Robert Croft has “left his role” as Glamorgan head coach, a misguided piece of subterfuge that Graham Thomas says reflects the drift and failed strategies of a county still falling behind. You can often judge the state of a professional sports set-up by the line peddled when they sack their coach. There is the brutal pragmatism of Premier League football clubs, who specialise in two-sentence announcements.

Blade Thomson will be part of a Scarlets line-up aiming to make history when they face Leicester in the Heineken Champions Cup on Friday. The new Scotland squad member – called up for autumn duty by coach Gregor Townsend this week – has been named in the Scarlets side bidding to be the first Welsh team ever to win at Welford Road in European competition. The Scarlets – losers at home to Racing 92 in the opening round – are without 12 players who are either injured or suspended, including Rhys Patchell and Johnny McNicholl who are both recovering after suspected concussion.

Tesni Evans will be looking for a belated birthday present when she returns to the court in New York. The Rhyl-based squash ace turned 26 on Monday just days after becoming the first Welsh woman to reach the semi-finals of the US Open.

Former Wales international David Cotterill says he will devote his time to “helping others” following his decision to retire. Cotterill – whose last professional club was Indian Super League team ATK – has decided to call time on his playing days at the age of 30. The forward, who won 24 caps for Wales and was a non-playing squad member at Euro 2016, spoke recently about his experiences of depression and anxiety.

Wales head coach John Kear has named a 25-man squad for the European Championship and 2021 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers. The Dragons will take on France, Scotland and Ireland this autumn as they aim to book their place in the next World Cup at the first time of asking.

Robert Croft’s sacking by Glamorgan was “an incredibly difficult decision” according to chief executive Hugh Morris. The coach was dismissed on Wednesday afternoon after three years at the helm during which time he followed the county’s declared strategy of focussing on young, inexperienced, local, low budget players. The other half of the grand plan – to turn those raw recruits into successful cricketers, good enough to win matches – proved beyond Croft, just as it has for everyone else for over a decade.

Welsh tennis star Evan Hoyt has no intention of resting on his laurels after rising a staggering 789 places in the ATP world rankings since the start of this year. Singles and doubles tournament wins in Australia over the past month have seen the right-hander rise to a career high of 456.

Andy Campbell has a unique place in Cardiff City folklore.  The former Bluebirds striker is the only player ever to score a play-off final winner for the Welsh club – and he’s returning to South Wales for an evening of chat and questions at Merthyr Town FC. Substitute Campbell, sent on for Robert Earnshaw, lobbed […]

Barry Town United’s Mo Touray was the pride of JD Sports Welsh Premier League football when he was sent on for Wales during their 3-1 Uefa Under-21 Championship win against Switzerland. The match was at Rodney Parade, home of Touray’s parent club Newport County, and the striker was one of two WPL players in the […]

Regardless of where you place it in the pecking order of professional footballing priorities, there is still a touch of magic about the FA Cup. There is also some significant cash attached to what the FA describe as “the best loved and most watched domestic cup competition on earth.” It is a far cry from when the tournament was set up in the 19th century

CARDIFF DEVILS 5, VAXJO LAKERS 6 (OT) As far as defeats come, this one will have been particularly difficult to swallow for the Cardiff Devils. Everything seemed set for the Devils to claim a sensational Champions Hockey League victory over the Swedish champions and last year’s CHL runner’s up – right up until 4:18 into […]

She may have already have Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth gold medals in her collection, but Elinor Barker is going to have to keep a close eye on younger sister Megan in the build-up to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Both Barkers have been named in the British teams for the first two rounds of the UCI Track World Cup series, with Megan getting first shot at the Team Pursuit in Paris this weekend – the event in which Elinor struck gold in Rio.

Manager Robert Page is delighted with his Wales young guns. Their 3-1 win against Switzerland at Rodney Parade ended their Uefa Under-21 championship qualifying campaign on a high note and Page said: “They deserved that. “We have finished fourth on our group and after our opening game win in Switzerland that is disappointing, but to […]

Coach Warren Gatland has now unveiled his squad for the four-match series, starting against Scotland on November 3, and although a huge total of 17 players were either ruled out by injury or overlooked he has still chosen a squad he believes is capable of achieving a grand slam of victories next month. Australia, Tonga and South Africa will provide the other opposition.

Harry Wilson’s dazzling goal in Dublin on Tuesday night has shone more bright light on the illuminating young talent Ryan Giggs has at his disposal. Wales’ so-called ‘Golden Generation’ reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, with Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey leading the way. Now, Wales have more emerging talent under manager Giggs, with several youngsters helping them to top spot in their Nations League group after a 1-0 away win against the Republic of Ireland.

Connah’s Quay manager Andy Morrison has hit out at the lack of protection his players are receiving after the Nomads extended their lead at the top of the JD Welsh Premier League table last night. The Nomads moved five points clear following a 3-1 victory over Cefn Druids, but Morrison says the lack of protection […]

Holmes, Watson, Moriarty – this season’s Wales v England game could have a retro fictional feel to it, but Leicester Tigers coach Geordan Murphy believes there’s no fantasy about Jonah Holmes’ breakthrough to international rugby. The Tigers wing – born in Stockport, but able to pull on a red shirt thanks to a Welsh grandfather – was one of two surprise inclusions in Warren Gatland’s 37-man squad for the autumn series. Holmes, who scored 10 tries in 11 games for Leicester last season, has been given a leg-up by injuries to Hallam Amos and Owen Lane, but Murphy insists it was only a matter of time before the 26-year-old make the Test breakthrough.

Ryan Giggs compared Harry Wilson to David Beckham after the Wales youngster’s brilliant free-kick earned his team victory over the Republic of Ireland. Wilson’s stunning set-piece proved the difference between the sides in Dublin as a 1-0 victory took Wales to the top of their Nations League group. The 21-year-old followed up his magnificent free-kick for Derby against Manchester United last month with another memorable set-piece strike – his 25-yard effort flying past Darren Randolph in the 58th minute.

Wales new boy Luke Morgan has admitted his switch from Sevens rugby to 15-a-side had exceeded his expectations. The Ospreys wing was one of two uncapped players named in coach Warren Gatland’s squad for the autumn internationals. Leicester Tigers wing Jonah Holmes has made 15 appearances so far this season and last, but Morgan has only played five games for his region since switching from the Wales Sevens squad.

Chris Jones has been named as the new National Coach for Welsh Athletics. Jones, who succeeds Scott Simpson, has over 20 years experience of high-level coaching and moves to the role after a spell as Wales’ National Endurance Manager.