Warren Gatland insisted he can see light at the end of the tunnel – even though things looked so dark for him minutes before that he offered to quit. The Wales coach said he volunteered to fall on his sword after Wales hit rock bottom by picking up their first Wooden Spoon in 21 years, following the 24-21 defeat at home to Italy. Wales are now officially down among the dead men of world rugby after slumping to a second successive home defeat to Italians to end their Six Nations campaign without a win.

Aaron Wainwright insists nothing but victory will be acceptable for Wales in Saturday’s wooden spoon decider against Italy. Wales must win in Cardiff to have any chance of not finishing bottom of the Guinness Six Nations table for a first time since 2003.

Luke Williams admits his wounded Swansea City squad are only too aware of the significance of Saturday’s derby clash with Cardiff City. The Swans sit 15th in the Championship following a drab 1-0 defeat to Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Sunday – a result that leaves the Swans just five points above the relegation zone.

Josh Adams is used to silverware not stirring utensils, but times have changed from his carefree entry into Test rugby six years ago. The Wales wing won a Grand Slam in 2019, another Six Nations title in 2021, was a Lions tourist that same year, and finished the top tryscorer at the 2019 World Cup.

Aaron Ramsey could yet be plunged into a dramatic and red-hot comeback against Swansea City this weekend. The Wales skipper last started a Championship game for Cardiff City in the South Wales Derby in the Welsh capital six months ago, when he helped to end a run of four successive defeats by stroking home a penalty in a 2-0 win.

Warren Gatland has put the pressure onto his Wales players this weekend by telling them the match against Italy is their chance to accept responsibility. The Wales coach is under the spotlight himself as a defeat would give him a record of just one win in 10 Six Nations matches since he took charge for his second stint at the helm.

Tom Lockyer will link up with his Wales teammates for their Euro 2024 play-off campaign next week. The defender has not played since suffering a cardiac arrest during Luton Town’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth in December – a contest that was ultimately suspended and replayed on Wednesday.

Ben Jones described his winner as “a dream come true” as he and Lorcan Williams celebrated two victories for Welsh jockeys at the Cheltenham Festival. Jones’ win came as owner Harry Redknapp enjoyed a first festival winner with Shakem Up’Arry on day three on Thursday.

Wales manager Rob Page insists he will leave it to the last possible moment to decide if Aaron Ramsey will be used against Finland in next week’s crunch Euro 2024 play-off semi-final. Ramsey was named in Wales’ squad on Wednesday, despite not starting a match for six months.

George North intends to go out the way he came in – with the focus on what he brings to the match, rather than his own status. Way back in 2010, as a raw 18-year-old, two tries on his international debut almost inspired Wales to an unlikely victory over then world champions South Africa in Cardiff, in match eventually lost 29-25.

The third Para Sport Festival (8-14 July, 2024) is launched in Swansea on Thursday, unveiling a number of top-level tournaments and the popular SPAR insport Series day. Designed to inspire and encourage people of all ages and abilities to participate in sport, Welsh Government, Swansea Council, national governing bodies, Swansea University, SPAR and Disability Sport Wales have all come together for a third consecutive year to bring a week-long, multi-sport, multi-venue festival to the Swansea Bay region.

Bournemouth staged an astonishing fightback from three goals down to beat Luton Town 4-3 and spoil Wales’ Tom Lockyer’s emotional return to the scene of his near-death ordeal on Wednesday. Lockyer collapsed on the pitch after suffering a cardiac arrest during the second half of Luton’s Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium on December 16.

Wales centre George North has announced that he will retire from international rugby after Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash against Italy. The 31-year-old, who has won 120 caps, has been recalled to the Wales team for what is a wooden-spoon decider. It’s another unexpected twist in what has been an eventful tournament for Wales, who have failed to win a game and struggled to overcome previous retirement decisions made both before and after last year’s World Cup.

George North and Nick Tompkins have both been recalled to the Wales team for Saturday’s Six Nations wooden-spoon decider against Italy. The pair – who were controversially dropped for the record 45-24 home thrashing by France in the previous round – replace Joe Roberts and Owen Watkin. Head coach Warren Gatland had said he wanted to provide an opportunity to Roberts, but with Wales in danger of finshing bottom of the tournament table for the first time in 21 years, it apears the short period of experimentation is already over.

Aaron Ramsey has been included in Wales’ Euro 2024 play-off squad, despite not starting a match for six months. The 84-times capped Wales skipper suffered a knee injury in September and was out until February, making two substitute appearances for Cardiff City before picking up a calf complaint.

Ioan Lloyd will contest the new Stellantis Cup this season in his Peugeot 208 Rally 4 and chase a prize that could help him graduate to the FIA Junior European Rally Championship in 2025. Co-driven by Sion Williams, the 21-year old from Llandysul will compete in the eight-round championship, which takes in three rallies in Wales, one in Scotland and four in Ireland.

It’s safe to say Neath RFC are putting up one heck of a fight – and not for the first time in the club’s proud history. When they were denied a place in the WRU’s new Elite Domestic Competition (EDC), they made their feelings known in no uncertain terms, calling the decision “grossly unfair” and “reprehensible” after they were the only one of 10 applicants to be turned down.

Gareth Anscombe has been labelled as “one of the best fly-halves in the northern hemisphere” after his move to Gloucester for next season was confirmed by the English club. Anscombe, 32, is understood to have signed a two-year deal and will link up with the Kingsholm club this summer.

Lauren Price insists she is looking forward to bringing a women’s world boxing title back to Wales after confirmation of her challenge to American Jessica McCaskill. The date has yet to be announced – as well as the venue – although it is anticipated the fight will be held in Cardiff this summer.

By Gareth James Callum O’Dowda is back in business after a six month injury set-back and is crediting his two Cocker Spaniels and his life coach with keeping him sane during the tough times he experienced. Since his return from groin surgery he has featured in three successive wins for the Bluebirds, none more dramatic […]