Warren Gatland has hailed Alun Wyn Jones as “an incredibly special player” following the decision of his former captain to retire from international rugby. Jones and Justin Tipuric both chose Friday afternoon to announce the end of their time as Wales players just four months before the Rugby World Cup campaign begins.

Alun Wyn Jones, the world’s most capped rugby union player, has announced his retirement from the international game – along with his Ospreys teammate, Justin Tipuric. The 37-year-old lock Jones played 158 times for Wales and made 12 British and Irish Lions Test appearances. Wales flanker Tipuric, who won 93 caps, had earlier announced he would be stepping down from Test rugby.

With the Scarlets dumped out at the semi-final stage by Glasgow Warriors, the only skin in the game for Welsh rugby at Friday night’s European Challenge Cup Final is with the man wearing No.10 for Toulon – Dan Biggar. The Wales outside-half will be calling the shots, kicking the goals, catching his own high balls, waving his arms, ear-bashing the referee and generally doing what Dan Biggar does at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which at least means a Welshman could have a big say in the outcome.

Katie Carr believes the explosion of interest in women’s rugby union can help propel a similar boom in rugby league this summer. The Wales international player is living proof that both sports can be enjoyed from the grass roots to elite level and that the old, bitter rivalries between the codes are a thing of the past.

Rhys Shellard enjoyed a triumphant return to Sardis Road as his Aberdare side edged out Dafydd Lockyer’s Abercwmboi on try count (3-1) after a 19-19 draw to lift the Worthington’s Mid District Bowl for only the second time. Neither Shellard or Lockyer need much of an introduction at the House of Pain, where they both enjoyed glittering trophy-laden careers with Pontypridd before taking up player coach roles with their own respective local clubs.

The title may be out of their grasp, but there is still plenty of stake for Neath in the Admiral National Championship. On Wednesday night, the Welsh All Blacks travel to Cross Keys, knowing that a bonus point victory will clinch their promotion back to the Indigo Welsh Premiership.

Pontypool completed the Admiral Championship league and cup double with their 66-21 win over Cardiff Met at the weekend and now put their unbeaten record for the season on the line at Ystrad Rhondda on Tuesday night. Powerful Pooler have bagged 24 wins in the league and a further four in the cup and are now within two games of going through the season without defeat.

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.