Cliched though it may be, 2011 has been a year of highs and lows for the Wales national rugby union team.

Despite no major silverware this year, Wales announced themselves as serious contenders on the world rugby stage for the first time in many years.

Sports Mole takes a look back at a year of change, promise, expectation and heartbreak.

Six Nations

Warren Gatland started 2011 with a hint of what was to come for Wales – the changing of the old guard. Test veteran Martyn Williams was left out of the Six Nations squad and stranded on his 99th cap to make way for young Cardiff Blues upstart Sam Warburton.

Wales kicked off the Six Nations tournament against old rivals England. In front of a packed-out Millennium Stadium, England picked up the first win on the road to their eventual championship in a closely-fought 26-19 clash.

Comfortable away wins over Scotland and Italy followed for Wales, before they put in a controversial win over Ireland. Scrum-half Mike Phillips went over to score the winning try after a quick lineout from Matthew Rees. Replays later showed that the throw was illegal – the ball not only went into the stands after a Jonathan Sexton clearance, it was also a different ball handed to Rees by a ball boy in breach of Law 19.2 (d).

Wales went into their final match of the tournament against France with a mathematical chance of stealing the title from England, who had fallen to Ireland earlier in the day. They needed to beat Les Bleus by 27 points, but could only muster three penalties from James Hook for an eventual 28-9 loss, meaning that Wales finished their Six Nations campaign in fourth.

Summer

In anticipation of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Wales lined up summer friendlies against England, away and home respectively, and Argentina.

The first Test ended in a narrow 23-19 win for England at Twickenham, while Wales won the return trip 19-9. Wales finished their World Cup preparations with a 28-13 victory over the Pumas.

Rugby World Cup

Injury worries plagued Wales ahead of the World Cup in New Zealand. British and Irish Lions Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins and Gavin Henson were ruled out, as was fullback Morgan Stoddart.

Warren Gatland was hailed for putting faith in the youth of Wales, as Sam Warburton was named captain and fellow youngsters Rhys Preistland, Toby Faletau and George North fought their way into the starting XV.

Wales's pool stage campaign got off to a thrilling start with a narrow 17-16 defeat to South Africa, and convincing wins over Samoa, Fiji and Namibia followed.

The nation was whipped into a frenzy when Wales defeated Ireland 22-10 in the quarter-finals to reach their first semi-final since the inaugural tournament in 1987.

The Millennium Stadium was packed with fans as they watched their team take on France in the semis. All the momentum and expectation was with Wales, as their opponents had struggled through the pool stage and appeared to be in disarray with discontent fans, a hostile press and a confusing coach in Marc Lievremont.

Then it happened. A dangerous tip tackle by Sam Warburton was adjudged by referee Alain Rolland to warrant a red card. The mild-mannered flanker was sent to the stands and the whole nation's heart sunk as Wales crashed out of the Cup with a 9-8 defeat.

December

Despite their shortcomings in the World Cup, Wales returned to Cardiff as heroes. Buoyed by their Cup run and Gatland's faith in the youth of Wales, the team took on Australia at the Millennium Stadium on December 3.

The match was to be veteran winger Shane Williams's last ever game in the red jersey, as he had previously vowed to hang up his boots after the World Cup. In his 87th and final Test, Williams went over in the dying seconds of the game to score his 58th Welsh try. The pint-sized wingman bowed out as Wales's record try scorer, despite the result going in favour of the Wallabies.

Wales finish 2011 with an air of youthful promise. They are tipped as joint favourites for the 2012 Six Nations with France and, more long term, as potential challengers of Southern Hemisphere dominance on the world stage.