As a history teacher, Leah Wilkinson knows plenty of memorable dates. But this weekend she will celebrate a couple of her own making, taking her place in the annals of Welsh sporting history during the three-test series against France in Cardiff.

Daniel James could still miss Wales’ Euro 2020 qualifiers next month following the death of his father, despite being named in Ryan Giggs’ squad on Wednesday. James missed Wales’ training camp in Portugal last week after being granted compassionate leave following the death of his father Kevan. But the exciting Swansea City winger, who has been strongly linked with a £15million summer move to Manchester United, has told Giggs that he wants to be part of the Euro 2020 double-header in Croatia and Hungary.

Elfyn Evans says that he will be pushing hard for a top result on this weekend’s Rally Portugal – and he needs to if he wants to be world champion this year, as whilst he’s fifth in drivers’ points table, the top three are pulling away. As the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship reaches its halfway point, Evans, the topped-placed M-Sport Ford driver, has scored 55 points, one less than fourth-placed Kris Meeke (Toyota). That sounds pretty impressive until you see that series leader Sébastien Ogier (Citroen) has 122 points, second-placed Ott Tänak (Toyota) sits on 112 points and third-placed Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) has amassed 110 points already. And the top three have each won two rallies apiece.

Rhys Webb is resigned to missing the World Cup unless Wales are struck by an injury crisis at scrum-half. Webb’s move to French club Toulon last summer means he is unavailable for selection by Warren Gatland as his collection of 33 caps is below the mark of 60 required for players based outside of the country to be considered. Gatland has indicated he would expect the rule to be relaxed if his half-back resources were depleted, and Webb knows that is his only possible route to Japan 2019.

The rugby season is over in Wales and Robin Davey should feel relaxed by summer breezes. Instead, he’s stressed that across the world the sport is heading towards an awful choice – take the cash and stuff the fans; or keep supporters happy but stay skint. The dire warnings coming from South Africa about the very future of the historic Springboks if rugby there turns away from pay-per-view to free-to-air television could have repercussions for the game in the northern hemisphere and in Wales, especially. SA chief executive Jurie Roux told the Independent Communications Authority, “Our door will close in the next five years if these regulations are implemented. The current regulations strike a good balance, but at this rate there won’t be sport in five years, there won’t be the Springboks.”

Ryan Giggs insists it matters little to him – or Wales – if Gareth Bale’s Spanish adventure ends this summer and he returns to the Premier League. The future of Wales’ biggest star, and still their most important player, is unclear after his season ended in rejection at Real Madrid. But as Giggs named Bale in his squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Croatia and Hungary on June 8 and 11, the manager stressed that the uncertainty over his talisman will not affect the team’s campaign.

Helen Jenkins is targeting an October comeback after giving birth to her second child with husband and fellow Welsh triathlete Marc. Wales’ two-time world champ plans on running in the Cardiff Half Marathon on October 6.

Jack Shore is ready to live his mixed martial arts dream after taking his place among the world’s best fighters. The Abertillery-born ace is intent on emulating the achievements of Irishman Conor McGregor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he won the featherweight and lightweight titles.

Aaron Ramsey has not recovered to make the Wales squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Croatia and Hungary – but Ethan Ampadu has been included. Both players were expected to be missing when Ryan Giggs named his group for the double header away trip, but Ampadu is in a 28-man squad despite a recent back injury.

The Scarlets believe they have brought valuable goods over the border by recruiting England U20s coach Richard Whiffin from Gloucester. Whiffin – currently preparing as part of the England coaching team for the Junior World Championships in Argentina – will start at Parc Y Scarlets on his return. His arrival as attack coach will complete a five-strong team at Llanelli which will take over from departed head coach Wayne Pivac and his assistant Stephen Jones, who are due to lead Wales after the World Cup.

Alun Wyn Jones, Jade Jones and Geraint Thomas are all Welsh stars at the very top of their respective sports. But, as Graham Thomas reports, they also have something else in common. Each of them was helped into their sport and nurtured by a grass roots club. When Alun Wyn Jones lifted the Six Nations trophy to the skies, they raised a glass or two in Bonymaen rugby club. Nothing unusual in that, you might think, as there were glasses lifted in clubhouse bars and living rooms throughout the country.

Sarah Jones has been named in GB’s team for their crunch FIH Pro League games in Belgium and Holland this week. The 28-year-old defender’s call-up means she will not be part of the Wales squad that face France in a three match test series in Cardiff this weekend.

Tenby’s Becky Harries made a return to top level amateur golf after a three year break – and won her third Welsh Ladies Amateur title in her first event back. The Wales international and Vagliano Trophy player is hoping the event will be a springboard back to the highest levels of ladies amateur golf, after she beat Tenby clubmate Bethan Morris in the final at Cradoc golf club near Brecon,

Injury forced Elleanor O’Connell to give up rugby – she told Twm Owen why she now plays American Football for a men’s team  Elleanor O’Connell needed a new sport after suffering a serious rugby injury – but rather than avoid contact sport she took up American Football and is now the only woman on a men’s team. The 23-year-old first turned to the “stupid sport” due to the possibility that further aggravating the trauma injury she sustained to her throat in a rugby sevens tournament could kill her. 

Wales youngster Harry Wilson is preparing for the biggest match of his young playing career. The 22-year-old from Wrexham – a former Ysgol Dinas Bran, Llangollen pupil – looks certain to be in Derby County’s starting line-up for their Sky Bet Championship play-off final against Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm). More than 38,000 Rams fans will roar their support for Derby and Wilson says: “The biggest game of my career to date? I’d say so. It’s certainly up there.

Welsh athlete Melanie Wilkins produced a brilliant performance to win the Edinburgh Marathon in a huge personal best time.

A huge crowd turned up at Lower Machen, near Rudry, for the Tredegar Farmers Hunt Point-To-Point Steeplechases last Saturday and they were treated to an afternoon’s exciting sport. In the opening restricted race, the legendary national champion William Biddick, on Nigel Lilley’s French-bred eight-year-old mare Silver Louna, got home by a neck from the James King partnered Airpur Desbois the only other French-bred horse in the seven runner field.

Melissa Courtney shrugged off the effects jet lag and the challenge of European Champion Laura Muir to retain her Vitality Westminster Mile title on Sunday afternoon. Despite admitting before the race that she might find the pace too fast after spending the past four weeks doing 5,000m training in America, Courtney led from gun to tape on the streets of London.

Newport County will start the 2019-20 season in League Two, exactly the same place where ended this season. No promotion, no hike in the club’s income and no bigger stage for the players and their ambitious manager Michael Flynn. But Callum Ellis believes he saw enough at Wembley to be convinced that the Amber Army can embark on another march to the summit when August comes around. When the dust settles on Newport County’s play-off final defeat against Tranmere Rovers, manager Michael Flynn and his squad of players will sit down and reflect on what might have been. A controversial decision by referee Ross Joyce not to award Flynn’s side a penalty five minutes before the end of normal time turned out to be a bitter pill to swallow.

Welsh tennis number one Evan Hoyt has overcome a shoulder niggle to win his first tournament back on court. Hoyt claimed his sixth title of the year at the Heraklion M15 tournament in Greece, coming back from 5-2 down in the final set against Austria’s Jonas Trinker.