Dear Callum or Mr. Pitch Invader, I hear you like a beer or two and are up for a laugh. Well, I wondered if you fancied following up your pitch-invading antics at the Principality Stadium the other day with another sporting challenge.

Ellis Jenkins’ return to Test rugby for the first time since 2018 didn’t end with a win, but now the Cardiff flanker wants to build on his fantastic display against South Africa. Jenkins suffered a horror knee injury when the Springboks were again the opposition in Cardiff three years ago and he spent more than 24 months on the sidelines. But he is back in the Wales squad this autumn and produced a superb performance in his first match with some trademark turnovers and contact area work.

Ioan Cunningham has told his Wales women’s team they still have plenty of room for improvement ahead of their clash against South Africa this weekend. The head coach saw his side earn a big win on Sunday night at Cardiff Arms Park with two tries from Jasmine Joyce helping them to a 23-5 victory over Japan. But Cunningham, the WRU women’s head coach, reckons his players can raise their standards further, especially when it comes to not giving away so many penalties.

Wayne Pivac said he did not know if Wales would have scored had a spectator not invaded the pitch during his team’s dramatic 23-18 defeat by world champions South Africa. Wales were ultimately beaten by Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx’s 73rd-minute try and a later Elton Jantjies penalty in the Cardiff rain, but they were drawing 15-15 when the second-half incident happened. The hosts were attacking through substitute Liam Williams when the spectator ran onto the pitch only a few metres away from him and inside South Africa’s 22.

Saracens hooker Kat Evans has been backed to justify her selection after being handed a debut chance for Wales against Japan on Sunday. Evans is the only new cap in the team named by head coach Ioan Cunningham for the first of the team’s three autumn Tests. Scrum-half Keira Bevan partners Elinor Snowsill at half back in her first international appearance since facing England in March 2020.

By Tom Prosser Taulupe Faletau says he is “looking forward” to returning to Welsh regional rugby after agreeing to join Cardiff Rugby from Bath. The 30-year-old will remain at Bath for the rest of the season and will then return to Wales after completing a five-year stint across the border. Faletau has been a dominant force at number eight since bursting onto the international scene in 2011.

“Those who want to be professional rugby players, can be full time professional rugby players.” At first glance, a bland statement that summarises a seemingly straightforward concept. When applied to the Wales Women’s senior side, however, it represents a seismic moment in the 34-year history of a group long plagued by mismanagement and neglect.

After the All Blacks, it’s the Springboks for Wales as the toughest of openings to any autumn series continues at the Principality on Saturday. South Africa will have their controversial kingpin Rassie Erasmus back in their corner, which will be prove crucial according to Springbok legend Gary Teichmann, as he tells Graham Thomas. Gary Teichmann believes the return of controversial South African supremo Rassie Erasmus will give the Springboks a crucial edge against Wales on Saturday. Former Newport hero Teichmann – who played alongside Erasmus in the Boks’ back row – reckons the presence of South Africa’s outspoken director of rugby will prove a big boost to the tourists.

By Lucy Rees Siwan Lillicrap believes the first professional contracts for women rugby players in Wales can provide a firm base on which to build the World Cup campaign. The Wales captain has welcomed the introduction of 10 full-time professional contracts and 15 retainer deals for players in the national squad. The contracts will be […]

By Paul Jones Ellis Jenkins will make his first Wales appearance for three years in Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series game against world champions South Africa.  The Cardiff flanker suffered a serious knee injury during Wales’ 2018 autumn victory over the Springboks and was sidelined from all rugby for 26 months, but he now returns to Test action in one of six changes from last weekend’s 54-16 defeat to New Zealand.  Jenkins replaces shoulder injury victim Ross Moriarty, while Will Rowlands takes over from skipper Alun Wyn Jones in the second row. 

Alun Wyn Jones is in danger of missing the rest of the season after he undergoes surgery on his injured shoulder. The Wales captain has already been ruled out of the remainder of the autumn series after sustaining the injury in the opening match against New Zealand last week. But now the official Six Nations website are reporting that Jones is also in danger of missing the Six Nations that runs until March 19.

By Lucy Rees Taine Basham believes Wales can muscle up to stronger effect when they face world champions, South Africa, this weekend. The Dragons flanker – who made a hugely impressive full debut in the 54-16 defeat to New Zealand – reckons his side can rise to the physical challenge of the Springboks and bring […]

Back in 2013, Ardie Savea travelled to Europe as the All Blacks’ first non-playing apprentice. Coach Steve Hansen wanted to “introduce him to the way of the All Black life.” Eight years on and he is the apprentice turned master, although there was sufficient in the performance of Wales’ new boy Taine Basham on Saturday against New Zealand to suggest there is another back rower with the potential to learn quickly.

Wales have delivered a positive early assessment of their captain Alun Wyn Jones after he went off injured during the 54-16 hammering against New Zealand in Cardiff. Jones hurt the same shoulder that threatened to sideline him from this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa before he made a startling recovery and started all three Tests. He went off just 18 minutes into the contest, causing concern ahead of Wales’ remaining Autumn Nations Series appointments with South Africa, Fiji and Australia.

I’m fed up of seeing Wales play second fiddle to New Zealand on the rugby pitch. It has got to such a sorry state that not even the fathers of most of the current Welsh players were born the last time we beat them! Fancy having to go back to sit on your Grampy’s knee to ask if he has any recollection of Wales beating the All Blacks in 1953.

It’s 68 years and counting since Wales last beat New Zealand. Mark Jones – who has recently returned from a spell living and working in Canterbury – says Wales are not merely up against 23 of the world’s best players on Saturday, but they are facing a sporting nation like no other, as he tells Graham Thomas. Former Crusaders coach Mark Jones has told Wales they must match the Sam Whitelock psyche if they are to have any hope of beating the All Blacks this weekend. Jones – who had a stint as defence coach with the Super Rugby champions – reckons All Blacks captain Whitelock typifies the attitude which keeps the Kiwis at the top of the global game.

New Zealand coach Ian Foster believes Wales’ selection issues have been “blown up a little bit” ahead of Saturday’s showdown in Cardiff. The All Blacks have won the past 31 encounters between the countries and look well placed to extend that record due to the home side missing a host of key players. British and Irish Lions forward Ken Owens was a late withdrawal for Wayne Pivac’s men, joining the likes of George North, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Willis Halaholo and Liam Williams on the sidelines.

By Steffan Thomas There is a lot on the line for Wales this autumn, but interestingly Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Steve Phillips has revealed plans for a new annual tournament that would add competition jeopardy to matches in the November and July windows. As things stand, northern hemisphere teams face those from the south […]

By Steffan Thomas The United Rugby Championship will take a month off after this weekend with the intention of not clashing with the autumn internationals. This break will give Dai Young, Dean Ryan, Toby Booth, and Dwayne Peel an opportunity to look at their wider squads. TRP understands Cardiff favour giving their players more exposure […]

Dai Young branded the decision to send off Ray Lee-Lo a “harsh” call but still heaped praise on his Cardiff team after they held off the derby challenge of the Dragons. The club’s director of rugby saw Le-Lo shown a red card for a high tackle on Sam Davies before Cardiff clung on for a 31-29 victory. It moved them up to seventh spot in the United Rugby Championship, with the Ospreys ahead of them in fifth and both the Scarlets and Dragons in the bottom half of the table.