Ty Morris thinks the departure of Dale McIntosh from the Indigo Welsh Premiership is a big loss – but that won’t stop the Newport coach from making sure his Merthyr rival tastes defeat on Thursday night. Morris and McIntosh will go head-to-head on the touchline at the Newport Stadium, where the Black and Ambers will be aiming to stay on course for a League and Cup double. The match – which is live on S4C Clic, YouTube and Facebook – will also be McIntosh’s first since the New Zealander known to most as “Chief” announced he would be stepping down at Merthyr at the end of the season to take charge at National League Brecon.

London Welsh have just secured promotion – again – their fourth in five years. It’s a story of determination, togetherness and honest self-appraisal finally overcoming the odds. Owen Morgan went to Old Deer Park and discovered a famous club re-born. Dafydd Iwan’s Yma of Hyd could be clearly heard by visitors admiring the famous cherry blossoms and iconic Great Pagoda of London’s iconic Kew Gardens on Saturday afternoon. The music was drifting on a light spring breeze from the neighbouring Old Deer Park rugby ground where the rousing Welsh lyrics were booming out over the public address system.

Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap has told her team they need to sharpen up from the starting gun if they are to sustain their superb start to the TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Lillicrap’s side came from behind for the second consecutive match to secure a 24-19 victory against Scotland at Cardiff Arms Park. The result – following their opening comeback victory in Ireland – means Wales are celebrating back-to-back Six Nations wins for the first time since 2015, while Scotland’s wait for victory in Cardiff, which goes back to 2004, continues.

Scarlets and Wales flanker James Davies has announced he is retiring from rugby with immediate effect due to concussion. The player popularly known as ‘Cubby’ hasn’t played since winning his 11th Wales cap against Georgia at Parc y Scarlets in October 2020. Davies, 31, has revealed he has struggled with the effects of concussion for the past 17 months and that he has been advised to stop playing for the sake of his health.

By Harry Corish Wales Women are confident they can beat Scotland on Saturday to back up their astonishing comeback victory over Ireland which ignited their Six Nations campaign. In what will be a crucial game for Wales moving forward, they will bid to put themselves among the title contenders by making it two wins from […]

Guess which Welsh region is holding up the others in the URC table as we head into the final stages of the season? Yep, the Dragons. Again. Dean Ryan is under the spotlight and Daniel Parker reckons if there’s no sign of any late upturn then it will be time for change. It’s not a nice time to be a Dragons fan, but speaking from experience, when has it ever been? In 13 out of the 18 seasons of the regional rugby era, the Men of Gwent have been the worst-performing Welsh region: a statistic that belies the proud traditions of one of Wales’ great rugby heartlands.

By Rob Carbon Cardiff Met head to Topsham, in Devon, to face Exeter University in the semi-finals of the BUCS Super Rugby play-offs today hoping to stay on course for their first final since 2018. Danny Milton’s men pipped local rivals Cardiff University 34-33 in another thriller to reach the last four a week ago and will head to the south west knowing that the last time the two sides clashed they came out on top 36-14 at Cyncoed.

By Gareth James Newport will now have their eyes firmly fixed on a possible league and cup double after finally achieving their quest for four wins in the same season over arch-rivals Cardiff after beating them 34-28 in the WRU Premier Cup semi-final at Sardis Road. Unbeaten at the top of the Indigo Group Premiership, […]

Alisha Butchers insists there is a lot more to come from Wales after their stunning opening victory in the first round of the TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Butchers was named player of the match after his side’s dramatic 27-19 comeback victory over Ireland in Dublin, which has given Wales instant lift-off in the tournament. Next, Wales host Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday and Butchers reckons she and her teammates are in the mood to continue their rapid improvement from last season.

By Lucy Rees Alisha Butchers has just agreed to a pay cut – and she couldn’t be happier. The Wales rugby international will be heading into the forthcoming Women’s Six Nations tournament as one of the destined dozen, the 12 players who made history by becoming the country’s first group of female full-time professional players. […]

By Gareth James The Welsh Rugby Union has been accused of sexism and misogyny in a formal complaint by a senior employee, according to reports. The woman – who has since left the WRU – has claimed she was subjected to abusive comments and witnessed racist remarks being made. The claims – made in the […]

Wales Women outside-half Elinor Snowsill is expecting a backlash from Ireland in this Saturday’s TikTok Women’s Six Nations opener but is confident Wales are up to the task. Ioan Cunningham’s side travel to Dublin to face an Ireland side hurting at missing out on World Cup qualification. Snowsill expects a tough challenge but is excited on the eve oof the tournament, which is expected to generate more interest than any previously held.

Former international referee Nigel Owens reckons Wales are as low as they have been for a number of years following Saturday’s shock defeat to Italy, and based on current form, they will struggle to reach the knockout stages of next year’s World Cup. Wales ended up finishing fifth in this year’s Six Nations following their 22-21 loss to Italy in Cardiff, and Owens believes they have got a lot of work to do before the 2023 World Cup comes around. “This is as low as Wales have been for a number of years,” Owens told William Hill.

By Gareth James Wales have now dropped outside the top eight teams in the world following their dismal defeat to Italy on Saturday- they currently find themselves closer to Japan and Fiji, rather than the likes of France, Ireland and England. Wayne Pivac’s side have consequently fallen to ninth in the rankings, with Argentina now moving into the top eight.

Alun Wyn Jones reckons some Welsh players have been saddled for the final time and are about to be put out to grass – but the old warhorse doesn’t plan to be one of them. Jones may be the oldest player in the squad and injuries over the past two seasons have disrupted his career, but he appears determined to continue. The 36-year-old’s landmark 150th cap for his country turned into a nightmare on Saturday as Italy won in Cardiff for the first time to scratch a seven-year losing itch in the Six Nations.

Wayne Pivac insists he will get it right again with Wales and is still the man to take them to next year’s World Cup. His defiance came after the head coach suffered his worst day in the job – a shock 22-21 defeat to Italy in Cardiff. It meant Wales finished fifth in the final Six Nations table a year after winning the title as Italy won for the first time in the tournament for seven years.

Wales finish their Six Nations campaign at home to Italy, where a win for Wayne Pivac’s side could lead to a third-placed finish. The Italians have lost 36 consecutive matches in the tournament, but Tomas Marks says the Azzurri have reason to remain hopeful, despite the weight of statistics piling up against them. “Everyone tells them they’re bad and they believe it,” says from Conor O’Shea about Italian rugby. Over the last 36 matches in the Six Nations, Italy – who play Wales in Cardiff on Saturday in the final round of the Six Nations – have allowed too many episodes of self-doubt to affect their performances.

Alun Wyn Jones will win his 150th cap for Wales against Italy on Saturday – a landmark no other player, for any country, has ever reached before. But the selection was not without controversy since it is four months since cap No.149 and as Harri Morgan considers, others on his position were developing strongly. Belting out all of the ‘gwlads’ for a 150th time, surrounded by supporters in a packed Principality Stadium. Relieved that a week of awkward limelight deflection is behind him.

Stephen Jones has hailed Dan Biggar’s “incredible achievement” as he prepares to welcome him into Wales’ 100-cap club. And former Wales fly-half Jones has also highlighted the “mental resilience” required for longevity in Welsh rugby’s highest-profile playing position. Wales assistant coach Jones reached three figures almost 11 years ago when he lined up against the Barbarians in Cardiff.

Wales Women head coach Ioan Cunningham has targeted three wins from their upcoming Six Nations campaign. Cunningham has named a 37-strong squad ahead of their championship opener in Ireland next weekend, a tournament in which interest and expectations will have been raised due to much needed modernising of the women’s game in Wales. Wales have been bolstered by having professional players in their ranks for the first time, following the Welsh Rugby Union’s historic decision to award 12 full-time contracts in January.