Bradley Davies could soon be on his way to join Wales at the World Cup if Cory Hill is ruled out of the tournament tomorrow. Wales second row Hill was taken to Japan, despite suffering fracture in his leg in the build-up. Head coach Warren Gatland had hoped Hill would be fit for Wales’ second […]

Warren Gatland admitted he was only partially satisfied by Wales’ opening six-try World Cup victory over Georgia at the City of Toyota Stadium in Japan. Wales became the first team in the tournament to secure a bonus point before half-time, but they were equalled by Georgia in terms of points scored in the second-half as […]

Coventry Blaze 5, Cardiff Devils 1 Andrew Lord branded Cardiff Devils’ poor team performance against Coventry Blaze ‘totally unacceptable’ at the SkyDome. Devils followed a crushing 6-2 Elite League home defeat against Glasgow Clan on Saturday by slumping to a devastating Challenge Cup loss. Head coach Lord was angry at the manner of defeat and […]

Leandro Bacuna has revealed he took some time off before Cardiff City’s victory over Middlesbrough as he reflected on the death of an international teammate. The Bluebirds midfielder was one of the stand-out performers for Neil Warnock’s side at the weekend and has been a growing influence for the team after a mixed campaign in the second-half of last season following his £4m move from Reading. Bacuna played against Derby County but was then given time off by manager Warnock following the player’s return from Haiti, where the Dutch-born Bacuna was on international duty for the Caribbean island of Curacao.

As Wales kick-off their World Cup campaign against Georgia in Japan, The Rugby Paper’s Peter Jackson recalls the Wales player who went to two tournaments and never finished on a losing side. Whatever happens in Japan over the next few weeks, nobody will get anywhere close to matching the World Cup record set by an invisible Welshman. Steve Ford remains the only player from any of the Six Nations to have winged his way into two World Cups and returned home undefeated. The fact that successive Welsh coaches at successive tournaments saw fit to keep the Cardiff carpet-fitter under wraps might have had something to do with it.

Sam Warburton believes memories to last a lifetime can be created by Wales over the next six weeks at the Rugby World Cup. But it’s not just out in Japan where Warren Gatland and his team are aiming to make their impact felt. Back here in Wales, the game is utilizing the global tournament in order to strengthen links between the sport and its next generation of followers. Former Wales and Lions captain Warburton – who retired through injury this time last year – has been assisting the Welsh Rugby Union in a plan to make sure the benefits of the World Cup are felt in schools across Wales.

Jason Pritchard has won the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship for a second year in a row, beating arch-rival Damian Cole to the title by just one point after a thrilling final round on the Ford Parts Cheviot Stages Rally on Otterburn. Having won the British Historic Rally Championship three times (2015, ’16 and ’17) and the Asphalt title last year, Pritchard’s latest success is his fifth major rally title in as many years. Only Pritchard and Cole could win the Asphalt title as they entered the final event of the year – and so close were they that there was a strong possibility that it would go down to a tiebreak. Cole was ahead on points heading to the Northumberland military range, and increased his advantage by setting fastest time on the opening stage – meaning any tiebreak decision would go in his favour.

Wales will weather the physical and meteorological storms predicted in their opening Rugby World Cup Pool D clash against Georgia at the City of Toyota Stadium on Monday, according to assistant coach Shaun Edwards. The build-up to the World Cup has been far from plain sailing, with three defeats in their last four tests and the off-field furore that saw attack coach Rob Howley return home from Japan for an alleged breach of rugby’s betting rules. But Edwards says that despite this, and the predictions of wind and rain for the match, they are confident of an opening victory.

Swansea City manager Steve Cooper accused referee Tony Harrington of being influenced by the Bristol City bench in his decision to send off Jake Bidwell. The Swans boss was angered by the decision to dismiss Bidwell who was given a straight red card during the late stages of Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Ashton Gate. Harrington consulted an assistant before showing a red card to the full-back for a late challenge that prevented Robins substitute Niclas Eliasson from breaking away on the right.

Cardiff Devils 2, Glasgow Clan 6 Andrew Lord gave a brutally honest assessment of Cardiff Devils’ Elite League home defeat against Glasgow Clan and then said: “We need a response at Coventry on Sunday. “We’ll dig deep and rely on our competitive spirit. That is tremendous.  “We’ve made one heck of a start to the […]

The World Cup may be underway, and the regions are preparing for their own campaign, but grassroots club rugby somehow has to keep its voice heard, too. Kasey Rees went to Sardis Road to hear how Pontypridd and Carmarthen Quins are doing just that in the new Indigo Welsh Premiership. With all eyes on Rugby World Cup in Japan and the Pro 14 season around the corner, how does Premiership rugby compete for attention from fans? On Saturday evening in front of hundreds of fans at Sardis Road, Pontypridd beat Carmarthen Quins in a thrilling encounter.

Neil Warnock has urged Gavin Whyte to be more streetwise if he wants to make the most of his growing impact at Cardiff City. The Bluebirds manager was full of praise for the 23-year-old Northern Irishman after the part he played in Cardiff’s 1-0 victory at home to Middlesbrough. Whyte was a constant threat to Boro as Warnock’s side made it five Championship matches unbeaten thanks to an early own goal by Ashley Fletcher.

Aaron Wainwright has been backed to counter the power of the Georgia pack when he makes his World Cup bow on Monday. After naming the 21-year-old Dragons flanker in his back row to start the tournament, for the Pool D match at the City of Toyota Stadium on Monday, coach Warren Gatland gave Wainwright a glowing report on his progress so far. “He’s incredibly athletic and an intelligent rugby player,” said Gatland about the forward who was playing student rugby for Cardiff Met just a couple of years ago.

Newport County are on a high after manager Michael Flynn said no to Lincoln City’s offer to become their manager. The Imps approached County and were given permission for talks with Flynn, but he quickly decided to stay with his home city club. Newport play SkyBet League Two leaders Exeter City at home on Saturday […]

Matt Grimes has insisted Swansea City will not allow a stumble to become a fall when they visit Bristol City tomorrow. The Swans skipper believes his side will recover quickly from their first defeat of the season – one which cost them their place at the top of the Championship table. Last week’s 1-0 reverse against Nottingham Forest at the Liberty Stadium was not a result many saw coming after the team had taken 16 points from six games, but Grimes insists it was a rare one-off and his side will prove as much at Ashton Gate, even though the home side are only two points and two places behind the Swans.

Cardiff City welcome Middlesbrough to South Wales on Saturday and Dai Sport’s Terry Phillips looks back 16 years to the Bluebirds’ promotion thanks to a goal by former ‘Boro striker Andy Campbell. Andy Campbell was a central figure in the celebrations following the Bluebirds’ 1-0 win against Queens Park Rangers in a play-off final at Cardiff’s […]

Cardiff City teenagers Connor Davies and Dan Martin are intent on helping Weston-super-Mare send Merthyr Town crashing out of the Emirates FA Cup. The two young Bluebirds are on loan at Merthyr’s BetVictor Southern Premier rivals Weston, who entertain the Martyrs in a second qualifying round tie at the Optima Stadium in Somerset on Saturday […]

Wrexham captain Shaun Pearson insists the Dragons are on a mission to climb the Vanarama National League table. Manager Bryan Hughes is under pressure from supporters after six games without a win and they are in 19th place, level on points with Saturday’s opponents Aldershot. Pearson had a one-to-one chat with Hughes this week and […]

The Sporting Memories Foundation – a charity that uses sport to help people overcome loneliness and other issues – is coming to Wales. This weekend, as the Rugby World Cup gets into full swing, they’re launching a Welsh Memories Weekend, aimed at sparking a Wales-wide conversation about great sporting moments – the big and the not so big – as Graham Thomas discovers. Ever heard a rugby club bar fall silent after someone suggested their best-ever all-time Wales XV? Or a hush descend in your office following a colleague’s claim that last week’s Cardiff City performance was the most exciting she had ever seen?

Neil Jenkins insists Wales cannot wait to get their World Cup campaign underway after it emerged players were given a briefing on the pitfalls of betting 24 hours after Rob Howley had been sent home. Wales’ kicking coach Jenkins would not reveal details of a phone conversation he has had with Howley, who was sent home from Japan on Monday night for a suspected breach of betting rules. But both Jenkins and Wales hooker Ken Owens believe players and coaches are regularly well briefed about regulations, even though the most recent warnings – delivered by World Rugby – came after Howley had bolted.