Wing Alex Cuthbert and centre Johnny Williams will make their first appearances of Wales’ World Cup warm-up schedule against South Africa on Saturday. Williams partners Mason Grady in midfield, while there are also starts for the likes of scrum-half Kieran Hardy and hooker Elliot Dee.

Leigh Halfpenny will finally win his 100th cap for Wales against England on Saturday in a team captained by Jac Morgan. Three players are at the other end of the spectrum and will make their international debuts – Keiron Assiratti (tighthead prop), Corey Domachowski (loosehead prop) and Max Llewellyn (centre).

Rob Howley and Matt Sherratt are the early main candidates to take over from Dai Young at Cardiff Rugby. Sherratt – currently one of only two senior coaches left at the Arms Park following a raft of departures – is the current favourite at 6/4 with Welsh Bookmaker DragonBet.

Cardiff Rugby fans are bracing themselves for confirmation of the departure of director of rugby, Dai Young. A decision on the future of Young – who remains a hugely popular figure within the fans base – is said to be “imminent” by chief executive Richard Holland. Cardiff ‘s backs and back row forwards may now be back in full training ahead of the 2023-2024 season, but there is still no indication who will be coaching them in the new campaign.

Sion Parry is hoping to make the leap from carpenter and semi-pro rugby player to become an international this summer after being called up into the Canadian national squad. The tough as teak Pontypridd openside enjoyed a stellar season in the Indigo Premiership at Sardis Road last winter and his reward has been a surprise offer from Canadian head coach Kingsley Jones to join the two Test tour to Tonga.

Harlequins centre Bryn Bradley is hoping to bring some of the lessons he learned from Jamie Roberts to bear when he tries to guide Wales into a Cup semi-final at the World Rugby U20 Championships. Standing in the way of the rejuvenated Welsh team and a top four finish after the pool stages is a gigantic French side who are seeking a third successive title.

Head coach Mark Jones has named a starting side boasting five changes for the crucial Pool A encounter against France at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday 4th July in the U20 World Rugby Championship. (Live S4C, 3.30pm UK)

Former Cardiff Blues second row stalwart Macauley Cook has become the latest high-profile recruit at Pontypridd for next season. The 31-year-old is returning to Wales having spent the last three seasons playing for Jersey in the English Championship. He last played for Ponty in a British & Irish Cup game in 2013.

What do you get when you add Bradley Davies to James Hook, Paul James and Andrew Bishop? A ‘Dream Team’ of coaches to help bring through the next generation of Ospreys stars. After 66 Welsh caps and more than 210 professional games for Cardiff Blues, Wasps and Ospreys, the 36-year-old Davies is all set to become the latest international ex-pro to be attached to the backroom staff at his old region after hanging up his boots.

There was standing room only around much of the grand old setting of St. Helen’s as Alun Wyn Jones sipped what most consider are the last drops of his summer wine. The 37-year-old is certainly in the deep winter of a career that has spanned 20 years, but there was only the joy of a bright sunny evening in Swansea as the Whites brought down the curtain on their 150th anniversary celebrations.

Alun Wyn Jones is going to play for both teams when the Barbarians return to St Helen’s on Wednesday night (kick-off 6.30pm) to help round off his former club Swansea’s 150th anniversary celebrations.

Dan Fish masterminded a narrow 13-10 win for Cardiff in the WRU Premiership Cup final, picked up the man of the match award and then promptly announced he will be retiring as a player as the end of the season. It as his boot, both off the kicking tee and in a tactical battle with opposite number Matt O’Brien, that kept Cardiff in a fight before he created enough space for replacement full back Joe Goodchild to win the game with a spectacular corner try.