By David Williams Michael Flynn has told his Newport County team they must become more ruthless if they are to stay as the League Two pace-setters. County saw their lead at the top of the table pegged to three points after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Walsall on Tuesday. With […]

Freddie Woodman believes Swansea City have shown they are capable of muscling up this season which has given them a new identity. Having nurtured a long time reputation as a passing team, Swansea have sometimes been undone in recent seasons by more physical sides and they had a clear previous weakness at set-pieces. But the Swans goalkeeper reckons his team now possess brawn as well as brains as they target promotion in a brutally demanding season.

Neil Harris insists he does fear losing his job as Cardiff City boss despite the growing pressure. The Bluebirds chief said he felt the frustration of the disappointing start to the season just as much as the fans.

Neil Jenkins has predicted fireworks when Wales host England on Saturday, a fiery encounter into which Josh Navidi looks likely to be pitched for his comeback game. Wales kicking coach Jenkins – a veteran of Wales-England clashes going back to 1991 – has admitted he expects the clash to generate a bit more heat than what has so far been a low temperature Autumn Nations Cup. That could be, in part, down to the chilling effect of no crowds and although the Parc Y Scarlets venue will be empty, Jenkins insists the thermometer will rise when the old enemies face off.

Wales’ double Olympic taekwondo champ Jade Jones was narrowly beaten into the silver medal spot in her first fight for eight months in Croatia. The Flint fighter lost narrowly on golden point 27-25 to Turkey’s Hatice Kubra at the Open European Club Championship in Zagreb.

By Paul Jones Kyle Sinckler has sent a warning to Wales that England have “plenty left in the tank” for their visit to Parc Y Scarlets this weekend. The age-old enemies clash in unfamiliar circumstances – without fans and in Llanelli – in the next round of the new Autumn Nations Cup on Saturday. But […]

Welsh sports clubs hoping to get fans back into their stadiums will have to wait whilst the Welsh Government assesses the plans announced in England. Football and rugby clubs across Wales have been denied any gate income – and a match day atmosphere – since March when the gates were closed due to the pandemic. But in England, officials have welcomed the UK Government’s decision to allow a limited number of spectators back into venues in lower-risk areas when their second lockdown ends next week.

Andre Ayew could be fit for Swansea City’s Championship game with Sheffield Wednesday, said manager Steve Cooper. The forward missed Saturday’s victory over Rotherham United with a hamstring injury suffered while on international duty with Ghana.

Four Welsh motor clubs are in discussion with authorities to run a Covid-19 compliant test rally next month, on secure private land in Denbighshire. North Wales Car Club, Clwyd Vale Motor Club, Bala & District Motor Club and Harlech & District Motor Club have come together to organise a small, socially distanced, event that they are confident will conform to current Welsh government coronavirus regulations.

Scott Ruscoe admitted The New Saints had been “professional, rather than inspiring” as they kept their comfortable gap at the top of the JD Cymru Premier League. The Saints manager knew his side weren’t going to get an easy ride at Cardiff Met at the weekend and so it proved as they struggled to bag a 1-0 win to move six points clear at the top. “I hadn’t won here for a few years, so it was nice to get a win against a team that sets up well and can frustrate you,” said Ruscoe.

Carys Phillips and Sioned Harries have both been told the door is still open to a Wales return following the arrival of new coaches at the top of the women’s game. Both players have been on the outside of the camp since the departure of Rowland Phillips – father of Carys – as head coach last season, yet both are playing regularly at Worcester Warriors in the Allianz Premier 15s. Neither of them figured when the national team was being run by Geraint Lewis and Chris Horsman in Phillips’ absence.

Matt Grimes has grown used to plaudits for the attractiveness of Swansea City’s football, but now he’s relishing their ability to win ugly. The Swans skipper is usually the starting point for so much of the team’s free-slowing style – the inheritor to the Leon Britton role who sets the tempo for the team’s traditional slick passing game. There was little slick about the 1-0 victory over Rotherham at the weekend, though, yet Grimes – who scored a suitably scruffy goal – could not be more pleased.

Pontypool have spoken of their sadness and devastation following the death of “the most influential figure in Pontypool RFC history” – Ray Prosser. The former Pooler prop and coach, who also played for Wales and the British & Irish Lions, has died at the age of 93. Simply known around the rugby world as ‘Pross’, he was one of the biggest names and characters in post-war Welsh rugby history. He won 22 caps for his country and toured New Zealand and Australia with the Lions in 1959.

Welsh hockey and football have been saddened by the death of Helen Morgan (Grandon). She was 54. Morgan, nicknamed ‘Budgie’, was a talented goalkeeper and was the only Welsh player in the GB team that won bronze at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

New Wales Women’s coach Warren Abrahams has echoed the criticism aimed at cricket by claiming that rugby is institutionally racist. The South African became the first black appointment to the senior job with a national team in Welsh or UK rugby last week when he was installed by the Welsh Rugby Union. Abrahams admitted that he has had to clear many obstacles on his way after starting his career in Cape Town, then moving to England and the USA.

Kevin Ellison enjoyed his maiden Newport County goal probably just as much as the ribbing he gave boss Michael Flynn after. The ageless (well 41) midfielder netted the winner deep into stoppage time just minutes after coming off the bench against 10-man Port Vale.

Gerwyn Price saw his hopes of a Grand Slam of Darts title hat-trick ended after a 10-8 defeat in the last 16 to Nathan Aspinall. The Markham darter refused to bow out without a fight as he fought back from 7-3 down in the best of 19 legs clash.

By David Williams Wales have got the monkey off their back, but at a painful cost with Justin Tipuric a major doubt to face England next week. Wayne Pivac’s team finally won again after six straight defeats thanks to a workmanlike display from a youthful side who put away rugged Georgia, 18-0, at Parc Y […]

Steve Cooper admitted Swansea City had scraped and scuffed their way to a messy 1-0 at home to Rotherham but was still ecstatic. It takes all sorts – and all types of victories – to assemble a promotion-winning season and the Swans manager was quick to suggest this was the type of win that may have eluded his team in the past. After all, it had been three years since Swansea had last won in their return game back after an international break.

Neil Harris reckons all the stats show that Cardiff City are a top six side – apart from the one that matters! The Bluebirds boss was left frustrated again after a Kieffer Moore leveller ensured his return to Millwall did not end in defeat.