The Welsh regions believe they require a £40m injection of cash to keep them from collapsing during the current pandemic. That figure is double the amount the four have so far been promised in the form of a loan, secured by the Welsh Rugby Union but for which the regions themselves are liable. Last week, the chief executive of Cardiff Blues, Richard Holland, led the call for Welsh Government support and now one of the most respected figures in the game, Ospreys chairman and current Professional Rugby Board (PRB) member Rob Davies, has demanded a “fair and proportionate share of state funding” to help keep the professional game afloat. 

John Mulvihill has vowed to use the next nine days wisely as the Cardiff Blues look build a successful European campaign on a solid foundation. The Blues laid the groundwork for their campaign with a 33-20 Challenge Cup victory away at Newcastle Falcons on Friday night, where they turned around a five point half-time deficit. Blues fly-half Jarrod Evans kicked 16 points and Hallam Amos and Tomos Williams scored tries as the region made the perfect start with a gritty win.

When Cardiff Blues go to Newcastle Falcons on Friday, it will bring back plenty of memories for one former Arms Park favourite and now proud father of one of Wales’ latest internationals. Liam Botham spoke to Graham Thomas. James Botham’s father Liam admits he cannot wait to be in a stadium to watch his son play “in the flesh” for Wales. Until then, however, he will content himself with the next best thing – the televised clash between Botham’s Cardiff Blues and Newcastle Falcons on Friday night.

The Scarlets, Dragons, Cardiff Blues and Ospreys are all in action this weekend, as international rugby moves aside and the new format of the Heineken Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup gets underway. James Dodd takes a look at the chances of the four Welsh teams going into round one.  Like most else in our lives, European rugby is different this year. Thanks again, pandemic. In the top tier competition, the Heineken Champions Cup, there will be two pools, each containing 12 teams.

Dwayne Peel has revealed it was always his plan to return to Wales after Cardiff Blues confirmed he would join them next season from Ulster. Former Wales and Scarlets scrum-half Peel will leave the Irish province in the summer to take up a role as senior assistant coach at the Arms Park – a job that would appear designed to prepare him as a natural successor to current head coach John Mulvihill. Where current assistant coach Richie Rees – another Wales scrum-half – fits into any succession plan remains to be seen.

Former Dragons boss Bernard Jackman has urged the WRU to follow the IRFU’s lead by pumping more money into the four Welsh regions or see them slip further into the abyss. Three of the four professional sides in Wales are privately owned with the WRU normally providing them with payment for the services of their players.

Wales have called up James Botham to their squad, five days before they face Georgia and just 12 days before the clash against England. The Cardiff Blues flanker was meant to be playing for his region this evening in their Guinness Pro 14 clash against Benetton. Instead, the 22-year-old has been given a senior slot for the first time – just days away from the battle against the old enemy, a date that will not have escaped the notice of his grandfather and England cricket legend, Sir Ian, now Lord Botham.

The dates for the regional festive derbies in the Guinness Pro 14 have been confirmed with the Dragons hosting the Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day afternoon and the Ospreys taking on the Scarlets in the evening. The Rodney Parade match will be live on S4C and Premier Sports, while Premier Sports have sole rights to the clash at the Liberty Stadium. On New Year’s Day, S4C will show live coverage of the Scarlets against the Dragons, along with Premier Sports, with the subscription broadcaster then showing Cardiff Blues v the Ospreys from the Arms Park.

The last few months has seen high profile stars from the sporting world take a knee in a bid to halt racism in sport. But former Wales wing Nigel Walker explains to Graham Thomas that far more needs to be done to make sport more inclusive. As an athlete and then a rugby player, Nigel […]

John Mulvihill believes his Cardiff Blues team can make Rodney Parade a home from home as they began their tenancy with a victory over Connacht. The head coach saw the Blues make it two wins from two in the Guinness Pro14 with a 29-7 bonus point win at their temporary new home. With the Cardiff Arms Park surface in need of replacing after damage caused by its support use for the Principality Stadium’s Dragon’s Heart hospital next door, the Blues have re-located to a ground where the surface has often been criticised.

Josh Navidi and Owen Lane were among four Cardiff Blues players injured in an internal squad game last week in news which could yet have a big impact on Wales’ autumn preparations. Ahead of the start of the new Guinness PRO14 season, John Mulvihill’s side cranked up their preparations with a training match but it was one which came at a price. Wing Lane, 22 and who has two Test caps, injured his shoulder and is expected to be out for two months. It means he will miss all six of Wales’ upcoming games.

Cardiff RFC chairman Chris Norman believes his Blues counterpart Alun Jones has finally twigged the region’s strength lies in their historic appeal. The two limbs of the Arms Park beast have been moving in different directions for years, but the club side believe the region are now aware where their real appeal stems from. Jones talked about leveraging the Blues as a ‘global brand’ when he first took over from Peter Thomas two years ago, but his more recent comments shifted the emphasis to leveraging the tradition and history of rugby in the Welsh capital to try to bring back the glory days to the Arms Park.