Reigning champions Cardiff will host Llandovery in the Indigo Premiership final on Sunday, 21 May after they both used home advantage to win their semi-finals. At the Arms Park, Cardiff beat Newport 21-7, while at Church Bank, Llandovery overcame Merthyr 16-13.

Tommy Reffell showed Warren Gatland what he could do for Wales at the World Cup this autumn, despite finishing on the losing side as Leicester were beaten by Sale Sharks in a tense Gallagher Premiership semi-final. Flanker Reffell – who was named in Gatland’s tournament training squad two weeks ago – made three turnovers and pulled off 16 tackles in an impressive personal performance, but still ended up on the wrong side of the 21-13 scoreline.

Three weeks ago, Dan Fish and Matt O’Brien fought out a compelling tactical and technical battle as Cardiff beat Newport 13-10 in the WRU Premiership Cup final at the Principality Stadium. When both teams qualified to meet again in the semi-finals of the Indigo Premiership, everyone thought there would be another shoot-out between the two No 10s on Sunday. But neither will be at the Arms Park, for different reasons.

The back door entry into the Heineken Champions Cup for the Welsh regions is set to close next season. The Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons and Cardiff have all had the opportunity to qualify for Europe’s top tier tournament by winning the Welsh Shield – a contrived competition amongst themselves – but that route now looks over.

Byron Hayward has resigned as Wales U20 coach and been replaced on a temporary basis by former Wales wing Mark Jones. Hayward – who was in his second stint in the age group set-up – has stepped down as lead pathway coach after a difficult season in which his side finished bottom of the U20 Six Nations table after losing all five games.

When Pontypool clinched promotion to the WRU Indigo Premiership last weekend, local council leader Anthony Hunt declared a Bank Holiday. Okay, so it was already a day off due to the coronation of some king or other, but there’s only one pledge of allegiance that matters for Pooler fans – and that’s the one to the men wearing red, white and black, rather than red, white and blue.

Dan Lydiate believes he can add some worldly wisdom to the Dragons after returning to the club following his release by the Ospreys. Vastly experienced forward Lydiate – recently named in the preliminary Rugby World Cup squad for Wales – will return to his first professional club and Rodney Parade this summer.

Steve Law’s pursuit of silverware at Cardiff will continue this weekend with another derby clash against Newport in the semi-finals of the Indigo Premiership. Law has become a serial winner at the Arms Park since joining as head coach in 2017 from Bedwas.

You’d have been able to pick a pretty good Cardiff rugby team from all of the players who turned up at Llandaff Cathedral to pay tribute to the man who became synonymous with the club and the region during his lifetime. Peter Thomas died at the end of March from lung cancer at the age of 79.

Wales prop Nicky Smith has rejected interest from English clubs to re-sign for the Ospreys. The 28-year-old loose-head – who has won 41 caps – has re-signed for his region in a significant boost following a raft of departures from all four of the Welsh sides.

Pontypool can go 15 points clear of their biggest rivals at the top of the WRU Admiral Championship if they win at home to Beddau on Friday night. Neath have offered the sternest challenge to Pooler all season, although Bargoed have lately nosed ahead of them into second-place thanks to having played two games more.

Wales international Joe Hawkins is “gutted” to miss out on the World Cup after prioritising his “professional development, personal development and financial security” by agreeing to join Exeter. The 20-year-old centre – who will join the Chiefs from Ospreys at the end of the season – said he has been deemed ineligible to play for his country, with his five caps falling short of the 25 required by the Welsh Rugby Union for players playing outside Wales.

Wales pair Christ Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins have been backed to take Exeter Chiefs back to the top after their European exit. Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter has expressed excitement about the club’s future after an era ended with their 47-28 Heineken Champions Cup semi-final defeat last weekend to reigning champions La Rochelle.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has promised seven-times capped England prop Henry Thomas will “bring something different” to their preliminary World Cup training squad. Montpellier tighthead Thomas, who has played for Sale and Bath in the Gallagher Premiership, was capped by England between 2013 and 2014 and has served World Rugby’s stand down period of three years to represent another country.

Warren Gatland has warned that Wales’ top teams – including the national side – need to become more successful or else more players will follow Joe Hawkins out of Test rugby. The Wales coach believes the three regions and Wales all need to improve, otherwise young players like Hawkins could decide to put club before country.

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel has called on his players to use their semi-final defeat in the Challenge Cup as motivation to grow and improve for next season. The Llanelli region were beaten 35-17 by Glasgow Warriors at a packed Parc y Scarlets on Saturday.

Caryl Thomas bid farewell to rugby following her side’s 36-10 win against Italy in the final round of the 2023 TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Thomas re-joined her team just two weeks after her wife gave birth to their daughter and helped secure Wales’ best place finish in the Championship in 14 years.

Wales prop Wyn Jones has spoken of his admiration for Dwayne Peel in guiding the Scarlets to the threshold of a European final. Jones – who will pack down in the front row when Glasgow visit Parc y Scarlets on Saturday – admits he can’t quite believe how his head coach has dealt with so many obstacles in a campaign like no other.

The sun in Parma may have made everyone feel good in the Wales camp, but the only thing the players want this weekend is the result that will keep them in third place in the TikTok Six Nations. A third win in the championship is the goal that has been set for Hannah Jones’ side and after Italy were turned over in Scotland last weekend it is a result that appears to be within range.

The season could well end for the Welsh regions on Saturday, if the Scarlets are unable to beat Glasgow in their European Challenge Cup semi-final. For many, there would be a sigh of relief. But within the trauma and turmoil, Daniel Parker claims there can be some reason for optimism – youth will have its fling.