Gareth Anscombe has edged out Dan Biggar for the Wales outside-half spot for Saturday’s crunch meeting with England in Cardiff. Anscombe returns to the side at No 10 having started the opener against France with Biggar dropping back to the bench having started the last game against Italy.

Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde insists his recovering squad will be ready for the bruising challenge of France on Friday night as the Six Nations begins. McBryde has given a positive injury update and believes Warren Gatland’s side will be fully prepared for a humdinger of a tournament opener in Paris. Wales have been boosted by the news that Gareth Davies, Ross Moriarty and Liam Williams are all available for selection.

Tomos Williams grew up wishing he was Kobe Bryant or Shaq O’Neal but now wants to be the new Mike Phillips. Wales have not had an undisputed, unchallenged, first-name-on the-team-sheet scrum-half since the days of Phillips, the almost original Iron Mike. But Williams – who grew up favouring basketball over rugby and idolised the top American stars – has big plans ahead, starting with Friday night in Paris, and Warren Gatland might just share them.

Cardiff RFC has been invited to break new ground by becoming the first club side to face Oxford University in their annual Major Stanley’s XV fixture on Wednesday, 14November, 2018. This prestigious match has been the highlight of the home matches at Iffley Road since 1919 and the game against the Blue & Blacks will come 130 years on from the first meeting of the two great rugby institutions in 1888.

Gareth Davies has said that the vote to modernise the Welsh Rugby Union’s governance structure is one of the most significant steps in its 130-year history. Members of the WRU approved a proposal to modernise the governance structures of the game and revolutionise rugby in Wales for generations to come at Sunday’s Annual General Meeting, […]

Welsh Rugby Union chairman Gareth Davies has told member clubs they face a “pivotal moment” in the running of the game. Davies has written to the 320 clubs and districts of the Union, urging them to back his proposals for reform which go before the AGM next month. If the plans are passed on October 14, they will usher in a new system of slimmed-down governance with the WRU board reduced in size from 20 to 12 directors.

The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Anthony Joshua all helped the Welsh Rugby Union announce a record turn-over of £97m last year. Concerts, boxing and other non-rugby events at the Principality Stadium played a huge part in a 30% increase in revenue at the home of Welsh rugby. Away from international rugby, takings rose to £4.8m with hospitality and catering income rising more than £7m to £18.0m as a direct result. The hosting of rugby Tests in the Welsh capital still accounted for 46% of the Union’s overall income – up to £44.9m from £35m – but CEO Martyn Phillips still opted to carry forward a profit of £2.3m to act as a contingency fund moving forward with fewer games in World Cup year.

Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies has been accused of “dirty play” by former Ireland international Luke Fitzgerald for allegedly aiming a knee at Leinster’s James Lowe. The incident occured in the first-half of the Scarlets’ thrilling 23-21 victory at home to the Guinness Pro 14 champions on Saturday. New Zealander Lowe scored just before half-time, but as he slid in at the corner he was challenged by a sliding Davies as the players collided.

Shaun Edwards will see out the remainder of his Wales contract to next year’s World Cup, before he returns to rugby league to take charge at Wigan Warriors. After months of speculation linking the Wales defence coach with various jobs in both codes, Wigan have confirmed he will be joining them next year. But the former Warriors star – who has spent a decade as right-hand man to Warren Gatland – will not be released before his time is up.

Wayne Pivac will move to bring in Stephen Jones as his right-hand man for his four-year stint as Wales coach. The Scarlets chief was confirmed on Monday afternoon as the man to take over from Warren Gatland after next year’s World Cup. It’s a lengthy lead-in time for the 55-year-old New Zealander, but it will provide plenty of time for him to help negotiate a deal that will enable Jones to join him when he steps into Gatland’s shoes.

Rachel Taylor has made history by becoming the first female coach of a Welsh rugby club playing in the national league. The former Wales captain has crossed the gender divide to take charge of a men’s team at Colwyn Bay RFC – the club’s first female appointment in their 95-year history. Taylor, who won 67 caps and also captained the Barbarians women’s team against the Army last autumn, is a full-time rugby coordinator for the Welsh Rugby Union.

Gareth Davies called the Dragons “average” on Saturday night and then spent Sunday morning writing out an apology, the Scarlets announced this week. Quite right, too, says Robin Davey. I’m not one bit surprised Scarlets scrum half Gareth Davies has been forced to issue an apology to the Dragons after the way he has slagged them off. The Wales scrum-half was speaking after another one-sided performance by the Scarlets against their East Wales opponents on Judgement Day when the result was never in doubt.