Luke Williams has ordered his Swansea City to be braver after a “timid” capitulation at home Leeds United plunged them back into relegation worries. The Swans were hammered 4-0 by Leeds United in another defensive horror show that could easily have been far more painful.

Elfyn Evans is hoping a trip to Finland will boost his World Rally Championship hopes

Mark Williams is not expecting to be lifting the trophy at the Welsh Open in Llandudno this week after admitting his preparation was “not the best.” The triple world champion – a two-time former winer of the Welsh Open – looked rusty as he beat John Astley 4-2 in his opening match of the tournament.

Liam Belcher is a man who lights things up wherever he goes. On the pitch, he’s been an illuminating presence for Cardiff Rugby this season, shining brightly with his endeavours at hooker and he will be a key figure once more in Saturday’s BKT United Rugby Championship clash with Connacht at the Arms Park.

The Welsh Rugby Union are hoping Cardiff will still come to the party for their controversial new tournament, the Elite Domestic Competition. The WRU have named nine of the 10 clubs that will contest the new tier they want to replace the current Welsh Premiership.

Former world champion Gerwyn Price withdrew halfway through his third round match at the Players Championship in Wigan after what he claimed were “absolutely pathetic conditions”. The Ice Man was trailing 4-2 on legs against Brendan Dolan in a best-of-11 encounter when he forfeited the match at Robin Park Tennis Centre and Dolan was handed a bye into the next round.

Liam Cullen has admitted Swansea City’s win at Hull City was a “massive” result for a club who looked as if they could be sliding towards a relegation scrap. The Swans striker scored the only goal of the game on Saturday to give head coach Luke Williams his first win in the Championship at the fifth attempt.

Wales’ young team may have shown genuine promise for the future two rounds into the Guinness Six Nations but captain Dafydd Jenkins insists there is no sugar coating the results. England ran out 16-14 winners at Twickenham on Saturday despite trailing 14-5 at half-time after a penalty try and Alex Mann’s touch down had placed Warren Gatland’s team in the driving seat.

Erol Bulut sounded like Warren Gatland as he asked for fans to be patient following Cardiff City’s fourth defeat in five games. The Bluebirds’ 2-0 loss at home to Preston North End means Bulut’s side have not won in front of their own fans for two months. Bulut made five signings in the January transfer window but insisted it will take time for them to gel.

Liam Williams is at a career crossroads after a devastating first round loss to rising unbeaten middleweight star Hamzah Sheeraz on Saturday night. Wales’ former world title challenger Williams was taken apart by Sheeraz who twice knocked the Clydach Vale fighter down in the opening round, before Williams’ trainer Gary Lockett wisely threw in the towel. It was a fifth career defeat for Williams and leaves the 31-year-old with a lot to consider over his future after such a brutal setback.

An upbeat Luke Williams believes Swansea City may have turned a corner after he gained his first Championship win since becoming head coach. Williams pinpointed a sense of belief in the dressing room after his team won 1-0 at promotion-chasing Hull City to give him his first league win at the fifth attempt. A well-taken strike from Liam Cullen proved the difference, although Swansea could easily have improved their lead in a largely dominant display.

Warren Gatland insists Wales will become a good team in time, despite no victories so far in this season’s Six Nations. A 16-14 defeat to England at Twickenham – after Gatland’s men had led 14-5 – means Wales have now lost nine out of their last 10 matches in the tournament. Seven of those 10 games have been under the New Zealander in his second stint in charge, but Gatland remains upbeat that his young side will soon gain more than just plaudits and pats on the back.

Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins wants no more pats on the back for near misses or heroic, but doomed, fightbacks. Jenkins takes his team to Twickenham on Saturday for round two of the Six Nations with one outcome on his mind – winning.

Liam Williams can prove his claim that he is back to his best when he faces rising star Hamzah Sheeraz at the Copper Box Arena in London on Saturday night. It’s a big night for Wales’ former middleweight world title challenger – nicknamed, The Machine – even though he will not be the centre of attention.

George North is a rare specimen in the Wales team that will run out at Twickenham in that he knows what it is like to win there. The Ospreys star has seen highs and lows against England in over a dozen years but says his drive and desire is undiminished as he prepares to take up membership of an exclusive club.

Louie Hennessey is looking forward to making it back-to-back home wins with Wales U20 in the Six Nations on Friday night – and maybe showing some Sonny Bill Williams style along the way. Last weekend Hennessey picked up his first Championship win at the fifth attempt as he helped co-centre Harri Ackerman’s men beat Scotland 37-29 in Colwyn Bay.

Wales manager Robert Page has admitted he and his analysts have work to do after the draw for the upcoming Nations League. But the Wales boss insisted his team have been handed a good group after being drawn against Iceland, Montenegro and Turkey.

Jamie George has urged his England team to put their passion on full display when one of rugby’s great rivalries is renewed at Twickenham on Saturday. Wales are the opponents in round two of the Guinness Six Nations and new captain George is determined to match their zeal for the jersey when he leads the team out on home soil for the first time.

Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut threatened to quit when there were no new signings with a week to go in the January transfer window, but now he admits to being stunned by the uplift in standards when he finally got four players in. The Bluebirds brought in Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Nat Phillips and Famara Diedhiou on loan from Man City, Liverpool and Granada respectively.

Taking his Wales team to Twickenham won’t hold any fears for Warren Gatland. He has nothing but good memories of games at the home of English rugby, having won titles with both club and country at the 82,000-seater venue.