Tomas Francis will try to deny his Wales teammate Liam Williams the perfect season when they clash in the Gallagher Premiership final next weekend. The Exeter Chiefs prop will face the Saracens full-back at Twickenham in the showpiece of the English season after both came through their respective semi-finals. Williams has already won a Six Nations Grand Slam with Wales and a Heineken Champions Cup winners medal for Sarries and could become the first Welshman to win the ultimate triple if his club retain their domestic title.

Welsh rugby’s European “Top 10” has just expanded to 11 following Saracens’ epic fight back to topple Leinster in the Heineken Champions Cup final. Liam Williams shone in his alternative red kit as the English champions came from 10 points down to score 20 unanswered ones of their own to win the title for the third time in four years. The 20-10 victory in Newcastle means Williams becomes the 11th Welsh player to win Europe’s top tournament – although no Welsh team has lifted the trophy.

Liam Williams has taken a step nearer towards becoming the first Welsh player to complete the Triple Crown of Grand Slam winner, European champion and domestic champion. The Wales full-back was part of the Saracens side that beat Munster 32-16 at the weekend to reach the Heineken Champions Cup Final. Playing on the wing, the former Scarlets favourite played his part as Sarries made their fourth final in six seasons, where they will meet defending champions Leinster.

Liam Williams is on course to become the first Welshman to win the ultimate Triple Crown of Grand Slam, European Champions Cup and domestic league title. The Wales full-back – already a Six Nations winner – scored two tries as his Saracens team thrashed Glasgow 56-27 at the weekend to clinch a semi-final spot in the Heineken Champions Cup. Williams also helped create David Strettle’s first try for Sarries, who are also chasing an English Gallagher Premiership title.

By Harri Morgan After his prolonged lay-off, the rugby masses will breathe a sigh of relief when Leigh Halfpenny returns to business this afternoon. He is just one of the blokes that exudes the values of which followers of the sport readily boast. He will do so in the Scarlet of his region on a Sunday, rather than the red of his nation on Saturday evening. The correct decision. The talk of him returning straight into the main mix, the Six Nations cauldron, seemed devoid of logic.

Jay Harris has been named Welsh Boxer of the Year at the Welsh Area Council Awards – beating Gavin Gwynne and Tony Dixon to the top prize. Harris – who is due to defend his Commonwealth flyweight title on March 1 – picked up the award in a year he extended his unbeaten professional record to 14 fights. The Swansea fighter – son of former British champion Peter Harris – is ranked No.4 in the UK – and is due to defend his Commonwealth Crown against Zambian Alfred Muwowo in Cardiff on St. David’s Day.

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.

Liam Williams’ first defence of his British Middleweight title will see boxing return to an iconic London venue. The Church Village man will face England’s Joe Mullender on March 8 at The Royal Albert Hall, which stages only its second professional boxing show since the 1990s. The talented Williams (19-2-1-KO14) produced a sensational stoppage of Mark Heffron at the Manchester Arena to claim the title in December and is back in action to defend his title against former English champion Mullender (11-2-KO5).

Leading boxing management company MTK Global returns to Cardiff on St David’s Day for its second show in the Welsh capital. Last September, the company staged a seven-fight show at the Vale Arena, headlined by Liam Williams, who has since gone on to British middleweight title glory against Mark Heffron.

Liam Williams is weighing up his options after adding the British Middleweight title to his collection with a convincing 10th round stoppage of Mark Heffron. Nicknamed ‘Kid Dynamite’, Heffron had prepared for the fight at the Manchester Arena by sparring with the man who beat the Welshman last time out, Liam Smith. There was no dynamite and no problem for Williams.

Welsh boxers will have British titles in their sights over the Christmas and New Year periods with Church Village middleweight Liam Williams kicking-off the title chase this weekend in Manchester. Williams has already been crowned British, Commonwealth and European Super Welterweight champion in the course of his 21 professional fights, but missed out on the interim WBO World crown last year when he was beaten by Liam Smith on a technical knock-out at the same MEN Arena he will return to on Saturday night. Now he gets his chance to claim another British title when he goes up against the unbeaten Oldham middleweight Mark Heffron on the undercard of the Josh Warrington v Carl Frampton contest for the IBO World Featherweight title.

Warren Gatland believes the chance to become history-makers will spur on his Wales players against South Africa on Saturday. The coach, who last week suggested this was his strongest squad in a decade in charge, says they are fully aware they can achieve “something special” against the Springboks. Wales have won four of the last five encounters with the Boks, and they are also chasing a ninth successive triumph against all opponents, which would equal their longest unbeaten run since 1999.