There are probably few bets to be made over what job Dan Lydiate decides to do next when he packs up professional rugby. The Wales flanker – one of the daddies of the pack heading to the World Cup at 33 years of age – is firmly odds-on to become a full-time farmer, a lifestyle he has embraced to varying degrees since he was a boy. But there might be more scope for a wager over whether or not he will make the starting XV when Wales face Fiji on September 10.

It’s not just the Rugby World Cup that is on the near horizon. Before the tournament starts in France, the domestic season in Wales kicks-off and that means a new Indigo Premiership campaign which begins on September 2. Some new clubs, but they are old and very familiar faces as Mark Orders reports.

Billy Vunipola and Owen Farrell will miss England’s opening Rugby World Cup match against Argentina after being handed bans following their red cards in warm-up fixtures, that included a second match against Wales. Vunipola was sent off against Ireland last weekend and has been banned for three matches, but it will be reduced to two if he agrees to attend tackle school.

Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit believes he is “definitely quicker than last season” as he prepares to blast out of the starting blocks at his first World Cup. The 22-year-old has carved out a reputation as one of world rugby’s finest finishers, combining blistering pace with a box-office ability to score spectacular tries.

Elinor Snowsill has revealed she is not sure she is leaving the Wales squad at the right time. The veteran playmaker – one of the most influential players ever to play for her country – has mixed feelings about leaving the field after 14 years at the top.

Wales prop Corey Domachowski recalled “bittersweet” emotions after gaining World Cup selection on the same day as his great-grandmother’s funeral. The 26-year-old Cardiff prop was among 16 players in head coach Warren Gatland’s 33-strong squad who will have a first taste of World Cup action during September and October.

So, Wales have announced their World Cup squad – one that coach Warren Gatland reckons “will do something special” in France next month. They go there ranked 10th in the world, meaning just getting out of their pool would exceed expectations.

Jac Morgan looks set to be named as Wales captain for the Rugby World Cup. The 23-year-old Ospreys flanker led Wales in two of their three warm-up Tests, and undoubtedly occupies pole position. The waiting game for Wales’ World Cup hopefuls will end just after midday on Monday when Warren Gatland’s 33-man squad is unveiled.

Warren Gatland had admitted the only positive he can cling to from the biggest hammering he has taken in charge of Wales is that those who will learn from it are mostly not going to be at the World Cup. Gatland names his 33-man World Cup squad on Monday on the back of a chastening 52-16 thumping to the Springboks. After two warm-up games against England, in which Wales won once and lost once and generally saw the reputation of their young team enhanced, Gatland’s side were dismantled by opponents boasting 659 Test caps to their 235.

Tom Rogers has become the latest addition to the Wales starting XV to face the world champions Springboks in the final game in the Vodafone Summer Series. The Scarlets back three player has been brought off the replacements bench to take the place of Alex Cuthbert. Louis Rees-Zammit has been brought into the matchday 23 to take over from Rogers.

Warren Gatland has laughed off suggestions his job is bombproof ahead of the World Cup. The Wales coach smiled and suggested he only looks at the here and now after Welsh Rugby Union director of rugby Nigel Walker claimed Gatland would be kept in position regardless of what happened at next month’s tournament in France.

Abi Tierney has promised to deliver “North Star” leadership to guide the Welsh Rugby Union away from what has been described as a “toxic culture” at the organisation. Tierney will join the WRU next January at the latest after serving notice at the Home Office, where she is the director general for customer services and ethics advisor and chair of its people committee.

Bashed-up Taine Basham will be on the bench for Wales this Saturday, but Owen Farrell could still be in trouble over his tackle. Dragons forward Basham is among the replacements for Wales against South Africa, when he might have been starting in a final trial to convince he is worthy of a place at the World Cup.

Wing Alex Cuthbert and centre Johnny Williams will make their first appearances of Wales’ World Cup warm-up schedule against South Africa on Saturday. Williams partners Mason Grady in midfield, while there are also starts for the likes of scrum-half Kieran Hardy and hooker Elliot Dee.

Owen Farrell’s escape from any kind of ban following his red card has been branded as making a “mockery” of player welfare by a leading Welsh surgeon. Farrell will lead England into the World Cup after his dismissal against Wales was not upheld by a disciplinary panel, making him free to play with immediate effect.

Wales have had boost with the return of Alex Cuthbert and Johnny Williams from injury, with both available for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up Test against South Africa – but there is still concern over hooker Dewi Lake. Cuthbert and Williams missed Wales’ back-to-back clashes with England but the two backline players have been passed fit and in contention to start against the Springboks as they bid for a place in the 33-man squad to be named on Aug. 21.

Liam Williams has joined Gareth Anscombe in making himself available for Wales’ tour to Australia next summer – even though the Japan-bound pair are unavailable for next season’s Six Nations. Williams has no plans to call time on his Wales career as he prepares for a post-World Cup stint in Japan that will sideline him from the domestic winter tournament next year.

WARREN Gatland has accused some Wales players of not doing their jobs properly as he hinted a few may already have missed out on World Cup selection. The Wales coach has suggested there will be repercussions for tournament selection after Wales surrendered a strong position in slumping to a 19-17 defeat by England at Twickenham at the weekend.

Wales are bracing themselves for bad news over hooker Dewi Lake after his knee injury suffered in the 19-17 defeat to England at Twickenham. The Ospreys star – who captained his country for the first time – will be assessed over the next few days with his chances of making the World Cup squad in the balance. Lake’s injury is a massive blow for Wales, depending on the severity. The new skipper looked incredibly uncomfortable and emotional on the sidelines after coming off after 26 minutes.

Dewi Lake will captain Wales for the first time on Saturday after an injury-hit 12 months plunged his Test career into cold storage. More than a year after his last Wales appearance against South Africa in Cape Town, the Ospreys hooker has a chance to display World Cup leadership credentials.