Richard Hibbard has extended his stay in English rugby as reports continue to link Liam Williams with a move to Saracens. Hibbard – first choice hooker the last time the Lions played a Test in 2013 – has signed a new two-year contract at Gloucester.

Cardiff City striker Kenneth Zahore is continuing to press his claims for a recall to the first team by firing in the goals for the club’s U23 and development side. Expensive new Dai Sport signing Terry Phillips, who covered the Bluebirds for over 20 years with WalesOnline, watched Zahore give Warnock another reminder on Monday night. Cardiff City U23 4, Queens Park Rangers U23 0 Danish striker Kenneth Zohore, signed from Cardiff City’s sister club KV Kortrijk, made his mark for the Bluebirds’ under-23 Development team against Queens Park Rangers.

South Africa – whose loss to Italy makes Wales’ squeaky victory over Japan look like a confidence-booster – are set to make major changes for Saturday’s Test in Cardiff. Springboks coach Allister Coetzee has revealed he intends to give opportunities to others after their 20-18 defeat in Florence, which could well be his penultimate match in charge.

Cardiff Devils face an exhausting 13 matches in 32 days between now and the new year. The Elite League leaders have nine of those fixtures at Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay – and that run includes three home games against second-placed Sheffield Steelers.

Chaz Davies would relish another chance at MotoGP but will not be rushing into leaving World Superbikes. The Knighton-born flier is continually linked with a switch to bike’s premier series given his form in recent years.

As New Zealand re-assert themselves at the top of rugby’s world order with a weekend victory over Ireland, Geraint Powell compares the regional structure beneath that success with the version here in Wales. As in fixtures between the two countries, Wales don’t really come out on top. It was perhaps fitting that the All Backs 18 match winning run was ended by Ireland in Chicago on 5 November, the northern hemisphere country closest in structural/systemic design to New Zealand. Provincial, but not regional. Central contracts, but not universal central contracts across the 4 provincial squads. Representative, but no controlled private equity (as yet). But still the nearest the Northern Hemisphere has to the ultra efficient New Zealand professional rugby system. Strategically overseen by David Nucifora.

Five of Wales’ top outdoor sporting bodies have joined together to tackle inequalities and expand participation in their sports. RYA Cymru Wales, Welsh Cycling, Welsh Canoeing, Welsh Rowing and the Outdoor Partnership have joined together to form the Welsh Outdoor Sports Equality Steering Group in this exciting new venture.

Lauren Williams has made history by defending her World Junior Taekwondo title to continue her stunning run of success. The Blackwood ace showed why Wales could have two gold medal contenders at the Tokyo Olympics.

Wales may have actually beaten Japan in their last game, they may have a current winning sequence that is twice that of the All Blacks, but the whiff of crisis is in the air. Graham Thomas examines the position of “caretaker” coach Rob Howley and suggests not much care was taken. Looking ahead to Wales v South Africa, one former national coach reckons the team is in “a low, depressing, terrible place.”

Cardiff Devils powered to their second win of the weekend, beating their Glasgow-based visitors in front of 3,000 spectators at Ice Arena Wales. The Elite League leaders followed their 4-2 win in Sheffield on Friday by winning thanks to goals from Guillaume Doucet (2), Josh Batch and Joey Martin scored the goals for Devils.

Garry Monk once called Jonjo Shelvey “lazy” but has admitted the midfielder could still roll up his sleeves and punish Leeds United on Sunday. Shelvey thrilled and frustrated Monk in equal measure when they were both at Swansea City, before the player was sold and the manager sacked inside a month, just less than a year ago.

Neil Warnock has described Junior Hoilett as a “gem” after the midfielder’s growing influence at Cardiff City was underlined with his first goal for the club. Hoilett scored in the Bluebirds’ 3-2 home victory over Huddersfield, a result which keeps Cardiff two points clear of the Championship relegation zone.

Eddie Jones has joined the long line of people putting the boot into Wales following their hollow and desolate victory over Japan. The England coach has accused Rob Howley’s side of complacency that saw them scramble their 33-30 win and claimed even the result is devalued by the second string nature of the opposition.

Bob Bradley admitted Swansea City’s players were left angry after a late draw at Everton send them bottom of the Premier League. The American looked set for his first win as boss – and the team’s second of the season – thanks to Gylfi Sigurdsson’s first-half penalty.

Cardiff City forward Junior Hoilett is expected to be fit for Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship game at home to Huddersfield. Bluebirds manager Neil Warnock is confident Hoilett will overcome a minor strain that ruled him out of Canada’s friendly against South Korea last weekend.

Two of the toughest enforcers from NHL ice hockey go head-to-head at Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay on Sunday (6pm). Patrick Bordeleau, 6ft 5ins tall, is in the Cardiff Devils team, while visitors Braehead Clan will ice 6ft 3ins Jay Rosehill. They have more than 55 hours of penalty minutes between them during their careers and both are in their first season of British hockey.

Toby Faletau insist he is ready for a Wales recall after making his return from injury for Bath. The Wales No.8 – who was left out of the squad to face Japan – made his comeback for his club in their Aviva Premiership derby victory over Bristol on Friday night.

Cardiff Devils earned a third successive victory at Sheffield Steelers this season, storming back from two goals down to come out on top Player-coach Andrew Lord’s Devils are now seven points clear of second-placed Steelers at the top.

Cardiff Devils are aiming to complete an ice hockey hat-trick in Sheffield on Friday (7.30pm). Elite League leaders Devils have already beaten closest rivals Steelers away twice – and now go for number three.

Bob Bradley has admitted Ashley Williams left a leadership vacuum when he joined Everton – but has called on his Swansea City players to fill it. The Swans will come face-to-face with their former skipper for the first time at Goodison Park on Saturday, desperate for a collective display of the kind of authority which he used to deliver.