Warren Gatland may not agree, but Gregor Townsend has defended Scotland’s decision to keep the Principality Stadium roof open for their Guinness Six Nations opener in Cardiff. Wales coach Gatland called the decision “disappointing”, saying it would impact upon the atmosphere and noise in the 74,500-capacity stadium.

Warren Gatland wants the greenest Wales team for five years to forget their lack of know-how and play without fear. The Wales coach has gone for a youthful team – the most inexperienced Six Nations line-up since 2019 – to open their tournament campaign at home to Scotland on Saturday. Cardiff full-back Cameron Winnett is handed a Test debut after just 15 games of professional rugby, 21-year-old Dafydd Jenkins will lead Wales out as his country’s youngest captain for 56 years, while six of the Wales’ replacements have just 12 caps between them.

Ryan Elias is hoping to have a front row reunion with lifelong pal Javan Sebastian after the Edinburgh tighthead was added to the Scotland squad this week following the withdrawal of his Edinburgh colleague WP Nel. Wales hooker Elias and Sebastian go all the way back to playing together with the U11s at Carmarthen Athletic.

Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys wants the capacity Welsh crowd to turn up the volume at the Principality Stadium for the opening game of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations against Scotland to make the atmosphere as noisy as possible. The Scots will arrive seeking their first win in Cardiff in 22 years. They have lost on their last 11 visits and Humphreys believes the noise and atmosphere at the home of Welsh rugby has been one of the biggest barriers to Scotland winning.

Cardiff have confirmed the signing of Wales outside half Callum Sheedy on a long-term deal that will begin at the start of next season. The 28-year-old will be returning to the city in which he was born and raised after opting to end his 10-year association with Bristol Bears. He won his first representative honours for Cardiff Schools U15 and Cardiff South U16.

Aaron Wainwright comes into the first Test week of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations with big boots to fill but with a very settled outlook on life. The 26-year-old looks destined to take over the No 8 shirt from the injured Taulupe Faletau and be the senior figure in the Welsh back row in what will be his sixth Championship.

Warren Gatland is the pack whisperer who can turn raw rookies into war-hungry warriors, according to the Wales prop who has seen it done before. Ospreys front rower Gareth Thomas has had the soft words of Gatland to ease him into the transition to Test rugby since the New Zealander returned to Wales 16 months ago.

Aaron Wainwright has handed Welsh rugby a major pre-Six Nations boost by agreeing a new contract with the Dragons. The Wales back-row forward, who looks set to line up at number eight in next week’s Six Nations clash against Scotland, has agreed what the Dragons described as “a multi-year” deal.

Wales believe George North is progressing well from a shoulder injury picked up in Ospreys win over the Lions in Johannesburg in the EPCR Challenge Cup last weekend. Skills coach Neil Jenkins is confident the 118-times capped centre will be available for selection for next week’s Guinness Six Nations opener against Scotland at Principality Stadium.

Wales have been warned a new sense of harmony can bring Scotland their first win in Cardiff for 22 years when the Six Nations kicks-off next week. Scotland’s Finn Russell believes his appointment as co-captain is testament to the newfound rapport between he and head coach Gregor Townsend following a fractious past.

Dafydd Jenkins believes it’s no bad thing that Wales have been written off by many as Six Nations no-hopers. Wales are no better than fifth favourites with most bookmakers for the tournament that starts next week, but the new skipper is unconcerned.

Warren Gatland has paid new Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins a major compliment by saying he expects to see him “in the mould of Alun Wyn Jones”. Jenkins has won many admirers through his captaincy of Exeter Chiefs, with the Gallagher Premiership club in title contention and progressing to the Investec Champions Cup knockout phase.

Harri Ackerman has been named captain of Wales U20s for their Six Nations campaign by head coach Richard Whiffin. Dragons centre Ackerman will lead a 37-man squad as clubmate and flanker Ryan Woodman has been ruled out with a broken thumb.

Warren Gatland believes Wales can make a virtue out of a Six Nations squad that is young, raw and still wet behind the ears. The Wales coach reckons the boldness of youth and Welsh players’ earlier exposure to Test rugby than their rivals can all reap rewards in the tournament that begins next week.

Dragons coach Dai Flanagan admitted his team had missed a real opportunity as a slump in home form saw them slide out of Europe. The Dragons were unable to make it four wins in a row at Rodney Parade as they conceded five tries in a 29-9 defeat to the Sharks that saw them crash out of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

An injury to George North – and therefore a big scare for Wales – was the price paid by Toby Booth’s Ospreys after they won for the first time on South African soil against one of the ‘big four’ provinces. The Swansea region bagged a home game in the Round of 16 in the EPCR Challenge Cup with a stunning 38-28 win over the Lions in Johannesburg.

Cardiff Rugby bowed out of the Investec Champions Cup staying true to the style that has won them plenty of pats on the back this season, yet has failed to earn them a victory. Their 48-26 defeat to Top14 leaders Racing 92 at La Defense Arena in Paris was full of flair, effort and tries but in the end it was a chance lost to reach either the Round of 16 in the Champions Cup or Challenge Cup. Outscored by seven tries to four, Cardiff ended bottom of their pool with a -113 points difference having conceded 28 tries in their four fixtures.

The Scarlets miserable season continued as they were beaten 31-19 in their fourth and final EPCR Challenge Cup pool match as 13-man Edinburgh romped into the Round of 16. This latest defeat left the Scarlets anchored to the bottom of Pool 3 as they were outgunned by five tries to three.

Warren Gatland had joined the growing band of voices calling for an Anglo-Welsh League. The Wales head coach believes the RFU and the WRU need to come together to alliance to re-establish the old traditional rivalries that players and fans have always revelled.

The new American apprenticeship of Louis Rees-Zammit starts this weekend in Florida with the Wales wing having admitted he’s an absolute beginner. Rees-Zammit, who quit rugby union for the American gridiron, begins his dream of playing in the National Football League by joining 15 other international hopefuls at a Florida training camp.