Sheffield Utd v Wrexham - Rivalries Renewed
anna southgate
Rivalries in football are largely based on two factors, geographical proximity or regular competition.
While derbies such as the South Wales derby are commonplace, the competitive rivalries seen such as El Clásico are generally due to two sides competing consistently for titles or in Europe.
There is another kind, although it is far rarer. Rivalries born of an event or deep-rooted dislike between managers and players.
It was seen between Stoke and Arsenal as a reaction to Aaron Ramsey’s double leg break following a challenge by opposition defender Ryan Shawcross. The flames were fanned further by Arsene Wenger’s deep-rooted disdain for Stoke’s long-ball tactics.
Cup Clashes
Sheffield United v Wrexham, while a new rivalry, is fast approaching the final bracket.
When Wrexham hosted United in the FA Cup in January 2023 there was the possibility of a giant killing, with Phil Parkinson’s side flying high in the National League while The Blades were on route to promotion to the Premier League.
Under the watchful eye of Hollywood co-owner Ryan Reynolds, Wrexham twice took the lead that night before a stoppage-time John Egan header earned the 10 men of Sheffield a replay after Daniel Jebbison was sent off for kicking out at Ben Tozer.
Both sides headed to Bramall Lane knowing that a tie against Tottenham Hotspur was in the offing.
When Paul Mullin lined up his second spot kick of the game with the scores tied at 1-1 a shock looked on the cards. However, Wales international Adam Davies saved Mullin’s penalty and then two injury-time breakaway goals from Billy Sharp and Sander Berge sealed the win for the home side.
Mic Manners
For a National League side to come so close to a golden ticket tie at home to Spurs the praise came from all sides for Wrexham’s performances and tenacity…that is, aside from Blades captain Billy Sharp.
Having made a crying gesture to Wrexham fans post-match Sharp continued his ‘beef’ onto live TV.
In an interview post-match, Sharp produced a televised rant saying that Wrexham had been “disrespectful” before the game for “thinking they were already through”.
“I’m glad we beat them,” said Sharp on ITV.
“They’re doing well in their league, we’re doing well in ours.
“I wasn’t happy with a couple of their players tonight but that’s it now, we’ve got one over on them. Good luck to them on promotion and hopefully we’ve put that one to bed.
“A few of their players I wasn’t happy with and I was frustrated. I should’ve put the game to bed before I did.
“I wasn’t happy with the way they’ve been as a club, eyeing up Spurs, they’ve not even beat us. We’re an honest set of lads and want to go as far as we can in this competition, but I think they thought we were going to roll over when they got back in it.
“I think the referee was helping them as well. Don’t think he gave me one foul all night. I probably lost my head a little bit but I’ve got a smile on my face because we’ve made it through to the next round in the cup and the boys deserve it.”
The fallout continued post-match with Wrexham manager Parkinson saying that he was “disappointed” with Sharp for being “disrespectful” in the tunnel after the game.
“I think the way their players, the crowd and staff celebrated was just a mark of how tough we’d made it for them and they were relieved to get through,” said Parkinson.
“My message to Billy is, you’re better than that, you really are.”
“He was telling us to shove it on the documentary and stuff,” Wrexham defender Ben Tozer added.
“I think it’s just fabricated stuff in his head to make that acceptable for himself if I’m honest with you.
“I said to him as well face to face to show more humility.”
Sharp was fined £2,500 for his rant, while Wrexham did indeed mention it in their documentary with Reynolds and Rob McElhenney commenting on how they had “got under that guy’s skin”.
Ultimately, Sheffield would go on to beat Tottenham 1-0 at Bramall Lane before winning their quarter final tie against Blackburn Rovers, ultimately losing 3-0 in the semi-final to champions Manchester City who were on their way to an historic treble.
Both sides were ultimately promoted at the end of the season.
Grudge Match Part Three
Now, 553 days (or 19 months) later, the two sides are set to meet once again in the Cup, however this time, instead of a match up between tier two and five of the football pyramid, it is a game between the second and third tiers.
That is due to the Blades relegation last term while Wrexham were promoted from League Two at the first time of asking.
Again, the game will be held at Bramall Lane with an 8pm kick off.
Both sides come into the game following opening weekend wins, with Sheffield winning 0-2 at Preston on Friday night while Wrexham won a 3-2 thriller at home to Wycombe.
Normally, both sides would rest players in the League Cup but following the goings on of a year and a half ago it will be interesting to see what both sides decide to do.
The Blades are now managed by Chris Wilder, while Billy Sharp now plays for League Two side Doncaster Rovers which may go some way in dampening the grudge match.
The fact remains however that Wrexham haven’t beaten United since a 2-1 win in 1989.
Parkinson may well shuffle his pack, with the possibility of a competitive debut for Dan Scarr at the back along with a chance to see record signing Oliver Rathbone, while there may be a first competitive start for Sebastian Revan.
What is almost certain however is come what may, Wrexham are likely to “stick it” on their documentary for all to see!
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Gracie Griffiths: The Fastest Walker in Britain
anna southgate
How did you get into race walking?
That’s the most common question I get. I started when I was 12 and my coach is Heather Warner who used to race walk. I’d see her on the track all the time in Pembrokeshire.
When I was 12, me and a friend used to run to pace her for warm-up laps, it was really hard to run ahead of her. I struggled with niggles to my knees and ankles as I was growing, and I ended up falling out of love with running as I wasn’t getting as many PBs.
If I came to the track and didn’t get a PB, I’d be fuming. Then Heather approached me to give race walking a go. Initially it was to take the pressure off running, a bit of a laugh, getting points for our club.
Then I entered my first race and won. I instantly fell in love with it, slowly switched between running to race walking and I haven’t looked back since.
Winning your first British title at 17, did that come as a shock?
As soon as I saw the start list, I went in thinking; ‘I’m going to bring home the gold medal.’ I wanted that medal.
I started competing in the British Championships three years ago at the indoor championships. At 16, I managed to get silver at the outdoor champs and then all of a sudden, I had a target on my back.
Having placed in top two, I went into the championships this year wanting the title. I had a positive head on me on the day and in the warmup, I knew what I was doing, and I wasn’t going to let anything freak me out. The track is my comfort zone, my safe haven and on that day, I was really calm and chilled, the best I’d felt going into a race for a while.
What about your Olympic dream? Is LA a realistic goal?
I need to think realistically in terms of qualifying standards and where I’m at physically cause the distance for the walks at the Olympics is 20km. Currently, I’m still walking 10k or less.
It would take a while for me to adjust how to race it, because I’ll need to learn how to take on fluids on board and little gel packets while I’m racing along with the pacing.
I’d be there right now if I could. I’m going to aim for the next one, and if not, then obviously there’s another one after it. We’ll have to play a lot of it by ear and just see what happens really.
So, what’s next? How about the Commonwealth Games?
Oh, yeah, like, I’ve told people that I’m going! Whether I’m actually going I have no idea. I’ve made it my mission, with one of my best mates. He and I have made a pact that we’re going to the Commonwealth Games together.
We’ll find a way. We’ll make them host it. It will be like a really wonderful opportunity to be able to represent Wales at a Commonwealth Games. Even though I’ve represented Wales so many times now, I still get that massive feeling of pride when I have to wear the Welsh vest.
I remember the first time wearing that vest. I still get that giddy feeling of being 15 and sitting in Derby on that track. I think it’s really wholesome.
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Your First Football Recap Of The Season
anna southgate
The wall-to-wall sport continued this weekend as the closing moments of Paris 2024 coincided with the start of the football season.
All four of the Welsh clubs in the English Football League were in action so let’s take a look at those who shone and those who were still slumbering.
Bright Light
Wrexham started their ‘season of consolidation’ with a bang, in typical fashion, with a five-goal thriller at the STōK Cae Ras.
An early goal from Max Cleworth set them on their way as he flicked the ball into the back of Wycombe’s net from a corner.
20 minutes later and Wrexham were celebrating again, this time with an early goal of the season contender. If you haven’t seen it, then you should!
Elliot Lee’s ball forward was flicked deftly by Ollie Palmer off the heel of his boot in mid-air to the path of strike partner Jack Marriott, who took a touch on his chest before volleying the ball with the outside of his right foot into the far top corner.
Exquisite. Wrexham then did typical Wrexham things, giving the home fans the jitters as Wycombe were twice denied on the line before Richard Kone smashed the ball home for Wanderers in the second half.
That led to a nervy 20 minutes before Steven Fletcher picked up a rebound and caressed the ball into the top corner giving the home side the breathing space they needed.
There was still time for Wales international Sam Vokes to deliver a typically towering header from a corner for the visitors as the game finished 3-2 to Wrexham.
Other League One Highlights
There were other highlights for Welsh players in League One as Aaron Collins set up his side’s first goal with a chested lay-off for strike partner Dion Charles as his Bolton team won 1-2 at Leyton Orient.
Additionally, former Wales U-19 international Lloyd Jones volleyed home the winner for Charlton nine minutes from time as they took the points home from Wigan.
Championship Slumbers
Capital Woes
Into the Championship then and both of Wales’ South Wales sides suffered opening day defeats.
At the Cardiff City Stadium, the home side had more possession and shots than their opponents but fell to a 0-2 defeat to Sunderland.
After Black Cats goalkeeper Anthony Patterson made a smart save, Sunderland took the lead as captain Luke O’Nien nodded in from close range on 18 minutes.
Late on, and with Cardiff players appealing for a foul on Rubin Colwill, Sunderland broke forward and Jobe Bellingham found Jack Clarke who fired into the far corner to secure all three points.
Cardiff started with debuts for new signings Callum Chambers and Chris Willock, while Wilfried Kanga also came off the bench for his first competitive appearance in a Cardiff shirt.
On a more positive note, Aaron Ramsey played the full 90 minutes for the home side following an impressive pre-season.
Swansea Run Cold
Swansea on the other hand travelled to Middlesborough and fell to a 1-0 defeat due to an Emmanuel Latte Lath penalty.
Unsurprisingly, the Swans had more than 60% possession but failed to test opposition goalkeeper Seny Dieng.
New signings Lawrence Vigouroux, Gonçalo Franco and Eom Ji-sung all started for Swansea while striker Žan Vipotnik came off the bench for his debut.
Vigouroux had some shaky moments, particularly in the first half, while Eom went close with a freekick but ultimately it was a disappointing start to the season and manager Luke Williams was left frustrated and “upset” with the beginning of the game.
Other Championship Highlights
Elsewhere there was a positive start to life back in the Championship for the first time in a quarter of a century for Oxford United as they won 2-0.
Wales international Mark Harris was in typically tenacious form, forcing an error from Norwich captain Grant Hanley before squeezing the ball home for their opener.
There was also a first appearance for Will Vaulks who despite making the odd error was mostly composed helping his side to an opening day clean sheet.
Meanwhile the Welsh triumvirate of Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon and Daniel James at Leeds United enjoyed a 3-3 thriller with Portsmouth at Elland Road. James won his side a penalty in the opening 10 minutes which gave them the lead, but ultimately the home side had USA international Brenden Aaronson to thank for a 95th minute equaliser.
Newport Fall To Former Hero
Newport County’s start to life under Nelson Jardim looked to be the stuff of nightmares after 27 minutes. Two goals down at Cheltenham, against former manager Michael Flynn’s side.
Cheltenham were captained by Scot Bennett who left the Exiles this summer.
However, Newport entered half-time all square thanks to a penalty from Courtney Baker-Richardson for his first goal of his second spell at the club, along with a goal from new signing Oliver Greaves, who scored 24 goals in 48 appearances in the Southern League Northern Premier Division last term.
Newport looked to have secured a creditable come-from-behind draw only for Cardiff City loanee Joel Colwill to step up for the home side with a finish from a tight angle in the 96th minute to give Cheltenham all three points.
Colwill, brother of Wales international Rubin, had earlier given his new side the lead with a smartly taken volley on 22 minutes in a player of the match display.
Other Championship Highlights
Elsewhere and in Gillingham, former Wales international Jonny Williams came off the bench with an assist and a goal to help his side to an opening day 4-1 win.
While his assist was perhaps one for the stats book only, feeding Jack Nolan while still inside his own half, Williams’ goal was a brilliantly struck half volley from the edge of the box which arrowed into the bottom corner.
Cymru Premier
The weekend also saw the start of the Cymru Premier. It started with a bang for home side Newtown on Friday night as a brace from Jason Oswell helped them to a 4-1 win against Aberystwyth Town, despite the visitors grabbing the opening goal of the season.
Elsewhere, Cardiff Met University played the majority of the second half a man down, but the 10 men managed to grab a winner to win 1-2 at Flint Town United.
Barry Town and Bala shared a 1-1 draw thanks to a goal in each half, while Penybont opened their season with a 0-2 win at Briton Ferry.
Finally, Haverfordwest provided the surprise of the round with a 0-1 win at Connah’s Quay.
All odds for the remainder of the season on all Welsh sides can be found with betting site Dragon Bet.
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Wrexham Season Preview
anna southgate
They couldn’t, could they?
After back-to-back promotions Wrexham head into League One knowing that they are now only one, not so small step, from the Championship.
There’s a lengthy departure list and a couple of interesting signings but for the first time since their purchase by Hollywood superstars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, Wrexham are not one of the favourites for promotion.
However, never say never, and despite the fanbase being happy with consolidation that word does not appear to be in the vocabulary of the owners.
Departures
Let’s start with the departure list as it is lengthy and full of experience.
Starting from the back and goalkeeper Rob Lainton who joined the club in 2018 and has gone on to make 133 appearances for the club with 60 clean sheets. Injuries have blighted him and with the arrival of others his place as number one was out of reach.
Centre back trio Aaron Hayden, Ben Tozer and Jordan Tunnicliffe have also left as has left back Callum McFadzean. Combined, that is 308 appearances for the club with Tozer having worn the armband regularly throughout his time at the Stōk Cae Ras.
Speaking of the armband, club captain Luke Young was another who departed this summer with the 31-year-old having made 246 appearances for the club, the club’s longest serving player upon his departure.
Additionally, midfielder Jordan Davies has left on loan to League Two’s Grimsby Town.
Speaking on the Sportin Wales podcast journalist and Wrexham fan Bryn Law gave his assessment of this summer’s business.
“There was a good squad there last year and it was a pretty brutal end of season sorting out in terms of the players that left,” said Law.
“Some great players left, big personalities left the club at the end of last season. It was a pretty brave release list in some ways, but it did make way for some new signings.”
The Signings
Arthur Okonkwo
Age – 22
Position – Goalkeeper
Goalkeeper signings rarely get the pulses racing for fans however making Okonkwo’s deal permanent was a must for many. Having impressed on loan from Arsenal last season Okonkwo is expected to go from strength to strength.
To date, Okonkwo has made 40 appearances for the club, keeping 16 clean sheets and whether it is consolidation or promotion this season, his performances will be a key foundation to build from.
“As much as it was expected that Okonkwo would come back, it is a really important piece of the puzzle for Wrexham,” said journalist Philip Marsh on the podcast.
“He was really good last year, had a couple of wobbly moments, but to get him in, someone they already know, to build from the back with, is a smart move.”
George Dobson
Age – 26
Position – Central Midfielder
While it may not be the most flashy, this appears to be an incredibly smart signing from Wrexham. Former Arsenal and West Ham youngster Dobson joins Wrexham following spells with Sunderland and Charlton.
Having been Charlton’s captain since the start of the 22-23 season, Dobson brings with him plenty of experience to support what is a much younger squad since the departure of the likes of Tozer and Young.
“Whether he starts or not it’s a really smart signing,” Marsh said.
“It’s the captain of Charlton deciding to go to Wrexham, that shows you the pull Wrexham has.
“He’s been the captain of a League One team for a while, probably had a few clubs going after him and he’s chosen Wrexham.”
Lewis Brunt
Age – 23
Position – Centre Back
Centre Back Lewis Brunt joins from Leicester having spent last season on loan with Mansfield Town.
Brunt made 34 appearances last season for Mansfield as they were promoted having finished third, just two points below Wrexham.
Dan Scarr
Age – 29
Position – Centre Back
Joining Brunt at the back is former Plymouth defender Scarr who has plenty of experience with 28 appearances in the Championship and 84 in EFL League One along with a further 90 in EFL League Two.
He drops down from the Championship following last season with Plymouth and will add significant competition to the back line.
“One of the things Dan Scarr said when signing was that he was really excited with the prospect of coming to a club like Wrexham,” said Law.
“All the guys have seen the project and the opportunity to rub shoulders with Ryan Reynolds or even, play your cards right, appear in the next Deadpool movie!”
Sebastian Revan
Age – 21
Position – Left Back
Left Back Revan joins from Aston Villa following a season on loan with Rotherham in the Championship where he made 36 appearances.
As a left back or left wing back, his arrival will perhaps mean a different role for James McClean who Law believes might be one of those under pressure for his position in the starting XI.
“Brevan’s been fantastic,” said Law.
“He was really good against Chelsea, has had a really good pre-season.
“I think he’s a stick-on to start and has looked really good so far. He adds an attacking dimension which Wrexham needed to add to.”
Ollie Rathbone
Age – 27
Position – Central Midfield
Rathbone joins for a club-record fee having spent last season in the Championship with alongside Revan at Rotherham.
The 27-year-old captained his side at times last season and joins having made 194 and 80 appearances in League One and the Championship respectively.
His arrival comes just before the start of the season with Law having predicted a big signing was imminent at Wrexham.
The Manager
“One of the things Phil Parkinson is invested in and I love him for it, is the group,” said Law.
“You’ve got to have the right atmosphere within the group.
“He’s done an amazing job in keeping that group grounded and focused on football when all the crazy stuff is going on around them.
“He’s been absolutely brilliant at that and he doesn’t want that upsetting the balance with a bunch of big signings.
“If you’re going to make a big big signing you’ve got to be 100% certain that it’s the right guy.”
The Bookies Thoughts
As always Dragon Bet have all the odds for Welsh football this season and they have Wrexham at 11/1 to finish top of the league this season.
That may be a tall order with the challenge of big spending Birmingham along with the likes of Mansfield, Blackpool, Huddersfield and Reading. However, a promotion at 7/2 shouldn’t be sniffed at along with a top six finish at 11/8.
In the unlikely event things do go sideways Dragon Bet have odds of 20/1 for Wrexham to be relegated to add an interesting chapter to the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary.
“The die-hard Wrexham fan, which I will count myself as one, will say ‘We will be happy with a mid-table finish,’” said Law.
“All the lads I know, will nod sagely and agree. We’ll use that word consolidation and all that stuff.
“The difference in the dynamic here is that the two guys in charge of the football club actually, although publicly they may declare those things, I don’t think they do consolidation as a concept.
“If they can do a thing then they will do a thing. The plan is to get promoted from League One to the Championship, and if it works, great. I don’t think they have any other setting.
“I probably see seven clubs in there which are bigger clubs than Wrexham, then the rest are pretty much the same size or smaller. All of the big clubs will be there and there abouts along with a couple of outriders, of which we may be one.
“We might as well keep going now, we’ve done back-to-back promotions, let’s do it again.”
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Swansea City Season Preview
anna southgate
Continuity, something which is crucial for Swansea this season.
After the turmoil of last summer with the departure of Russell Martin and the departure of key players in Ryan Manning, Joël Piroe and Michael Obafemi, along with the disastrous appointment of Michael Duff, this season promises a lot more.
Last summer’s transfer business was one to forget. Strikers Jerry Yates and Mykola Kukharevych have both left this summer on loan having been two of Swansea’s top signings last summer, however, the business in January was much more positive.
Ronald brought the speed required on the wing while Przemysław Płacheta’s short term contract showed promise before he moved to Oxford United in the summer.
This summer, the transfer business appears to be sensible, although the age old position of striker remains a question.
Departures
As mentioned, the departures up front leave Swansea a bit light in the goalscoring department and the loan returns mean that this summer has been a bit of a firefighting mission at times.
The big loss is Nathan Wood who departs to Southampton for £3m to join Russell Martin after a £10m bid last season was rejected.
Fans may have hoped Przemyslaw Placheta would have extended his stay while the talented Liam Walsh departs following an injury ravaged few years.
The Signings
Gonçalo Franco
Age – 23
Position – Central Midfield
Former Portugual U20 international Franco joins Swansea from Moreirense. Dubbed as a “next level” signing by the fans, Franco joins having made the most interceptions and second most tackles in the Portuguese top-flight last season.
His ability to break up play will be a huge asset to Luke Williams’ team as a partner for creative hub Matt Grimes in the centre of the pitch.
With two goals in the final two games of last season, Williams will also be hoping Franco can keep his shooting boots into the new season and provide some thrust from midfield which has been lacking at times for the Swans.
Lawrence Vigouroux
Age – 30
Position – Goalkeeper
Lawrence Vigouroux joins from Burnley to fill the hole left by the end of Carl Rushworth’s loan.
The former Tottenham and Liverpool man will need to go a long way to replace Rushworth following an impressive season but he is good with his feet and will fit into Williams’ build from the back tactics.
“Vigouroux was at Burnley as their back-up goalkeeper,” said journalist Philip Marsh on the Sportin Wales podcast.
“He isn’t known as a shot-stopper but he plays with his feet, ‘the Swansea way’ and that makes sense as a signing.”
Žan Vipotnik
Age – 22
Position – Striker
Slovenian international Žan Vipotnik joins Swansea from French Ligue 2 side Bordeaux where he scored 10 goals in 40 appearances last term.
With the French club accepting relegation and renouncing their professional status following financial issues Vipotnik joins on a free after playing for his country at Euro 2024.
Vipotnik joins a front line which is lacking a focal point with Yates and Kukharevych both departing on loan to Derby and Hibernian respectively and Jamal Lowe returning to Bournemouth following his loan spell. It still looks like an area the Swans need to strengthen further.
Eom Ji-sung
Age – 22
Position – Left Wing/ Central Attacking Midfield
A South Korean international at the Swansea.com will bring fond memories for fans who saw Ki Sung-yueng during his six-year stay between 2012 and 2018.
Eom is a very different signing with plenty of pace and close control while he will also look to cut in on his right foot and curl in a goal or two having scored 20 goals in 98 appearances for former side Gangju FC in South Korea’s K League 1 and 2.
The South Korean was a top target and Swansea boss Williams said: “We know he is a player who is going to bring pace and creativity for us.”
“He has an ability to play in different positions, we have a chance to assess that in training and in friendlies. From that we can build a picture of how he likes to play when he is out wide or when he comes in to more central areas.”
The Manager
There is no doubt that Luke Williams is a good coach. The former Notts County boss has a distinctive style of football and that fits perfectly with ‘the Swansea way’.
He is well spoken and anyone who has seen the clip of his explanation why his former team played with short corners will know that he is a good communicator and tactician.
“Swansea’s biggest error last year was the six or seven weeks it took to find a new manager,” said Marsh.
“By the point Williams was appointed, it was January and the middle of the transfer window.
“He was trying to play a system with players who weren’t necessarily his and now he’s had the summer to put his mark on the team and they’ll play that way regardless of who they come up against.”
The Bookies Thoughts
Now we turn to Dragon Bet and their thoughts ahead of the season. Firstly, will Swansea do the job and finish ahead of their South Wales rivals Cardiff City?
Well Dragon Bet have Swansea as slight favourites at 4/5 compared to Cardiff at evens. Swansea are 35/1 to finish top and 11/1 to be promoted.
Odds are slightly shorter for Swansea to be relegated at 11/2 and another double against Cardiff is at 13/2.
Swans fans hope they will start this season better than they did last and a win at Middlesbrough on opening day is at 3/1.
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Newport County Season Preview
anna southgate
The summer began in somewhat surprising fashion for County as manager Graham Coughlan left his role in mid-June, 54 days after the end of the season.
The club said they wanted to move in a “different direction” as chairman Huw Jenkins looks to adopt ‘The Swansea way’ which served the West Wales club so well while he was at the Liberty.
New head coach Nelson Jardim was part of the coaching staff at Swansea at various stages including as a first-team coach under Francesco Guidolin, Paul Clement and Carlos Carvahal.
Fans have put their faith in Jenkins, despite Coughlan having performed an objectively good job at County last season, leading them to 18th place in the face of injuries and a lack of transfers.
The Signings
Courtney Baker-Richardson
Age – 28
Position – Striker
With last season’s second highest goal-scorer Seb Palmer-Houlden returning to Bristol City following a season-long loan Newport needed to sign a striker.
Baker-Richardson has now made nearly 100 appearances in League Two, scoring roughly a goal every four games.
He returns to Newport where he spent a season in 2021/22 scoring eight goals. Since then, he has been at Crewe Alexandra, scoring eight and nine goals in 2022-23 and 2023-24 respectively.
However, Newport will need him to up his goal-scoring form following the sale of last season’s top goalscorer Will Evans to Mansfield. Evans scored 25 goals in all competitions last season but leaves for a fee believed to be £200,000, the first transfer fee received by Newport since 2018.
The signing of 22-year-old striker Hamzad Kargbo will be another to hopefully to lighten the goal-scoring burden. He joins on a free transfer after time with QPR and has spent pre-season on trial with County although he is yet to set the world alight.
Ciaran Brennan
Age – 24
Position – Centre Back
The departures of Ryan Delaney and Scot Bennett mean that Newport have needed to focus on signing players capable of playing at centre back.
In comes former Republic of Ireland U19 international Ciaran Brennan from Sheffield Wednesday.
Brennan spent a month last season on loan at non-league Hartlepool having spent the previous season on loan at Swindon Town.
Joining Brennan is 21-year-old Wales U21 international Matt Baker who joins from Stoke having made 32 appearances for the Exiles in League two last season in his second loan spell after the second half of the previous year at Rodney Parade.
Additionally, 23-year-old Cameron Evans, younger brother of former County midfielder Jack has joined. The former Wales U19 international joins after a season at Taunton Town in the National League South.
Anthony Glennon
Age – 24
Position – Left Back
Fullback Anthony Glennon joins from Grimsby with the former Liverpool youth player having made 15 appearances in League Two last season.
Glennon has impressed in pre-season and will look to get forward offensively from left back or left wing back when required.
Along with Glennon, right back Joe Thomas joins from Swansea, while winger Michael Spellman and midfielder Cameron Antwi join from Sunderland and Cardiff respectively.
Newport fans will also hope Oliver Greaves’ goalscoring form in non-league converts to the football league pyramid having scored 28 goals last season.
The Journo Opinion
Speaking on the Sportin Wales podcast, Journalist Philip Marsh said: “They’ve brought in some names that look good and players like Anthony Glennon have impressed.”
“They’re trying to play out the back, the Swansea way, but for me, they didn’t have the players to do it.
“They were so sloppy, watching them against Kidderminster and they played Newport off the park, were by far the better team and County only had two shots on target.
“It’s not been a positive pre-season. The football will be nicer, I do fear for Newport a little bit. It will get better I imagine, the more time Jardim is there and when the player’s get used to the system, but there are warning signs for sure.”
The Manager
Well first and foremost…there isn’t one, technically. Jardim was initially appointed as a ‘lead coach’ in July before being upgraded to head coach.
The contrast appears to match the belief that Jenkins will be overseeing the style of play and overall plan, with a noticeable attempt to sign younger players with an average age of those joining at 22.6 years old compared to an average of 27.2 years old for those departing.
In his first appointment as the top man Jardim faces the difficult task of changing the style of play, whilst also ensuring that Newport stay in the football league having lost their three top goalscorers from last season.
The difficulties in that area are already apparent with County unable to find the back of the net in their last three games against Bristol City, Kidderminster and Hereford.
The Bookies Thoughts
How do the bookies see Newport’s chances this season? Well, Dragon Bet have all the odds for you.
It begins with odds of Newport with odds of 50/1 for Newport to finish top, odds that would appear to be on the short side considering the turn around of players and their pre-season form.
Newport are 9/1 to be promoted and 5/1 to finish top seven however conversely they are 5/1 to be relegated which sadly appears a more realistic option.
Key Fixtures For Newport This Season
Cheltenham v Newport – 15:00, 10th August – EFL League Two
Newport v Doncaster – 15:00, 17th August – EFL League Two
Newport v MK Dons – 15:00, 21st December – EFL League Two
Newport v Wimbledon – 19:45, 2nd January – EFL League Two
If you want to read more pieces from Sportin Wales, why not read to our monthly magazine here or subscribe to the magazine and newsletter at https://sportin.wales/subscribe/.
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Cardiff City Season Preview
anna southgate
It’s been a busy summer of signings for Cardiff City and it’s showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.
After briefly flirting with the idea of the play-offs before finishing comfortably in mid-table last year, it is now time for the Bluebirds to grow following years of upheaval.
The ending of the transfer embargo, put in place due to defaulting on payments for the late Emiliano Sala, means that Cardiff can start to pay fees for players.
However, initially at least, Cardiff and manager Erol Bulut have adopted a more pragmatic approach, signing highly rated and experienced players on free transfers.
The Signings
Chris Willock
Age – 26
Position – Left Wing/ Right Wing/ Attacking Midfield
The signing of former Arsenal academy product Chris Willock on a free transfer after his QPR contract ended looks a really smart piece of business.
Unsurprisingly for a player from the Arsenal academy, Willock possesses immense close control whilst dribbling and is capable of driving forward, dribbling past players or using his trickery to get out of tight spaces and break an opponent’s press.
He is also capable of a blockbuster goal or two in and amongst his 22 goals and 22 assists in the Championship to date.
Willock will can feature on either wing as well as in the 10 role and will be a great addition following the departure of Karlan Grant in the summer.
Speaking on this week’s Sportin Wales podcast journalist Philip Marsh said: “I was at the Bristol Rovers game on Saturday and Willock looked sharper than everyone else on the field.”
“He didn’t really have a position, very fluid, Erol Bulut looked like he was allowing players to roam across the field and pick up different positions and Willock looked good.”
Callum Chambers
Age – 29
Position – Centre Back/ Right Back/ Defensive Midfield
Another who has come through the gates of Arsenal. Chambers began his career at Southampton before signing for the Gunners for £16million aged just 19.
Chambers enjoyed loan periods at Middlesborough and Fulham before joining Aston Villa on a free transfer having made 122 appearances for Arsenal.
The move to Cardiff marks the first time Chambers has played in the Championship having made nearly 200 appearances in the Premier League to date
While Chambers’ versatility will be a huge asset to the club he is likely to line up in the centre of defence as a direct replacement after the end to Natt Phillips’ loan from Liverpool.
Anwar El Ghazi
Age – 29
Position – Right Winger/ Left Winger
Dutch international El Ghazi joins Cardiff also on a free transfer having spent last season with German side Mainz.
El Ghazi hasn’t played a competitive fixture since the sixth of October after a dispute with the Bundesliga side due to a post on social media where he came out in support of Palestine amidst the ongoing conflict with Israel.
Welsh fans might remember the Dutchman from his time at Aston Villa where he contributed 26 goals and 16 assists.
A cultured right foot who isn’t afraid to let fly from range who will also provide an additional set-piece taker option.
Worth noting that whilst Willock and Chambers have signed three-year deals, El Ghazi’s deal is only a one-year deal.
“It will be interesting to see where El Ghazi fits in because I’m not sure he’s fully fit to start against Sunderland,” said Marsh.
“But he’s a player with international experience, plenty of Premier League experience, 20+ goals in the top flight.”
Wilfried Kanga
Age – 26
Position – Striker
The news of Kanga’s arrival on loan from Hertha Berlin led many fans to scrabbling on Google to find out more about their new man.
The Ivory Coast international spent last season on loan with Belgian side Standard Liège where he scored 12 goals in all competitions. That came after a somewhat difficult season with Hertha where he scored just twice in the Bundesliga with his side relegated having finished bottom.
“Kanga I must admit when he signed there was a ‘Who’s that?’ I didn’t know anything about him,” said Marsh.
“I saw 20 minutes of him against Rovers and he reminds me a bit of Sinclair Armstrong who’s gone to Bristol City and was at QPR. Big, quick striker, who seems to have a good turn of foot. His first touch was a bit lacking on Saturday and he didn’t have a lot of service, but he has all the attributes you want in a striker.
“If he is someone that can put in 10-15 goals for Cardiff then it can be a really positive season.”
Alex Robertson
Age – 21
Position – Central Midfield
Today Cardiff have announced the signing of Manchester City midfielder Alex Robertson for a fee which could rise to £3m.
The Australian international is 21 and is a creative midfielder, an area where Marsh feels Cardiff were lacking last season.
“With no disrespect to any of the midfielders at Cardiff it was a case last season that they were all a bit ‘samey’,” said Marsh.
“Joe Ralls, Ryan Wintle and Emmanouil Siopis are all good players but there wasn’t someone to play that killer ball. Aaron Ramsey obviously has that but he missed so much time last year it’s nice to have a player to come in and be a back up to him or play a bit deeper if Ramsey’s in the 10 role.
“Work hand-in-hand with a Ralls or Siopis to give Cardiff that oomph going forqard. Cardiff weren’t bad defensively last season but a lot of the games they were so slow transitioning from defence to attack.”
The Manager
Finally, after months of a will they, won’t they, which would rival the very best romcom Cardiff City and Bulut agreed a new contract in June.
His first season saw a side which were solid if unspectacular at times although it did include some huge wins including at home against Swansea and a come-from-the-death win against Ipswich.
However, the hope going forward is that Cardiff can adopt a more progressive, winning style, the goal for every fan base.
“It took too long to give Erol Bulut his new contract, I think everyone at the club would say that,” said Philip Marsh.
“Cardiff had 15 points more last season than the season before so it’s clearly working.”
The Colwill Conundrum
This season will be another interesting one for one of Wales’ hottest young talents in Rubin Colwill.
The 22-year-old has made almost 100 appearances in the Championship however last season from 36 appearances in the Championship, only 14 of them were starts during a season where he scored one goal and two assists.
“He was the go-to-guy for Wales under 21s under Matty Jones last season, where if they needed a goal he was probably the guy to get it,” said Bryn Law also on the Sportin Wales podcast.
“It’s the step from that to the next level which seems to have been difficult for him.
“It’s difficult for managers, in any club in the championship they are probably only four games from the sack and if they don’t fee they can 100% rely on the guy in front of them then they are going to be cautious to play them.
“I saw elements of that for Colwill last season. He’s got to grasp it this season because he looks like he’s got the whole lot; great physique, good on the ball and a good goal-scorer potentially but he needs a run of games, but the fact is he’s not going to get it!”
The Bookies Thoughts
So how do the bookies see Cardiff’s chances this season? Well Dragon Bet have all the odds for you.
It begins with odds of 40/1 for Cardiff to finish top of the pile, I’m sure some will fancy a flutter even if it seems a little far-fetched currently with the likes of Leeds and Burnley bound to be there or thereabouts but what chances of a top six finish and place in the play-offs at the very least?
That is at 6/1 with promotion at 14/1 and odds which many might fancy considering how much of a lottery the play-offs can be at times.
What may temper those thoughts is that Cardiff are 10/3 to be relegated, noticeably shortened odds than those for promotion.
However, things look more positive for the start to the season with odds of 9/5 for Cardiff to kick off the season with a win at home to Sunderland on Saturday.
One other bet which might interest Cardiff fans is the prospect of a first ever double against Swansea which is priced at 7/1.
Key Fixtures For Cardiff This Season
Cardiff v Sunderland – 12:30, 10th August – EFL Championship
Cardiff v Bristol Rovers – 19:45, 13th August – League Cup
Swansea v Cardiff – 15:00, 25th August- EFL Championship
Bristol City v Cardiff – 15:00, 6th October – EFL Championship
Cardiff v Swansea – 15:00, 18th January – EFL Championship
Cardiff v Bristol City – 15:00, 15th February – EFL Championship
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Wrexham, Cardiff, Swansea & Newport - EFL Fan Season Preview
anna southgate
We’re on the precipice of a new football season.
Last season, three of the Welsh sides in the English Football League avoided the grips of a relegation battle, finishing in mid-table, while Wrexham enjoyed their second successive promotion.
But what are the expectations for the new season? Sportin Wales speaks to fans of each of the four clubs about their hope for the season ahead:
Cardiff – with Ben James host of the View from the Ninian podcast
Expected finish: A plucky 8th in EFL Championship
Let’s start with the manager. We’re all really happy to see Erol Bulut sign a new contract. Last season there were some good moments, whereas others left a lot to be desired.
Bulut did what was asked, stabilising the club while he had one hand tied behind his back because of the transfer embargo.
Now we need someone who’s accountable for football and the boardroom. Chairman Mehmet Dalman is only there for the good times and that needs to be the big improvement off the pitch this season.
The signing of Chris Willock is a very canny bit of business, he comes to us highly rated from QPR after Arsenal’s academy. The hope is he will transform our attack and provide more of the highlight reel goals we’ve seen in previous seasons.
Callum Chambers joining as well is fantastic. A player with nearly 200 Premier League appearances, he’s never dropped down to the Championship so for him to do so suggests we’ve sold him a project he wants to be a part of.
This season, the Championship is the most open it’s been for a long time. My heart says we’ll be knocking on the door of the play-offs, so there’s lots to be excited about.
To get there we need to address the age-old concern of a striker who can consistently score 15 goals a season, something we haven’t had since the days of Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra.
We may need to raise funds, and to achieve that defenders Mark McGuinness and Perry Ng are the two obvious candidates to be sold.
Ng has been our best performer in recent years but I’m hoping Aaron Ramsey has the season he’s been promising. When he plays, he makes everyone play better and is the best footballer we’ve ever produced from our academy.
Newport – with Newport County fan Sean Mills
Expected finish: 16th in EFL League Two
This season will either be a huge success or a complete disaster. We’ve ripped up our old identity to make way for a new exciting project full of players aged 24 and under. The big question is whether it will pay off.
We were non-league in a lot of aspects behind the scenes pre-takeover. New chairman Huw Jenkins has started the process of professionalising the club and I hope he continues to make strides in this area.
Our faith in Jenkins is why the majority of fans are backing the team and trust in the decision to replace manager Graham Coughlan with head coach Nelson Jardim.
In the Michael Flynn days, we were always mid table at worst. It’d be nice to have that comfort again and not worry about what’s happening below us. For the time being it’s great to be back, August to October is a brilliant time to be a football fan, before everyone starts to obsess over the table.
In terms of the playing staff, Kiban Rai has huge potential, and another one to look out for is 17-year-old centre back Nelson Sanca who has looked very composed since making his debut towards the end of last season.
The return of Courtney Baker-Richardson is a rare signing that unites the whole fanbase, while Oliver Greaves joins having scored 28 goals from midfield in non-league.
Speaking of goals, here’s hoping last season’s top scorer, Will Evans, wasn’t a one-season-wonder!
Swansea – with Carwyn Bowen, creator of Swansea City supporter’s account Only Swans
Expected finish: 8th in the EFL Championship
The signing of Goncalo Franco is next level. If you look at his stats and highlights, he looks like a ridiculously good signing.
He had the most interceptions and second most tackles in the Portuguese league last season and the last guy to do that was Manuel Ugarte who then went to PSG for €60m.
We’ve been crying out for a replacement for Jay Fulton, someone who can sit in there with Matt Grimes, do the dirty work and break up play.
On Grimes, he’ll be the key player again for us. He always will be whilst he’s here, it hasn’t changed for four years, and it won’t change until he leaves or retires.
I’m also excited to see Josh Ginelly for us this season. He missed the majority of last season after rupturing his Achilles and there’s quite a bit of hype amongst the fanbase to see him back as he’s got pace and knows how to finish, scoring one of the best goals in recent memory with a screamer against Southampton.
In terms of young players, Aimar Govea played a fair few games at the back end of last season. He’s only 17 and has been linked to Juventus. If he’s playing for us at 17 when we don’t tend to give players of that age and opportunity, then he must be good.
At the moment, my heart says that with one or two other signings we could push for that top six or at the very least top eight. It’s good to see Luke Williams being backed in the transfer market especially after what happened with Russell Martin, but we need a goalkeeper and someone who can score goals.
I’m looking forward to some of the away trips, especially Portsmouth who we haven’t played since 2010. Unfortunately, we’ve got them on New Years Day and Plymouth on the 10th of December, while Middlesborough and Sunderland are in August and April, not the way to be chasing the good weather!
Wrexham – with Tomi Caws, Wrexham Fan & Broadcaster with Men in Blazers
Expected finish: 10th in EFL League One
Keeping hold of the vast majority of last year’s squad was good business.
I like the look of George Dobson coming in, it looks like a solid signing and followers of Charlton have been saying some good things about him.
Bringing Arthur Okonkwo back permanently is a massive, massive signing. It sounds mad to say you’re excited to see a goalkeeper, but he is one with huge potential.
You do have to pinch yourself with where we’ve come from, those signings show the direction we’re going.
Max Cleworth, I call him Wrexham’s answer to Paolo Maldini or Franco Baresi, but he’s one who has come into the team and it’s a big season to see how much he can develop.
The big possible signing is Welsh international striker Tom Bradshaw from Millwall. That would be a really good signing if we can pull it off.
Paul Mullin is going to be injured for the start of the season after an operation, so to sign Bradshaw would be great but if the season started tomorrow, I’d be more than happy.
Some fans are getting carried away a bit, saying we’ll have three successive promotions. I’m not one of them, I’d be happy to see a bit of stagnation. The club are more than capable of getting at least a mid-table finish.
I think we’ll flirt with the play-offs, but you look at the clubs involved, your Birmingham’s, Bolton’s, even Charlton and the finances involved there. If we finish top 10, then I’ll be over the moon.
When I first followed the club, this was the level we were competing at, I’ve never been more excited for a season. Bolton is early doors, a ground I’ve never been to before and St Andrews will be a huge away day, it’d be nice to go there and get a win.
Speaking of grounds, it feels like we’ve been waiting a long time for the Racecourse’s Kop stand. The Cae Ras is a sell out every week and we need to keep building towards 20,000 seats.
It’s felt like a really long summer, I like my ritual of having a bite to eat at the Turf butty van before the game and then going to the Maesgwyn or a pint at The Turf.
It sounds a bit cliched but that is supporting Wrexham for me, seeing friends and faces you haven’t seen since April.
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Clara Evans Gets Late Olympic Call-Up For Marathon Mission
anna southgate
Fourth is always the cruellest of positions in sports.
This summer, when three athletes stand beaming on their podiums at the Olympics, spare a thought for that individual watching on.
One can only imagine what it would be like to miss out on your first Olympics by one spot.
Clara Evans, a Welsh marathon runner from Herford was experiencing that exact emotion having missed out by one to represent Great Britain this summer in what would have been a maiden Olympics.
Named as reserve behind GB’S three strong marathon team of Charlotte Purdue, Rose Harvey and Calli Hauger-Thackerry, Evans was in limbo, needing to be ready if called upon, however short notice that might be.
“If the opportunity presents itself, I’ll have to be ready to step up and run, if I’m called two days before, I’ll be there,” said Evans.
“I was trying to find another event on the same weekend to have a focus for this part of the year, be it the Olympics or not, but I haven’t found any while the Olympics is on.
“You don’t want anyone to get injured and I’m friends with all the other girls but at the end of the day, someone else’s bad luck can be your good luck.
“I’m doing a half marathon build up, if you can say that. I’m just making my long runs a little bit longer, there isn’t that long until the Olympics so there’s not that much time for people to pull out.”
However, just a couple of days before the event was set to take place, Evans received her dream call-up and is now set to compete at the marathon in Paris.
Evans is in the form of her life, having recently recorded her half marathon personal best which she set at the beginning of the year at the recent European Championships in Rome.
“I wasn’t running for a PB, and I wasn’t looking at the time,” said Evans.
“It felt hard and when I crossed the line it felt like I’d run a PB, but it wasn’t until I saw the screen that I knew for certain.
“My coach said ‘I thought you were fitter when you raced your half marathon at the start of the year’ where I ran my PB, but you never know with Championships.
“It was hot there, the only half marathons I’ve raced this year have been more than 25 degrees! Hopefully I can run a few in cooler conditions and run a bit faster!”
Her new best came as Evans finished ninth in the race behind teammates Hauger-Thackery and Abbie Donnelly.
However, the celebrations did not end there, as the three’s times, combined with Lauren McNeil’s, were good enough to win European team gold as the nation with best combined time.
“Normally in the road events you finish on the road and not in the stadium, so it was quite a different experience,” said Evans.
“In the end it was probably one of the slowest 400 metres ever to be run on a track, but it was a great atmosphere.
“We almost knew we had the gold because we knew we had myself, Calli and Abbie over the line before any other country came through and then when Lauren came through, we knew for certain.
“We won it by quite a long way in the end which was quite nice.”
Gold wasn’t necessarily a target before the race, but the team always felt they were in the running for a medal.
“We saw the startlist before and we knew that if we performed well, we’d get a medal,” said Evans.
“It was quite close with Germany and France in terms of personal bests, so we knew it was going to be quite tight for the gold.
“For us it was about all having a good run. We wanted a medal, and no one said we wanted the gold but maybe sub-consciously we were aiming for that, so to get it and stand on the top step of the podium was the icing on the cake.
“It’s probably the proudest achievement I’ve had. Going to the Commonwealth Games was pretty special but being in the stadium and standing on the top of the podium was something else so I think that’s top.”
Olympic Reality
Evans admits never having had the ambition of going to the Olympics and even before hitting the Olympic standard in Valencia it wasn’t something she had aimed to achieve.
“It’s never been my dream,” said Evans.
“I started running when I was younger because I wasn’t very confident and my parents wanted me to meet new people, putting me outside my comfort zone.
“It was something I enjoyed with the social side and the friendships I made, in the end, I just stuck with it. I’ve never thought about running fast times, that’s just come.
“I’ve always thought if I don’t enjoy it, I’ll just stop, primary for me is that enjoyment. I’ve still got my day-to-day job so it’s not everything and that probably helps with my performance because it takes the pressure off and don’t need to perform if I don’t have to.
“I’ve enjoyed the ride and I’ll keep doing what I’m doing.”
Evans balances her running career with a now part-time role as a transport planner.
“Post-Covid has been good because I work from home now 99% of the time and it’s helped me and my performance with recovery, extra sleep because there’s no commute,” said Evans.
“I run before work, at lunchtime, after work and my job is pretty flexible which is nice.
“On a Monday I’ll do two easy runs, probably a seven and a five-kilometre run. I’m off on a Tuesday, so that’s when I do my session in the morning, and I’ll probably do another run and go to the gym.
“Wednesday is a medium-long run but faster and then Thursday is similar to Monday and then off Friday again so that’s my other sessions along with a run.
“Saturday is an easy run along with probably the gym and then a long run on Sunday which is probably around 2hrs.”
As a professional athlete Evans is used to running in all weather and conditions but even she admits to taking an extended break during the Christmas period due to the adverse weather.
Since then, Evans has balanced running five- and 10-kilometre races along with half and full marathons during the year, having broken Wales’ marathon record in December last year.
“The marathon is what I tailor my year around,” said Evans.
“I’ll race one or two key races for that a year and everything else will be factored around those races.
“The 5k and 10k are designed to build up my fitness for the marathon. I needed Berlin half marathon for Olympics qualification and that was my focus while for the shorter distances I don’t really feel that pressure to perform.”
With it being marathon and triathlon season, Evans has some advice for would-be athletes completing the races for the first time.
“Get some comfy shoes you’ve worn prior and comfortable outfits too,” said Evans.
“Firstly, so they don’t chafe but also, so you think you look good because you don’t want to be thinking that you don’t like what you look like in something when you’re wearing it.
“It’s easier to run when the weather’s nicer, but definitely invest in some good waterproofs. You can wear headphones if you like but I would find a group to train with because it makes it so much nicer.
“Even I hate running on my own every day, so find some good company who you can talk rubbish with, and it’ll make the miles fly by!”
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Wales' Overseas Players XV
anna southgate
If you haven’t been scrolling through the ups and downs of Welsh rugby twitter (or X) over the last few days you may have missed the news that Welsh internationals Leigh Halfpenny and Wyn Jones have signed for London-based club Harlequins.
The move produced a slightly bizarre stat.
Harlequins now have 215 Wales senior caps in their squad with Halfpenny and Wyn Jones joining ex-Cardiff pair Dillon Lewis and Jarrod Evans who moved to Twickenham last summer.
Halfpenny has since retired from Wales duty but the other three are all still eligible for international rugby.
Gloucester rugby also have their own Welsh quartet with Sportin Wales co-founder Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams, Max Llewellyn and Josh Hathaway combining for 98 caps.
Of all the names listed above, only Hathaway played this summer against Australia, winning a debut cap in the first test.
The combined total of both clubs is more than Wales’ total number of caps for the XV which started the first test against Australia, while Harlequins have more international caps than Scarlets going into next season.
Halfpenny has retired internationally, as have George North and Dan Biggar who both ply their trade in France, but of those available, what would a non-Wales based team look like? Sportin Wales have the answers:
Full Back: Liam Williams (Kubota Spears) 92 caps
An easy pick. Wales saw the best of Williams at points in Australia, some classy touches including a take in the air and offload in the first test.
However, there were errors. Flicking the ball back into play from an Aussie kick to touch only to see Filipo Daugunu collect the ball and sprint in to score.
Right Wing: Alex Cuthbert (Unattached) 57 caps
Sportin Wales co-founder Cuthbert won the last of his Wales caps in last year’s Six Nations against Scotland.
After a frustrating season blighted by injury, Cuthbert was starting to look back to somewhere near his best against Munster when he scored a try and looked set to run in for a second only to suffer a hamstring injury which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
Currently without a club, it will be interesting to see where he ends up next season.
Outside Centre: Max Llewellyn (Gloucester) 2 caps
Former Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf product Llewellyn is yet to truly explode at Gloucester or in international rugby in the way that some may have expected given his performances last season at Cardiff where he was impressive in both the 12 and 13 jerseys, cutting brilliant angles off the back of lineouts in particular.
He just pips one of Wales’ hottest prospects in Louie Hennessey who has shone for Wales’ U20s in successive seasons and has begun to break into the Bath squad with a lot more to come from the 20-year-old.
Inside Centre: Joe Hawkins (Exeter Chiefs) 5 caps
Nick Tompkins has been a superb servant for Wales and was brilliant at times during last year’s Rugby World Cup, however, this year it is safe to say he has not been at his best.
Hawkins was touted as a future Welsh star when he made his international debut in the Autumn of 2022. Gatland has also tipped him for a move to 10 for the future with the added physicality he offers a huge potential asset.
Left Wing: Regan Grace (Bath Rugby) 0 caps
Despite not having played a competitive professional rugby union match, much is expected of the former St Helen’s rugby league man.
Grace scored for Wales against Queensland Reds in Australia, showcasing his great speed but it was in defence where he was most impressive, making more than one crucial read in order to limit the opposition’s attack.
There’s a long way to go, but it was a promising start.
Fly Half: Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester Rugby) 37 caps
Some may point to Jarrod Evans at Harlequins or Rhys Patchell who has just joined Wayne Pivac at Japan’s NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu, however we have opted for Anscombe.
Long-term injuries mean Anscombe has not played as much rugby as he would have liked since playing a starring role in Wales’ 2019 Grand Slam, but he remains a steadying influence and his experience could transform Warren Gatland’s side.
Scrum Half: Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby) 58 caps
Anscombe’s new and old half-back partner Williams joins his former Cardiff teammate at the Cherry and Whites.
A player known for his ‘X-factor’, Williams will be a shoe-in at scrumhalf for Wales once he returns from injury.
Loosehead Prop: Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers) 46 caps
The man who turned South Africa’s two-time World Cup winning tighthead inside out is on his way to Leicester this summer and Welsh rugby is much poorer for it.
Smith was brilliant last season with his scrummaging prowess but has surprisingly been unable to force his way into the international set up.
He is joined in England by Wyn Jones who moves to Harlequins following a frustrating season where he was forced to split his duties between either side of the scrum as injury cover.
Hooker: Kirby Myhill (Miami Sharks) 1 cap
Not much choice here, although it would be hard to consider anyone to displace Dewi Lake after his performances in Australia.
Myhill won his solitary Wales cap under Pivac against New Zealand in the Autumn of 2021, but has since moved stateside. U20s hooker Will Austin is another who plays outside Wales with the 19-year-old currently at Sale Sharks.
Tighthead Prop: Tomas Francis (Provence) 77 caps
Firstly, selecting Francis is not a slight on Bath’s Archie Griffin who was superb during Wales’ tour to Australia. However, Francis’ experience would be a huge benefit for Gatland’s men.
The former Exeter and Ospreys tighthead is a solid performer and his presence in the squad has been missed with Wales lacking depth in that position.
Second Row: Will Rowlands (Racing 92) 33 caps
The ex-Dragons man was named Wales Player of the Year in 2022 by the Welsh writers association and at times he has been by far Wales’ most physical and consistent player.
He played a quieter role during the Six Nations as Gatland went for the combination of Jenkins and Adam Beard, but he offers a larger ball carrying presence than both and having been rested this summer, will look to come back with a vengeance to regain his place.
Second Row: Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs) 19 caps
Wales’ captain during the Six Nations is a work horse and a half, shining in the second row and at six during the tournament. While he may not be quite as explosive as other top level locks, he has the talent to become a mainstay for years to come.
Mature beyond his years to be given the Wales and Exeter captaincy.
Blindside Flanker: Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs) 12 caps
While his best position is still to be decided, Tshiunza produced arguably his best performance as a full Welsh international during the summer tour to Australia in the second row.
Capable of playing anywhere from 4-8, Tshiunza has always been thought of as an incredible physical specimen and looks to have bulked out further during his recovery from a broken foot which ruled him out of the Six Nations.
Openside Flanker: Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers) 20 caps
Tommy ‘Turnover’ Reffell fully justified his nickname during the Six Nations having twice as many breakdown steals as anyone else during the tournament.
While he was slightly quieter during the summer tour, he was still impressive in the loose. It will be a fascinating battle between him and Jac Morgan for years to come in that seven jersey.
Number Eight: Ross Moriarty (Brive) 54 caps
The former Dragons man was a regular under Gatland in previous seasons, admired for his physicality and aggression, something which boiled over with his red card against Argentina in 2018.
However, he hasn’t played for Wales since the 2022 Six Nations and .the days of Pivac. The former England U20 international will spend another season in France’s Pro D2 and would be a surprise return for Gatland in the future.
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