Australia are unlikely to copy South Africa’s forward-based game plan at the Rugby World Cup when they face Wales. But Wallabies coach Eddie Jones says the Springboks’ “bold and courageous” use of their bench should be viewed as innovation and not a threat to the game.

Llandovery will kick-off the defence of their Indigo Premiership title at the home of arch-rivals Carmarthen Quins as the tournament launches with a series of local derbies. While the Drovers head to Carmarthen Park on Saturday, Cardiff head up the A470 to face Pontypridd at Sardis Road, Swansea will host Bridgend and Aberavon will welcome Neath to the Talbot Athletic Ground.

Wales will take on opponents who have moved three places clear of Warren Gatland’s men in the world rankings when Fiji take the field in France in their World Cup opener on September 10. The flying Fijians’ stunning victory over England at Twickenham last weekend has seen the South Seas Islanders move up to seventh in the World Rugby listings.

Scarlets scrum half Gareth Davies has revealed he came close to giving up on his international career before Warren Gatland’s return as head coach. The 33-year-old will head to France this weekend for his third World Cup, but only after overcoming an 18-month period in which he lost form and confidence due to a breakdown in his relationship with Wayne Pivac.

Dan Biggar has announced that he will retire from international rugby after the upcoming Rugby World Cup – in order not to become an absent dad. The 33-year-old is due to compete in his third tournament after his selection was confirmed in Warren Gatland’s final 33-player squad ahead of the tournament in France. But Biggar has confirmed he plans to call time on his stellar international career, having made 109 appearances since his Wales debut in 2008.

Corey Domachowski readily admits that any suggestion of playing prop as a schoolboy would fill him with dread. A former centre and goalkicker at his local rugby club, a future in the front-row could not have been further from his mind.

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.