Sam Warburton has admitted the Cardiff Blues have some pride to restore in their derby date against the Newport Gwent Dragons. The Wales skipper makes his 100th appearance for his region in the Boxing Day clash at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, determined to make amends for their failures against other Welsh rivals this season.

Dai Sport columnist Phil Bennett doesn’t want much for Christmas – just a couple of packed stadiums, some local feuding, and signals that things are improving at the top level of Welsh rugby.

Regional rugby has been around for 13 years – soon to be 14 as we head towards 2017 – but the name-calling over names shows no signs of going away. Robin Davey says the label-obsessed regions tend to be those in the east of Wales, where the teams have been less successful, too.

Former Cardiff Blues coach Gareth Baber is at the centre of a war of words between his Fiji bosses and their Olympic Sevens winner Ben Ryan. Baber – who has replaced Ryan as Fiji Sevens coach – is part of a Fijian set-up that has come under fire from Englishman Ryan since he stood down after leading them to gold in Rio de Janeiro this summer.

Danny Wilson has praised his Cardiff Blues team for their old-fashioned wet weather know-how that has put them on course for European success. The Blues head coach said it was his team’s tactical approach and shrewd play in tough conditions that enabled them to beat Bath 28-3 at the Arms Park on Saturday.

In his first column for Dai Sport former Wales and Lions captain Phil Bennett looks at the European action for the four Welsh regions at the weekend and says the Scarlets can cause a major surprise. Whisper it quietly, but Toulon are not the force of old and I’m backing the Scarlets to beat them on Saturday.

Cardiff Blues coach Danny Wilson has admitted his team’s season is turning sour after so much seemed sweetness and light just a few weeks ago. The Blues have now lost five of their last six Guinness Pro 12 matches after their crisis deepened with a 35-22 home thrashing against Ulster who scored five tries at the Arms Park on Saturday.

Nicky Robinson’s comeback at the Cardiff Blues has been put into sharper focus after they revealed Gareth Anscombe has been ruled out for six weeks. Wales fly-half Anscombe is to have surgery on a groin injury, meaning Robinson will come straight onto the bench for Saturday’s home Guinness Pro12 match against Ulster.

Former Wales outside-half Nicky Robinson has revealed he felt he was unable to turn down an SOS from the Cardiff Blues. Robinson has come out of retirement after being approached by his home town club due to an injury crisis.

Wayne Pivac has revealed his Scarlets teams were driven by the fear factor in their 26-15 bonus-point victory over the Cardiff Blues on Friday night. The New Zealander admitted that losing to the Blues at home last season was “an embarrassment” and they were determined to make amends.

Cardiff Blues coach Danny Wilson has opted against a derby day debut for Willis Halaholo. The New Zealander arrived in Wales this week, fresh from a Super Rugby title winning season with the Hurricanes.

Sam Warburton is set to enter the autumn international series without having played a game since undergoing surgery three weeks ago. The Wales captain has been ruled out of Friday’s Cardiff Blues game at home to Pau in the Challenge Cup with a stiff neck.