In a rugby union match, each team nominates one of the members of their starting line-up to serve as captain, giving them the responsibility of leading their team and communicating with the referee. Since 1881, the Wales national team has played 722 matches and named 137 captains. Sam Warburton led Wales in the most matches, captaining them 49 times between 2011 and 2016; Warburton also captained Wales to their most victories with 23. The Wales captain to have maintained a 100% record while playing in the most matches is Bleddyn Williams (5) between 1953 and 1955, although Tom Parker captained the side to six wins and a draw between 1921 and 1923. Wales' longest serving captain (albeit not a continuous spell) is Alun Wyn Jones, who first captained the team in 2009. The most recent addition to the list is Jonathan Davies, who led the team against Italy on 9 February 2019 during the Six Nations.
Information correct as of 14 March 2019.
# Player Club team Record as captain Years as captain1James BevanCambridge University R.U.F.C.P1, L118812Charles P. LewisLlandovery CollegeP3, W1, L21882–833Charles H. NewmanNewport RFCP6, D2, L41884–874H. Joe SimpsonCardiff RFCP1, W118845Frank E. HancockCardiff RFCP1, L118866Bob GouldNewport RFCP1, L118877Tom ClappNewport RFCP3, W2, L11887–888Arthur Frank HillCardiff RFCP4, W1, L31889–949Arthur J. 'Monkey' GouldNewport RFCP18, W8, D1, L91889–9710William H. BowenSwansea RFCP1, L1189111Williams H. Thomas (Willie)Llanelli RFCP2, W1, D1189112Williams J. Bancroft (Billy)Swansea RFCP11, W7, D41898–190113E. Gwyn NichollsCardiff RFCP10, W7, D1, L21902–0614Tom W. PearsonNewport RFCP1, W1190315G. Llewellyn LloydNewport RFCP1, L1190316William M. Llewellyn (Willie)Newport RFCP5, W4, L11904–0517Richard M. Owen (Dickie)Swansea RFCP3, W2, L11907–1218Williams J. Trew (Billy)Swansea RFCP14, W12, L21907–1319Rhys T. GabeCardiff RFCP1, W1190720Arthur F. 'Boxer' HardingLondon WelshP1, W1190821George TraversPill Harriers RFCP1, W1190822Edward Morgan (Teddy)London Welsh RFCP1, W1190823H. Bert WinfieldCardiff RFCP1, W1190824Reggie A. GibbsCardiff RFCP1, W1191025Johnnie L. WilliamsCardiff RFCP1, W1191126Jack BancroftSwansea RFCP1, L1191227Tom H. Vile (Tommy)Newport RFCP4, W1, L31912–2128John P. Jones (Jack)Pontypool RFCP1, W1191329Reverend J. Alban DaviesLlanelli RFCP4, W3, L1191430Glyn StephensNeath RFCP1, L1191931Harry UzzellNewport RFCP4, W3, L1192032Jack J. WetterNewport RFCP3, L31921–2433Tom ParkerSwansea RFCP7, W6, D11921–2334J. M. Clem LewisCardiff RFCP2, L2192335Albert JenkinsLlanelli RFCP2, L21923–2836Joe ReesSwansea RFCP1, L1192437Jack WhitfieldNewport RFCP1, L1192438W. Rowe HardingSwansea RFCP4, W2, D1, L11924–2839Tom JohnsonCardiff RFCP1, L1192540Steve MorrisCross Keys RFCP1, L1192541R. Arthur CornishCardiff RFCP2, W1, L11925–2642W. Idris JonesLlanelli RFCP1, L1192543Williams J. Delahay (Bobby)Cardiff RFCP1, W1192644B. R. Turnbull (Lou)Cardiff RFCP1, L1192745B. Ossie MaleCardiff RFCP3, W1, L21927–2846Wick C. PowellLondon Welsh RFCP2, W1, L1192747Ivor E. JonesLlanelli RFCP3, L31927–3048W. Guy MorganSwansea RFCP4, W3, D11929–3049Harry M. BowcottCardiff RFCP1, L1193050Jack BassettPenarth RFCP9, W6, D1, L21930–3251Watcyn G. ThomasSwansea RFCP3, W1, L2193352John R. EvansNewport RFCP1, L1193453E. Claude DaveySwansea RFCP8, W5, D1, L21934–3754J. Idwal ReesSwansea RFCP3, W1, D1, L11936–3755Wilf WoollerCardiff RFCP4, W2, L21937–3956Cliff W. JonesCardiff RFCP3, W2, L1193857Haydn TannerCardiff RFCP12, W5, D1, L61947–4958William E. Tamplin (Billy)Cardiff RFCP1, W1194759John A. GwilliamEdinburgh WanderersP13, W9, D1, L31950–5360Jack MatthewsCardiff RFCP1, L1195161Bleddyn L. WilliamsCardiff RFCP5, W51953–5562J.R.G. Stephens (Rees)Neath RFCP6, W5, L11954–5763W. Rex WillisCardiff RFCP2, W1, L11954–5564Ken J. JonesNewport RFCP1, W1195465Cliff I. MorganCardiff RFCP4, W3, L1195666Malcolm C. ThomasNewport RFCP2, L2195767R.C.C. Thomas (Clem)Swansea RFCP9, W5, D1, L31958–5968R. H. WilliamsLlanelli RFCP1, L1196069Bryn V. MeredithNewport RFCP4, W2, D1, L11960–6270D. Onllwyn BraceLlanelli RFCP2, W21960–6171Terry J. DaviesLlanelli RFCP3, W1, L21960–6172Lloyd H. WilliamsCardiff RFCP3, D1, L21961–6273D.C.T. Rowlands (Clive)Pontypool RFCP14, W6, D2, L61963–6574Alun E.I. PaskAbertillery RFCP6, W3, L31966–6775David WatkinsNewport RFCP3, W1, L2196776Norman R. GaleLlanelli RFCP2, D1, L11967–6877Gareth O. EdwardsCardiff RFCP13, W6, D3, L41968–7478S. John DawesLondon Welsh RFCP6, W5, L11968–7179Brian PriceNewport RFCP6, W3, D1, L2196980D. John LloydBridgend RFCP3, W3197281W. Delme ThomasLlanelli RFCP1, L1197282Arthur J. L. LewisEbbw Vale RFCP3, W2, L1197383T. Mervyn DaviesSwansea RFCP9, W8, L11975–7684Phil BennettLlanelli RFCP8, W7, L11977–7885Terry J. CobnerPontypool RFCP1, L1197886T. G. R. Davies (Gerald)Cardiff RFCP1, L1197887John P. R. Williams (J. P. R.)Bridgend RFCP5, W3, L21978–7988Jeff SquirePontypool RFCP6, W3, L31980–8189Steve P. FenwickBridgend RFCP3, W1, L21980–8190W. Gareth DaviesCardiff RFCP5, W2, L31981–8291Eddie T. ButlerPontypool RFCP6, W2, D1, L31983–8492Mike J. WatkinsNewport RFCP4, W2, L2198493Terry D. HolmesCardiff RFCP5, W3, L2198594David F. PickeringLlanelli RFCP8, W4, L41986–8795Richard D. MoriartySwansea RFCP7, W6, L11986–8796W. (Billy) JamesAberavon RFCP1, L1198797Jonathan DaviesLlanelli RFCP4, W2, L21987–8898Bleddyn BowenSouth Wales Police RFCP5, W4, L11987–8899Robert NorsterCardiff RFCP1, L11988100Paul H. ThorburnNeath RFCP10, W1, D1, L81989–91101Robert N. JonesSwansea RFCP5, L51989–90102Kevin H. PhillipsNeath RFCP2, W21990103Ieuan C. EvansLlanelli RFCP28, W13, L151991–95104Gareth O. LlewellynNeath RFCP7, W5, L21993–95105Mike R. HallCardiff RFCP3, W1, L21995106Jonathan M. HumphreysCardiff RFCP19, W6, L131995–2003107Nigel G. DaviesLlanelli RFCP1, L11996108I. Scott GibbsSwansea RFCP1, W11997109R. Gwyn JonesCardiff RFCP5, W4, L11997110Paul JohnPontypridd RFCP1, W11997111Robert HowleyCardiff RFCP22, W15, L71998–99112Kingsley JonesEbbw Vale RFCP1, L11998113David Young (Dai)Cardiff RFCP12, W6, D1, L52000–01114Mark TaylorSwansea RFC, Sale SharksP4, W42000–05115L. Scott QuinnellLlanelli RFCP7, W2, L52000–02116Andy P. MooreSwansea RFCP2, W22001117Colin L. CharvisSwansea RFC, Newcastle FalconsP22, W11, L112002–04118Martyn E. WilliamsCardiff RFC, Cardiff BluesP6, W1, L52003–09119Gareth ThomasCeltic Warriors, Toulouse, Cardiff BluesP21, W9, L122003–07120Stephen M. JonesLlanelli RFC, ScarletsP8 W1 D1 L62003–07121D. Mefin DaviesCeltic WarriorsP1, W12003122Michael OwenNewport Gwent DragonsP6, W3, D1, L22005–06123Duncan JonesOspreysP3, W1, L22006124Dwayne J. PeelLlanelli ScarletsP1, W12007125Gethin JenkinsCardiff Blues, ToulonP5, W2, L32007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013126Ryan P. JonesOspreysP33, W19, L13, D12008–10, 2012–13127Alun Wyn JonesOspreysP23, W14, L92009, 2014, 2017–2023128Matthew ReesScarlets, Cardiff BluesP9, W4, L52010, 2012129Sam WarburtonCardiff BluesP49, W23, L25, D12011–2016130Bradley DaviesCardiff BluesP2, W1, L12013131Scott WilliamsScarletsP1, L12015132Dan LydiateOspreysP3, W2, L12016–2017133Jamie RobertsHarlequinsP2, W22017134Taulupe FaletauBathP1, W12018135Ellis JenkinsCardiff BluesP3, W32018, 2021136Cory HillDragonsP2, W22018137Jonathan DaviesScarletsP5, W2, D1, L22019, 2020, 2021138Josh NavidiCardiff BluesP1, L12019139Justin TipuricOspreysP6, W3, L32019, 2020, 2022140Dan BiggarNorthampton SaintsP5, W1, L42022141Ken OwensScarletsP2, L22023142Jac MorganOspreysP5, L12023, 2025143Dewi LakeOspreysP4, L22023, 2024144Dafydd JenkinsExeter ChiefsP1, L12023, 2024
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