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.

Steff Evans is the joint leading tryscorer in European rugby this season, has 13 caps for Wales, and is still only 28 – but expects no calls from Warren Gatland. The wing – whose finishing skills helped see off a star-studded Sharks team last week in arguably the best regional result of the season – reckons he won’t be required any more at Test level. It’s a harsh self-judgement, but Evans insists: “That boat has probably sailed for me.

Sioned Harries’ first trip to Scotland for the Six Nations was 12 years ago in her first year in the Wales Women’s team. That was a different world, with the women’s teams from all the nations playing as amateurs and second-class citizens. Not anymore!

Toby Booth believes his Ospreys side will face the best team in England “by some distance” when they tackle Heineken Champions Cup round-of-16 opponents Saracens on Sunday. While the Ospreys contest their first top-flight European knockout game for 12 years, Saracens are on familiar territory.

Tributes have been paid throughout Welsh rugby after the death of Peter Thomas, the former Cardiff chairman. A hugely influential figure within the sport, the 79-year-old passed away on Wednesday, three years after he was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Welsh rugby found a rare show of unity to commit to change at the weekend, avoiding a cliff-edge moment that would have threatened the game’s immediate financial future. On Sunday, member clubs of the Welsh Rugby Union overwhelming supported significant plans for governance change at an EGM in Port Talbot.

Dwayne Peel believes the Scarlets rolled back the years with their stunning victory over the Sharks but insisted the standards set has to be the blueprint for the future. Peel watched his team overcome a Sharks squad that included 10 Springboks in a 32-20 victory that was a throwback to the streetwise muggings handed out to star-studded visitors to Llanelli in years gone by. Sam Costelow kicked 22 points, including six penalties and converted two tries by Steff Evans as the Scarlets maintained their outside chances of Heineken Cup qualification.

Sisilia Tuipulotu was hailed as being on her way to becoming one of the best prop forwards in the world after her try capped an emphatic victory for Wales over Ireland in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Tuipulotu scored the last of Wales’ five tries as they hammered under-strength Ireland 31-5 at Cardiff Arms Park in the opening round fixture. In front of a record home crowd of 4,962, the 19-year-old from Newport powered over in her first Test start in the front row – after switching from lock – to cap an impressive display and earn a glowing accolade from head coach Ioan Cunningham.

Dwayne Peel has warned his Scarlets they will have to withstand a Boks battering if they are to get anything out of their return to action on Saturday night. While the region are unable to rely on their rested and the wounded after their Six Nations efforts, the Sharks will come armed to their sharpest teeth from South Africa in the shape of 10 Springbok internationals.

Kelsey Jones is refusing to settle for the best of the rest tag as she sets her sights on a TikTok Women’s Six Nations to remember with Wales. The hooker, who will start in the No.2 jersey against Ireland in the 2023 curtain-raiser on Saturday, is among the 25 players now on a full-time WRU contract having been part of the latest cohort to earn a deal earlier this month.

Elinor Snowsill says Wales are determined to make this year’s TikTok Six Nations as good, if not better than last year’s, with excitement and anticipation building in the camp. Last season, Ioan Cunningham’s squad finished third behind England and France after winning their opening two games against Scotland and Ireland, both of which they will play in reverse order this year.

John Manders has told the rank-and-file clubs across Wales not to worry about their future funding providing they back the Welsh Rugby Union’s governance proposals at next Sunday’s EGM in Port Talbot. Manders is chairman of the union’s Community Game Board and is responsible for the £10.4m ring-fenced budget that is invested in the running of the community game in Wales.

Taine Basham is the first to admit his outlook on life has changed completely since becoming a dad. His partner, Giovanna, gave birth to a baby boy in December, with little Tomas now four months old. It’s put everything in a new perspective for the Dragons back row forward, including the ups and downs of the past couple of years on the rugby front.

Wales kick off the 2023 TikTok Women’s Six Nations on Saturday and here is where you can watch all the weekend’s action in the UK and Ireland. Wales welcome Ireland in the first game of the Championship, with the hosts keen to build on their third-place finish last year. Holders England then take on Scotland at a sold-out Kingston Park, no fear if you are not one of the lucky ones with a ticket, the match is live on TV and radio.