By David Williams Dan Biggar is concerned by the negative impact playing behind closed doors could have on the success of Wales’ Six Nations title defence. The champions’ first home game takes place against Scotland on February 12 but, under Covid restrictions imposed by the Welsh Government, only 50 spectators are permitted to view outdoor […]

Ceri Jones believes he is coaching the most committed rugby players in Wales as RGC prepare for the long New Year trip to Llanelli. The former Dragons coach, who began his stint at the Colwyn Bay-based club in early September, says he has been re-energised by the scale of the Indigo Premiership club’s ambition for the area. RGC 1404 – who face Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets on Monday in a match that is live on S4C – clock up more miles than anyone else in their league and their nine-hour round trip is a  fortnightly ritual.

The American novelist Barbara Kingsolver wrote: “Memory is a complicated thing – a relative to truth, but not its twin.” So, how do you remember recent years of Welsh rugby? Aside from the record books and statistics, what are your memories? And how do they stack up to the truth? In his new documentary, “Slammed”, director Craig Withycombe has attempted to re-tell the events of one of the most tumultuous decades for the national sport – the 10-year period stretched, and lovingly stitched together, between 1998 and 2008.

Dwayne Peel praised his Scarlets players’ resolve after they came from behind to snatch derby day victory over the Ospreys. A late Johnny McNicholl try secured the Scarlets a bonus point 22-19 victory over their arch-rivals in an entertaining encounter in Llanelli. A brace from McNicholl along with tries from Gareth Davies, and Steff Evans got the hosts over the line at Parc y Scarlets. Dan Jones also kicked two points. 

Tom Price admits he is desperate to get on a rugby field again after being unable to cross the whitewash for an agonising 12 weeks. The Scarlets second row is hoping to take out 83 days of frustration when he hits his first ruck in the derby against the Ospreys on New Year’s Day – a clash that is live on S4C. Price admits he is praying for the turn of the year to bring about a change in his fortunes after his region suffered five successive postponements because of Covid outbreaks, including their ill-fated trip to South Africa.

By Rob Carbon Aaron Jarvis joined his family on a plane to the USA on 28 December to head off for the next adventure in his rugby career. The 18-times capped Wales prop decided to hang up his boots at the Dragons before Christmas to take up a coaching opportunity with the Dallas Jackals in […]

Wales look set to start the defence of their Guinness Six Nations title without top-choice No.8 Taulupe Faletau. The triple British & Irish Lions tourist hasn’t played since returning from South Africa in the summer and is still undergoing rehab on his damaged ankle. Bath head coach Stuart Hooper, whose side has yet to win in the Premiership or Europe this season, is desperate to get the 31-year-old back in action, but still doesn’t know when that will be.

Cardiff and Scarlets have both welcomed back a host of international players for their United Rugby Championship derby clash at the Arms Park on Boxing Day. Both sides have endured a rough time over the past month having to isolate both in South Africa, and back in the United Kingdom. Cardiff won the hearts and minds of supporters across the globe with their heroic performances against Toulouse, and Harlequins, respectively in Europe over the past few weeks with a team made up of academy and semi-professional players. But the Scarlets have not played a game since beating Benetton in October, and are raring to go. Lloyd Williams and Rhys Priestland will start at half-back for Cardiff, with Ben Thomas partnering Rey Lee-Lo in midfield.

By David Williams Wales’ four rugby regions have been left counting the cost after new restrictions imposed by the Welsh Government to combat the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 saw professional sport effectively forced behind closed doors. A strict limit of 50 spectators was placed on sport at all levels in the country […]

By Rob Carbon The United Rugby Championship could be thrown into disarray if the tournament organisers can’t provide guarantees on a safe, secure and speedy passage home for the four teams they now expect to relive their recent traumatic travel experiences to and from South Africa. The four teams who found themselves stranded in Cape […]

The Welsh rugby regions are weighing up whether or not to seek postponements of their festive fixture list after they were ordered to play their matches behind closed doors. The Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff and Dragons are all facing the prospect of having to play their Christmas and New Year matches in empty stadia after the Welsh Government’s decision to ban crowds. The decision – announced by Welsh economy minister Vaughan Gething late on Monday night – will have a devastating effect on the regions’ finances.

Ospreys hooker Ifan Phillips has revealed he plans to use funds donated through a crowdfunding page to pay for a prosthetic leg following an amputation. The 25-year-old had his leg amputated after being involved in a motorcycle crash earlier this month. Police said Phillips was being treated for “life-changing injuries” when he was admitted to Morriston Hospital on December 5 after a road traffic collision involving two motorcycles.

By Steffan Thomas The versatility tag has been a hindrance for many players, but Seb Davies believes it can help him add to his 13 Wales caps. Davies began his career as a second row but has developed into a utility forward who is now able to play blindside flanker, and No 8. Many versatile […]

Barry Maddocks has worked at the cutting edge of professional rugby for the best part of 20 years – but now faces one of the biggest challenges of his career. The west Walian may not be a household name, but he has forged a reputation in rugby circles as one of the most forward-thinking attacking coaches around. After a decade coaching in England with Bath and England Sevens, before four years at the Dragons, Maddocks has jumped into the unpredictable cauldron of French rugby.

Theo Cabango admitted it was the fulfilment of a dream when he announced his arrival as a tryscorer in top level rugby on Saturday. The 19-year-old scored a stunning 50-metre try for Cardiff as their young, patched-up side went toe-to-toe with Harlequins before fading in the final quarter and losing 43-17 in their Heineken Champions Cup clash. Cabango – younger brother of Swansea City and Wales defender Ben Cabango – scored a magnificent first-half effort, one of three scored by the visitors before the break, in a contest that was still level at 17-17 until the 58th minute.

By Graham Thomas Joe Davies insists the Dragons will not settle for more hard luck stories as their European campaign reaches an early crossroads. The big second row is keen to throw his weight around and help subdue high-flying French Top 14 side Lyon when they visit Rodney Parade on Friday night in a European […]

The man who has scored more international tries than any other Welsh rugby player – Jim Roberts – has announced his retirement from wheelchair rugby. He goes out at the top, having scored 24 tries in a Paralympic final, and 208 tries across two Paralympic Games, but insists there will be no U-turn from his […]

Carmarthen Quins hope to offer a glimpse of the future when they host rivals Llanelli in the first West Wales showdown of the new Indigo Premiership. Both clubs are feeders within the Scarlets region and regulars at Parc y Scarlets have had plenty of reasons to be grateful to the Quins’ production line in recent years. Wales scrum-half Kieran Hardy, hooker Ryan Elias and Scotland squad prop Javian Sebastian are just a few of the former Quins players to have hit the heights in the last couple of seasons and on Thursday night there could be evidence of more to follow.

By Rob Carbon The Ospreys were beaten 21-13 by Sales Sharks in their Heineken Champions Cup opener. Toby Booth’s side warmed up with Ifan Phillips’s name on the back of their shirts after the 25-year-old suffered life-changing injuries in a road traffic accident. Ospreys head coach Booth said: “It’s been an emotional week, for sure. […]

Josh Adams has forged himself a reputation as one of the best wings in world rugby, but he is prepared to add more strings to his bow. The Cardiff star has scored 17 tries in 34 Test matches for Wales and is one of the first names on Wayne Pivac’s team sheet. Centre is somewhat of a problem position for Pivac, and while the return of George North for the Six Nations will come as a huge boost, Wales need to develop more options especially in the number 13 jersey.