday. But despite the absence of the British and Irish Lions wing, Sherratt’s XV still raised positivity with Gareth Anscombe recalled at fly-half and another Gloucester back in Max Llewellyn also brought in from outside the squad to appear at No 13.
Ireland have made seven changes as they aim to become the first team in history to win three consecutive Six Nations titles, with hooker Dan Sheehan promoted to captain.
What is the Ireland team news?
Dan Sheehan has been named captain of a much-changed Ireland team.
With fellow hooker Ronan Kelleher ruled out by a neck injury and regular skipper Caelan Doris sidelined with a knee issue, Sheehan is set to become the 111th man to lead Ireland.
The 26-year-old will make his first Test start since tearing an ACL during last summer’s tour of South Africa following cameos in his country’s championship wins over England and Scotland.
Interim boss Simon Easterby has made seven personnel alterations to the team which began the 32-18 round-two victory at Murrayfield as the reigning champions seek to remain on course for a third consecutive title by clinching the Triple Crown.
Jack Conan will fill in for Doris at No 8 and Jamie Osborne replaces Hugo Keenan at full-back for his Six Nations debut, while there is a maiden Test start for Leinster prop Thomas Clarkson.
There are also recalls for lock Joe McCarthy, centre Garry Ringrose and wing Mack Hansen.
Finlay Bealham, James Ryan and Bundee Aki move to the replacements, while wing Calvin Nash, who was a late injury replacement for Hansen in Edinburgh, joins Kelleher, Doris and Keenan in dropping out of the matchday squad.
Uncapped Leinster prop Jack Boyle, 22, is in line for his international debut from a bench also containing Connacht forward Cian Prendergast, the elder brother of Ireland fly-half Sam Prendergast.
Ireland XV: J Osborne (Leinster); M Hansen (Connacht), G Ringrose (Leinster), R Henshaw (Leinster), J Lowe (Leinster); S Prendergast (Leinster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); A Porter (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster, captain), T Clarkson (Leinster), J McCarthy (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), P O’Mahony (Munster), J van der Flier (Leinster), J Conan (Leinster).
Replacements: G McCarthy (Leinster), J Boyle (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), J Ryan (Leinster), C Prendergast (Connacht), C Murray (Munster), J Crowley (Munster), B Aki (Connacht).
When did Wales and Ireland last win the Six Nations?
Ireland last won the Six Nations in 2024, with Wales last claiming the title in 2021. Ireland’s last Grand Slam was in 2023 and Wales’ was in 2019. Ireland’s last Triple Crown was in 2023 – Wales’ was in 2021.
What was the score last year?
Ireland scored four tries as they secured a 31-7 bonus point victory over Wales in Dublin. Dan Sheehan’s opening try and a James Lowe score had the hosts 17-0 up after a dominant first-half display.
Gatland’s men responded in the second half and were awarded a penalty try after Tadhg Beirne illegally brought down a maul, but Ciaran Frawley eased home nerves before Beirne secured the bonus point to seal victory.
