Swansea City would like to issue a correction. When their head coach, Michael Duff, said he would rather gain promotion than win their derbies against Cardiff City, he didn’t really mean it.

Warren Gatland wants Wales to be “hard to beat” and they should certainly prove too hard for Portugal on Saturday. At least there was no mourning the morning after the night before against Fiji in the opening game.

Christ Tshiunza admits he is “living a dream” as he prepares to make his Rugby World Cup debut for Wales. Tshiunza’s journey has taken him from his birthplace – Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – to Exeter Chiefs, via Whitchurch High School in Cardiff after he and his family left a country rife with civil war 13 years ago.

Matthew Maynard is to step down as Glamorgan coach at the end of the season. The former England batsman will leave his role after the county’s final Division Two County Championship match against Derbyshire in a fortnight, although he may stay attached in a development role.

Gemma Grainger has named uncapped duo Lauren Thomas and Mary McAteer in the Wales squad for the opening matches of the UEFA Women’s Nations League. Wrexham born Thomas of Blackburn Rovers has received her first senior team call-up for the games away to Iceland (Friday 22 September) and home to Denmark (Tuesday 26 September).

Sam Northeast admitted Glamorgan will be disappointed to be playing only for pride when they finish their County Championship campaign against Derbyshire in two weeks’ time. The classy batsman struck a superb 166 to deny Yorkshire victory in Glamorgan’s penultimate LV= Division Two County Championship clash at Sophia Gardens.

Joe Allen has told his Swansea City teammates they have to improve if they are to have any hope of keeping their arm lock on rivals Cardiff City this weekend. The former Wales midfielder will be part of a Swans team looking for a fifth successive derby victory over the Bluebirds when they visit the capital on Saturday night.

Louis Rees-Zammit has underlined Wales’ “game by game mentality” as they target a second successive Rugby World Cup victory that would strengthen their quarter-final ambitions. Wales, fresh from a thrilling bonus-point victory over Fiji, tackle Pool C minnows Portugal on Saturday.

Former Wales international Dan Baker, who featured for Aberavon RFC last season, has returned to where it all started with a switch to Ystradgynlais RFC. Turn back the clock a long way and there were suggestions the No. 8 would become a Test regular with his outstanding ball-carrying.

Jordan James described playing for Wales at the age of 19 as “unbelievable” as he reflected on a Riga performance that left his watching grandparents in tears. Birmingham City midfielder James made his first competitive Wales start on Monday as Rob Page’s side revived Euro 2024 qualifying ambitions with a 2-0 victory over Latvia.

Will Rowlands played down his defensive heroics in Wales’ thrilling Rugby World Cup victory over Fiji, claiming “I just see it as me doing my job”. Wales made a World Cup record of 253 tackles in the game, which they won 32-26, and lock Rowlands was at the heart it.

Wales’ Commonwealth Games marathon star Clara Evans has been selected for the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia on Sunday 1 October. Evans – who finished ninth at the Games in Birmingham last year, but has since taken a massive eight minutes off her marathon personal best – will run for Great Britain in the half marathon.

David Brooks paid tribute to the fans who supported him after he scored his first goal for Wales since recovering from his cancer diagnosis. The Bournemouth star struck the second goal in Wales’ vital 2-0 victory in Latvia on Monday night which has kept alive their hopes of qualification for Euro 2024.

The Principality Stadium, Sophia Gardens, The Racecourse, St Helen’s . . . Wales has a rich mix of modern, atmospheric and historic sporting venues. But on Sunday, one of the nation’s most unique sporting stages marked a return to the international stage after a decade’s absence.

Bradley Davies picked the hottest day of the year to make his Bridgend debut, but he loved every one of the 67 minutes he played. When you are fast approaching your 37th birthday, and you are supposed to have hung up your boots and be coaching, rather than playing, for a living, turning out against one of the best packs in the Indigo Premiership is not the easiest task.

Scrum half Joe Williams came off the bench to help himself to a second half try hat-trick as Cardiff beat RGC 35-17 at the Arms Park in the Indigo Premiership. It was 14-3 to the Blue & Blacks at the break before Williams popped up to secure the bonus-point win. Prop Freddie Barnes opened the scoring with a close-range effort before Wales U20 outside half Harrison James hit a hat-trick of penalties.

Jonathan Humphreys insists the pressure is not off Wales after a thrilling victory over Fiji increased hopes of a fourth successive Rugby World Cup quarter-final appearance. Wales’ 32-26 success came after they repelled a ferocious Fiji fightback that saw them score two tries during the last seven minutes.

Brennan Johnson said farewell to Neco Williams with a last supper in London, but now the Wales pair aim to feast on Latvia on Monday night. Striker Johnson decided to meet up with some of his Wales pals last week to celebrate his £47.5m deadline day move from Nottingham Forest to Tottenham.

Warren Gatland reflected on a “pretty significant” victory for his team after Wales brought the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals within sight by beating Fiji 32-26 at Stade de Bordeaux. Wales held their nerve in a frantic and pulsating Pool C clash. It was tense throughout, especially when Fiji scored twice in the last seven minutes and centre Semi Radradra knocked on close to the line in the game’s last play.

Jade Jones produced a stunning performance to beat former world champion Luo Zongshi in Paris to claim her second World Taekwondo Grand Prix final success of the year. Wales’ revitalised double Olympic gold medallist defeated her Chinese opponent 2-0 in the final of the –57kg division, gaining a measure of revenge for last year’s world championship semi-final defeat.