Newport County head coach Nelson Jardim was a relieved man after his side took a vital step towards securing their League Two status. The County boss was content with a tense 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened Morecambe at Rodney Parade.

James Botham has told his Wales teammates they must quickly put behind them the disaster of their opening night in Paris as they prepare for a crucial Six Nations encounter against Italy in Rome on Saturday. The Cardiff flanker has stressed the need to move forward after their 43-0 loss to France in Paris, which extended their losing streak to 13 matches dating back to the 2023 World Cup.

Luke Williams insists new signing Lewis O’Brien can help fill the Matt Grimes-sized hole in Swansea City’s midfield. Swans head coach Williams had talked enthusiastically about bringing in a raft of players at the start of the January transfer window.

Omer Riza believes new loan signing Will Alves can fill a missing piece in his team’s armoury. The Bluebirds completed a busy transfer window by securing the loan signing of Leicester City forward Alves until the end of the season.

Life couldn’t get much more eventful for athlete Dewi Griffiths. The Swansea Harrier recently achieved his ambition of equalling Welsh distance legend Steve Jones’ remarkable record of nine Welsh cross country championships.

Richard Whiffin has pledged to pick up his Wales U20 side after their nine try defeat in France. Like their senior counterparts, the U20s began their own Six Nations with a jolting one-sided walloping, but at least they will head into the Italy fixture having got on the scoreboard.

Scarlets back-rower Taine Plumtree has been drafted into Wales’ Six Nations squad as they prepare for their crucial clash against Italy in Rome on Saturday. His call-up follows ongoing injury concerns for Aaron Wainwright and centre Owen Watkin, who both sustained injuries in Wales’ 43-0 defeat to France in Paris.

Josh Adams has labeled Wales’ upcoming Guinness Six Nations showdown with Italy as a pivotal moment in their campaign, as Warren Gatland’s side look to end a harrowing losing streak. Defeat in Rome would leave Wales staring down the prospect of a second consecutive Six Nations wooden spoon, with formidable fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, and England still to come.

Swansea City are working to finalise loan deals for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien and Manchester City prospect Jacob Wright ahead of Monday night’s transfer deadline. O’Brien has reportedly agreed personal terms with the Swans, who appear to have overcome interest from Preston North End, Luton Town, and Derby County.

Jonny Clayton produced an inspired comeback to threaten Luke Humphries but it was not quite enough to claim the World Masters title. Welsh star Clayton rallied from 5-2 down but eventually lost 6-5 victory in a dramatic last-leg decider in Milton Keynes.

Omer Riza is hoping the return of Aaron Ramsey can offer a chink of light for Cardiff City after a dark weekend left the manager needing to apologise to fans. Amid the gloom of a 7-0 thrashing at Leeds United – which required a humbling “sorry about that” to travelling Bluebirds supporters – was the boost of Ramsey playing 45 minutes for Cardiff’s Under-21s in a 3-2 victory over Everton in the Premier League Cup.

Warren Gatland has admitted he’s already reached a new crunch point just one game into the Six Nations. The Wales coach – who managed to cling on to his job before the tournament – will know his team’s opening day defeat will fuel more doubts over his ability to halt a steep decline.

The back garden of the Emanuel household used to resemble “a war zone” when their sons Ioan and Steff were growing up. Straight and hard running was always the requirement when the two boys, who are only 18 months apart in age, played “one-on-one” rugby matches.

It looks like things are getting to get even worse before they get any better for Warren Gatland’s Wales after they were blown away by France in a 43-0 humiliation in Paris. As an opening gambit in a Six Nations championship, it was a pretty dire scoreline – the first time Wales had failed to score in a Five or Six Nations game since France won 51-0 at Wembley back in 1998.

Wales might be entering their opening clash of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations as massive underdogs on Friday night, but for second row Will Rowlands, at least the match at the Stade de France will feel like home turf. Currently playing his club rugby for Racing 92 in the Top 14, Rowlands is relishing the opportunity to start the tournament in the city where he now lives.

As if things were not tough enough for Wales on Friday night – French crowd, the return of Romain Ntamack, and, of course, the irresistible will of Antoine Dupont – comes news of a new opponent. Dupont – widely regarded as the best rugby player in the world, and by many as the best of all-time – is now fueled, not just by the Euros paid to him by Toulouse, but also by bitcoin.

Blue Monday is supposedly the saddest day of the year, but not if you are a Swansea City fan. For them it’s not just the third Monday each January – when Christmas bills hit the doormat and the weather is still grim – that brings on the gloom.

Warren Gatland insists Wales have some surprises up their sleeve – enough to thwart France when the Six Nations starts in Paris on Friday night. Without a Test victory in 14 months and on the back of a 12-match losing streak, Wales are enormous underdogs for their trip to the Stade de France.

Swansea City captain Matt Grimes is reportedly due to have a medical at Coventry City on Thursday, with a view to completing a move suggested to be worth £3m to £4m. The switch will be a huge blow to Swans supporters and further evidence the January transfer window is like kryptonite to the club every year – draining their strength and self-belief.

Taulupe Faletau is close to fitness, Wales coach Warren Gatland has insisted, even though the No.8 will not play against France on Friday night. Faletau had been earmarked for a dramatic comeback in the Six Nations opener in Paris, but a knee injury has denied Gatland of arguably his one proven world class forward. But Gatland has suggested Faletau – who has not played for Wales since the win over Georgia at the World Cup 16 months ago – could make his return against Italy in round two of the tournament.