An apoplectic Steve Cooper has insisted Swansea City will go above the normal level of feedback to complain about referee Tim Robinson. Swans manager Cooper was left in a despairing fury over the calls made by Robinson after seeing his team lose 1-0 at Fulham where a succession of critical decisions went against the away side. Aleksandar Mitrovic missed a controversial 87th-minute penalty before the striker sealed Fulham’s  victory with a header in the fourth minute of added time.

Former Newport County and Cardiff City striker Matt Green fell out with manager Ian Holloway before Grimsby played the Exiles at Blundell Park. Green, who started his senior playing career with County, and Swedish player Ludvig Öhman were both axed from the starting line-up by Holloway. “Two of my lads ruined my plans because they […]

Postponements, prices and plastic – what’s the state of pitches in Wales? With the winter bringing the state of our sports pitches in to ever sharper focus, Graham Thomas and Paul Batcup provide a snapshot of the current picture in Wales. Anyone familiar with playing community football or rugby at this time of year will know the feeling. The rain falls, the wind howls, and as you peer through your living room window to assess the conditions for the weekend game, your phone pings with a message: “postponed – see you next week.”

Jay Fulton insists Swansea City can start to reel in the clubs above them in the Championship to make the play-offs – starting tonight at Fulham. The Swansea midfielder was a scorer in the club’s 3-1 victory at home to Huddersfield last weekend, which went some way to making amends for the poor run of […]

Mike Ruddock insists Toby Booth convinced the Ospreys players he was the man to take the region out of its desperate slump. The current Harlequins assistant coach will take in charge at the Liberty Stadium for the start of the 2020/21 season after their long search for a replacement to sacked Allen Clarke came to an end. Ruddock – hired as performance director earlier this season – has revealed that senior Ospreys players were involved in the assessment process and gave their thumbs-up that Booth was the man for the job.

Neil Harris admitted Cardiff City’s play-off hopes have taken a nose-dive after a defeat to Nottingham Forest which ended with Callum Paterson and Leandro Bacuna literally at each other’s throats. The Bluebirds boss insisted there were no serious issues between the pair who clashed at the end of the 1-0 defeat and had to be pulled apart by teammates. Tiago Silva scored the only goal of the game as Harris’ side suffered his first Championship defeat at home since he took over from Neil Warnock in mid-November. The result leaves the Bluebirds six point

The Celtic Dragons began their Vitality Netball Superleague campaign with an agonizing, but encouraging 44-43 defeat to Surrey Storm at the weekend. But despite a huge turnaround in players, former Dragon Suzy Drane tells Graham Thomas she feels optimistic about this season. The Celtic Dragons can overcome the loss of key players and prove themselves a surprise package in netball’s Superleague this season – according to the woman who was once their heartbeat. Suzy Drane – a key player for the Dragons for over a decade and a Wales legend who reached the 100-cap mark last season – believes the team’s youngsters can rise to the challenge created by major change at the club over the past few months.

Hal Robson-Kanu has paid thanks to Slaven Bilic for making him a recall option for Wales again at this year’s Euro 2020 finals. The 30-year-old striker has become the central figure in West Brom’s revitalised promotion surge and underlined his influence for the Championship leaders with two goals in their 3-0 victory at Bristol City at the weekend. The Baggies are now nine points clear of third-placed Fulham after going seven matches without a win at the turn of the year.

Neil Harris has told his Cardiff City players to show they are “serious” about promotion as they begin life without Lee Tomlin on Tuesday night. The Bluebirds manager is demanding a reaction from his side who were beaten 2-0 at Stoke City last weekend, a result which stalled their play-off surge and allowed Swansea City to climb back above them in the Championship. With 12 matches of the season left, Cardiff are six points adrift of the play-off places, giving the visit of fifth-placed Forest a critical feel in the eyes of Harris.

Jeremiah Azu was involved in a dramatic 60m final at the England Athletics age group championships in Sheffield at the weekend. The Cardiff teenager got off to a relatively slow start, but soon got into his stride to challenge Liverpool’s Henry Nwoke for the title with a late dip for the line in a desperately close finish. The commentators initially called Azu as the winner, but it soon became evident no-one could be certain whether the Welshman had retained his title or if Nwoke had just held on to earn the crown.

Former Celtic Dragons and Manchester Thunder Netball Superleague player Sara Hale has been appointed head coach of the Wales team. Hale, who won 87 caps on defence for Wales during her playing days, said: “I am honoured to be appointed Wales Head Coach. Having the opportunity to lead your country is the pinnacle of any […]

Teenager Kieron Evans, from Brithdir in New Tredegar, South Wales, led Cardiff City to their battling 2-2 Professional Under-18 Development League draw against Coventry City away. Evans scored a goal in each half for the young Bluebirds as they twice pulled back from a goal down to earn a draw. The creative, energetic and tricky […]

Blair Riley, the winger from Kamloops who won the Elite League title with Belfast Giants last season, is aiming for a 2020 repeat. He smashed an overtime winner for Cardiff Devils in a dramatic 4-3 win against Coventry Blaze at the Skydome. “That is a special win at this time of the season,” said head […]

Taulupe Faletau insists a win over England at Twickenham would help but not define Wales’ Six Nations campaign. Defeats against Ireland and France have left hopes of a successful title defence in tatters for Wales, who play England on March 7. Last year’s Grand Slam winners last won a Six Nations game at Twickenham in 2012, but Faletau says they will not be short of motivation.

Jade Jones has vowed that nothing is going to deter her from making Taekwondo history by winning a third Olympic gold this year despite suffering a knee ligament injury in a competition in Sweden. The reigning World, Olympic and European champion was forced to pull out of the final last week and has her right knee in a brace after suffering a grade 2 tear of her medial ligament. But in typical fashion, the 26-year-old north Walian fired a warning shot to her rivals for gold in Tokyo later in the year by promising to come back even stronger.

Cardiff Blues survived a scare from Benetton Rugby as they held on to beat the Italians 34-24 in a thrilling encounter at Cardiff Arms Park. The Blues only got their noses in front in the final 10 minutes as tries for Jason Harries, Garyn Smith, Ryan Edwards, Seb Davies and Lewis Jones finally broke the Italians’ spirit. Benetton earned a try bonus point through scores from Ian Keatley, Irne Herbst, and two for Toa Halafihi, while Jason Tovey kicked a crucial nine points for the home side.

Wales were ruthlessly “nilled” in their third Women’s Six Nations game of the tournament – going down 50-0 to a France team in a class above at Cardiff Arms Park. The home side came into the fixture looking to put their loss against Ireland behind them and gain a first victory of the campaign. But it France who dominated the contest and their strong, overwhelming performance led to eight unanswered tries. 

Melissa Courtney-Bryant claimed her first ever senior British title with a perfectly judged tactical run in the British Athletics Indoor 3,000m final in Glasgow. The Welsh Commonwealth Games 1500m bronze medallist showed great patience during the earlier stages of the race which were run at an almost pedestrian pace. When Rosie Clarke upped the pace with just under 1,000m to go, Courtney-Bryant was one of three athletes who went with her.

James Hunt and Melanie Wilkins overcame strong fields and even stronger winds to claim the senior Welsh Cross Country Championship titles at Pembrey Country Park on Saturday. Hundreds of athletes from primary school age to over 70s travelled from all over the country to brave the elements on the exposed coastal course. Despite the rain which had lashed most of the country over the past two weeks, the combination of the drying coastal winds and layer of sand beneath the grass course, meant that conditions were surprisingly good under foot.

Andy Beattie is returning to Merthyr Tydfil along with Kevin Rogers, Peter Jones and Chris Holvey. The quartet will attend a Merthyr Town Legends Night at The MetCoaches Stadium on Friday, March 20 and there is sure to be a lot of talk about that magical night under the lights at Penydarren Park when Merthyr took on […]