Wales manager Gemma Grainger believes the journey to qualification for a major tournament starts on Friday night in Iceland. The fixture may be their opener in the UEFA Women’s Nations League – rather than World Cup or European Championship – but Grainger insists the route this tournament offers as a back-up for Euros qualification is invaluable.

Gareth Thomas says it would be “amazing” if Wales beat Australia and book a Rugby World Cup quarter-final place one game inside the distance. Wales tackle the Wallabies in Lyon on Sunday knowing that victory would confirm one of the two qualifying spots from Pool C.

Joe Rodon was harshly sent off according to his manager Daniel Farke as Leeds United earned a goalless draw at Hull City. Wales defender Rodon was dismissed for a second bookable offence on the hour and will now be suspended for Leeds’ next game against Watford.

Josh Tarling and Zoe Backstedt underlined their status as the burgeoning stars of Welsh cycling with gold medals at the European Road Cycling Championships in the Netherlands. In a remarkable performance for Great Britain, Tarling secured the gold in the individual time trial in Drenthe.

We’re still in the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup but the big beasts are starting to stir. The Dragons of Wales, the Australian Wallabies, the leaping Springboks, the crowing French cockrell, and the . . err, prickly roses of England and spikey Scottish thistles are all on show.

Michael Duff has suggested he may have only three games left to save his job after Swansea City completed their worst start to a season for 32 years. The Swans head coach is still searching for his first league win as manager seven matches into the season after his team were held to a 1-1 draw at Queens Park Rangers.

Erol Bulut insists Cardiff City have proved they can cope when they are without Aaron Ramsey. The Bluebirds manager watched his team overcome Coventry City, 3-2, at home on Tuesday night, despite being without their talismanic captain.

Not many fans here in the South of France would give Wales 10 out of 10 for performance so far, but 10 is still the magic number for the squad. Their 10 points in Pool C is the perfect start in a tournament where only South Africa, and possibly Ireland, will feel on top of their game after the first two rounds.

Alex King has underlined the importance of Wales boss Warren Gatland’s presence and proven track record heading into Sunday’s Rugby World Cup clash against Australia. Wales are heading towards a fourth successive World Cup quarter-final appearance under Gatland, and will be odds-on to win Pool C if they topple the Wallabies.

Welsh stars such as Sophie Ingle, Angharad James, Carrie Jones, Hayley Ladd and Gemma Evans are paving the way towards the world’s first billion-pounds women’s football league, according to Women’s Super League officials. The English Women’s Super League is confident of becoming the first billion pound women’s league in the world within 10 years, the chair of the WSL’s board said ahead of the new season that begins next month.

Taulupe Faletau has highlighted Wales’ sense of belief and confidence as they close in on a fourth successive Rugby World Cup quarter-final appearance. Australia’s defeat against Fiji means that Wales are four points clear at the top of Pool C.

Nottingham Forest’s Welsh boss Steve Cooper expected Callum Hudson-Odoi to have a big impact as his “moment of brilliance” earned a 1-1 draw with Burnley. Hudson-Odoi reminded the Premier League what he is capable of with a fine debut goal, bringing his side level with a brilliant curling effort in the second half after Zeki Amdouni had put the Clarets ahead.

Not for the first time in his life, Eddie Jones is thinking about Wales. The Australia coach is facing one of the most important matches of his career – and one that could define his legacy in his homeland – as he plots a way back for the Wallabies against Wales in Pool C of the World Cup on Sunday.

Newport picked up their second bonus-point win of the season as they headed north to beat RGC 41-25 after sitting out round two in the Indigo Premiership. But the Black & Ambers had to do it the hard way after they found themselves for long periods in the second half.

Erol Bulut has revealed he had heard a lot about Ollie Tanner – and most of it was bad. A good job, then, that the Cardiff City manager decided his own eyes could provide the best evidence when sizing up the club’s 21-year-old winger.

Wales are suddenly facing a likely do-or-die World Cup showdown against Australia after Fiji’s stunning victory over the Wallabies blew Pool C wide open. The result in Saint-Etienne – a thrilling 22-15 victory for the Fijians – was the worst possible outcome for Wales, with Fiji picking up four points and the Aussies gaining a priceless bonus point.

Erol Bulut will continue to throw a Tanner in the works of opposition defences after 21-year-old Ollie broke Swansea City’s previously smooth-running derby day dominance. Bluebirds manager Bulut has used Tanner sparingly since the Turkish boss arrived in the capital this summer. He even revealed after Cardiff’s 2-0 victory on Saturday night that he and the winger have a running joke that the player is better as a substitute than when he starts.

Wales assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys insists his team are heading in the right direction ahead of their World Cup showdown with Australia. Former Wales wing Shane Williams claimed the 28-8 Pool C victory over Portugal showed Wales had “no direction, no cohesion” after they only claimed a bonus point late on. “It was good to see Gareth Anscombe back at fly-half, but he chipped over the top a couple of times. Really? We needed to do more with the ball in hand, but we couldn’t get on the front foot,” was the assessment of the ITV pundit.

Wales’ starting line-up against Portugal on Saturday is littered with players who could provide foundation stones for teams way beyond the current World Cup. Exeter locks Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza are just 20 and 21, centre Mason Grady is 21, wing Louis Rees-Zammit 22 and captain Dewi Lake only 24, highlighting a rich seam of young talent available to head coach Warren Gatland.

Luke Hawker believes the whole of Welsh hockey can harvest the benefits of Cardiff and Met reaching the top of the tree. The Wales centurion may have travelled the world with the national team, but he will break new ground at club level this weekend.