So, Wales have announced their World Cup squad – one that coach Warren Gatland reckons “will do something special” in France next month. They go there ranked 10th in the world, meaning just getting out of their pool would exceed expectations.

Jonny Bairstow praised Welsh Fire for keeping cool heads as the men’s team followed the women with a huge victory in Cardiff on Sunday night. The England Test star top scored for Fire with 41 as they beat London Spirit by six wickets at Sophia Gardens to keep alive their hopes of a place in finals day.

Welsh Fire hero Sophia Dunkley insisted fortune had favoured the brave after leading her team into the knockout stages of the women’s Hundred. England star Dunkley led the way with 68 and 2 for 15 against London Spirit, as Welsh Fire qualified for the Hundred finals weekend for the first time by beating London Spirit by 23 runs.

Jac Morgan looks set to be named as Wales captain for the Rugby World Cup. The 23-year-old Ospreys flanker led Wales in two of their three warm-up Tests, and undoubtedly occupies pole position. The waiting game for Wales’ World Cup hopefuls will end just after midday on Monday when Warren Gatland’s 33-man squad is unveiled.

Joe Brier earned a prized silver medal at the Athletics World Championships in Budapest, even though injury ruled him out of the mixed 4 x 400m relay final. The Welsh star ran a superb opening leg in his heat even though he injured himself early in his run as Great Britain smashed the British record.

Michael Duff insists it is too soon to panic after his third match without a win as Swansea City head coach slipped by. Summer signing Jerry Yates bagged his second goal of the campaign to earn his new side a 1-1 draw with Coventry City in the Championship. The visiting Sky Blues were wasteful in the first half but took the lead through what was one of their only two shots on target in the game as Matty Godden netted in the 39th minute.

Warren Gatland had admitted the only positive he can cling to from the biggest hammering he has taken in charge of Wales is that those who will learn from it are mostly not going to be at the World Cup. Gatland names his 33-man World Cup squad on Monday on the back of a chastening 52-16 thumping to the Springboks. After two warm-up games against England, in which Wales won once and lost once and generally saw the reputation of their young team enhanced, Gatland’s side were dismantled by opponents boasting 659 Test caps to their 235.

By Gareth James Erol Bulut has voiced his frustration with his Cardiff City players and told them to take responsibility for “the details” if they want to start winning. The Bluebirds manager is still searching for his first victory in the job after three Championship matches following a 2-1 defeat at Leicester City. Debutant Cesare […]

Tom Rogers has become the latest addition to the Wales starting XV to face the world champions Springboks in the final game in the Vodafone Summer Series. The Scarlets back three player has been brought off the replacements bench to take the place of Alex Cuthbert. Louis Rees-Zammit has been brought into the matchday 23 to take over from Rogers.

Ollie Cooper vowed to lock up Swansea City stars Joel Piroe and Matt Grimes amid fierce transfer interest in the duo. Captain Grimes has been a mainstay for Swansea since they were relegated from the Premier League in 2018.

Ebou Adams is ready to get into an arm-wrestle with anyone who tries to stop him becoming a success at Cardiff City. It has been a long, painful road back but the midfielder is now fully fit and desperate to show his worth to Bluebirds fans.

Warren Gatland has laughed off suggestions his job is bombproof ahead of the World Cup. The Wales coach smiled and suggested he only looks at the here and now after Welsh Rugby Union director of rugby Nigel Walker claimed Gatland would be kept in position regardless of what happened at next month’s tournament in France.

Erol Bulut has admitted he needs to sign another goalkeeper for Cardiff City and that links with Arsenal’s Alex Runarsson could lead to a move. The Bluebirds boss wants to make more signings before the close of the transfer window, and possibly before this Saturday’s Championship match at Leicester City.

Abi Tierney has promised to deliver “North Star” leadership to guide the Welsh Rugby Union away from what has been described as a “toxic culture” at the organisation. Tierney will join the WRU next January at the latest after serving notice at the Home Office, where she is the director general for customer services and ethics advisor and chair of its people committee.

The JD Cymru Premier League is up and running again, with the likes of The New Saints and Haverfordwest County shifting their focus back to domestic football after their European summer adventures. The New Saints are huge title favourites, but who will be the league’s leading goalscorer? Ian Mitchelmore assesses the contenders.

Bashed-up Taine Basham will be on the bench for Wales this Saturday, but Owen Farrell could still be in trouble over his tackle. Dragons forward Basham is among the replacements for Wales against South Africa, when he might have been starting in a final trial to convince he is worthy of a place at the World Cup.

Glamorgan found the Prices were too steep as brothers Oliver and Tom saw Gloucestershire through to a victory which dented the Welsh county’s hopes of a top three finish in Group B of the One Day Cup. Oliver Price led the way with 109 not out, but he was running out of support until brother Tom joined him at the crease to be the second top scorer with 32 in a half century partnership chasing down Glamorgan’s 217 all out in 46 overs.

Wing Alex Cuthbert and centre Johnny Williams will make their first appearances of Wales’ World Cup warm-up schedule against South Africa on Saturday. Williams partners Mason Grady in midfield, while there are also starts for the likes of scrum-half Kieran Hardy and hooker Elliot Dee.

Swansea City have announced the club’s women’s squad will become a semi-professional team with immediate effect. The change in status also sees the team formally brought under the umbrella of Swansea City and the club’s football department, and they will now be known as Swansea City AFC Women.

Beth Munro proved she is in course for Paralympic gold next year after becoming European para taekwondo champion in the Netherlands. The Wales-based star took gold for Great Britain in the women’s -65 kg para taekwondo final at the European Para Championships at the Rotterdam Ahoy on Tuesday.