Following two years of negotiations, the Welsh Rugby Union have performed a dramatic U-turn and tabled a six-year multimillion pound deal for the professional game which relies upon further debt and benefactor support having previously choreographed their removal. Wales’ four professional sides – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – have been struggling on and off the field for the best part of a decade with the WRU refusing to invest in its professional game the same way as their United Rugby Championship union counterparts.  After months of discussions surrounding a way forward for the professional game in Wales, including the resignation of Professional Rugby Board chair Amanda Blanc, the WRU’s long-term funding deal is set to meet stiff opposition.

By Daniel Parker A rare note of cautious optimism chimed around Rodney Parade with the appointment of Dai Flanagan as Dragons head coach. Flanagan – a former Pontypridd and Cardiff Blues fly-half who hails from the Gwent-Glamorgan frontier in the Rhymney Valley – will take on day-to-day managerial duties from hereon in, with Dean Ryan […]

As the soft, summer rain fell, barely three miles from where Phil Bennett helped Llanelli famously beat New Zealand 9-3 at Stradey Park 50 years ago, family, friends, players past and present, coaches and rugby supporters gathered at Parc y Scarlets to honour his legacy. Bennett was described as “a great gentleman and a great rugby player” as giants of the sport from Wales and beyond united in tribute to him at a remembrance service at the stadium. Bennett, who died earlier this month after a long illness at the age of 73, captained Wales and the British and Irish Lions.

I once had reason to walk down the high street in Llanelli one afternoon, alongside Phil Bennett. It felt like the scene from a sentimental Hollywood film. Women shouted their hellos from every shop front, men yelled down from scaffolding and every other car beeped cheerily and drivers waved at the town’s most famous and best-loved resident. But the really striking thing was that as the Scarlets’ greatest ever rugby player responded, he seemed to know the name of every well-wisher.

By Stuart Taylor As the latest dust covering settles on another pathetic domestic season, many feel it will take more than a symbolic spring clean to solve the structural issues that continue to trouble Welsh rugby. After years of failing to maintain the upkeep of Welsh rugby, independent consultants Oakwell Sports Advisory were commissioned to […]

By David Williams Wales wing Tom Rogers has extended his stay at Parc y Scarlets by signing a new contract for his home region club. Capped twice by Wayne Pivac in 2021, the 23-year-old back three star has become the latest player to put pen to paper on a new deal at the Scarlets ahead […]

By Harry Corish Joey Barton has been accused of threatening to block the progress of Sion Spence at Bristol Rovers if the midfielder joined up with Wales. Spence – who is on loan at Rovers from Premier league Crystal Palace – was wanted by Wales Under 21 manager Paul Boden for international duty in June. […]

By Harry Corish The Ospreys have secured the Welsh Shield and qualified for the Heineken Champions’ Cup, following a pulsating final weekend of United Rugby Championship action.   They went into the weekend needing to equal or better the Scarlets’ upcoming result to confirm their European qualification and top spot in the Welsh shield. The weekend […]

By Graham Thomas Scarlets hooker Shaun Evans has backed Jac Morgan to emerge stronger from his Wayne Pivac heart-to-heart – just as he himself did. Evans – who will line up for his region’s final match of the season on Saturday against the Stormers – was a former teammate of Morgan’s at Parc y Scarlets, […]

The Joint Supporters Group representing fans of the four regions have revealed they have been waiting for a meeting with the Welsh Rugby Union for seven months. Responding to the revelation that the WRU are considering a proposal to cut the number of regions from four to three, the JSG have claimed the culling of one of their teams may be behind the long delay. Writing on Twitter in reply to a story in The Times that reveals the reduction proposal, the JSG state: “As we’re still waiting for the date of our next meeting with the Welsh Rugby Union, the news item below may explain why we are still waiting, 7 months after the original timeframe.

Gareth Anscombe and George North have earned praise from Ospreys head coach Toby Booth after their part in thrashing the Scarlets, 54-36. The Wales pair – who were both on different stages of the comeback road after long periods out injured – helped their side to a victory which keeps alive their Heineken Champions Cup qualification hopes. Anscombe proved he is approaching his best again after two years out with a knee injury, while North played his first match for a year following his own knee problem.

Dean Ryan insists the Dragons’ shock 38-27 win away at the Scarlets was just reward for their efforts during a long, barren winless streak. The Dragons’ victory was only their second of the season as they won for their first time at Parc y Scarlets in 14 visits. Tries from Jack Dixon, Taine Basham, Jared Rosser, Taylor Davies and Rhodri Williams – that included an unanswered 17-point blast in the final ten minutes – saw the Men of Gwent sweep to a 38-27 win.