The Welsh Rugby Union have delivered their annual report, so what’s between the lines and the figures? Geraint Powell digs behind the summaries of those in charge for clues about where Welsh rugby is heading. Every January – other than in the first year – the President of the United States delivers a “state of the union” address. We always get something similar – a state of their own union – from the WRU chief executive, chairman and president in their forewords to the Union’s annual report, the 2017 version of which was recently released.

Mid Wales racing driver Ben Power scored another race victory in the MRF National Legends Car Championship at the Rockingham circuit in Northamptonshire, to set up a final-round decider at Brands Hatch. Power, aged 27, from Guilsfield, near Welshpool, further boosted his points tally with several high-place finishes in other races. The race win was his 14th of the season.

Hyundai Motorsport has confirmed a four-car line-up for this month’s Wales Rally GB, the penultimate round of the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship. Drivers’ Championship title contender Thierry Neuville will compete in the gravel event alongside Hayden Paddon, Andreas Mikkelsen and Dani Sordo.

Vicky Thornley reckons her silver in the single sculls at the World Championships is on a par with her Olympic medal.

Merthyr Town travel to Gloucestershire for their midweek BigFreeBet.com Southern League Cup tie on Tuesday (7.30pm). They take on mid-table West Division club Shortwood United, who have shown they are a team who will battle all the way for their cup lives. All of Sherwood’s 11 points have been gained from a losing position this […]

Swedish champions Vaxjo Lakers pose the latest European challenge for Cardiff Devils. Coach Andrew Lord’s team, fresh from beating classy Swiss club HC Davos in Champions League ice hockey, now face potentially an even bigger test. Vaxjo, who stand top of the group and have already secured a place in the last 16, play at […]

Aberdovey-based rally driver Tom Cave will take part in next month’s Wales Rally GB, the UK round of the FIA World Rally Championship. With much of the event’s competitive mileage taking place in the north Wales forests, many of the stages represent familiar territory to Tom, who will be contesting this world championship qualifier for the fifth time.

Dewi Griffiths’ elevation to world class status on the roads was confirmed with another incredible personal best performance in finishing fourth in the Cardiff University / Cardiff Half Marathon. The Swansea Harrier stripped 82 sec off his previous best to finish in 61:31 – the third fastest time by a British athlete this year behind Callum Hawkins (60:00) and Mo Farah (60:06), equal 12thfastest of all-time by a British runner and the second fastest of all-time by a Welshman.

Chaz Davies is targeting the runners-up spot in the World Superbikes Championship after romping to victory in France. The Powys flier claimed his seventh win of the season and 27th of his career in Sunday’s second race at Magny-Cours

Luton Town 3, Newport County 1 Welsh manager Nathan Jones described his Luton Town team as ‘scintillating’ after their League Two home win against Newport County at Kenilworth Road. The Hatters swept into a 3-0 half-time lead, collected the three points and Rhondda-born Jones says: “We were scintillating in the first time. Outstanding, absolutely outstanding, […]

St Ives 2, Merthyr Town 3 Ian Traylor scored twice for Merthyr Town in their Southern League Premier Division win at St Ives in Cambridgeshire. This is a third successive League win for the Martyrs, who have moved into fifth place and travel to take on leaders Kettering Town in their next match. Merthyr started […]

Cardiff Devils 5, Braehead Clan 0 The chumps are looking like champs again. Player-Coach Andrew Lord talked of his pride in Cardiff Devils’ players after they earned a second shut-out in four days. Lord’s men suffered devastating back-to-back defeats against MK Lightning and Manchester Storm last weekend, but they have reacted with class and character. […]

Chaz Davies was left to rue electrical problems which hit his hopes of finishing runner-up in this year’s World Superbikes Championship. The Knighton-born rider had to settle for 10th spot in race one at Magny-Cours in France as Jonathan Rea sealed an historic hat-trick of titles with victory.

Chris Sergeant’s hat-trick sent The New Saints back to the top of the table after Bangor City slipped at home to Barry Town United. The Saints started the day trailing Bangor by two points but a ruthless display saw them despatch Carmarthen Town with ease. In North Wales, Bangor City suffered their first home defeat […]

He may be playing catch-up, but Thomas Young’s return to the Wasps starting XV against Bath on Sunday couldn’t be more timely with the 2017 Under Armour Series only a month away. An impressive replacement last weekend after recovering from a calf injury, he will join England No 8 Nathan Hughes and British & Irish Lions tourist James Haskell in  the back row on what will be his 50th appearance for the club.

Neil Warnock likes to see his glass half full, which is why he won’t despair over a Cardiff City display against Derby that saw them running on empty. The Cardiff manager is approaching a notable anniversary. It will be a year in the job on Wednesday, so he was inclined to see Saturday’s 0-0 draw as part of the longer pattern of rapid progess, rather than a short term blip following two victories in four days.

Cardiff Devils face two vastly different home challenges in four days, starting against Scottish club Braehead Clan tonight (Saturday). Player-coach Andrew Lord and his team then turn from the bruising cut and thrust of Elite League hockey to high speed European competition. Swedish club Vaxjo Lakers visit Ice Arena Wales on Tuesday (both matches face-off […]

Luke Piggott has joined National League Cardiff Fire for 2017-18. He makes his Fire debut in their home match against Peterborough Phantoms at Ice Arena Wales on Sunday (6pm). Cardiff Devils forward Piggott is in his seventh season with the Elite League club and has now committed to a two-way contract with Fire, who play […]

Let’s face it, you are going to get a few nutters in a field of 25,000 people who have signed up to run 13.1 miles on a Sunday morning. No thoughts of taking it easy and lying in bed for these guys when the Cardiff University Cardiff Half Marathon is on. So, this Sunday when you are watching the race live on BBC 2 Wales, don’t just try to spot the Welsh favourites of Dewi Griffiths, Josh Griffiths, Andrew Davies and Caryl Jones, keep your eyes peeled for this lot. It is going to be very competitive at the front end, with a couple of Kenyans bringing their own pacemakers to try to break the 60 minute barrier, but survival will be the name of the game for some of the others in the field.

Steff Evans has admitted the Scarlets’ defence has too many holes even though they are sitting pretty at the top of Conference B of the Guinness Pro14 table. The wing scored one of his team’s five tries as they beat Connacht 36-27 at Parc Y Scarlets on Friday night. But the four tries conceded left Evans underwhelmed a week before they face the Ospreys in the first Welsh derby of the season.