James Botham has told his Wales teammates they must quickly put behind them the disaster of their opening night in Paris as they prepare for a crucial Six Nations encounter against Italy in Rome on Saturday. The Cardiff flanker has stressed the need to move forward after their 43-0 loss to France in Paris, which extended their losing streak to 13 matches dating back to the 2023 World Cup.

Richard Whiffin has pledged to pick up his Wales U20 side after their nine try defeat in France. Like their senior counterparts, the U20s began their own Six Nations with a jolting one-sided walloping, but at least they will head into the Italy fixture having got on the scoreboard.

Scarlets back-rower Taine Plumtree has been drafted into Wales’ Six Nations squad as they prepare for their crucial clash against Italy in Rome on Saturday. His call-up follows ongoing injury concerns for Aaron Wainwright and centre Owen Watkin, who both sustained injuries in Wales’ 43-0 defeat to France in Paris.

Josh Adams has labeled Wales’ upcoming Guinness Six Nations showdown with Italy as a pivotal moment in their campaign, as Warren Gatland’s side look to end a harrowing losing streak. Defeat in Rome would leave Wales staring down the prospect of a second consecutive Six Nations wooden spoon, with formidable fixtures against Ireland, Scotland, and England still to come.

Warren Gatland has admitted he’s already reached a new crunch point just one game into the Six Nations. The Wales coach – who managed to cling on to his job before the tournament – will know his team’s opening day defeat will fuel more doubts over his ability to halt a steep decline.

The back garden of the Emanuel household used to resemble “a war zone” when their sons Ioan and Steff were growing up. Straight and hard running was always the requirement when the two boys, who are only 18 months apart in age, played “one-on-one” rugby matches.

It looks like things are getting to get even worse before they get any better for Warren Gatland’s Wales after they were blown away by France in a 43-0 humiliation in Paris. As an opening gambit in a Six Nations championship, it was a pretty dire scoreline – the first time Wales had failed to score in a Five or Six Nations game since France won 51-0 at Wembley back in 1998.

Wales might be entering their opening clash of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations as massive underdogs on Friday night, but for second row Will Rowlands, at least the match at the Stade de France will feel like home turf. Currently playing his club rugby for Racing 92 in the Top 14, Rowlands is relishing the opportunity to start the tournament in the city where he now lives.

As if things were not tough enough for Wales on Friday night – French crowd, the return of Romain Ntamack, and, of course, the irresistible will of Antoine Dupont – comes news of a new opponent. Dupont – widely regarded as the best rugby player in the world, and by many as the best of all-time – is now fueled, not just by the Euros paid to him by Toulouse, but also by bitcoin.

Warren Gatland insists Wales have some surprises up their sleeve – enough to thwart France when the Six Nations starts in Paris on Friday night. Without a Test victory in 14 months and on the back of a 12-match losing streak, Wales are enormous underdogs for their trip to the Stade de France.

Taulupe Faletau is close to fitness, Wales coach Warren Gatland has insisted, even though the No.8 will not play against France on Friday night. Faletau had been earmarked for a dramatic comeback in the Six Nations opener in Paris, but a knee injury has denied Gatland of arguably his one proven world class forward. But Gatland has suggested Faletau – who has not played for Wales since the win over Georgia at the World Cup 16 months ago – could make his return against Italy in round two of the tournament.

Ben Thomas is in line to be handed the key role of Paris playmaker when Wales begin their Six Nations campaign against France on Friday night. The Cardiff star – whose regular club position is at centre – is poised to be named at outside-half for the tournament opener.

They may be queuing up to take his place, but Liam Williams has a message for all the Welsh full back wannabees – ‘I’m not ready to give up my shirt’. The 34-year-old Saracens star is on a mission to reach 100 caps for this country and to carry on being Warren Gatland’s No.1 bomb diffuser at the back. He missed the 2024 Six Nations while he was away playing in Japan but returned to tour Australia in the summer.

Wales will have at least one representative on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia this summer – Aled Walters, who has been confirmed as the squad’s head of athletic performance. Whilst the number of Welsh players included may turn out to be modest compared to recent tours, Walters will at least help carry the flag. Currently working with Ireland, Walters – who is from Llangadog in Carmarthenshire – will link up again with Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, who is heading the Lions party.

Adam Jones has thrown his support behind Warren Gatland, confident the Wales head coach can orchestrate a turnaround ahead of their daunting Six Nations opener against France in Paris on Friday. Jones, who earned 95 caps for Wales and played a pivotal role in three Grand Slam triumphs, has joined Gatland’s coaching team as a scrum consultant on secondment from Harlequins.

The 2025 Guinness Six Nations championship starts this weekend when Wales meet France in Paris on Friday night. Under the lights, Friday nights have become a regular fixture in the tournament and where better to kick things off than Paris.

Wales great Justin Tipuric says the Ospreys are playing with a smile on their faces as they continue their unbeaten run under new head coach Mark Jones. They recorded a six-try 43-0 bonus point victory over Benetton Rugby in Swansea on Friday night – their biggest league win in seven years.

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel has laid down the challenge to his players to remain in the top eight of the United Rugby Championship. Peel’s men have held onto to sixth place – but closed the gap between themselves and fifth-placed Cardiff to just two points – after a gritty, hard-earned 30-24 win over Edinburgh that extended their unbeaten run at home to six games.

At a time when there has not been much to celebrate – or even give a nod of approval towards in Welsh rugby in recent times – then Cardiff deserve some credit. Without much fanfare, they have risen to third in the United Rugby Championship (URC) table, the tournament which returns this weekend after the break for Europe.

Antoine Dupont can’t wait to get back into action in the Guinness Six Nations and he will return to captain Les Bleus against Wales on Friday 31 January. The Toulouse scrum half missed the 2024 tournament to concentrate on playing Sevens rugby for France at the Olympic Games.