Dean Ryan conceded he was left proud but frustrated after the Dragons blew a chance to take the scalp of Guinness Pro14 champions Leinster. Ryan saw his team battle back to earn a losing bonus point as they went down 35-29 to at a very wet and windy Rodney Parade. The home side led by a point at the break as the visitors fell foul of referee Ben Whitehouse’s whistle and at that stage it looked like a shock result might be on the cards with the Dragons seeking a first win over the Dubliners since 2016.

The Ospreys will be looking for a fourth straight victory when they take on Zebre at The Liberty Stadium on Saturday night. Toby Booth’s side have also managed to blood plenty of youngsters this season, including 20-year-old fly-half Josh Thomas, who is grateful for no less than four top quality No.10s who are guiding his progress as he tells Graham Thomas. Josh Thomas knows he’s at the perfect finishing school for a would-be Wales outside-half. After all, the Ospreys youngster currently has a quartet of high grade number tens guiding him that would be the envy of almost every rugby club in the UK and beyond.

George North has been given the “green light” to win his 100th Wales cap against England in the Six Nations showdown next week. North missed Wales’ second Six Nations win against Scotland last weekend with a foot injury. But the 28-year-old British and Irish Lions star has returned to training ahead of England’s visit to Cardiff on Saturday week. Wales attack coach Stephen Jones said: “George is making good progress, every day he is improving. He’s taken part in some sort of training already, which is great, and that’s the good thing from our perspective. I believe it is a full green light.”

Next week, Wales will be bidding for a Triple Crown when they take on England – surely, the most unexpected success story of the season. They’ve blindsided their critics, but the red cards have also led to a certain blind spot when it comes to possible concussion, says Harri Morgan.  After the opening two rounds of the Six Nations, Wales are fighting the good fight for all the students who were never given the opportunity to disprove their predicted grades. Ok, so their luck is in.

Wales flanker Josh Navidi is among a group of players calling for rugby to bring in meaningful change to reduce head injuries. Navidi – who missed the first half of this season after suffering a concussion in a training session for Cardiff Blues – is backing Progressive Rugby to lobby World Rugby for urgent reform to the way the game is organised and officiated. The group have written an open letter to World Rugby which is also signed by current and former players that includes Alix Popham, who was diagnosed with early onset dementia back in December.

Dai Young insists the arrival of Rhys Priestland at Cardiff Blues will help develop Jarrod Evans – rather than drive him away. The Blues have confirmed that Priestland is moving to the Arms Park this summer after six seasons at Bath. The 34-year-old former Wales No.10 has signed a long-term contract at the Arms Park, where he will challenge Evans for the pivot role.

Forest Green Rovers like to promote themselves as the world’s greenest sports club, but one day Pentyrch rugby club could give them a run for their money. Certainly, the club just north of Cardiff are heading in the right direction. Not only have they decided to install solar panels on the clubhouse roof, but they are also planning to use savings on their bills to invest in walking rugby groups for both male and female players. None of this would be possible from their own funds, so the club made a successful bid for a grant from the Be Active Wales Fund, which has now moved into the stage of trying to help sports clubs become more sustainable after the current pandemic.

Eddie Jones has claimed Cardiff-bound England have lost their edge because they are playing without crowds. The England coach will bring his team to a fanless Principality Stadium next week with a mission to try and deny Wales an unexpected Triple Crown. But the Australian has admitted his team are not what they were because of the impact of playing in empty stadia. England lost at home to Scotland in a deserted Twickenham in the opening round of the Six Nations before recovering to beat Italy, but without ever hitting top gear.

The coach who helped launch Louis Rees-Zammit’s club career is not in the least bit surprised by his blockbusting impact on Test match rugby. As Gloucester Rugby’s junior academy manager, Alex Guest worked closely with the Wales wing sensation after he arrived in the west country as a 16-year-old Hartpury College student. And in the space of four remarkable years, Rees-Zammit has gone from starting his rugby apprenticeship to graduating on the Guinness Six Nations stage by scoring a stunning match-winning try for Wales against Scotland at Murrayfield.

The beaming smile on the 20-year-old’s face said it all. Louis Rees-Zammit is a young man living out his dream. With him in their side Wales are two from two in the Six Nations and on course, somehow, for a Grand Slam. There is no doubt Wayne Pivac’s team has had the rub of the green so far in their back-to-back wins over Ireland and Scotland. Both Wales’ opposition have, crucially, lost men to red cards.

The Dragons needs to be taken back into private ownership if Welsh rugby is to prosper and the nation’s four regions are able to survive and then thrive. That’s the call from a figure who used to sit at the centre of Welsh sport, who says it’s time for the regions to realise they are being taken for a ride. Newport-based Dragons are currently owned by governing body, the Welsh Rugby Union although the region’s chairman David Buttress is keen for that to change.

Wayne Pivac has hailed the stunning performance by Louis Rees-Zammit after the young Wales wing’s try double secured a thrilling 25-24 Guinness Six Nations victory over Scotland. Rees-Zammit, making only a second Six Nations appearance, followed up his touchdown against Ireland last weekend with two more, including a brilliant individual effort from just inside Scotland’s half. It was the kind of impact that has got pundits such as Jonathan Davies already tipping Rees-Zammit for a Lions tour place this summer.

Scotland captain Stuart Hogg has promised his team will close down the threat of Wales – and in particular the returning Liam Williams – at Murrayfield on their way to backing up their historic win over England. Hogg led Scotland to their first win at Twickenham since 1983 with a display against the pre-tournament favourites England that was more dominant than the 11-6 scoreline suggested. Another win for Scotland, who have never won the competition since Italy joined to make it the Six Nations in 2000, would put them in a commanding position.

Wales centre Nick Tompkins believes he and Owen Watkin can be the odd couple who prove a puzzle Scotland are unable to solve at Murrayfield. Wayne Pivac’s side have headed north of the border following an opening weekend win against Ireland, but also minus a quarter of their 36-man Six Nations squad sidelined by injuries or suspension. Tompkins and Watkins will be the centre pairing in Edinburgh for round two – a selection combination that would have attracted long odds before the tournament began.

Wales play Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday and go there as firm underdogs for the first time in years. The Scots are doing things differently to Wales, says Harri Morgan – showing both patience and pragmatism missing within the WRU. In the wake of Scotland’s first victory at Twickenham since 1983, Gregor Townsend’s stock has shot up ‘Gamestop’ style. The head coach has been lauded for masterminding the hybrid game plan, which struck a perfect chord between risk and reward.

Wayne Pivac may have called up Willis Halaholo for a likely first Wales cap this weekend, but is not the first time the coach has held faith in his fellow New Zealander. Halaholo will be among the replacements to face Scotland at Murrafield in round two of the Six Nations, a dozen years since the centre made his first big impression on Pivac. That was when the Kiwi coach was at North Harbour and Halaholo was making a reputation at Auckland academy.

Liam Williams is set to return to the Wales team against Scotland this weekend after having seen out his three-match ban following a red card playing for the Scarlets against Cardiff Blues. James Dodd believes the Lions star is exactly what Wales need in order to get their backline moving freely again. Liam Williams was shown a red card for his head clash with back rower Shane Lewis-Hughes at the Cardiff City Stadium in January – an act that proved old habits die hard. While Williams has become one the most exciting players in the world, he cut his teeth as a youngster playing club rugby for Waunarlwydd in Swansea , rather than in any cosseted regional academy.

Scott Williams believes the best thing to happen to George North this season was being dropped by Wayne Pivac. Ospreys centre Williams – a teammate of North’s for region and country – believes the Lions star has found his best form following that rejection by the Wales coach in autumn and also discovered a new lease of life by moving from wing to centre. Williams – whose own Wales career has been halted for the time being by back problems – has hailed the performance of North during Wales’ opening Six Nations victory over Ireland on Saturday.

Dean Ryan has told his Dragons team they must not let a back row crisis deflect them from the need to bounce back against Edinburgh on Friday night. The Dragons, who are fifth in conference A, welcome the Scottish side to Newport with clear orders to make amends for their home defeat to Connacht last week. “I think it’s important that we build on last week. I don’t think it’s any secret, I was pretty disappointed with how we came out on quite a long spell,” said Ryan.

Carwyn Tuipulotu has committed his future to the Scarlets by signing a four-year deal and his first professional contract. The 19-year-old back-row, one of Welsh rugby’s bright young prospects, has made a big impression at Parc y Scarlets this season and came off the bench for his Guinness PRO14 debut against Leinster last month. The son of Tongan international Kati, Tuipulotu was educated at Sedbergh School in Cumbria before linking up with the Scarlets Academy from Newcastle Falcons two seasons ago.