Welsh Rugby Union - Walker admits he's finally over his World Cup woe

Some disappointments can stay with you for a lifetime, but in the case of the current interim CEO of the Welsh Rugby Union, Nigel Walker, the pain of missing out on a trip to the Rugby World Cup has finally subsided. Back in 1994, Walker linked-up with his former WRU chairman, Ieuan Evans, to ensure […]

Back in 1994, Walker linked-up with his former WRU chairman, Ieuan Evans, to ensure Wales had safe passage to the 1995 World Cup in South Africa. The 1991 campaign had been so poor that Wales had to pre-qualify for the next tournament.

The journey began in Lisbon, where Walker scored a record equaling four tires in a 102-11 romp against Portugal – the round two opponents for Wales in Nice. Evans got a hat-trick and Neil Jenkins converted 11 of the 16 tries.

Both the 102 team points and Jenkins’ 11 conversions were records for World Cup qualifying at the time, but a day later Italy beat the Czech Republic 104-8, with Luigi Troiani kicked 12 conversions.

A week later, Evans got another hat-trick against Spain in Madrid and Walker got another as Wales won 54-0. Walker then missed their final qualifier against Romania in Bucharest, where Evans scored again as he led Wales to a 16-9 triumph.

“We felt really nervous because we knew that if we messed it up, we weren’t going to go to the World Cup. The overriding emotion afterwards was personal satisfaction, because I’d played reasonably well, and that was coupled with the fact we played well as a team,” recalled Walker about his four try blitz.

“In the game against Spain, Ieuan scored a hat-trick and I got one and we were on our way to the World Cup. I thought I’d be going, but then I got injured and couldn’t go.

“I dislocated my shoulder in February or March and Alan Davies, who was the national coach at the time, told me not to get in repaired because I wouldn’t then be able to go to the World Cup. I didn’t get it repaired, Alan lost his job just before the World Cup and my club coach, Alex Evans, took over but felt it was too much of a risk so didn’t pick me.

“It is a case of what might have been, but there are lots of players who could have gone to World Cups who haven’t. I was devastated, but that’s sport. Thirty years on and I can now say I’m over it.”

Walker is currently in France watching Wales play in Pool C at the 10^th World Cup. After the win over Fiji in round one, all attention now turns to the second game against Portugal in Nice.

“Qualification routes are different now to when I was playing. Back in those days, there was a lot of pressure on those games,” added Walker.

” Portugal are a different side now and there won’t be any complacency whatsoever. They beat the USA 46-20 recently.

“Everyone is delighted with the win against Fiji and now everyone is concentrated on the Portuguese.”