World Cup hopeful Mark Harris is both fit and firing goals according to his Cardiff City boss Mark Hudson. Harris scored the only goal of the game as the Bluebirds won 1-0 at Sunderland, a result which strengthened both Harris’s hope of going to Qatar with Wales, as well as Hudson’s hope of being named permanent manager. It was a result which lifted Cardiff into 14th place in the Championship table, four points clear of the relegation zone and seven adrift of the play-off places.

Bad defeats to New Zealand are nothing new for Wales, but there were times when this one reminded older watchers of the night Muhammad Ali outclassed brave but doomed British heavyweight Richard Dunn. That was back in 1976 when Ali – perhaps like the All Blacks – was already long past his best. But he still had far too much for the limited and ponderous Dunn. After Ali knocked him down for the final time, he began winding up his arm in great circular motions designed to mock his opponent’s readiness to walk onto the next punch.

It’s 69 years – and counting – since Wales last beat the All Blacks but there’s one New Zealander who reckons it’s time to wipe the slate clean. Wayne Pivac – born and bred in Auckland – admits 1953 is simply too long ago and eight years living over here has only reinforced that opinion. The Wales coach has a chance to write his name into the history books on Saturday when the teams meet in Cardiff and is determined to take it.

Merthyr Town are dreaming of FA Cup glory this weekend – and a bumper pay day around the corner which could secure their long-term future. The Martyrs’ manager Paul Michael is hoping success against FA Cup first round opponents Buxton FC can help protect the club for future generations. Merthyr reached the first round proper following a tense 2-1 win against Folkstone Invicta, in front of a raucous 1,457 strong home support at Penydarren Park.

James Hook will be holding his final testimonial event on Beaujolais Day at the Towers Hotel near Swansea – with help from a number of old Wales teammates. The event will take place on Thursday, November 17 from 12pm. There will be a drinks reception, a three-course meal, a sporting auction, and live entertainment.  The evening will also feature a question and answer session with Hook, and former Wales stars Shane Williams, Mike Phillips and Paul James.

Newport County take a break from league action this weekend as they enter the potential giant-killing fields of the FA Cup, so perhaps it’s time to take stock. James Rowberry’s exit from the Rodney Parade hot seat last month had an air on inevitability about it. Rowberry remains an exciting young manager with a progressive footballing philosophy – and a classy character, as his gracious departing letter to the club demonstrated – but he was ultimately unable to cut the mustard in such an unforgiving division as League Two.

James Hook has told Wales they must keep Beauden Barrett out of the limelight if they are to have any chance of ending a dark 69-year history of failure against the All Blacks on Saturday. Hook – who reckons Barrett is still the best blend of runner and creator in the world – believes the New Zealander will conjure enough opportunities to take the game out of Welsh hands, if he’s allowed to thrive. A year ago, Barrett scored two tries and helped the Kiwis score seven in total as Wales were ripped apart, 54-16, in celebration of the two-time world player of the year’s 100th cap.

Sean Bowen has underlined his status as one the UK’s top jockeys by winning the National Hunt Jockey of the Year prize at the annual Welsh Horse Racing Awards. The 25-year-old – who is enjoying a highly successful season – picked up the award in recognition of an outstanding year during which he has ridden 116 winners at a strike rate of 21%. That has put Bowen second in the current race to be champion jockey, with the Pembrokeshire rider having amassed 67 winners so far this season, behind only Irishman Brian Hughes.

By David Williams Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has handed Dragons wing Rio Dyer a Test debut in Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series clash against New Zealand. The 22-year-old starts, with Josh Adams, who had been nursing a hand injury, not in the matchday 23. Elsewhere, Leigh Halfpenny will make his Wales return after a 16-month absence from Test rugby. The Scarlets full-back […]

By Matthew Burgess In a wild hockey game that threw up just about anything and everything, the Cole Sanford-inspired Cardiff Devils pulled through to claim a 7-4 win over the Fife Flyers. Somehow. Power play goals, a short-handed goal, a hat-trick, a Joey Martin fight and even a Josh Batch goal, this potentially drab midweek […]

Mark Hudson has admitted individual errors are undermining Cardiff City’s attempts to stay clear of the Championship relegation zone. Two goals conceded from corner kicks led to the Bluebirds going down to a fourth defeat in five matches on Wednesday night when they lost 2-1 at home to Watford. The result leaves Cardiff in 18th place in the table. But they are only a point above the relegation zone in a crowded bottom section where eight clubs are separated by just two points.

By Tomas Marks In 1953 it was the year that Wales last beat New Zealand and also the year that New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary, and sherpa Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest. If Wales are going to conquer the All Blacks after 32 consecutive losses, they will need the extraordinary skill and […]

Glamorgan director of cricket Mark Wallace has defended the county’s decision to spilt their coaching duties next season – leaving Matthew Maynard not involved in the one-day game. Wallace insists Glamorgan need to have a re-think of their strategy, which involves a new coach to head up their T20 Blast and One-Day Cup challenges. The county have advertised for a limited-overs head coach in a bid to address their abject recent record in the T20 Blast, with Maynard’s new two-year contract limited to red-ball cricket.

Ken Owens has revealed he was determined to recover from a back injury in order to resume a normal life rather than play rugby again for Wales. The Scarlets hooker is set to play his first international match for 15 months when Wales face New Zealand at the Principality Stadium on Saturday. The 35-year-old is four matches into his comeback but could well be asked to start against the All Blacks as coach Wayne Pivac seeks the platform of a solid set-piece.

By Matthew Burgess The Cardiff Devils have announced that former player, coach and manager Brent Pope has sadly passed away in North America at the age of 49, following an eight-month battle with cancer. Pope was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and is survived by his wife Fegie Ann and two young children. Ontario-born […]

Russell Martin insists he is unconcerned by Swansea City’s first defeat in four games that has stalled their promotion push The Swans lost 1-0 at Preston on Tuesday night to make it one point gathered from their last two games, having previously won six out of seven. The defeat leaves them in sixth place in the Championship but they could drop out of the play-off places if either Watford or Millwall win on Wednesday night.

Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit will carry blistering form into the Autumn Nations Series and an opener against New Zealand that he “cannot wait” for. Rees-Zammit has never previously faced the All Blacks, while Wales last beat New Zealand in 1953. That run of 32 successive defeats underlines the huge task facing Wayne Pivac’s team when they kick off an autumn schedule on Saturday that also features Cardiff appointments with Argentina, Georgia and Australia.

By David Williams Head coach John Kear remained proud of Wales’ efforts at the Rugby League World Cup despite a third straight defeat at the hands of Papua New Guinea in Doncaster which ended the Dragons’ interest in the tournament. The impressive Kumuls had too much for Kear’s side, particularly in the first 40 where […]

By Gareth james Russell Martin is banking on Dutch ace Joel Piroe coming back with a bang for Swansea City at Preston on Tuesday night. Star striker Piroe returns to the squad after a three-match ban for his red card in the 4-0 defeat at Burnley. That is the only defeat the Swansea have suffered […]

By David Williams Wales’ World Cup group opponents Iran are facing a last-ditch attempt to kick them out of the tournament. The Ukrainian Association of Football has called for Iran to be excluded from the World Cup in Qatar. The UAF’s executive committee says it has made a request to global governing body FIFA to […]