Toby Booth, the English coach caught up in a very bloody Welsh rugby civil war, says he “would completely understand” if his Ospreys players went on strike. The top region in Wales last year, and conquerors of the French and English champions in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, the Ospreys have 14 players in the current Welsh Six Nations squad. A proposed meeting of the Welsh Rugby Players’ Association (WRPA) prior to the third-round clash between Wales and England is due to determine whether or not strike action is on the table.

Swansea City head coach Russell Martin admitted he was a relieved man after his side avoided a slip-up against 10-man bottom club Blackpool to eke out a 2-1 win. A man down for over half an hour after the dismissal of Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino, the Tangerines cancelled out Matty Sorinola’s opener through a Sonny Carey goal in the 70th minute. But Sorinola’s cross was turned into his own goal by Blackpool defender Callum Connolly three minutes later to give the Swans their first win in four league games.

Kayleigh Green’s first-half penalty secured Wales a winning start in the 2023 Pinatar Cup, as they overcame a disciplined Philippines side to win 1-0. Wales manager Gemm Grainger admitted her team had been severely tested and said: “We always want to win games and find out more about ourselves. “Today, being able to play against a team playing at the World Cup this summer, to test ourselves, it was a tough game, they sat in deep and made us work.

Welsh rugby players have been priced at 9/2 to go on strike before their Six Nations clash at home to England. Leading Welsh bookmaker DragonBet make the chances of players downing boots in protest over contract delays and planned wage cuts an outside bet. They make the February 25 showdown at the Principality Stadium 1/6 to go ahead as planned.

Gemma Evans is already one of the best defenders in the WSL and will become an increasing influence for Wales, according to her manager Gemma Grainger. The 26-year-old Reading player will reach the 50-cap landmark if she plays in two of three matches at the Pinatar Cup in Spain over the next week. Wales meets the Philippines on Wednesday and Evans is in line to win cap number 49. “It’s been fantastic to work with Gemma,” said Grainger.

Sabri Lamouchi has praised Cardiff City’s fighting spirit after they gave him his first victory as manager and ended a 14-game winless run. Superb late strikes from Perry Ng and Callum Robinson earned Cardiff a 2-0 win at Birmingham City – a first under new boss Lamouchi in his fourth match in charge. The victory lifted the Bluebirds three points clear of the Championship relegation zone, but the clubs below them all have two games in hand.

The upcoming Six Nations game between Wales and England could be in doubt as Welsh rugby players threaten to go on strike over contractual concerns. Talks between the Welsh Rugby Union and the country’s four regions over a new budgetary deal have been ongoing, but nothing has been agreed upon yet, leaving players uncertain about their futures. According to the Daily Mail, professional players in Wales plan to meet soon, with striking an option that will be put on the table.

Legendary former Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock has made a surprising return to the scene by taking the helm at Huddersfield Town – and will now be gunning for the Bluebirds. The 74-year-old, who previously managed Middlesbrough, stepped away from the sport last April, but has been enticed back by the opportunity to keep Huddersfield in the Championship. Warnock will officially start his duties at the club after returning from a holiday in the United States and will then set his sights on lifting Huddersfield above Cardiff in the depths of the Championship.

Ken Owens has told his Wales teammates to get their hard hats on and get ready for plenty more flak after the opening Six Nations hammerings to Ireland and Scotland. The Wales captain has warned the squad to prepare for “incoming grenades” ahead of the game against England in round three of the Six Nations. Owens is expecting plenty more criticism in the wake of the worst result against Scotland in the 140-year history of the fixture – a 35-7 defeat.

Wales women’s head coach Kevin Johnson had admitted he was disappointed to see Sian French become the fourth member of the squad to retire from international hockey in the last five months. Centurion French – who had won 130 caps for Wales – has joined Natasha Fortnam, Sophie Robinson and Julie Read in deciding to end her Test career. French competed for Wales at three Commonwealth games and six European Championships and was a co-captain at the Birmingham Games last summer.

Swansea City manager Russell Martin, admitted that his team must put an end to the “silly moments” that have cost them after their 3-0 defeat against Sheffield United. Martin acknowledged the superiority of the home team, saying, “They have real quality to punish you with moments like that. “We’re playing against a team who manage the game better than anyone in the league.” The Swans’ defence was lacking in Yorkshire, and Martin noted that Sheffield United were better in the game’s “non-negotiables.”

The number of Welsh managers in the Premier League has dropped by 50 percent after Nathan Jones was sacked by Southampton. Jones had been one of two Welshman in the top flight – alongside Steve Cooper at Nottingham Forest – but paid the price for a dreadful run of results. The Saints made their call on Sunday morning as the club fight for Premier League survival, with Jesse Marsch favourite to replace him.

Elinor Barker has won her first cycling title since giving birth to her son Nico less than a year ago. The Welsh track star partnered Katie Archibald to victory in the Madison at the European Championships in Switzerland. It was Archibald’s third title of the week and 20th of her career, while Barker’s fellow Welsh rider Emma Finucane also claimed silver in the women’s keirin as Great Britain ended the week with four gold, six silver and two bronze medals.

Sabri Lamouchi insists he thinks Cardiff City can stay in the Championship, but admits: “I am not a magician.” The Bluebirds’ 3-1 defeat at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday means they have lost all three games since the Frenchman took charge. There has been no sign of a new manager bounce and Cardiff’s winless sequence now extends to 14 matches.

Warren Gatland has called on beleaguered Wales to show their mettle as they bid to snap out of the rut which has seen them crash to heavy defeats in their opening two Guinness Six Nations matches. The head coach admitted his team appear to be short of confidence after they followed up their 34-10 loss at home to Ireland with a 35-7 blitzing away to Scotland on Saturday. Gatland conceded Wales face a test of character over the next fortnight as they attempt to spark an upturn in their next match against England in Cardiff.

By Gareth James Sabri Lamouchi is hoping Cardiff City can provide him with some home comforts on Saturday. The Bluebirds boss takes charge in front of the club’s fans for the first time when they host Middlesbrough. But Cardiff’s miserable recent form and awful scoring record means they will be big underdogs to get anything against opponents […]

By Paul Jones Warren Gatland has insisted he not pensioned off the Wales old guard and it was always the plan to shake-up his Six Nations selection. That view, however, may not be the one taken by many fans who will see Gatland’s team selection for the game against Scotland as a changing of the […]

Llien Morgan had a tough call to make between rugby and athletics – until the Ospreys and Welsh sprinting sensation Jeremiah Azu helped make up his mind. Morgan – the quicksilver Wales U20s wing – will bid to add to his two tries against Ireland last week when he faces Scotland U20s at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow on Friday night, in a match that is live on S4C. But had he taken a different path as recently as last summer, then Morgan might have pursued an athletics career on the track rather than one with a ball under his arm for Wales.

Warren Gatland has suggested his young blood policy is only half complete with Wales youngsters Mason Grady and Keiran Williams waiting in the wings. The Wales coach left experienced trio Alun Wyn Jones, Taulupe Faletau and Justin Tipuric out of Wales’ starting line-up for Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Scotland. Now, the New Zealander has revealed he is keeping close tabs on Ospreys centre Williams and Cardiff centre Grady with a view to promoting them in the way he has with Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza and Tommy Reffell.

Russell Martin has dismissed any notion of leaving Swansea City – despite a disastrous transfer window. The head coach admitted he had “never felt as low” last week during which he suggested the responsibility for the club failing to bring in a single new player in January – but letting six leave – lay with the American owners and not those working in Swansea. Martin discussed the club’s recruitment failings with their owners this week but says: “Ultimately, I think it’ll turn out to be a positive for the club.