After opening with a series of commanding victories, Wales fell short on the second day, finishing just one win behind Jersey.

The 2025 Home Nations Championship concluded on Sunday, 10 August, with England reasserting its dominance to reclaim the title. Over two days of competition, England amassed 70 wins, finishing comfortably ahead of Jersey on 46, Wales on 45, and Scotland on 31.

Day One: Wales in Strong Contention

Wales began the tournament with a promising series of results. They opened with a 5–3 victory over Jersey before falling 5–3 to England. A commanding 7–1 win against Scotland restored confidence, and the team went on to draw 4–4 with Jersey in the afternoon.

England again proved decisive opponents, defeating Wales 7–1, but the day closed on a positive note as Wales secured a second 7–1 victory over Scotland.

By the close of play on Day One, England led the standings with 36 wins, with Wales second on 27, followed by Jersey (22) and Scotland (11). Notably, Wales 5 distinguished themselves with six wins and a points difference of +34, among the most effective teams of the day.

Day Two: Momentum Lost

The second day saw Wales unable to sustain their early momentum. They began with a 5–3 defeat to Jersey, before managing a hard-fought 4–4 draw against England and a further 4–4 draw with Scotland.

The afternoon proved decisive. A second 5–3 defeat to Jersey, coupled with losses to both England (6–2) and Scotland (6–2), left Wales unable to hold onto second place in the overall standings.

Standout Teams Across the Championship

All 32 participating teams deserve recognition for their efforts across the two days. However, several sides distinguished themselves as the best performers from each nation:

• England 1 (12 wins): Jason White, Marco Franco-Llado, and Kia Sheffield proved unmatched, finishing as the tournament’s top team.

• Jersey 2 (10 wins): Alan Oliviera, Toby Northern, and Geoffroy Buttetrille led the hosts with an impressive showing.

• Wales 5 (10 wins): Julie Bailey, Jean-Yves Robic, Len Field, and Ian Bailey matched Jersey 2’s record, securing Wales’ highest team ranking.

• Scotland 8 (6 wins): Colin Montgomery, Mags Montgomery, and Pascal Agab emerged as Scotland’s leading representatives.

The broader rankings highlighted England’s depth, with the top five teams all English. Jersey 2 and Wales 5 followed in sixth and seventh place respectively, while Scotland’s highest-ranked side, Scotland 8, finished 12th.

Photographs with permission of Martin Hughes

Welsh Highlights

For Wales, the achievements extended beyond the strong campaign of Wales 5. Both Wales 1 and Wales 8 finished inside the top 12, securing 10th and 11th positions respectively. Their efforts, alongside those of Wales 5, ensured Wales maintained a notable presence among the leading teams despite finishing third overall in the championship.

Conclusion

England’s consistency across both days left no doubt as to their status as deserving champions. Jersey’s late rally earned them second place by the narrowest of margins, while Wales were left to reflect on a campaign of promise tempered by missed opportunities.

England Team Manager John Edmondson (left) and President Colin Roper (right) with the Home Nations trophy

Nevertheless, the standout performances of Wales 5, Wales 1, and Wales 8 provided important positives, underlining the depth and competitiveness of the Welsh squad. With three sides placed inside the top 12, Wales can approach future Home Nations Championships with confidence and ambition.

Tony Smith, President of the WPA, is addressing the players at the Home Nations presentation.

During the presentation, everyone present showed their appreciation to Pontyclun RFC and Pontyclun Petanque Club for their hospitality and for providing a challenging playing surface. Kevin Moss (PE) was also thanked by everyone present for umpiring the championship, together with George Hill (WPA), who assisted.