By David Williams Warren Gatland insists he is looking forward to locking horns with Eddie Jones again at this year’s World Cup – although he admits he was shocked to hear their reunion will be so sudden. Gatland enjoyed some memorable skirmishes with Jones around Wales v England clashes in the past and the two […]

Ken Owens has been named as Wales captain in a familiar-looking squad with Warren Gatland admitting it was too late in the day for a radical overhaul. The appointment of Owens, 36, reflects the short-term nature of Gatland’s Six Nations squad selection. Although there are four uncapped players, the elevation of Owens and the inclusion of veterans 37-year-old Alun Wyn Jones, Leigh Halfpenny, 34, Rhys Webb 34, Justin Tipuric, 33, Dan Biggar 33, and Taulupe Faletau, 32 means the group has retained much of the feel of Gatland’s previous spell in charge which ended three years ago.

Dan Biggar is firm favourite to become Wales captain once more under Warren Gatland. That’s the view of Biggar’s former Ospreys coach Sean Holley, who reckons the hugely experienced Toulon No.10 is the man Gatland will turn to for the upcoming Six Nations campaign. Biggar missed the whole of the Autumn Nations series because of injury, which forced former Wales coach Wayne Pivac to hand the armband to Justin Tipuric.

Cai Evans has earned fulsome praise from Ospreys head coach Toby Booth after his superb goal-kicking helped take his side to the brink of qualification for the knockout stages of the Heineken Champions Cup. Evans landed three conversions and three penalties to claim 15 points as the Ospreys beat Montpellier 35-29 in Swansea, despite being outscored by five tries to four. The difference was the goal-kicking of Evans – son of Wales legend and Welsh Rugby Union chairman, Ieuan – as the French champions missed four attempts at goal.

Former Ospreys coach Sean Holley has backed his old team to do the double over Montpellier this weekend – but doesn’t expect them to go deep into the Heineken European Champions Cup. The Ospreys will bid to repeat their stunning December victory over the French champions on Saturday night at the Swanssea.com Stadium in a match that is live on S4C. Holley – now a respected TV pundit and analyst for a host of broadcasters – reckons the only Welsh region in Europe’s premier tournament are capable of repeating their 21-10 triumph across the channel.

By Paul Jones Warren Gatland is returning to a rugby league defence coach to assist him with Wales – in an echo of his successful partnership with Shaun Edwards. Gatland is set to appoint former Wigan star Mike Forshaw as his Wales defence coach in succession to Gethin Jenkins as well as Alex King as […]

By David Williams One of Welsh rugby’s favourite English sons – David “Dai” Duckham – has been hailed a major star of the post-war game after passing away at the age of 76. The former England wing – who was held in rare affection in Wales – was a leading player in the 1970s and […]

By Harry Corish Shane Williams insists the Ospreys are back to their best – and can prove it with a statement win over eight-times URC Champions Leinster this weekend. The Swansea-based region take on the only side left unbeaten in the URC this season, Leinster – who have won their first 11 games of the […]

By Harry Corish Matt O’Brien insists his side must learn from mistakes made against Ebbw Vale but hopes they can get back to winning ways against a resurgent RGC side, to put themselves back in the top six of the Indigo Premiership. It is a huge game for both sides, with RGC currently sit in […]

By Harry Corish Former Wales under 20’s captain Tom Phillips is looking forward to the test of facing his old mentor, as Llanelli hope to be a stumbling block to Ebbw Vale’s remarkable rise in the Indigo Premiership under the former Wales under 20’s head coach Jason Strange. Strange chose Phillips to captain his Wales […]

By Simon Thomas Robin McBryde heads back to Wales this week in the firm belief that a certain other individual’s return will be having a major galvanising effect on players there. The 37-times capped ex-hooker will be in Swansea on Saturday with runaway BKT United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster as they take on the Ospreys. […]

By David Williams Gloucester boss George Skivington does not expect injured Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit to play for the club again before this season’s Guinness Six Nations Championship kicks off. The 21-year-old wing is facing a race against time to be fit for Wales’ Six Nations opener – and first game with Warren Gatland back […]

The Scarlets survived a red card to No8 Sione Kalamafoni to secure a much-needed second URC victory over of the season in a 33-17 win over the Dragons. The Tongan international was dismissed by referee Ben Whitehouse for running into a free-for-all and throwing two punches at Welsh international backrower Ross Moriarty towards the end of the first half.

The Ospreys escaped with a tense 19-22 victory over Cardiff at the Arms Park in the BKT United Rugby Championship after Jarrod Evans blew a late opportunity. Evans had a chance to earn the home side a share of the spoils with the last kick of the match, but his penalty attempt failed to reach the target. The defeat sees Cardiff slip to eight in the points table while the Ospreys rise to 12th after securing their second consecutive derby win of the festive season.

By Rob Carbon Newly appointed WRU chairman Ieuan Evans has set out his priorities for his first year in office in a New Year’s message to all Welsh rugby clubs.  Top of the agenda is to turn a verbal agreement between the governing body and the regions into a workable and fully functioning six-year agreement […]

By Harry Corish Former Scotland and Scarlets captain John Barclay has admitted he sees no quick fixes for Dwayne Peel. Scarlets head coach Peel is under pressure after just one solitary league victory all season. They host the Dragons on New Year’s Day – in a United Rugby Championship clash which is live on S4C […]

By Harry Corish The Welsh Regions are once again set to lock horns as all four sides are desperate to finish the festive period with a win on New Year’s Day. The Scarlets will host the Dragons at Parc y Scarlets where a win for either side is crucial. The hosts have struggled so far […]

By Rob Carbon Warren Gatland has sacked two of Wales greatest ever players from his coaching team as he bids to re-shape the fortunes of the Welsh team in the 2023 Six Nations and World Cup. Stephen Jones and Gethin Jenkins, who both played under Gatland for both Wales and the British & Irish Lions […]

Josh Turnbull has paid tribute to Cardiff’s character and resilience as they fought back to claim a last-gasp bonus-point victory over the Dragons. The victory saw Cardiff climb to fifth in the BKT United Rugby Championship table and they stretched their lead in the Welsh shield to 10 points. Setting up a crunch game against […]

Llandovery fired another warning shot across the bows of the top two teams in the Indigo Premiership as they ran in four tries in a 29-0 West Wales derby win over Carmarthen Quins at Church Bank. Beaten only once this season in a tight tussle at Cardiff, where they still emerged with a couple of points, they gave notice they will not be cast adrift by the table-topping Blue and Blacks and Aberavon. Cardiff beat Pontypridd 39-13 at the Arms Park to stay nine points clear, while the Wizards triumphed 18-15 over Bridgend at the Brewery Field.