It was probably fitting that the first team drawn out of the hat for the 30th anniversary Investec Champions Cup tournament next season was that of the reigning champions Stade Toulousain – who won the first title in Cardiff in 1996. The French giants will be hot favourites once again to add to their six titles, the first of which was secured at the old National Ground, Cardiff Arms Park when they beat Cardiff after extra-time.

Former Wales defence and forwards coach Leigh Jones has been appointed as the new rugby performance director for the Scarlets. In this role, Jones will once again collaborate with head coach Dwayne Peel. Their professional relationship dates back to when Jones was part of the Wales coaching team under Graham Henry, who awarded Peel his first cap in 2001.

Ryan Woodman returns to captain Wales in their opening match at the U20 World Championship against New Zealand on Saturday. Having missed the Six Nations through injury, the Dragons back row star has been selected by coach Richard Whiffin, to lead a side with two uncapped players named on the bench, Cardiff centre Steffan Emanuel and Scarlets scrum half Lucca Setaro.

Wales are willing to appoint a non-Welshman as manager for the first time in 25 years. The Football Association of Wales has detailed the criteria required to succeed Rob Page after ending his three-and-a-half-year reign last week and invited “expressions of interest” from potential candidates.

Taine Plumtree will be bidding for a family London double this weekend – but it will require a massive upset by Wales for him to achieve it. Last month, Plumtree’s father, John, coached the Sharks to a memorable 36-22 triumph against Gloucester in the Challenge Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Regan Grace has been described as an “X-factor” player following his shock call-up to Wales’ summer training squad. Former rugby league star Grace, who has only played two senior games of union, could now travel to Australia for a tour highlighted by Tests against the Wallabies on July 6 and 13.

Mike Phillips admits his time as a racehorse owner was “disastrous” but that will not prevent the former Wales and Lions rugby hero from helping Ffos Las Racecourse celebrate their 15th birthday this weekend. Phillips will deliver the wisdom and wit derived from a 12-year, 94-cap career with Wales – plus five more with the Lions – when he performs in a Q and A session at the course on Sunday.

Warren Gatland’s Wales team will get the first chance to challenge the reigning world champions South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday in a game that will at least have a silver lining for his side. Both teams have been brought in to add weight and appeal to the existing fixture between Fiji and the Barbarians that takes place afterwards.

Scarlets have added to their squad with the signing of Welsh-qualified back Blair Murray from New Zealand provincial side Canterbury. The 22-year-old speedster, who can operate on the wing, full-back or at fly-half, scored seven tries in seven appearances during last year’s Bunnings NPC campaign.

Dwayne Peel believes new signing Henry Thomas can help give the Scarlets the hard edge that has gone missing. The Wales prop, who has been named in Warren Gatland’s squad for this month’s Test against South Africa and the tour of Australia, will link up with the Scarlets ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Former Wales rugby captain Ken Owens has joined the board of Cardiff Dragons. Owens – who retired in April of this year after a celebrated 18-year professional career – has become a non-executive director at the club.

Toby Booth looks the kind of bloke who is not easily intimidated, and he will need all that defiance, and more, at Thomond Park in Limerick on Friday night. The Ospreys coach has also shown he knows how to defy the odds, which is why it is his team who are opponents for Munster in the first of the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals.