But for Wales, it’s pretty much the same story, the same context, and a familiar question from the men’s tournament: can they win a game?
Last season, head coach Sean Lynn’s team lost all five matches and conceded a whopping 32 tries, another uncanny reflection of Steve Tandy’s men’s side.
Kate Williams is the new sole Wales captain and will he hoping her appointment can inspire an opening day victory over Scotland on Saturday at the Principality Stadium.
In the men’s game, the Dragons aim to back up their stunning victory in Paris against Stade Francais by beating Zebre in Italy on Saturday night, which would take them into the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup.
Elsewhere, Welsh football clubs Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City, and Newport County all have important games this week, whilst the best Sunday evening of TV sport of the entire year arrives with the final round of golf’s US Masters from Augusta.
Monday April 6 to Sunday April 12
MONDAY APRIL 6
HORSE RACING
Fakenham (NH) - Hereford (NH) - Plumpton (NH) - Kempton (AW) - Wolverhampton (AW) - Cork (NH) - Fairyhouse (NH)
FOOTBALL
Swansea City v Middlesbrough (Skybet Championship - 5.30pm) -
Peterborough United v Cardiff City (Skybet League 1 - 3pm) -
Notts County v Newport County (Skybet League 2 - 3pm) -
Hereford v Merthyr Town (National League North - 3pm)
JD Cymru North (2 games)
RUGBY LEAGUE
Parramatta Eels v West Tigers (NRL - 7.05am)
CRICKET
Namibia v Scotland (ICC World Cup League - 8.30am) -
Glamorgan v Yorkshire (County Championship Division 1 - Day 4 of 4) -
County Championship Division 1 (4 other games - Day 4 of 4) -
County Championship Division 2 (4 games - Day 4 of 4)
TUESDAY APRIL 7
HORSE RACING
Pontefract (Flat) - Exeter (NH) -
Southwell (Evening - AW)
FOOTBALL
UEFA Champions Leagues Quarter-finals (4 games) -
Wrexham v Southampton (Skybet Championship - 8pm) -
Bromley v Shrewsbury Town (Skybet League 2 - 8pm) -
Y Rhyl 1879 v Gresford Athletic (JD Cymru North - 7.45pm) -
Ardal North West (2 games)
WEDNESDAY APRIL 8
HORSE RACING
Catterick (Flat) - Nottingham (Flat) - Fontwell (NH) -
Gowran Park (Flat) - Kempton (Evening - AW)
FOOTBALL
Holywell Town v Newtown (JD Cymru North - 7.45pm) -
Penmaenmawr Phoenix v Trearddur Bay (Ardal North West - 6.30pm) -
Cwmbran Town v Goytre (Ardal South East - 7.45pm)
CRICKET
Oman v Scotland (ICC World Cup League - 8.30am)
THURSDAY APRIL 9
HORSE RACING
Aintree (NH) - Taunton (NH) - Southwell (AW) - Chelmsford City (Evening - AW) - Gowran Park (Evening - Flat)
FOOTBALL
UEFA Europa League Quarter-finals (4 games) -
UEFA Conference League Quarter-finals (4 games)
RUGBY UNION
Newport v Pontypool (Super Rygbi Cymru - 7.30pm) -
Skewen v Maesteg Quins (WRU Division 1 West Central - 7.15pm)
RUGBY LEAGUE
Canterbury Bulldogs v Penrith Panthers (NRL - 10.50am)
CRICKET
Oman v Scotland (ICC World Cup League - 8.30am)
DARTS
Premier League (Brighton - Night 10)
GOLF
The Masters (Day 1 of 4)
FRIDAY APRIL 10
HORSE RACING
Aintree (NH) - Sedgefield (NH) - Thirsk (Flat) -
Wolverhampton (Evening - AW) - Wexford (Evening - NH) -
Dundalk (Evening - AW)
FOOTBALL
West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Premier League - 8pm) -
WBA v Millwall (Skybet Championship - 8pm) -
Colchester United v Swindon Town (Skybet League 2 - 7.45pm) -
Ardal South West (3 games)
RUGBY UNION
Bath v Northampton (European Champions Cup Quarter-final - 8pm)
Ulster v La Rochelle (European Challenge Cup Quarter-final - 8pm)
Highlanders v Brumbies (Super Rugby - 8.05am)
RUGBY LEAGUE
NRL (2 games)
CRICKET
Namibia v Oman (ICC World Cup League - 8.30am) -
Nottinghamshire v Glamorgan (County Championship Division 1 - Day 1 of 4) -
County Championship Division 1 (4 other games - Day 1 of 4) -
County Championship Division 2 (4 games - Day 1 of 4)
GOLF
The Masters (Day 2 of 4)
SATURDAY APRIL 11
HORSE RACING
Aintree (NH - Grand National) - Chepstow (NH) - Newcastle (NH) -
Southwell (Evening - AW) - Bellewstown (Evening - Flat)
FOOTBALL
Premier League (6 games) -
Scottish Premiership (5 games) -
Leicester City v Swansea City (Skybet Championship - 3pm) -
Cardiff City v Bolton Wanderers (Skybet League 1 - 12.30pm) -
Newport County v Harrogate Town (Skybet League 2 - 3pm) -
Merthyr Town v Macclesfield (National League North - 3pm) -
JD Cymru North (2 games) -
JD Cymru South (2 games) -
Ardal North East (8 games) -
Ardal North West (8 games) -
Ardal South East (6 games) -
Ardal South West (3 games)
RUGBY UNION
France v Italy (Women's 6 Nations - 12.25pm) -
England v Ireland (Women's 6 Nations - 2.25pm) -
Wales v Scotland (Women's 6 Nations - 4.40pm) -
European Champions Cup Quarter-finals (2 games) -
Zebre v Dragons (European Challenge Cup Quarter-final - 8pm) -
European Challenge Cup Quarter-final (1 more game) -
Super Rugby (4 games) -
Super Rygbi Cymru Trophy (4 games) -
WRU Premiership (5 games) -
WRU Championship East (5 games) -
WRU Championship West (6 games) -
WRU Division 1 East (3 games) -
WRU Division 1 East Central (3 games) -
WRU Division 1 North (3 games) -
WRU Division 1 West Central (3 games) -
WRU Division 1 West (3 games)
RUGBY LEAGUE
NRL (3 games)
CRICKET
Nottinghamshire v Glamorgan (County Championship Division 1 - Day 2 of 4) -
County Championship Division 1 (4 other games - Day 2 of 4) -
County Championship Division 2 (4 games - Day 2 of 4) -
Metro Bank One Day Cup Women (4 games)
GOLF
The Masters (Day 3 of 4)
SUNDAY APRIL 12
HORSE RACING
Musselburgh (Flat) - Ffos Las (NH) - Wincanton (NH)
Leopardstown (Flat) - Down Royal (NH)
FOOTBALL
Pemier League (2 games) -
Falkirk v Rangers (Scottish Premiership - 12pm) -
Birmingham City v Wrexham (Skybet Championship - 12pm) -
Caernarfon Town v Flint Town United (Welsh Cup Final - 3.15pm)
RUGBY UNION
Bordeaux v Toulouse (European Champions Cup Quarter-final - 3pm)
Benetton v Exeter Chiefs (European Challenge Cup Quarter-final - 12.30pm)
Welsh Cups Finals Day (4 games) -
Blaina v Abercrave (WRU Division 1 Cup Final - 10.45am - 'Live' WRU U Tube) -
Llandaff North v Bonymaen (Women's WRU Cup Final - 1pm - 'Live' S4C) -
Bedwas v Bridgend Athletic (WRU Championship Cup Final - 3.15pm - 'Live WRU U Tube) -
Merthyr v Neath (WRU Premiership Cup Final - 5.45pm - 'Live' S4C)
RUGBY LEAGUE
Keighley Cougars v North Wales Crusaders (Betfred Championship - 3pm) -
NRL (2 games)
CRICKET
Namibia v Scotland (ICC World Cup League - 8.30am) -
Nottinghamshire v Glamorgan (County Championship Division 1 - Day 3 of 4) -
County Championship Division 1 (4 other games - Day 3 of 4) -
County Championship Division 2 (4 games - Day 3 of 4) -
Glamorgan v Gloucestershire (Metrobank One Day Cup Women League 2 - 10.30am) -
One Day Cup Women League 2 (3 other games)
GOLF
The Masters (Day 4 of 4)
