The Trophy was commissioned by International Business Wales (IBW),[1][3] the economic arm of the Welsh assembly government.

[3] Australia snatched victory in the inaugural James Bevan Trophy test match 29–23 with a last minute try on Saturday 26 May 2007 at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney.

[4] Wales captured the trophy the following year in 2008 with a 21–18 victory in Cardiff, but since then it has remained in Australian hands.

In three trophy matches Wales were leading, only for Australia to score the winning points in the 80th, 74th and 79th minute.

Wales ended a run of thirteen consecutive defeats against Australia on 10 November 2018, narrowly winning 9-6.