Billy Root admits it will be more than a routine season opener when he faces brother and England captain Joe on Thursday. The Glamorgan all-rounder will take on his big brother at Headingly as the Welsh County begin their County Championship campaign at the home of the England batsman. “We both will say this is just another game of County Championship cricket and there is a job to be done which is true, but there is a little bit more on it for us personally,” said Root junior, who, at 28 is two years younger than Joe.

Some people feel born to coach from a young age. Wayne Pivac and Jose Mourinho were both guiding others in their 20s and so, too, is Singh Jasminder Bal on the hockey field as he tells Graham Thomas. Singh Jasminder Bal – Jaz – has an online clip of him lobbing a goalkeeper that has been viewed over 12,000 times, but still believes his biggest impact will come as a coach. The video of the Penarth Hockey Club player – nonchalantly flicking the ball up with his stick and tapping it, with his back to goal, over the head of a flailing keeper – is impressive and worth checking out on Twitter.

Sarah Taylor has been confirmed as another recruit for Welsh Fire this summer – meaning the new Cardiff-based outfit will boast two of the biggest names in women’s cricket as Taylor combines forces with Australian Meg Lanning. For Taylor, it’s a return to the game that looked unlikely a year ago, as she told Alex Bywater. Sarah Taylor never planned on being a role model. The England star – who will make a sensational return to action in Cardiff this summer – never planned on being the first woman to coach in men’s professional cricket.

Welshman Jonathan Phillips led Sheffield Steelers to victory in their opening Elite League series ice hockey match. Cardiff-born Phillips, who started his playing days as a teenager with Devils, is Sheffield’s captain and he scored their first goal in a 3-2 win against Nottingham Panthers at the Motorpoint Arena. ‘Captain ‘Jonno’ is now a veteran aged 38-years-old, but he remains a fast, fit and crucial part of the Steelers team.

Osian Perrin smashed the Welsh 5K under-20 record on a historic night of racing in Lancashire on Saturday. The Menai Track and Field athlete clocked a time of 14.02 at the Podium 5K in Barrowfield, where he set his previous best of 14:30 in August last year.

Danny Stewart was delighted when Cardiff Devils forward Sam Duggan was still available deep into the EIHL Elite series draft pick. Snapping up ‘Duggie’ for Coventry Blaze gave Canadian Stewart a lot of satisfaction and he said: “It was exciting to get Sam on board.

Welshman Matthew Myers is number one for Sheffield Steelers coach Aaron Fox in the build-up to 2021 Elite Series. Cardiff Devils are not competing in the one-off competition, although they will be back for the 2021-22 Elite League season starting later this year.

The Cardiff Devils have invited their fanbase to have their say on who should be included into the club’s ‘Best All-Time’ team. The team launched an online vote this week through their official website to mark what would have been their 35th anniversary season. A three-man panel made up of former player turned club official […]

The winning junior driver in this year’s Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship will win a prize that every under 25-year old aspiring youngster wants to have – a test in a state-of-the-art R5 spec rally car.

Welsh sporting governing bodies have reacted with “disappointment and frustration” at the government’s latest “illogical” plans for lifting Covid-19 restrictions. Welsh Athletics, Welsh Cricket, Swim Wales, Welsh Gymnastics and the Welsh Sports Association are five of the organisations calling on First Minister Mark Drakeford to reconsider the timetable for restarting adult sporting activities, which he announced on Thursday. They are unhappy that organised outdoor sports cannot begin until May 3 at the earliest – a week after outdoor hospitality at venues such as pubs are scheduled to re-open.

The Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally will host the opening round of the revised Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship, taking place over the famous rollercoaster roads of the Epynt military range on Sunday 29 August.

Former fund manager Ashton Bradbury is taking over as the new chairman of Wales Golf, hoping to be able to build the sport in a time of change. A specialist investor in small and medium sized businesses, working for various asset management companies over a 25 year career, Bradbury takes over from Dr Val Franklin in a period when clubs around Wales have only recently re-opened after the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

Welsh weightlifter Hannah Powell should have been in Moscow this month for the European Championships as the next stage towards a medal mission at next year’s Commonwealth Games. Instead, she’s still in Bangor, but her coach says good things come to those who wait – especially in weightlifting – as he tells Graham Thomas. Hannah Powell is still on course for the podium at next year’s Commonwealth Games, despite more obstacles she will have to lift from her path. Wales’ national weightlifting coach Ray Williams is convinced British record holder Powell can make the medal ceremony in Birmingham next year, even though some of the stepping stones have been removed.

If you’ve been missing the crack of the starter’s pistol, here’s some good news. Regular competitive athletics is on its way back to Wales this spring and summer.

The countdown to the new cricket season has begun and for Glamorgan that means two warm-up games – against Cardiff UCCE and then Somerset – before the County Championship gets underway against Yorkshire at Headingley on April 8. Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie’s chance to return to Glamorgan was an opportunity to seize, as he told Fraser Watson. For Andrew Balbirnie, a huge year lies ahead. But the current Irish captain wasn’t prepared to sit around and wait for things happen.

Geraint Thomas claimed his best finish of the season with third place at the Volta a Catalunya. The Cardiff-born ace was part of an historic clean sweep of the podium by Ineos Grenadiers.

Geraint Thomas is poised for a podium finish at the Volta a Catalunya in Spain on Sunday. The Ineos Grenadiers rider goes into the final stage of the seven day race in third place.

Natasha Cockram smashed her own Welsh marathon record but agonisingly just missed out on qualification for the Tokyo Olympics on Friday morning. The Micky Morris Racing Team runner finished second in the British Athletics Olympic trials at Kew Gardens, clocking 2:30.03.

Heather Lewis and Bethan Davies made it a Welsh one-two at the British Athletics Olympic race walking trial in London on Friday morning. Lewis produced a dominant display to win the women’s race in a time of 1:35.44, ahead of Wales and Great Britain international teammate Davies, who clocked 1:37.04. Both athletes were outside the Olympic qualifying time of 1:31.00. But, having claimed the top two British qualification spots in the trial, they will aim to lower their times and try to book their places in Tokyo.

Geraint Thomas moved into the top three overall after another mountain battle at the Volta a Catalunya. The Cardiff-born rider finished third on the stage and is now part of an Ineos Grenadiers dominated top three.