DragonSport Calendar

New Year’s Day is usually a time of hope, optimism and positive thinking . . . all of which are desperately needed in Welsh rugby.

Cardiff City may be top of League One and have promotion as their key priority, but only a Christmas Scrooge - or Swansea City fan - would deny them some Cup glory.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . . when you turn on the TV and all you see is football, darts, rugby, darts, cricket, darts and more darts.

European rugby returns this weekend and for the Welsh regions that means some meaty opening fixtures just days after Wales were given a braai roasting from South Africa.

A new head coach and a new era for Swansea City this week after their appointment of Portuguese new boy, 37-year-old Vitor Matos.

No Kieffer Moore, no Ethan Ampadu, no Ben Davies and no Jordan James - so it might be timely for Wales striker Brennan Johnson to remind people he’s a £50m footballer this week.

Craig Bellamy will attempt to steer Wales towards a World Cup play-off place when his team resume their qualification campaign in Liechtenstein on Saturday.

Wales return to the international rugby stage this week when they host Argentina in the first of the Quilter Autumn Series matches.