Connor Roberts has admitted both he and Swansea City have gone off the boil as the season approaches its climax. In an honest assessment, not couched in the usual bland clichés, the Wales defender has stated simply that his own individual form and that of his team has slipped in recent weeks. The Swans travel to managerless West Brom this evening, having lost four of their last six matches in the Championship – a sequence partially disguised by their run to the FA Cup quarter-finals and the excitement of a quarter-final tie at home to Manchester City this weekend.

Ashley Williams has been given backing to carry on as Wales captain – despite his current struggles at club level. The defender who led Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 has been told by Ryan Giggs to continue in the role on the eve of the new qualification campaign for the 2020 tournament. Williams, 34, has spent this season out on loan from Everton at Stoke City, but has recently lost his place in the Championship club’s starting line-up and began their last six games on the bench.

Warren Gatland praised his players’ mental toughness after Wales shrugged off a potentially catastrophic build-up to record an 18-11 victory over hosts Scotland that kept them on track for the Grand Slam. Gatland had named his team two days early on Tuesday after the coach admitted their preparations had been disrupted by a midweek furore over merger plans involving the Ospreys and Scarlets. “This is a fantastic group of men, they’re pretty tight and close but

Jayne Ludlow has promised Wales will show more changes ahead of a second friendly in Spain as preparations start for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2021 qualifying campaign. The Wales manager saw her team play out a 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland in Marbella – the first of two fixtures against the Irish, with the second taking place on Tuesday. Ludlow says she is using the games to experiment ahead of the qualifiers which begin in August.

Rhys Griffiths is on a Welsh League title mission at Penybont, while former Cardiff City goalkeeper Lee Kendall has started a survival battle with Pontypridd. Kevin Richards, meanwhile, has stepped down from his role as Ton Pentre manager. This was Richards second spell in charge at Ynys Park, having led the Rhondda Bulldogs to five […]

Millwall 0, Cardiff City 1 Welsh midfield player Lloyd Humphries proved the matchwinner for Cardiff City in their Professional Under-23 Development League against Millwall in London. Neath-born Humphries, aged 21 and a former Wales under-19 international, scored from a first half penalty to secure an away win for the Bluebirds. The match at Millwall’s Calmont […]

Chris Mepham, a 21-year-old Wales international who could play against Cardiff City on Saturday, was ready to quit football and become a gardener after being rejected by Chelsea, Watford and QPR. Now everything is coming up roses. He’s a full Welsh international who tells Gareth Bale what to do and is playing Premier League football […]

Wales defender James Lawrence has revealed he would relish a move back to the UK from Anderlecht. The Belgium-based centre-back – who made his international debut in November’s 1-0 defeat in Albania – has two years left on his current contract. But after arriving as a left field selection in manager Ryan Giggs’ last squad, the 26-year-old has spoken of a desire to prove himself in the Premier League.

Jayne Ludlow takes Welsh women’s football into a new era in Italy tomorrow night – even though most of the faces are familiar. The Wales manager might have been preparing to take her team to the World Cup finals this summer if last year’s qualification campaign had turned out differently. Instead, a near miss meant Wales missed out and so the Tuesday night friendly in Cesena is preparation for the next series of European qualifiers this autumn rather than a place in the sun in France.

Wales will face Belarus in a home friendly on  Tuesday September 10th. The game will take place four days after Wales entertain Azerbaijan in a EURO 2020 qualifying match and comes halfway through the qualifying campaign.

Newport County defender Jay Foulston has signed for Merthyr Town on loan until the end of this season. Swansea-born Foulston, aged 19, made his debut during the Martyrs’ 4-0 EvoStik Southern League defeat at Wimborne Town. Merthyr are hard hit by injuries and only had two substitutes, both from the youth squad, against Dorset club […]

Terry Phillips became close to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during his time in charge of the Bluebirds. Here Terry looks back at the Solskjaer spell, signings – and other managers he worked with. Prepare for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer overload at Cardiff City Stadium. Norwegian Solskjaer started his first managerial spell in the Premier League at the […]