Jonny Clayton admits he just sneaked in to the eight-man Premier League Darts roadshow, but that won’t stop him from straining every sinew to topple world champion Michael Smith in front of a packed Welsh crowd on Thursday night. The Premier League will be in Cardiff at the Motorpoint Arena and Welshman Clayton has been drawn against Smith in a mouth-watering clash in front of The Ferret’s home crowd. “I had a few nervous moments and at one point I thought I might not make the Premier League, but I managed to get into the group of eight – thank god,” said Clayton.

Julie Read had admitted her decision to retire from international hockey was a tough one to make. The 28-year-old has decided to bring to an end her 13-year Test career, although she will continue to play for Beeston in the top-tier England Hockey League. “It has been incredibly hard,” said Read about her decision to stop representing her country.

Meirion Evans did what the Welsh rugby squad failed to do last weekend – beat the Irish! And he did it on their home turf too, scoring a sensational away win on the Galway International Rally. The high-speed victory gives the Llanwrda driver the lead in the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship for the first time in his career.

Zoe Backstedt insisted she was thrilled to win a silver medal at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Hoogerheide, in the Netherlands. The 18-year-old Welsh star took second spot in the women’s under-23 category as the Great Britain Cycling Team ended the championships with more success. Backstedt got off to a strong start, getting out in front in the lead group of three, before dropping Marie Schreiber to continue head-to-head with race favourite, Shirin Anrooij of The Netherlands.

Welsh gymnasts Poppy-Grace Stickler and Ruby Evans have both been selected to represent Great Britain at the first FIG Artistic World Cup series event of 2023 later this month. The event will take place in Cottbus, Germany, from 23-26 February. Clwb Cymru Caerdydd duo Poppy and Ruby will be accompanied on the trip by lead Welsh women’s artistic national coach, Tracey Skirton-Davies.

Chris Type helped deliver Welsh Boxing’s most successful Commonwealth Games for more than 60 years in Birmingham last summer. Now, he is aiming to help add some extra punch to Welsh Athletics’ ambition to build on the success enjoyed by track and field in Wales. Last summer, Welsh athletes Olivia Breen and Aled Sion Davies won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, with Harrison Walsh earning bronze.

Welsh female athletes are still waiting to hear from World Athletics who say their transgender policy is still a work in progress. Its stance follows claims made by British shot-putter that the governing body’s preferred option would “screw” female athletes. The global organisation is consulting with member federations over its preferred option for a new policy.

Elfyn Evans has admitted he was frustrated but not down-hearted after his fourth place finish at the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally. The opening round of the World Rally Championship was won by Evans’ Toyota teammate Sebastien Ogier, with a third member of Toyota Gazoo Racing – world champion Kalle Rovanpera – finishing runner-up. Welsh driver Evans had been in second place on Friday but lost more than 40 seconds after a puncture on the fifth stage.

Wales head coach Danny Newcombe has admitted his team have fallen short of his high demands at their first Hockey World Cup. Wales’ progress at the tournament came to an end on Friday when they lost 4-2 in their final Pool D match against hosts India. It was a hugely improved display from Wales who had previously suffered heavy defeats to Spain and England.

Elfyn Evans insists he can challenge for the World Rally Championship after putting last season’s nightmare campaign behind him. The Welshman will start his claim for a long cherished world title at the legendary Rallye Monte-Carlo, which opens the 2023 season on Thursday. Evans was runner-up in 2020 and 2021 but finished fourth in the standings last year and suffered a number of mechanical and strategic problems with the new hybrid cars that were introduced in 2022.

Mark Williams has vowed to keep snookers’ youngsters on their toes after being edged out in the Masters final by Judd Trump. Trump beat Mark Williams 10-8 to win his second Masters title at Alexandra Palace. The Englishman trailed 8-7 but won three frames in a row to clinch the first prize of £250,000, wrapping up victory with a clearance of 126.

James Carson made history by becoming the first Wales player to score at the Hockey World Cup – but it was scant consolation for his team who were beaten 5-1 by Spain. It was the second match of the tournament in India for Wales, but for the second time they leaked five goals. At least there was no whitewash this time – as there had been with Friday’s 5-0 defeat to England – with Carson scoring in the fourth quarter, when Spain were leading 4-0.

Wales star Jacob Draper admitted the World Cup debutants had given England far too much respect after they lost 5-0 in their opening games of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup. Great Britain international Draper was part of a Wales side overpowered and outgunned by their nearest rivals in India as the Welsh campaign got off to a miserable start. Wales got off to a poor opening, conceded inside the first minute, and never really recovered as Liam Ansell scored two penalty corners with further England goals for Nick Park, Phil Roper and Nick Bandurak.

Mark Williams believes beating Ronnie O’Sullivan was his most satisfying victory for years as he looks forward to a semi-final battle at the Masters. The veteran Welsh ace ended an eight-year wait for victory over O’Sullivan by storming back from a three-frame deficit to win 6-5 and reach the semi-finals where he will play Jack Lisowski after the Englishman’s 6-4 victory over Hossein Vafaei. Williams’s hopes of beating the seven-time Masters champion seemed distant as O’Sullivan surged into a 3-0 lead at Alexandra Palace.

By Hannah Blackwell Mark Williams shook off the challenge of David Gilbert – and the attentions of a persistent wasp – to win his Masters first-round match 6-2 at Alexandra Palace. The world No 7 began in ominous fashion, hitting back-to-back century breaks to start the match and adding a further run of 95 to […]

Wales captain Rupert Shipperley insists his team are ready to cause an upset when they face England on Friday in their opening match of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup. Great Britain international Shipperley and his team are just 48 hours out from their first ever appearance at the tournament and will start their campaign against their oldest and nearest enemy in India. Wales open their campaign against England on January 13 and play Spain on January 15, both in the newly built Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, before their final group match against hosts India on January 19 in Bhubaneswar.

By Carl Field Commmonwealth Games gymnast Holly Jones has announced her retirement from competitive women’s artistic gymnastics. The 22-year-old, who hails from Morriston, calls time on the back of an outstanding career as an elite gymnast and a journey that started at the age of three at her local gymnastics club in Swansea. She would […]

SAM LOUSI (SCARLETS) The Tongan international lock is one of the most skilful players in the URC, as demonstrated by him having produced more offloads (11) than any other forward. With his trademark penchant for carrying the ball in one hand, he is always looking to keep the attack alive and will pose a real […]

By Matthew Burgess Joey Martin’s late empty-net goal secured the Cardiff Devils a crucial win over the Sheffield Steelers to boost their Elite League title hopes. Ben Davies’ early opener for the Devils was wiped out by Scott Allen’s wrist shot in the first period. But the Steelers were unable to recover after Trevor Cox’s […]

By Hannah Blackwell Emily Handyside has been appointed as the new head coach of the Welsh Feathers netball team and will lead them at the 2023 Netball World Cup in South Africa. Handyside previously served as the technical coach for the Welsh Feathers and helped the team qualify for the World Cup. In addition to […]