By Tom Prosser Joe Allen says Wales “couldn’t be anymore hungrier” to get the job done as his side aim to qualify for their first World Cup since 1958. “The World Cup is the big one and the ultimately every player wants to feature in one,” explains Allen, who made his Wales debut over 12 years ago. “We are not a million miles but there is still a lot of work to be done.

Alex Cuthbert has been backed to deal with any flak which may be fired his way when he returns for Wales this weekend after four years away. The Ospreys wing will make his first appearance in a Wales shirt since 2017 as one of five changes for the Test against Fiji on Sunday. His most recent and 47th cap came against Georgia in the autumn series four years ago, during a period when he had become a target for booing from some fans, unhappy with his continued selection, as well as personal abuse on social media.

By Paul Jones Gareth Baber is looking forward to being back in Cardiff this weekend, even if his aim is to make it a jolting Sunday afternoon for most in his home town. Baber will return as coach of Fiji with an aim to spring a surprise by making it three defeats in successive autumn […]

Christ Tshiunza has been backed to make a big dent against Fiji on Sunday if the teenage forward comes off the bench to win his first cap for Wales. The 19-year-old Exeter Chiefs back row star, who has already created a sense of anticipation after breaking into Wayne Pivac’s squad after just a handful of matches, is poised to make his debut at the Principality Stadium on Sunday. Tshiunza has been named among the replacements, while the starting side includes Alex Cuthbert, a former Wales regular on the wing, but who has not figured in international rugby for four years.

By Tom Prosser Wales stars Wayne Hennessey and Gareth Bale have been team-mates for nearly 15 years and with the Real Madrid star set to win his 100th cap on Saturday, Hennessey has revealed his favourite Bale memory. “I’ve known Gareth for a long time and he’s just a pure gentleman,” said 34-year-old Hennessey. “I’ve seen him develop from a young boy to the highest limits you can obviously think of.

By Tom Prosser  Wales have been given a boost ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Belgium next week after the withdrawal of Leicester City star Youri Tielemans. Belgium are already without their star striker Romelu Lukaku for the trip to Cardiff and have now been dealt another blow ahead of the climax of the World Cup qualifiers. Belgium spokesman Stefan Van Loock said Tielemans will “miss” the matches against Estonia this weekend and Wales next Tuesday.

By Carl Field Brinn Bevan and Joe Cemlyn-Jones will spearhead the charge for a first Northern Europeans men’s artistic team gold for Wales for a decade when this year’s event rolls into Cardiff at the weekend. The pair have recently returned from Japan where they were competing for Great Britain at the Artistic World Championships […]

Dear Callum or Mr. Pitch Invader, I hear you like a beer or two and are up for a laugh. Well, I wondered if you fancied following up your pitch-invading antics at the Principality Stadium the other day with another sporting challenge.

Ellis Jenkins’ return to Test rugby for the first time since 2018 didn’t end with a win, but now the Cardiff flanker wants to build on his fantastic display against South Africa. Jenkins suffered a horror knee injury when the Springboks were again the opposition in Cardiff three years ago and he spent more than 24 months on the sidelines. But he is back in the Wales squad this autumn and produced a superb performance in his first match with some trademark turnovers and contact area work.

Ioan Cunningham has told his Wales women’s team they still have plenty of room for improvement ahead of their clash against South Africa this weekend. The head coach saw his side earn a big win on Sunday night at Cardiff Arms Park with two tries from Jasmine Joyce helping them to a 23-5 victory over Japan. But Cunningham, the WRU women’s head coach, reckons his players can raise their standards further, especially when it comes to not giving away so many penalties.

Jamie Paterson insists Swansea City can come back strongly from their Bournemouth battering with 13 days to come to lick their wounds. The Swans midfielder believes his squad will use the international break wisely after suffering a 4-0 thrashing away to the Championship leaders at the weekend. It was a sobering defeat for Russell Martin’s side who had won four out of their previous five games but then succumbed to their biggest defeat of the season.

By Tom Prosser Steve Morison reckons he could have done no more in his final audition for the role of Cardiff City’s new manager.  The Bluebirds caretaker boss finished his caretaker spell at the helm by guiding his club to a 2-1 victory over Huddersfield and is now the bookies favourite for the job. “We’ll just have to watch this space,” said Morison.

Natasha Cockram has seized the spotlight in American athletics after winning the Los Angeles Marathon – just five weeks after running the London Marathon. The Micky Morris Racing Team athlete became just the third non-African athlete to win the race in its past 12 editions when she crossed the line in 2:33.16. The Welsh marathon record holder finished 17th overall in London on October 3 and despite the short turnaround, she was persuaded by her manager and her shoe sponsor ASICS – also the event’s sponsor – to line up in LA.

Wayne Pivac said he did not know if Wales would have scored had a spectator not invaded the pitch during his team’s dramatic 23-18 defeat by world champions South Africa. Wales were ultimately beaten by Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx’s 73rd-minute try and a later Elton Jantjies penalty in the Cardiff rain, but they were drawing 15-15 when the second-half incident happened. The hosts were attacking through substitute Liam Williams when the spectator ran onto the pitch only a few metres away from him and inside South Africa’s 22.

Consistency might well be the buzz word around the Cardiff Devils locker room heading into this weekend’s games against the Coventry Blaze and the Fife Flyers. The Devils are finally edging towards a clean-bill of health and the aim must be to come away with back-to-back wins, that would see the inconsistent Devils string together […]

Saracens hooker Kat Evans has been backed to justify her selection after being handed a debut chance for Wales against Japan on Sunday. Evans is the only new cap in the team named by head coach Ioan Cunningham for the first of the team’s three autumn Tests. Scrum-half Keira Bevan partners Elinor Snowsill at half back in her first international appearance since facing England in March 2020.

By Tom Prosser Taulupe Faletau says he is “looking forward” to returning to Welsh regional rugby after agreeing to join Cardiff Rugby from Bath. The 30-year-old will remain at Bath for the rest of the season and will then return to Wales after completing a five-year stint across the border. Faletau has been a dominant force at number eight since bursting onto the international scene in 2011.

By Hannah Blackwell Olympic silver medalist Vicky Thornley has insisted she is retiring from rowing with no regrets. The Welsh rower has opted to call it a day but says she will leave the sport fulfilled with a raft of honours and a lifetime of experiences along the way. Thornley represented Team GB at three […]

By Tom Prosser Swansea City boss Russell Martin has praised his captain Matt Grimes for his off-field leadership and says the culture around the team has helped their summer signings to hit the ground running in South Wales. Jamie Paterson and Joel Piroe have both been key players so far this season and between them they have scored 15 of Swansea’s 20 league goals. Piroe’s success in particular may have been helped how quickly he’s settled in as most 22-year-old’s who have never played outside their own country usually struggle to make a quick impact.

“Those who want to be professional rugby players, can be full time professional rugby players.” At first glance, a bland statement that summarises a seemingly straightforward concept. When applied to the Wales Women’s senior side, however, it represents a seismic moment in the 34-year history of a group long plagued by mismanagement and neglect.