Wales’s most capped Wheelchair international player, Alan Caron, has been appointed as head coach for the Wales Rugby League Wheelchair international side for a second time.

The confirmation of the departures of Wales pair Dillon Lewis and Jarrod Evans has been put into sharp focus by Leinster’s retention of two key Ireland internationals. On the day that Harlequins announced the capture of both prop Lewis and outside-half Evans for next season, Leinster revealed James Ryan and Josh van der Flier had signed on again with the IRFU.

There were mixed fortunes for the Thomas brothers at Principality Stadium as Steve saw his Vardre team lose out to Abertillery BG in the WRU Division 3 Cup final before Paul enjoyed success in the Division 2 final with Morriston. The first day of two club cup finals in the ‘Road to Principality’ rugby jamboree saw Crumlin take the Division 5 title with a 38-24 win over Ferndale, Bryncethin defeat Nantyglo 19-15 in the Division 4 final and unbeaten Abertillery BG pip Vardre 34-27 in the Division 3 game.

Eight players could make their debuts after Wayne Ponting announced a 31-strong Wales Rugby League Under 18 men’s squad for the 2023 season. The squad includes 13 players who were part of the Wales U16 squad that beat England Community Lions twice last year, and a further 11 who were in the youthful Wales U19 squad who finished third in last year’s European Championships.

Llandovery did everything they needed to do to hold onto the top spot in the Indigo Premiership as they beat Swansea 52-24 and with two games to go they at least now know they’ve done enough to secure a top four place. The next target has to be to keep on winning and to claim a top two finish to ensure they have a home tie in the semi-finals. They face a trip to fifth placed Aberavon on Saturday and still have to go to another top four contender, Newport.

Dai Young insisted he was satisfied with his team’s efforts after Cardiff bowed out of the European Challenge Cup at the quarter-final stage. The Arms Park director of rugby watched his team establish a lead, but they were hauled in by Benetton Treviso, who made history by becoming the first Italian team to reach the semi-finals of a European tournament. The home side came from behind to beat two-time EPCR Challenge Cup champions Cardiff, 27-23 at Stadio Monigo. 

Scarlets centre Johnny Williams has praised Sam Costelow for his “nerves of steel” as they look ahead to a European semi-final. Williams was a tryscorer as the Scarlets came from behind late on to beat Clermont Auvergne, 32-30, on Friday night to secure a home Challenge Cup semi-final against Glasgow. Costelow’s conversion of Ryan Conbeer’s corner try three minutes from time gave the home fans a famous European night at Parc Y Scarlets over opponents who had been reduced to 14 men.

Ross Moriarty has said he had to quit Welsh rugby to secure financial security for his family. The Wales back row forward has left the Dragons with immediate effect and joined Brive after rejecting a reduced contract offer from the Newport-based region. He follows fellow Welsh internationals Will Rowlands, Jarrod Evans and Joe Hawkins in opting to play elsewhere next season as the effect of reduced wages in Wales starts to thin playing resou

The Scarlets will have history, form – and maybe even referee Wayne Barnes – in their favour when they host Clermont Auvergne on Friday, according to the French club’s head coach Christophe Urios. Clermont may have won away at Bristol in the last 16 of the European Challenge Cup, but Urios reckons his team’s quarter-final tie at Parc y Scarlets will be much tougher. The match referee is Barnes, the Englishman who is widely regarded as the world’s best, but not an official Urios reckons his team really understand. “Once again, we will not be favorites,” said Urios, looking ahead to a match that is live on S4C.

Wales will face England in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations in front of a record sell-out home crowd at Cardiff Arms Park next week. More than 8,000 tickets have been sold for the game between the top two sides in this year’s championship at Cardiff Arms Park on April 15. Both sides are unbeaten following the opening two rounds of the Six Nations.

Tony Brown, one of the greatest benefactors Welsh rugby has seen, had died at the age of 86. The owner and chairman of Bisley Office Furniture, his business acumen, vision and considerable financial backing for Newport RFC and then the Dragons allowed rugby fans in Gwent to experience some fantastic times, including winning the WRU Challenge Cup in 2001.

Dafydd James, the former Wales and Lions wing, has revealed he has been diagnosed with early onset dementia. James, who is now 47-years-old, played for the Scarlets, Bridgend, and Pontypridd before his career ended in 2009 after fracturing a vertebra in his neck.

Joe Hawkins has explained why he chose to end his Wales career so soon after it had begun. The 20-year-old Ospreys centre – one of the discoveries of a disappointing 12 months for Wales – has agreed to join Exeter this summer. It means he will no longer be eligible for Wales unless the Welsh Rugby Union tear up their policy of only selecting players outside of Wales who have won at least 25 caps.

Pontypool earned the right to face Ystrad Rhondda in the final of the WRU Championship Cup at Principality Stadium on Sunday, 23 April thanks to a 26-9 semi-final win over Neath. It was the third time this season Pooler had managed too overcome their closest rivals for the Admiral Championship title, but they didn’t get things their own way throughout a classic cup tie.

Who said 13 was an unlucky number? Try telling that to the proud players of Pontyclun Falcons, who finally won a major cup final at the 13th attempt as they beat Llandaff North to life the WRU National Cup in a thrilling game at Principality Stadium. The long wait to finally lift a trophy was ended by Kierra Deeks and her tenacious team as they knocked arch-rivals completely out of their stride to convert a 15-0 half-time lead into a sensational 20-7 victory in the end

On an emotional Saturday night at Cardiff Arms Park, Josh Adams scored twice to steer the home side, 28-27, into the quarter-finals of the EPCR Challenge Cup and pay the perfect tribute to the club’s former chairman and benefactor Peter Thomas. A huge crowd joined the current team, former players and members of Thomas’ family on the pitch for a minute’s silence followed by a minute of applause to remember the man who kept the region alive through his support.

Wales are gunning for England after Sisilia Tuipulotu inspired them to move to the top of the TikTok Women’s Six Nations table. Teenager Tuipulotu bagged her second consecutive player of the match performance with two tries after Wales secured a 22-34 victory against Scotland at the DAM Health Stadium. But her fellow prop Gwenllian Pyrs wasn’t to be outdone as she claimed a brace as well to set up a fine victory away from home.

Cardiff’s two Joshes – Adams and Turnbull – are twinned in their shared determination to lift some of the dark clouds over the Arms Park this weekend. A last 16 meeting at home to Sale Sharks on Saturday evening has taken on added significance, beyond simply trying to make the quarter-finals in a tasty-looking Anglo-Welsh clash.

The stage is set for 10 days of non-stop action as clubs and players from all over Wales descend on the home of Welsh rugby for the ‘Road to Principality 2023’ rugby jamboree. Last year saw record breaking numbers in almost every category as the fans flocked to watch the rising stars of the game, as well as established senior players representing clubs from across all divisions chase titles and lifelong memories of playing at the Principality Stadium.

Ashton Hewitt has had plenty of people tell him he should just stick to rugby and not express his opinions on anything else. But the Dragons RFC winger is not about to be silenced. Hewitt has come in for some horrendous abuse on social media over his efforts to combat racism and inequality. He admits it shocked him and got him down, but he is determined to keep on doing what he can to try and make a difference.