The back door entry into the Heineken Champions Cup for the Welsh regions is set to close next season. The Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons and Cardiff have all had the opportunity to qualify for Europe’s top tier tournament by winning the Welsh Shield – a contrived competition amongst themselves – but that route now looks over.

Luton Town’s Welsh manager Rob Edwards believes the experience of losing a Championship play-off semi-final can be turned into a positive as they prepare to make their return. Several players in the squad went through the heartbreak of a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Huddersfield a year ago.

Gerwyn Price fell at the final hurdle to Michael Smith who made it a hat-trick of Premier League wins on the spin in the final in Sheffield. The world champion followed up victories in Leeds and Manchester to join Michael van Gerwen in winning three successive nights in this year’s tournament.

Steve Cooper says Nottingham Forest’s assignment at Chelsea on Saturday is not made any easier by the London club’s recent struggles. The Welsh manager’s Forest head to Stamford Bridge looking for the three points that could virtually secure their Premier League status and will fancy their chances, despite their dreadful away record.

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has been named Vanarama National League manager of the season. But Wrexham striker Paul Mullin, who scored 47 goals in all competitions, lost out on the player of the season award to Macaulay Langstaff.

Byron Hayward has resigned as Wales U20 coach and been replaced on a temporary basis by former Wales wing Mark Jones. Hayward – who was in his second stint in the age group set-up – has stepped down as lead pathway coach after a difficult season in which his side finished bottom of the U20 Six Nations table after losing all five games.

Wales captain Sophine Ingle is closing in on yet another Women’s Super League title with Chelsea. The midfielder came on as a substitute for the Blues as they moved to within a point of WSL leaders Manchester United with a 6-0 thrashing of Leicester, before boss Emma Hayes ramped up the pressure by revelling in the fun of the chase.

Wales and Tottenham defender Ben Davies has praised the impact made by interim boss Ryan Mason since he took charge. Mason claimed his first victory during his second caretaker spell in charge of Spurs with Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

When Pontypool clinched promotion to the WRU Indigo Premiership last weekend, local council leader Anthony Hunt declared a Bank Holiday. Okay, so it was already a day off due to the coronation of some king or other, but there’s only one pledge of allegiance that matters for Pooler fans – and that’s the one to the men wearing red, white and black, rather than red, white and blue.

It might be seven months since he won the British Rally Championship title, but while he’s been out of the driving seat Osian Pryce has been busy plotting his next sporting move. Becoming British rally champion last year was a sporting title Osian Pryce has, after several runner-up near misses, fought long and hard to achieve.

Dan Lydiate believes he can add some worldly wisdom to the Dragons after returning to the club following his release by the Ospreys. Vastly experienced forward Lydiate – recently named in the preliminary Rugby World Cup squad for Wales – will return to his first professional club and Rodney Parade this summer.

Geraint Thomas will start Tuesday’s fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia in fifth place after moving up one spot in the general classification standings. The Welsh star will begin the lumpy stage from Venosa to Lago Laceno 58 seconds behind race leader Remco Evenepoel.

Steve Law’s pursuit of silverware at Cardiff will continue this weekend with another derby clash against Newport in the semi-finals of the Indigo Premiership. Law has become a serial winner at the Arms Park since joining as head coach in 2017 from Bedwas.

Russell Martin wants assurances from the new regime at Swansea City before he agrees to a new contract. The Swans head coach ended his first campaign in charge that included a full pre-season by guiding the club to a 10th place finish, but only three points off the play-offs.

Steve Cooper believes unity within his Nottingham Forest squad earned them their priceless victory over Southampton – and will keep them in the Premier League. The Welsh manager watched his Forest side take a huge step towards safety with a dramatic 4-3 win over Saints, whose impending relegation to the Championship could be confirmed at the weekend.

Sabri Lamouchi has admitted he still has no idea if he will be Cardiff City manager next season. The Bluebirds boss ended his agreed spell in charge with a 3-0 defeat away at champions Burnley to bring down the curtain on their Championship season.

New Swansea City chairman Andy Coleman has insisted he will “not let stand” speculation over the futures of chief executive Julian Winter and head of football operations Josh Marsh. In a bizarre statement issued the same weekend he started in the role, Coleman has voiced his “disappointment” over the speculation, although he offers no assurance or suggestion that either man is to remain at the club.

Steve Cooper is in no doubt as to how big Nottingham Forest’s Monday night clash with Southampton is in his side’s bid to beat the drop. The Welsh boss is fighting for Premier League survival as the season ticks down to a nail-biting finish.

Geraint Thomas admitted he was lucky to escape unharmed after a crash disrupted stage two of the Giro d’Italia and ruled out Mark Cavendish. The Welsh star revealed he was forced to brake hard to avoid hitting fallen riders, but managed to battle back to the front of the peloton following a split caused by the crash.

Lauren Price is already looking ahead to her next professional fight after revealing her pride at making history with her first pro title win. Wales’ Olympic champion made history, beating Kirstie Bavington to become the first professional women’s British welterweight champion.