Josh Turnbull insists he sees exciting times ahead in Welsh rugby as he begins his new career as a coach. The 36-year-old Cardiff back rower has confirmed he has played his last match and will take up a coaching position within the Cardiff academy set-up.

Ioan Cunningham expects scrutiny over his position as head coach after Wales glued themselves to the bottom of the Women’s Six Nations table. Like his counterpart in charge of the men’s team – Warren Gatland – Cunningham is a man under pressure who cannot ease things until he stops losing. The former Scarlets coach, who brought a sharp upturn in the fortunes of the national side in the women’s game two years ago, admits results have put him in the firing line.

Mark Jones admitted the Ospreys undermined their own cause as they crashed out of the European Challenge Cup after giving up too many penalties to Gloucester. The region’s defence coach praised his team’s commitment during their 23-12 quarter-final defeat to Gloucester at Kingsholm.

Wales forward Adam Beard reckons the Ospreys have got the muscle memory to overpower Gloucester in their European Challenge Cup clash on Friday night. Last season, Beard was part of an Ospreys squad that did the double over French club Montpellier – an achievement that included an eye-catching away victory, when they went over the channel and won 21-10.

They may be heading to Ireland seeking their first win in the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, but Ioan Cunningham’s Welsh team will be travelling to Cork with confidence still high. If the home defeat to Scotland was a shock to the system, the loss to reigning champions England at Ashton Gate was at least encouraging. To stand any chance of repeating the heroics of last year, that saw Wales finish third, a victory in Ireland is a must.

Croesyceiliog School near Cwmbran, will be the venue of the opening games of the second season of the WRL Wheelchair Invitational League, when it all kicks off on Saturday 20 April.

Louis Rees-Zammit accepts his ambition to forge an American football career with NFL champions Kansas City Chiefs could see him “cut at any point”. The 23-year-old former Wales and British Lions wing is about to begin pre-season training with the back-to-back Super Bowl champions after signing a three-year contract.

Dragons coach Dai Flanagan has claimed recent new deals reached by the club with some of their leading players proves they can hang on to their talent – even after they become established Wales internationals. Flanagan believes the new contract agreed with flanker Taine Basham is indicative of the region’s determination and ability to retain their best players, coming after new agreements in recent weeks for Aaron Wainwright and Rio Dyer.

Toby Booth insists the Ospreys are determined to stay on a roll by beating Gloucester to make the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup. Head coach Booth will send his men over the border for an Anglo-Welsh raid, armed with the confidence gained from their 23-15 victory over Sale at Bridgend’s Brewery Field. At a time when there are no other discernible success stories in top level Welsh rugby, the Ospreys are once again the standard-bearer.

Max Boyce will lead a Glynneath invasion of the Principality Stadium this weekend – when the only thing still left standing in the village will be the statue to the great man himself. Rugby’s most famous bard will be at the head of 16-strong unit of coaches heading for Cardiff on Sunday.

Toby Booth believes he can sharpen the Ospreys’ cutting edge next season with the help of new signing Phil Cokanasiga. The younger brother of England wing Joe Cokanasiga, 22-year-old Phil is leaving Leicester Tigers to move to the Swansea region.

Craig Locke will join his best man Dafydd Lockyer on eight cup final appearances when he runs out for Merthyr at the Principality Stadium on Sunday night. The man described by Merthyr backer Sir Stan Thomas as “arguably the greatest player to ever play for Merthyr”, the 36-year-old second row will be seeking another victory when he packs down against reigning Indigo Premiership champions Llandovery in the WRU Premiership Cup Final.

They say age is just a number and former Wales prop Craig Mitchell continues to prove it is no obstacle to giving something back to his local club. Having helped Tonna win the WRU National Shield title at Principality Stadium in 2022, and the Division 5 West Central title last year, the 38-year-old is chasing a league and cup double this time, starting with the Division 4 Cup against Newport Saracens in the latest round of #RTP24 finals at Principality Stadium on Saturday, 6 April

Newport Saracens will be dedicating Saturday’s Admiral Division 4 Cup final to the memory of one of their former players Dale Tucker, who died suddenly this season. The passing of the Wales rugby league Under 19 cap and Dragonhearts centre was a huge shock to the rugby community in Newport. Saracens secretary Mark Vickery says the team will be playing for him at #RTP24 on Saturday, 6 April.

Louis Rees-Zammit has taken a step closer to realising his long-standing ambition of competing in the NFL by signing a three-year deal with Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs. But there are still key questions around his move.

Wales suffered a heart-breaking 36-35 defeat to arch rivals England with the last kick of the game in their opening round clash of the U18 men’s Six Nations Festival in Parma. Richie Pugh’s side showed great courage and character to get within a whisker of overturning a big English side.

The Ospreys were the big movers in the URC over the weekend, leaping up from 11th to seventh with a 36-21 bonus point victory over the Lions in Swansea. It puts them firmly back in the play-off mix and they also have a EPCR Challenge Cup last 16 tie at home to Sale to look forward to next weekend. As head coach Toby Booth points out, they are exceeding expectations.

Ioan Cunningham has told his players they must become more ruthless after they showed signs of promise but were well beaten, 46-10 by England in the Women’s Six Nations. It was a second successive defeat for Wales following their opening loss to Scotland, but given England’s position as the dominant force in the world after New Zealand, the head coach felt there was plenty to take from the performance. Wales were outscored by eight tries to one at Ashton Gate, but Cunningham said: “We showed our fight, it was outstanding.

Ospreys v Emirates Lions, Saturday, 3.05pm. Welsh rugby stalwart Sam Parry is aiming to celebrate a major landmark in his career with a crucial bounce back victory for the Ospreys.

Wales will face a Red Roses team boosted by input from England men’s captain Jamie George in Bristol on Saturday. George has been helping prepare Wales’ opponents for their Women’s Six Nations meeting after volunteering his services to Red Roses head coach John Mitchell.