Geordie defender Shaun Hutchinson is ready to challenge the Bluebirds in tonight’s Championship clash at the New Den in London. Manager Neil Harris, a former Cardiff City player, has labelled the Welsh club physical opponents, while Warnock has said: ”We’ll have to be ready when we play down at their place, won’t we, because we’ll […]

Celtic Dragons are looking to pick up where they left off last season when they launch their 2018 Vitality Netball Super League campaign with a home clash against the Mavericks on Monday night at the Sport Wales National Centre. The Dragons ended their 2017 season on a high with a 52-47 win over Team Northumbria in Ebbw Vale in June – only their second win in 18 outings in a season that saw them finish bottom of the table. But with back-to-back home games to kick-off their 2018 campaign, defender Leila Thomas is hoping for a flying start.

Two Welsh middle distance athletes ran themselves into the record books at the National Indoor Athletics Centre in Cardiff, last weekend – Jake Heyward and Tom Marshall. European Under-20 champion Heyward smashed the 50-year-old British Junior indoor record with a spectacular run in the open 3,000 metres race which also doubled up as the Welsh championship at the Cardiff Metropolitan University Non Thomas Open Grand Prix. The existing record of 8:01.4 was set in 1968 by Scottish middle distance international Ian Stewart, who went on to win gold in the 5,000 metres at the 1969 European Championships in Athens and bronze at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

In recent years, unseasonably warm weather has seen a lack of snow on the World Rally Championship’s only snow rally – but not this year, as months of wintry weather and freezing temperatures have paved the way for a classic Rally Sweden (16-18 February) – with high snow banks and a thick layer of ice setting the scene for another thrilling encounter.

Wales take on England at Twickenham on Saturday and recent history will inform bookmakers this should be a home win. But Graham Thomas argues the mood and demeanour of the coaches might mean momentum is travelling in the other direction. In many ways, Warren Gatland and Eddie Jones have reflected the mood of their respective teams this week, with contrasting performances before England host Wales. Six months ago Gatland looked as if he’d had enough of coaching Wales. Though he spoke about his excitement at taking a team he had been in charge of for a decade through to the 2019 World Cup, he sounded like a man renewing his wedding vows when his heart wasn’t really in it.

Aside from questioning the temperament of Rhys Patchell and the integrity of Alun Wyn Jones, England coach Eddie Jones has also promised Wales a “ferocious” defence at Twickenham on Saturday. Jones was nonplussed by Wales 34-7 opening Six Nations victory over Scotland. He had already suggested the Scots were fragile before the tournament began and his repeated view of Wales at his pre-match briefing was that they went into that Test with “no pressure of expectation.” The Australian has also promised a far more formidable defence from England than the Scots managed and vowed: “Wales will try and play a particular way but in terms of winning the game we want to make sure our set piece is dominant and our defence is ferocious.

Andre Ayew has stressed his pride in being an African player following claims by former West Ham recruitment chief Tony Henry that players from the continent had a “bad attitude”. Ayew rejoined Swansea City for a club record £18m on transfer deadline day – the same night that Henry was at the centre of a race row over emails he sent concerning the club’s strategy for hiring overseas players. Henry was sacked after suggesting that his club were no longer in the market for African players because they could “cause mayhem” when not selected.

Chaz Davies wants to give his Ducati an emotional send off by bagging the World Superbikes crown. The Knighton-born rider has twice finished runner-up in the past three years as rival Jonathan Rea has swept to a hat-trick of titles. But Davies will be out to end Rea’s domination when the season starts in Melbourne […]

Paul Thompson, Sheffield Steelers’ proud and hugely experienced head coach, has admitted:”Our hockey club was humiliated tonight.” Devils were dumped out of the Challenge Cup by a rampant Cardiff Devils, who hauled back a four-goal deficit against Steelers to qualify for the final. Three goals in less than two minutes early in the final period […]

Here we go again! Having appointed, suspended and then sacked the last Chairperson of Sport Wales in the space of a hugely divisive 53 week period between 22 March, 2016 and 19 March, 2017, the Wales Government are now seeking a new candidate for the controversial position. Dr Paul Thomas came, saw and tried to conquer, yet merely ended up being dismissed from his post by Rebecca Evans AM following “an irretrievable breakdown in relationships” in the board’s leadership. Vice-chair Adele Baumgardt also went out with the bathwater. Last month the advert for the position was circulated and applicants have until 19 February to throw their CVs into the hat. Interviews will take place on 17 April with an appointment coming shortly after that.

With five days to go to the start of the Vitality Netball Super League, the Celtic Dragons have finally got a coach to lead them into the tournament. Following the sacking of Trish Wilcox as head coach for both the Dragons and Wales last month in the wake of Wales’ failure to qualify for the 2019 World Cup in England, it has been decided to move up the Wales Under 21 coach and team manager into interim positions with the senior sides. Natalie Peperell takes over as the interim assistant coach of both Wales and the Dragons, while Lavinia Baker becomes Wales’ interim team manager. With the Commonwealth Games two months away, Baker’s main focus will presumably be on that tournament.

Gareth Davies will run through his own showreel before he returns to Twickenham on Saturday – just to remind himself how good it feels to beat England. The Wales scrum-half will allow himself an indulgent re-run of his match-turning moment against the old enemy during the 2015 World Cup. The Scarlets No.9 – the form scrum-half in Europe this season – scored a stunning try eight minutes from time at Twickenham to put Wales in touching distance of toppling the World Cup hosts.

Mike Flynn voiced his glowing pride in Newport County as they finally bowed out of the FA Cup at Wembley on Wednesday night. The Newport manager saw his side lose 2-0 against Tottenham in their fourth round replay, but gain a lot of admirers for a very gutsy effort against the Premier League giants. A two-goal deficit away to Spurs is hardly a disgrace and compares equally with the two goal defeats suffered against the same opponents by Manchester United and Real Madrid this season.

Cardiff Devils have completed arguably the best comeback in their 32-year history. Captain Jake Morissette and his Devils teammates left Sheffield Steelers shocked and stunned at Ice Arena Wales. Steelers went into the Challenge Cup semi-final second leg leading 6-2 from the first game and brimming with confidence. Devils powered to a 7-1 victory, winning […]

Michael Flynn has ended speculation about his future by committing to Newport County until June 2020. Exiles’ manager Flynn has signed contract extension on the day of Newport’s Emirates FA Cup replay against Spurs at Wembley Stadium. He had been linked with the material vacancy at his former club Bradford City and said: “It’s nice […]

Wales U20 have made seven changes to their starting line-up to face England at Kingston Park on Friday (19:45). Prop Rhys Carre, Man of the Match in the 36-3 win against Scotland last Friday, and Cardiff Blues hooker Iestyn Harris are this week joined by a new front row partner in Ospreys tighthead Rhys Henry.

More than 7,000 Newport County fans will be at Wembley Stadium for their FA Cup fourth round replay against Spurs this evening (Wednesday, 7.45pm). It is a massive match for the Exiles and manager Michael Flynn says winning would be the greatest result in the club’s history. But there is also a feeling that Flynn […]

Wales prop Rob Evans insists they are not afraid of England ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash and says there is “a good vibe” in the squad. Wales impressed in the tournament opener with a 34-7 victory over Scotland, but head to Twickenham looking to become the first side to beat England on their home ground under coach Eddie Jones. Wales have lost five of their last six games against England – their sole victory coming in the group stage of the 2015 World Cup – but Evans says there is a confident mood in the Welsh camp.

Welsh Gymnastics has appointed Ann Bevan as its new chief executive. A native of Pembroke, Bevan represented Wales at hockey in the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games in 1998 and was a physical education teacher at Howells School in Cardiff for more than 17 years. Since leaving teaching she has worked in various roles at Sport Wales and is currently a high performance advisor. In her present role she helps sports’ national governing bodies to build systems and infrastructure to support elite athletes. In the last Commonwealth Games cycle, she worked with a variety of sports to prepare their coaches and athletes for the games and her work contributed to Wales’ most successful Commonwealth Games.

Sioned Harries will return to face England this weekend and earn her landmark 50th cap for Wales Women. The Scarlets No.8 missed the opening Six Nations victory over Scotland as she was on sevens duty in Australia, but comes straight back into the side to face the defending tournament champions at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday. Harries made her debut for Wales at the 2010 World Cup and is a regular for Wales on the sevens circuit.