The 2022-23 may just have been the bleakest in Welsh rugby history. In late February 2023, the national men’s team’s players were threatening not to turn out for that weekend’s Six Nations game against England. Endless prevarication between the WRU and the professional clubs about finalising a new financial agreement for elite rugby meant…

Swansea could be in the mood to party like it’s 1999 as they made the last four of this season’s WRU Premiership Cup with a 27-16 victory over Ospreylian rivals Bridgend Ravens at St Helen’s. The Whites have enjoyed past success in the cup in its various former guises as three-time winners, but it was 24 years ago they last won the cup as they beat then Swalec Cup holders Llanelli at Ninian Park.

Dewi Lake scored a record equaling four tries in a European match for the Ospreys as he guided his side to a bonus-point 43-34 win in Pool 2 in the EPCR Challenge Cup. The Wales hooker converted three driving line-outs and also drove over for another from close range as home forwards just managed to outgun the superb Benetton threequarters.

The four Welsh regions have a break from the United Rugby Championship this weekend, but that doesn’t mean life is going to get easier. In fact, it looks tougher in some respects with three of them facing club opposition in Europe and the Ospreys up against the Italians of Benetton who they lost to last week.

The British and Irish Lions will be part of an “amazing occasion” when they play in Ireland for the first time in 2025, according to Ieuan Evans. The Lions will take on Argentina in a June 2025 warm-up fixture ahead of their tour of Australia.

Llandovery College made history by becoming the first school side to win the WRU’s elite WSC Rugby Cup with a 28-13 win over 14-man Ysgol Glantaf. The win at Principality Stadium ensured Joe Denman’s side completed an unbeaten season in the tournament and went one better than two years ago when they fell at the final hurdle to Cardiff & Vale College.

Bridgend & District Schools’ two try hero Sam Watkins picked up the player of the match award in his side’s thrilling 19-18 win over Mynydd Mawr & Dinefwr. It was the first time since 1990 that Bridgend had won the most coveted title at U16 level in Wales, but their hearts were in their mouths in the final play of the game when MMD outside half Tom Evans had a shot at goal to win the game.

George North has agreed a two-year deal to join second-tier French side Provence from the Ospreys at the end of the season North was part of the Wales side that lost in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals to Argentina and can still play for his country as he has many more than the 25 caps needed to play outside of Wales, with 119.

Former Wales forward Andrew Coombs has said he has been diagnosed with dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the age of 39. Coombs is one of the 295 retired rugby union players who have brought a legal claim against three of the sport’s governing bodies alleging they sustained brain injuries during their careers.

Wales fly-half contender Ioan Lloyd produced a “box office” display in the Scarlets’ 29-23 bonus point victory over Cardiff Rugby at a packed Arms Park. The No 10 spot in the Six Nations is very much up for grabs with Dan Biggar having retired from international rugby and Gareth Anscombe unavailable following his move to Japan, while Sam Costelow is currently out injured.

Dwayne Peel believes his Scarlets teams have answered questions over their character with their victory at Cardiff – although he knows there are tougher examinations to come. The head coach saw his team gain a bonus point 29-23 win at the Arms Park, where home flanker Ellis Jenkins was sent off for a dangerous tackle after 28 minutes. It’s a result that bunches three of the Welsh regions together in the lower mid-reaches of the United Rugby Championship (URC) table with the Ospreys in 11th, Cardiff in 12th and the Scarlets 13th.

Wales’ World Cup scrum-halves Gareth Davies and Tomos Williams will go head-to-head in a mouth-watering individual battle at the Arms Park on Saturday when Cardiff host the Scarlets. They are likely to be the frontrunners once again for the No 9 jersey in the Six Nations, so it will be fascinating to see who comes out on top in this derby clash.

Former Wales stars Gavin Henson and Colin Charvis, plus ex- England captain Phil Vickery are among more than 200 retired rugby players to bring a legal claim against three of the sport’s governing bodies alleging they suffered brain injuries during their careers. Vickery, 47, a member of England’s World Cup-winning team in 2003, and Henson, 41, who won Six Nations Grand Slams in 2005 and 2008, were named for the first time on Friday after they waved their anonymity in their claims against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union.

Rob Baxter has urged football’s lawmakers to be careful after they agreed sin-bins should be trialled at higher levels of the sport. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) – that includes a member from the Football Association of Wales – has supported the move following a successful implementation in the grassroots game, backing temporary dismissals of players for offences such as dissent and specific tactical fouls its annual business meeting.

One of the most unique collection of rugby jerseys, gathered by one of Wales’ greatest sporting heroes, is due to go under the hammer at Rogers Jones Auctioneers on Thursday, December 7. Charlie Pritchard gathered shirts from opponents he met during his six-year, 14-cap career and almost 120 years on they are being offered for sale by his family.

Keiran Williams has been set the target of forcing his way into Wales’ Guinness Six Nations squad, having put the hangover from World Cup rejection behind him. The 25-year-old Ospreys centre missed the cut for France after making his Test debut in the warm-up defeat to England at Twickenham in August.

Bedwas produced their best performance of the season so far to record a stunning 46-17 victory over Ystrad Rhondda at the Bridge Field – and consign the Admiral Championship East league leaders to only their second defeat of the campaign so far. Adam Williams ran in two tries while there was one apiece from Lloyd Wilkins, James Dixon and Aaron Billingham, with a penalty try also on the scoresheet. Dixon added four conversions and two penalties.

Wales World Cup wing Mason Grady claims there is a new “brotherhood” of local talent ready to take Cardiff Rugby out of the doldrums and push them up the URC table. Speaking in the wake of his man of the match performance in his side’s dramatic 31-24 home win over the Stormers, the 21-year-old said the region’s investment in young, home-grown talent is reaping rewards.

Dwayne Peel has admitted his sinking Scarlets were second rate in a one-sided derby defeat to the Ospreys in Swansea. The Scarlets coach watched his team suffer a crushing 31-9 humbling at the Swansea.com Stadium at the hands of their fiercest rivals.

Matt Sherratt admitted he could hardly watch as his Cardiff team held their nerve late on to earn a dramatic 31-24 victory over the Stormers in a Friday night thriller at the Arms Park. The Cardiff head coach saw his team fall behind early on, but reveal plenty of character as they came surging back to snatch the win.