Aaron Wainwright believes that Wales’ Twickenham appointment with South Africa is an important staging post on the road to the 2027 World Cup. Wales’ resources have been severely tested for Saturday’s encounter with several players either unavailable because the game falls outside World Rugby’s summer Test window so England-based players cannot be considered, injured or rested.

Taine Plumtree will be bidding for a family London double this weekend – but it will require a massive upset by Wales for him to achieve it. Last month, Plumtree’s father, John, coached the Sharks to a memorable 36-22 triumph against Gloucester in the Challenge Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Steve Cooper has vowed to make sure Leicester City rise to the challenge of staying in the Premier League next season after being appointed as their new manager on a three-year deal. The former Swansea City boss will ensure there is at least one Welsh manager working in the top flight next season, following his dismissal at Nottingham Forest midway through last season and the relegation suffered by Rob Edwards’s Luton Town.

Stevie Williams is looking to add to his stellar season after being handed a dream debut at the Tour de France.

Aled Davies is looking for more Games glory after being named as one of four Welsh Para athletes in Britain’s team for Paris 2024.

Wales have begun the search for a new manager after Rob Page was sacked.

Newport County could turn to former Swansea City U23 coach Cameron Toshack after sacking Graham Coughlan. County parted company with Coughlan by “mutual consent” after 20 months as their manager, but the reality is that recently appointed chairman Huw Jenkins wanted a new man at the helm.

Regan Grace has been described as an “X-factor” player following his shock call-up to Wales’ summer training squad. Former rugby league star Grace, who has only played two senior games of union, could now travel to Australia for a tour highlighted by Tests against the Wallabies on July 6 and 13.

Steve Cooper is in line to become Leicester City’s new manager. The 44-year-old former Swansea City boss, who was dismissed by Nottingham Forest in December, has held extended talks with the Foxes, Forest’s big East Midlands rivals.

Mike Phillips admits his time as a racehorse owner was “disastrous” but that will not prevent the former Wales and Lions rugby hero from helping Ffos Las Racecourse celebrate their 15th birthday this weekend. Phillips will deliver the wisdom and wit derived from a 12-year, 94-cap career with Wales – plus five more with the Lions – when he performs in a Q and A session at the course on Sunday.

If patience is a virtue, then Warren Gatland must think Wales supporters are the most virtuous people in the world. How else do we explain the head coach’s continual reference to building a team ready for the next World Cup?

Wales winger Jasmine Joyce is set to become the first British rugby player to appear at three Olympic Games after being included in Team GB’s sevens squad for Paris 2024. Joyce, 28, who helped Britain finish fourth at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and Scotland centre Lisa Thomson are the only non-English players selected in a 14-strong squad.

Josh Tarling blasted to victory in the time trial at the National Road Championships – then vowed to be even quicker at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Steven Fletcher says he is looking forward to another season with Wrexham after signing a new one-year deal with the club. The 37-year-old former Scotland striker joined the club last summer after a spell at Dundee United.

Warren Gatland’s Wales team will get the first chance to challenge the reigning world champions South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday in a game that will at least have a silver lining for his side. Both teams have been brought in to add weight and appeal to the existing fixture between Fiji and the Barbarians that takes place afterwards.

Jeremiah Azu could be appearing in a new track league which will see top athletes compete against each other at four elite meetings every year from 2025. The sprinter – who recently became the first Welsh athlete to run 100m under 10 seconds – will be a target for US athletics great Michael Johnson, who is fronting the organisation that wants to bring in the new version of the sport.

Jacob Draper has spoken of his pride after being one of four Welsh players selected across the two Great Britain squads for this summer’s Olympic Games. Draper and Rupert Shipperley will head towards a second successive Games after being part of the GB men’s squad that finished sixth in Tokyo four years ago.

Senior men’s head coach Warren Gatland has named the Wales XV to face South Africa away at Twickenham Stadium in the Qatar Airways Cup on Saturday 22 June (KO 2pm live on Sky Sports and S4C).

Head coach, Tom Brindle, has named a 19-player squad to face the Netherlands in Purmerend on Saturday (kick-off 4pm local time/3pm Welsh time), as Wales look to make history and qualify for a first-ever Women’s World Cup.

Welsh Para table tennis stars Rob Davies, Paul Karabardak, Josh Stacey and Grace Williams have been included in a squad of 13 Great Britain athletes for this week’s ITTF Czech Para Open in Ostrava (June 20-22). It will be the final tournament for the British Para Table Tennis team before the Paralympic Games later this summer.