Full-time contracts have been awarded to a dozen of Wales’ leading female players by the Welsh Rugby Union for the first time. Alisha Butchers, Natalia John, Siwan Lillicrap, Carys Phillips, Gwenllian Pyrs, Donna Rose and Keira Bevan, Hannah Jones, Jasmine Joyce, Ffion Lewis, Lisa Neumann, Elinor Snowsill, are the first full-time athletes. The 12-month deals, a first for the women’s game in Wales, came into force this week with players and management based at the National Centre of Excellence.

The Scarlets’ capture of former All Black Vaea Fifita is yet to be confirmed by Wasps head coach Lee Blackett. The significant transfer coup for the New Zealand second row has been secured for next season by the Welsh region, who have been looking for a high quality lock since the departure of Jake Ball. But Blackett has remained tight-lipped about Fifita’s future and claimed: “There’s a lot of rumours out there.

By Steffan Thomas Nick Tompkins insists Wales will see the benefit of his move back to Saracens as he targets his ultimate dream of playing at a Rugby World Cup. The 26-year-old made a fast start to test rugby after being a shock selection for Wayne Pivac’s 2020 Six Nation squad having previously represented England […]

By Graham Thomas Every time Elvis Taione enters the building at the Ospreys training ground, the greeting is always the same. “The boys here, they never say ‘Good Morning’ to me,” reveals the Tongan international hooker. “They just go, ‘Uh-huh-huh!’ and I have to go ‘Uh-huh-huh’ back! “It’s kind of become the routine. But I […]

By Paul Jones Liam Williams says he is excited by what is to come in the next chapter of his career after agreeing a switch to Cardiff for the 2022/23 United Rugby Championship season. The Wales and British & Irish Lions international full-back, who can also operate on the wing, has been signed from Welsh […]

By David Williams Wales should move their Six Nations matches to England, rather than play in front of empty stadia. That’s the view of Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter, who has backed the views of Welsh players Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit who are both in favour of going over the Severn Bridge. […]

The Welsh Rugby Union remain committed to playing their Six Nations matches in Cardiff and are hoping there is a “domino effect” of relaxed restrictions. Although the WRU have looked at contingency plans to move their matches into England – rather than play them behind closed doors – their priority is to convince the Welsh Government that their three matches can be safely hosted at the Principality Stadium. At present, restrictions imposed by Mark Drakeford’s government mean the three games against Scotland, France and Italy have to take place without fans due to fears over rising Covid rates.

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 […]