Wayne Pivac believes he has enough generals in the field for the Scarlet army to conquer again this season. The Guinness Pro14 champions begin the defence of their trophy at home to the new boys Southern Kings at Parc Y Scarlets on Saturday night. Four years ago, when head coach Pivac first arrived from New Zealand, the absence of leadership in the squad meant matches were a hectic time involving the constant sending of messages to those players on the field.

Wales manager Chris Coleman is prepared to give Joe Ledley time off this week to sort out a new contract if a club comes in him before the transfer window closes at midnight on Thursday. The Wales midfielder has already turned down offers from clubs in China and Turkey after being released by Crystal Palace. The 30-year-old, who is in line to win his 74th cap against Austria on Saturday, is a free-agent and open to playing anywhere. He has been linked with moves to two former clubs, Championship table-toppers Cardiff City and Scottish champions Celtic, but time is running out.

Hereford FC 1,Merthyr Town 1 Merthyr Town were denied a hard-fought victory at Hereford FC’s Edgar Street when the home team equalised with six minutes left. The Martyrs were leading 1-0 when Eliot Richards needlessly threw the ball away when the home team were awarded a free-kick. Referee Darren Wilding had already cautioned Richards and […]

Ex-Cardiff City striker Stuart Fleetwood returns to another of his former clubs on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm). Fleetwood, 31, had a successful time during two spells with Hereford and is back at Edgar Street playing for their Southern League rivals Merthyr Town. The Martyrs are unbeaten with two wins and to draws from four Premier […]

Bernard Jackman has claimed new fans will be attracted to support the Dragons, now they have dropped links with a club they used to “hate”. Arriving in the midst of a rebrand of the region – now simply the Dragons having dropped the ‘Newport Gwent’ that previously preceded it – head coach Jackman will be charged with matching the overhaul off the pitch with results on it. But the former Ireland hooker also believes the region-wide neutrality of the name will enable fans who used to view Newport as the enemy to feel a new affection for the team. Jackman says: “For me the exciting thing is the amount of people who say they support us now because it’s just the

Nathan Cleverly is contemplating life after boxing after losing his world title at the weekend. Cleverly announced his retirement after losing his WBA light-heavyweight title when being stopped in five rounds by Badou Jack in Las Vegas. It was the fourth loss of his 34-fight career and the second time he has lost a world title.

Rowland Phillips has spoken of the pride he feels after his Wales Women beat hosts Ireland in Belfast’s Kingspan Stadium to finish seventh at the World Cup. Tries from Caryl Thomas, Sioned Harries, Carys Phillips and Shona Powell-Hughes – plus seven points from the boot of Robyn Wilkins – gave Wales a well-earned win at the home of Ulster Rugby.

Rowland Phillips has spoken of the pride he feels after his Wales Women beat hosts Ireland in Belfast’s Kingspan Stadium to finish seventh at the World Cup. Tries from Caryl Thomas, Sioned Harries, Carys Phillips and Shona Powell-Hughes – plus seven points from the boot of Robyn Wilkins – gave Wales a well-earned win at the home of Ulster Rugby.

Sol Bamba believes Neil Warnock is The Daddy when it comes to the paternal powers of football managers. The Cardiff City centre-back has paid tribute to his “father figure” who he says has cajoled, scolded, praised and inspired the club’s players to achieving their astonishing start to the season of five straight victories. Bamba scored the winner against QPR in the 2-1 triumph on Saturday to propel Cardiff three points clear at the top, four above third spot, and open a seven-point gap to seventh place.

Newport County 4, Chesterfield 1 Frank Nouble was the hat-trick hero in Newport County’s home win against Chesterfield. The former West Ham striker netted three goals in the second half and County emerged convincing winners in their first match on the new £750,000 Desso surface at Rodney Parade. Chesterfield led 1-0 at half-time, but Nouble […]

Paul Clement wants more from his Swansea City players, despite watching them earn a first Premier League victory of the season. The Swans manager has challenged his team to make further improvement after their 2-0 win away at struggling Crystal Palace. Goals either side of half time from Tammy Abraham and Jordan Ayew were enough to see the Swans secure that maiden league success of 2017/18 – a result that never appeared to be in doubt as they held on with ease.

Merthyr Town 3, Farnborough Town 0 Merthyr Town extended their unbeaten start to the season with a five-star performance at the Loadlok Community Stadium. Adam Davies, Kerry Morgan and Stuart Fleetwood scored the goals for Martyrs, who now go to play Hereford FC at Edgar Street on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm). Manager Gavin Williams and […]

Cardiff City 2, Queens Park Rangers 1 Bluebirds fans chanted ‘We are top of the League’ after Neil Warnock’s team earned a fifth successive Championship victory. They were chanting Warnock’s name after he had led his players in applauding spectators. The only negative on a highly enjoyable afternoon was that less than 19,000 people turned […]

Bill Tygri Liberec 5, Cardiff Devils 2 Cardiff Devils gave Czech team Bili Tygri Liberec a tough time in the Champions Hockey League. Elite League champions Devils led by two goals after the first period, but were undone by three goals in a spell of less than five minutes during the second. Captain Jake Morissette […]

Newport County players will run out onto a brand new playing surface at Rodney Parade today (Saturday). They take on Chesterfield in their opening home match of the new season and manager Michael Flynn says: “The pitch is green instead of golden sand. It looks fantastic.” A new £750,000 Desso pitch was installed over the […]

The midweek fixtures featured many Welshmen in action this week. Iestyn Samuel wraps up all the action as the Carabao Cup second round gave first team opportunities to many youngsters out to prove a point and fight for a future starting berth.

Chris Coleman has opened the door to a possible U-turn over his decision to stand down as Wales manager. The 47-year-old has previously stated he would leave his post after the current World Cup campaign – regardless of whether or not his team qualifies for the finals in Russia next summer. But after naming a 25-man squad for the crunch qualifiers with Austria and Moldova, Coleman revealed he will soon discuss his future with his Football Association of Wales bosses.

Gareth Bale has been backed to return to peak form and fitness for Wales next week, by a relieved Chris Coleman. The Real Madrid star was named on Friday for the World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Moldova after returning from international suspension. Bale missed the 1-1 draw against Serbia in June and has played just one La Liga match since then as the season starts later in Spain.

Wales have made six changes to their starting team for the Women’s Rugby World Cup seventh-place play-off against Ireland at the Kingspan Stadium tomorrow afternoon. Two of the changes are positional: Elinor Snowsill goes from fly-half to fullback, allowing Robyn Wilkins her first tournament start at number ten, and Elen Evans moves from left to right wing as Jasmine Joyce returns to the side.

Neil Warnock has revealed Cardiff City are prepared to sell in-form centre-forward Kenneth Zohore, but only if a Premier League club offers £30m-plus. “If we got £30m offered we’d have to sell him,” says the Bluebirds manager. Warnock, though, does not expect any movement and said: “If Kenneth has another good season with Cardiff than […]