Rowland Phillips has named his first match squad as Wales Women head coach to take on Scotland Women on Saturday at their new BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park home (kick-off 12:00). An experienced front row is made up of loosehead Caryl Thomas, captain Carys Phillips at hooker and tighthead Meg York.

Robin McBryde has claimed players are in a “tug of war” between club and country every November. The Wales assistant coach has welcomed the decision of English clubs to allow their Wales players to play against Australia next week.

Newport’s Debbie Brazier claimed her third successive Wrexham Wheelchair Tennis Tournament women’s doubles title over the weekend.

Graham Westley believes Newport County are making progress despite a 13th game without a win leaving them rooted at the bottom of League Two. The Exiles claimed their first point since Westley took charge with Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Barnet at Rodney Parade.

Wales assistant manager Osian Roberts has claimed the Dafabet Welsh Premier is getting stronger. Roberts – whose tactical input played such a significant part in Wales’ Euro 2016 campaign this summer – also believes the domestic league is now providing a development route for young players with ambitions of international football.

Michael Cheika has admitted he is unlikely to unleash Australia’s latest rugby league convert against Wales. The Wallabies coach included Marika Koroibete in his 32-man tour squad for Europe even though the Fijian-born wing has yet to play a senior game of rugby union.

Liam Williams is a player in demand – and not just by the medical staff charged with getting him fit after an ankle injury that threatens his place for Wales against Australia on November 5. The Scarlets full-back is out of contract at the end of the season and his existing region, the Ospreys, plus a number of English and French clubs are keen to sign him. Wales have 16 players on national dual contracts and Williams could be the next. But @PhilBB believes the Welsh Rugby Union’s system is flawed.

Chaz Davies is looking to dazzle under the Doha floodlights as he bids to snatch the runner-up in spot in the World Superbikes championship. The Knighton-born flier has won five of the last six races and bagged back-to-back doubles as the last two rounds in France and Spain.

Wales could face Australia scrum-half Will Genia in the opening autumn Test – even though he is currently another victim of the club v country dispute. Arguably the Wallabies’ most influential player, Genia has been named in coach Michael Cheika’s squad for their European tour.

George North, Jamie Roberts and the rest of Wales’ players based in England have been given the go-head to play in the first November Test. All of Wales’ Aviva Premiership players will be made available for the autumn series opener against Australia in Cardiff on November 5.

There are just days left until the thrilling FIA World Rally Championship roars into the UK for the 2016 Dayinsure Wales Rally GB (27-30 October).

At its final event of the season, the Abu Dhabi Total WRT lines up at the start of Wales Rally GB with four cars.

Keelan Giles should not be pushed too hard, too soon, his Ospreys coach Steve Tandy has warned. Giles, still only 18, has been called up to train with Wales this week after his hat-trick of tries for his region at the weekend in their 31-13 victory over Lyon in the European Challenge Cup.

It’s October, a time of annual tradition, especially in Welsh rugby as old arguments are reached for and played out before the November internationals. Geraint Powell is reassured by familiar feelings at this time of year – as Wales row with the English clubs over whether they can play the likes of George North – but asks, does it really have to always be this way?

Leon Britton has a back catalogue that proves he understands what is required when a football club is in a fight. The Swansea City midfielder knows it takes more than rolled sleeves and determination to preserve status and that teams need the courage to assert themselves, rather than just cover up under the blows.

Liam Williams, Jake Ball and George North are all injury concerns for Wales after a bruising weekend of European rugby. Williams suffered an ankle injury playing for the Scarlets in their Champions Cup defeat at Saracens – and left the stadium wearing a protective boot – whilst Ball injured his ribs in the same match.

Bob Bradley insists he can change Swansea City’s fortunes, even though he admits it will not be as instant as his transformed dress code. The man in a black sweatshirt and trousers at Arsenal a week ago – subject to fashion critiques that he resembled a bank robber – chose a sharp grey suit for his home debut, but was unable to provide the full colour of three points.

Osian Pryce is aiming to sign off his Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy-winning season in style at this week’s Dayinsure Wales Rally GB – Britain’s biggest motorsport event of the season. With the World Rally Championship in Wales, Machynlleth-born Pryce and co-driver Dale Furniss have stepped up a category and will tackle the Deeside-based event in a Ford Fiesta R5.

Neil Warnock insists it is too early to think about promotion after maintaining his unbeaten start as Cardiff City boss. The 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest on Saturday made it seven points from three games since he took over from the axed Paul Trollope.

The legendary Welsh forests are ready to welcome a stellar 148-car entry into the 2016 Dayinsure Wales Rally GB (27-30 October), the penultimate round of this year’s dramatic FIA World Rally Championship.