Dan Biggar’s confirmed departure for Northampton next season underlines turbulent times at the Ospreys, says Robin Davey. But the Cardiff Blues and the Dragons have plenty to concern themselves with, too, and only the Scarlets can be happy with the way they started the season. The Scarlets lit up the start of the new Guinness Pro14 on a disappointing weekend for the Welsh regions, made more so by the subsequent confirmation that Dan Biggar is to leave the Ospreys. Biggar will move to Northampton at the end of this season, the Saints excitedly announced on Wednesday afternoon, almost a full 12 months before he will be pulling on their jersey.

Dan Biggar’s confirmed departure for Northampton next season underlines turbulent times at the Ospreys, says Robin Davey. But the Cardiff Blues and the Dragons have plenty to concern themselves with, too, and only the Scarlets can be happy with the way they started the season. The Scarlets lit up the start of the new Guinness Pro14 on a disappointing weekend for the Welsh regions, made more so by the subsequent confirmation that Dan Biggar is to leave the Ospreys. Biggar will move to Northampton at the end of this season, the Saints excitedly announced on Wednesday afternoon, almost a full 12 months before he will be pulling on their jersey.

The JD Welsh Premier League returns following the international break with early pace setters Llandudno looking to extend their winning run in the first Thursday night fixture of the season (7.45). The league and broadcast partners Sgorio are trialling a number of Thursday night fixtures through this season that will be streamed exclusively on Facebook […]

Corey Neilson says British ice hockey is at last being taken seriously around Europe. This has been a momentous week for Elite League clubs with Neilson’s Nottingham and coach Andrew Lord’s Cardiff Devils defeated leading Swiss teams in Champions Hockey League action. Panthers won 4-2 against SC Bern, while Devils defeated HC Davos 4-3 at […]

Alun Wyn Jones is preparing for his Ospreys return – possibly against Munster on September 16 – after being given an extended break following the Lions tour to New Zealand. Peter Jackson assesses the milestones the Wales forward is capable of passing this season and beyond. If his track record is anything to go by, Alun-Wyn Jones will pass another landmark towards the end of the coming season. His 400th competitive match is on the horizon, putting the durable Welshman on course to reach it faster than any other player of the 21st century. Nobody ought to be one bit surprised because nobody gets through games on a scale to compare with Jones. He has averaged as close to 30 per season as makes no difference, not for one season but the last eleven. And that at a time when just about every other player contracted to his national Union plays no more than 25. Kieran Read tops the All Black list at 27.

Osian Pryce will not compete on the Rally Isle of Man (September 14-16), the final round of this year’s British Rally Championship. The 24-year-old from Machynlleth has decided to save the budget he would have spent crossing the Irish Sea to the classic Manx roads and put it towards his programme for next season.

Top golfers in Wales have a chance to apply for backing at the highest level for the first time, in a new move aimed at helping potential stars on a more individual basis.

Top golfers in Wales have a chance to apply for backing at the highest level for the first time, in a new move aimed at helping potential stars on a more individual basis.

Glamorgan made a bold effort at T20 glory at Edgbaston last weekend, but were undone by a county with a home-built core. Richard Thomas wonders how long it might be before Glamorgan’s own team is once again constructed on a true Welsh foundation. One of the more poignant sights at Don Shepherd’s extremely well-attended funeral in Mumbles last week was that of Matthew Maynard sporting his Glamorgan club blazer and tie. Now director of cricket at Somerset, where he has been for the past three years, and not having been on the Glamorgan payroll since 2005, this was a great touch from the former club captain and coach.

Glamorgan made a bold effort at T20 glory at Edgbaston last weekend, but were undone by a county with a home-built core. Richard Thomas wonders how long it might be before Glamorgan’s own team is once again constructed on a true Welsh foundation. One of the more poignant sights at Don Shepherd’s extremely well-attended funeral in Mumbles last week was that of Matthew Maynard sporting his Glamorgan club blazer and tie. Now director of cricket at Somerset, where he has been for the past three years, and not having been on the Glamorgan payroll since 2005, this was a great touch from the former club captain and coach.

Chris Coleman has set Wales a target of 20 points in order to either take the main road to the World Cup Finals – or the back route through the play-offs. Wales are currently on 14 points following Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory in Moldova, which lifted them into second place in qualifying group D – a point above the Republic of Ireland, but four adrift of Serbia. The Wales manager has seen his team win back-to-back matches, following the weekend victory over Austria and is convinced two further victories in their remaining fixtures – away to Georgia and at home to Ireland – will propel Wales into the play-offs for Russia next summer.

Chris Coleman has set Wales a target of 20 points in order to either take the main road to the World Cup Finals – or the back route through the play-offs. Wales are currently on 14 points following Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory in Moldova, which lifted them into second place in qualifying group D – a point above the Republic of Ireland, but four adrift of Serbia. The Wales manager has seen his team win back-to-back matches, following the weekend victory over Austria and is convinced two further victories in their remaining fixtures – away to Georgia and at home to Ireland – will propel Wales into the play-offs for Russia next summer.

Andrew Lord admits his personal Champions Hockey League experience has challenged his coaching skills to their limits. Cardiff Devils player-coach Lord has already experienced the highs and lows of European hockey and there are still two group fixtures, home and away against Vaxjo Lakers, to negotiate. “To say this tournament has been a challenge of […]

Andrew Lord admits his personal Champions Hockey League experience has challenged his coaching skills to their limits. Cardiff Devils player-coach Lord has already experienced the highs and lows of European hockey and there are still two group fixtures, home and away against Vaxjo Lakers, to negotiate. “To say this tournament has been a challenge of […]

Chris Coleman says Wales are right in the World Cup qualifying mix after teenage sensation Ben Woodbury’s dream introduction to international football continued.

Uefa Under-21 Championship: Portugal 2, Wales 0 Wales finished with 10 players in their two-goal defeat against Portugal in Chaves. Brentford’s Chris Mepham was sent off for a second bookable offence after 82 minutes on a disappointing night for the Welsh team. They had opened their Championship fixtures with a 3-0 win against Switzerland in […]

Huddersfield Town 1, Cardiff City 2 The young Bluebirds came through an under-23 trial with flying colours in West Yorkshire. Cardiff City included five trialists in their starting line-up against Huddersfield Town and the number nine netted both goals. There were nine under-23 regulars unavailable because international calls and the Bluebirds included a number of […]

Cardiff Devils fans will pay tribute to loyal defenceman Mark Richardson next month. This has been a magnificent year so far for ‘Richie’ and Elite League champions Devils are keen to say thank you for 11 years service. His testimonial will be at Ice Arena Wales on Tuesday, October 24 with former Cardiff captains Mac […]

Cardiff Devils fans will pay tribute to loyal defenceman Mark Richardson next month. This has been a magnificent year so far for ‘Richie’ and Elite League champions Devils are keen to say thank you for 11 years service. His testimonial will be at Ice Arena Wales on Tuesday, October 24 with former Cardiff captains Mac […]

Manager Robert Page and his Wales team are on a Uefa mission at Estadio Municipal, Teixeira in Portugal this evening (7.15pm). They are intent on following up their 3-0 win against Switzerland away five days ago with another big Uefa under-21 Championship performance. Hosts Portugal were runners-up in this tournament two years ago, losing against Sweden […]