Melissa Courtney-Bryant may have missed out on Olympic selection but the Welsh Commonwealth Games star claimed a big scalp running at the FBK Games in the Netherlands on Sunday. Courtney-Bryant – who was edged out of Great Britain selection for Paris at the trials – beat double Olympic champion Sifan Hassan in the 1500m.

Wales skipper Dewi Lake was proud of his side’s effort in the 25-16 defeat to Australia in Sydney but was the first to admit that “unfortunately resilience doesn’t win games”. As new Wallaby coach Joe Schmidt notched a win in his first game in charge, Lake was left to reflect on an eighth straight defeat for Wales, who now haven’t won a game since last year’s World Cup pool stages.

Warren Gatland could find himself moving into unchartered waters in Melbourne next week when his Wales team attempt to break a run of eight successive defeats. The 25-16 loss to the new look Wallabies in Sydney meant Gatland equalled his worse run as Wales head coach. His side are now without a win since last year’s World Cup and face a return game against Australia this weekend, and then autumn Tests against Fiji, Australia and South Africa to try to salvage a win this year.

Warren Gatland has revealed he used to try to rattle new Australian coach Joe Schmidt when he was in charge of Ireland. The two Kiwis will resume their coaching rivalry in Sydney on Saturday with Gatland trying to end a run of seven straight defeats with Wales and Schmidt hoping to open his Wallaby account with a much-needed win.

Former Swansea City head coach Russell Martin has backed Nathan Wood to thrive in the Premier League after signing him for Southampton for a cut-price £3m. The England Under-21 international has signed a four-year deal at St Mary’s and is reunited with Martin, who he played under at the Swans.

Wales kick off their Australia tour on Saturday when they tackle the Wallabies in Sydney. Warren Gatland’s team face two Tests followed by an appointment with Queensland Reds as they look to rediscover a winning formula that has deserted them since the 2023 World Cup.

Elinor Barker has been backed to bring the benefit of huge experience to the Great Britain cycling squad when she competes at her third Olympic Games. Welsh star Barker, who won Olympic gold in 2016 and silver in 2020 in the team pursuit on the track, has been named in a strong group for Paris that includes Wales’ track sprint world champion Emma Finucane.

Not many senior players wearing the red shirt of Wales have won in Australia. No-one, in fact, in the past 55 years. Which – should he need any – will provide Wales captain Dewi Lake with extra motivation when he leads out his team for the first Test against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

Jonny Clayton returned to winning ways with an outstanding 8-5 success against Wesley Plaisier in Wednesday’s Players Championship 14 final in Milton Keynes, as Luke Littler made another early exit. Clayton stormed to victory on a thrilling day of action at the Marshall Arena, denying an in-form Plaisier to clinch his first PDC ranking title since May 2023.

It’s said time moves faster as you get older and that certainly feels true if you’re a Welsh rugby fan. One minute you’re celebrating a record win over Australia at the World Cup, the next you’re wondering if a victory is possible against the same opponents after seven straight defeats.

Wales prop Cerys Hale has announced her retirement from all rugby following Wales’ recent Test match against Spain. Hale, 31, will bring the curtain down on her international and club career after more than a decade playing first-class rugby in Wales and England.

Cardiff centre Ben Thomas has been named as Wales’ fly-half, and wing Josh Hathaway will earn his first cap in the first Test against Australia in Sydney on Saturday. Thomas, 25, replaces Sam Costelow, marking his first international start in his third Test appearance after two substitute roles in 2021.

Glamorgan captain Sam Northeast admitted he and his team were “emotionally exhausted” after their epic brush with history in their incredible match against Gloucestershire. The Welsh county narrowly missed out on re-writing all the record books on the final day of a thrilling Vitality County Championship Second Division match against Gloucestershire which ended in a remarkable tie at Cheltenham.

Wales defence coach Mike Forshaw knows that the Australians will be a “different animal” to the side they dished out a record beating to at last year’s World Cup in France. The Wallabies have a new coach at the helm in Joe Schmidt and will be looking to make a statement in the former Ireland coach’s first game in charge.

It was probably fitting that the first team drawn out of the hat for the 30th anniversary Investec Champions Cup tournament next season was that of the reigning champions Stade Toulousain – who won the first title in Cardiff in 1996. The French giants will be hot favourites once again to add to their six titles, the first of which was secured at the old National Ground, Cardiff Arms Park when they beat Cardiff after extra-time.

Joe Rodon has completed his permanent move from Tottenham Hotspur to Leeds United for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £10m. The Wales defender returns to the Championship club following an impressive loan spell at Elland Road last season. He has now committed to a four-year contract, extending through to the summer of 2028.

Football Association of Wales president Steve Williams has been suspended pending an investigation, the governing body has confirmed. No reason for the action has been given but the FAW have acknowledged that a case was ongoing.

Newly crowned Welsh Men’s Seniors Closed champion Neil Roderick added the Welsh Seniors Open at Pennard to his lengthening list of Welsh titles. This was a family affair for Roderick with his 88-year-old father able to make the relatively short journey from Neath to Pennard to follow for a few holes, along with his brother, Ian, caddying.

Wales play their second match at the Under-20 World Championship in South Africa on Thursday when they meet Spain after opening their campaign with a thrilling, but ultimately unsuccessful match against New Zealand, which they lost 41-34. Coach and rugby analyst Tomas Marks considers their start to the tournament.

Former Wales defence and forwards coach Leigh Jones has been appointed as the new rugby performance director for the Scarlets. In this role, Jones will once again collaborate with head coach Dwayne Peel. Their professional relationship dates back to when Jones was part of the Wales coaching team under Graham Henry, who awarded Peel his first cap in 2001.