Gareth Bale has two more games to go – Belgium on Saturday night and the Netherlands on Tuesday – before he puts his feet up and takes what he believes is a well-earned rest on a family holiday. He may not have had the most demanding of final seasons at Real Madrid – seven appearances and only 290 minutes – but the now 32-year-old fears for the future of some of his contemporaries as the demands on the world’s best players continues to grow. Bale’s time in La Liga appears to be over after a trophy laden nine-year period in the Spanish capital and he laughed as he unequivocally quashed rumours of a possible return at Getafe – “I definitely won’t be playing there.”

Gareth Bale believes Welsh football’s success can act as a catalyst for youngsters in any sport. Welsh football has been on quite the journey – from languishing in 127th in the world, to reaching three out of four major finals, including the semi-final of the 2016 European Championships, and now their first World Cup in 64 years. It is the longest period away from one World Cup finals to the next of any nation that has ever appeared.

A night to celebrate James Hook’s testimonial in Neath produced a high-scoring encounter as some of Welsh rugby’s biggest names turned out to honour a true great. The match at The Gnoll was the one of the highlights of former Wales, British & Irish Lions, Neath, Ospreys, Perpignan and Gloucester star Hook’s testimonial year. A James Hook Select XV took on a Classic Lions side in front of an impressive crowd of around 5,000 – and Hook’s heroes edged it, 45-43.

Rabbi Matondo believes Wales’ Nations League games against top opposition is the perfect baptism of fire ahead of the heat of the Qatar World Cup. Wales have lost both their Nations League games so far – away to Poland and at home to the Netherlands. But despite the results, there have been some promising moments, especially from Wales’ youngsters, many of whom are likely to have key roles comes the World Cup finals in November.

By Rob Carbon Georgia Evans is back in the mix for World Cup consideration after coming back with a bang for Saracens in the Allianz Premier15s final at Sixways last weekend. Thirteen weeks after breaking her arm so badly in a league game at Bristol Bears there were fears she could lose it, she came […]

By Carl Field Poppy Stickler will make her senior bow for Great Britain next week after earning selection for the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup series event in Koper, Slovenia. It’s part of a big week coming up for the women’s artistic gymnast, who is in her first year as a senior. This weekend […]

Harry Wilson has warned England that Wales will be no World Cup pushovers. Wales joined England, the United States and Iran in Group B at Qatar by beating Ukraine in Sunday’s play-off final in Cardiff. The two home nations will meet in the final round of group fixtures at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on November 29.

By Paul Evans He might be more used to driving a 40-year old historic-spec Escort on gravel rallies, but that’s not going to stop Jason Pritchard going for glory when he contests his first forestry rally for 10 years in a four-wheel drive car on the Nicky Grist Stages (Saturday 9 July). And as the […]

By Carl Field It was certainly a weekend to remember for Welsh tumbler Megan Surman who yesterday returned home from the 2022 Trampoline, Tumbling and DMT European Championships in Rimini, Italy with two medals in her luggage. First on Friday, she was part of the Great Britain senior women’s tumbling team with Megan Kealy, Demi […]

By Stuart Taylor Some still find it hard to believe that “little old Wales” are heading to Qatar in November to take their place in Group B alongside the USA,  Iran and England at the World Cup. Ukraine’s inspiring and emphatic 3-1 victory over Scotland had set up a winner takes all play-off with Wales in Cardiff. […]

By Paul Jones Gareth Bale has called for his Wales team-mates to learn the “dark arts” ahead of the World Cup after Wout Weghorst’s late winner for the Netherlands. Weghorst ended Wales’ impressive home unbeaten run by scoring a late winner in a dramatic injury-time as Netherlands ran out 2-1 winners in Cardiff. Wales had […]

By Rob Carbon Welsh football is finally breaking free of the shackles and emerging from the shadow of Welsh Rugby. The UEFA survey all but confirms that football is taking centre stage in Wales’ sporting theatre, with the recent result against Ukraine and the incredible atmosphere on Sunday night emphasising football’s new standing in the […]

By David Williams Uncapped Saracens prop Sam Wainwright has been called into Wales’ South Africa tour squad as replacement for Leon Brown. The Welsh Rugby Union said that Brown had failed to recover from a nerve issue suffered on club duty. And his place in Wayne Pivac’s 33-man squad has gone to 24-year-old Wainwright. Wainwright, […]

By Owen Morgan Commonwealth Games Wales have today revealed the latest group of athletes selected to compete at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, which includes the biggest para inclusion in Team Wales history with 19 athletes across 6 sports (Athletics, Swimming, Lawn Bowls, Triathlon, Cycling, Table Tennis). In total 106 athletes have been announced across 11 sports, […]

By Paul Jones Brennan Johnson believes playing Premier League football at Nottingham Forest will boost his ambition of starting for Wales at the World Cup. Johnson scored 19 goals last season to help fire Forest into the top flight and is one of the most exciting talents to emerge in Welsh football for several years. […]

By Graham Thomas Bernard Llewellyn has urged race-goers to support the Brain Tumour Research race day at Chepstow on Friday 10th June, aimed at raising awareness and funds to combat the illness. The event is being held in memory of the trainer’s son Gwilym Llewellyn, who died after a very short illness just over a […]

By Carl Field For the second time in a little over nine months there was a clean sweep for Gemma Frizelle at the Welsh Rhythmic Championships in Cardiff over the weekend – just days ahead of the Commonwealth Games team announcement. The 24-year-old, who was part of Team Wales on Australia’s Gold Coast four years […]

By Paul Evans “Some points are better than none.” It’s a horrible last resort, let’s try to be positive, sporting phrase that’s pulled from the bottom drawer when realistically all hope is lost. Mathematically it’s possible, but realistically it isn’t. You’re relegated. You’re going to be knocked out. Or in Elfyn Evans’ case, you’re sadly […]

By Paul Jones Gareth Bale has described Wales’ journey from the football wilderness to the World Cup as “crazy”. Wales qualified for their first World Cup in 64 years by beating Ukraine 1-0 in a pulsating play-off final in Cardiff on Sunday. But little more than a decade ago, Wales were languishing 117th in the […]

You don’t always have to be racing through the water as a competitor to feel you’re making a big splash in swimming. Charlotte Howells, 18, from Morriston in Swansea was once a keen competitor, but now spends her spare time helping out and volunteering in conjunction with Swim Wales. Charlotte is a member of the Swim Wales Youth Panel and aims to enable and encourage people to enjoy themselves and be active through the sport.