Worst Start In 35 Years For Cardiff: Welsh Football Weekend Round-Up
Rhodri Evans
Welcome back to the Sportin Wales Welsh football weekend round-up, after a good weekend for Swansea fans and a miserable one for Newport and Cardiff…
Bulut Absent After Another Defeat
With another defeat, this time away to Derby County, Cardiff have now had their worst league start to the season since 1989.
The 1-0 defeat, thanks to a Kenzo Goudmijn goal, consigned Cardiff to a fourth defeat in five games. The Bluebirds have only recorded one point and one goal – both in the South Wales derby – this season, making it their worst start to a campaign since the 1989-90 season.
Under pressure manager Erol Bulut, who was absent from the touchline after a red card against Swansea, handed the post-match media to his assistant coach Omer Riza.
After a positive season in 2023/24, Cardiff have reverted back to the form that left them struggling at the bottom of the Championship in the previous two seasons.
With a fiery home match against Leeds coming up on Saturday, Bulut’s future at the Cardiff City Stadium will rest on the performance and result of his side.
Swansea Show Progress With Norwich Win
Swansea had their defence to thank for their 1-0 win over Norwich City on Saturday.
Ben Cabango was magnificent at the back, typified in his excellent challenge to deny Borja Sainz, who was threatening to break clean through. That manager Luke Williams compared it to obby Moore’s famous tackle on Brazil’s Jairzinho at the 1970 World Cup, spoke volumes.
After five games, Swansea remain inconsistent – two wins, two losses, and a draw – but are starting to show signs of the growth that Williams has spoken about in recent week.
Over some defensive woes in recent seasons, the addition of Goncalo Franco has brought a certain steel to the Swansea midfield, while Cabango, Harry Darling, Josh Key, and Josh Tymon are a settled back four.
Depleted County Soundly Beaten
Newport fell to a damaging 4-0 defeat to previously winless Swindon Town, turning the form book on its head.
County, who have now fallen out of the play-off places after three wins in a row, were 4-0 down at half time.
The weakened Exiles side were missing a host of defenders: Shane McLoughlin, James Clarke, and Joe Thomas were all injured; while centre-backs Ciaran Brennan and Kyle Jameson were suspended, following red cards against Port Vale the week before.
Head coach Nelson Jardim admitted that it was a “very tough” afternoon for his side but, with a EFL Trophy match to come on Tuesday, Newport have the chance to return to winning ways.
Top of the table clash
Wrexham, whose 3-0 win over Shrewsbury Town lifted them to the top of League One, face big spenders Birmingham City on Monday evening in what will be a big test of Phil Parkinson’s side and their promotion credentials.
It is understood that Birmingham’s summer outlay was between £20-25million, which puts Wrexham’s spending into some perspective.
Not to be outdone by their opponents, Wrexham did make a signing this week; Josh Adam has come in through the dressing room door following a trial. The midfielder was previously on the books of Manchester City and Celtic, and signed a deal until the end of the season, with the option of another year.
Wrexham’s excellent recent form has won Parkinson the League One Manager of the Month award, and he dedicated the award to ‘everyone connected to the club’.
Despite their excellent early form, this match may see Parkinson split up the Ollie Palmer-Jack Marriott strike partnership, as Paul Mullin looks finally fit to start in the league. His excellent strike against Salford City showed his undoubted quality, but more revealing was his ability to play 68 minutes, with plenty left in the tank to start against Birmingham for Wrexham on Monday.
Cardiff beat Wrexham in Adran Premier Opener
Defending champions Cardiff City got their title defence off to an excellent start on the weekend, with a 2-0 away win over Wrexham. Ffion Price put the Bluebirds in front from a free-kick in the 56th minute before Eliza Collie sealed victory eight minutes from time.
Elsewhere, there were big away wins for Briton Ferry Llansawel (0-4) and The New Saints (0-5) against Aberystwyth Town and Barry Town United respectively.
Swansea City, who were second last season behind Cardiff, also started the season with a win, 2-1 at Cardiff Met as debutant Danielle Broadhurst and Stacey John-Davis both netted for the Swans to turn the contest around following a Cardiff Met opener.
Penybont continue their fine form while TNS look menacing
Penybont’s unbeaten start to the season continued with a fine 0-1 away win at Connah’s Quay, going three points clear at the top of the table thanks to Newtown’s 2-1 win over Cardiff Met on Friday night.
Elsewhere, TNS beat Barry Town 4-0, while Briton Ferry were again denied their first league points in a 3-2 defeat at Caernarfon Town.
There were also home wins for Bala Town (3-0) and Flint Town (1-0) over Aberystwyth Town and Haverfordwest County respectively.
Results
Friday, 13 September
Newtown 2-1 Cardiff Met
Bala Town 3-0 Aberystwyth Town
Saturday, 14 September
Swindon Town 4-0 Newport County
Flint Town United 1-0 Haverfordwest County
Caernarfon Town 3-2 Briton Ferry Llansawel
The New Saints 4-0 Barry Town United
Derby County 1-0 Cardiff City
Swansea 1-0 Norwich City
Sunday, 15 September
Connah’s Quay 0-1 Penybont
Adran Premier
Aberystwyth Town 0-4 Briton Ferry Llansawel
Cardiff Met 1-2 Swansea City
Barry Town United 0-5 The New Saints
Wrexham 0-2 Cardiff City
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Gareth Anscombe: Preseason Is Over So Bring On The New Season!
Rhodri Evans
By Sportin Wales Co-Founder Gareth Anscombe
With preseason over, I’m raring to go and get stuck into the season with Gloucester.
My return has been a little bit more managed than others, because I had so much time off due to the abductor injury. I’ve had a bit of a delayed started but after some preseason runouts, I feel ready.
We had eight weeks together as a group before the first preseason match against Munster, and it’s flown by. This preseason has felt a little different to others, more condensed. Probably on the back of the World Cup this time last year and a longer season with summer tours.
The time has gone quickly, though, and it’s been tough but so enjoyable to get to know a new group of boys. We’ve had a proper old-school dynamic with regards to training: working hard for each other, getting through some tough sessions.
I’m not the only new kid at Gloucester, my old Wales and Cardiff teammate Tomos Williams has joined, along with Christian Wade and Alfie Petch. The boys have been top notch and very welcoming. It’s taken some time to adjust to some things, but having Tomos has helped.
Coming into a new team with a guy who I’ve played a fair bit of rugby with, it helps that we know our games really well. Especially being in a halfback partnership, I think we can bring a bit of leadership and experience to the team.
Initiations and ‘Not Looking Too Far Ahead’
We’ve had some initiations to get through as well of course! I sang Rock DJ by Robbie Williams on the bus. I wouldn’t say my rendition brought the house down, but I got through it in the end…
For me, the start of the season is a great chance to prove my fitness. We’ve been slowly building up my kicking reps in these last few weeks of preseason, which is the last thing to tick off before getting back to full fitness.
It’s taken a fair bit of time to adjust to training and the usual demands of sprinting, changing direction and then adding the extra kicking load that fly-halves need to have.
In the past, I think I’ve been guilty of looking too far ahead and letting injuries catch up with me. Now, it’s really simple: I’m just looking forward to playing and getting out at Kingsholm. Whatever happens after that will happen.
If I can get a consistent run of games and put some good performances in, then maybe I’ll get a Wales recall, but the focus right now is 100% on Gloucester.
‘Our Main Focus is the Premiership’
After a difficult season last year, everyone at Kingsholm is pretty determined to have a successful one this season. The league is our focus after a couple of good cup runs last year.
We’re not going to write Europe off, of course. Last season’s defeat to a strong Sharks side in the final was a tough one and the boys feel like they can one better this time around.
This first block of six Premiership games is our main focus though. The difference this year will be to have that consistency and ability to put in a big performance when required. The best teams in the league last year were able to do that, and that is what we are aiming for.
Getting back to consistently winning at home, at Kingsholm, is another big target for us. The fans boost our game massively and we need to create an atmosphere that visitors don’t like playing in.
If we can do that, we will have set ourselves up for a positive season.
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Life On One Wheel: The Unique World Of Unicycle Hockey
Rhodri Evans
Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Unicycle Hockey, a sport which has been around “since the early nineties”.
While the sport is bigger in mainland Europe and in countries like Japan and Australia, it also has a vibrant club scene in the UK.
While there are “only four active clubs” in the UK, Cardiff’s side has been going for 17 years.
Ben Tullis has been part of the club for most of that period, running the club for the last decade.
“I started playing about 1992-93 as I was learning to unicycle around that age,” says Tullis.
“I was living in Hastings at the time and there were probably 13 or 14 clubs in the UK, and we used to go around the country playing in various tournaments.
“Over the last 30 years or so the number of clubs has dropped, now there’s probably only four active clubs, whereas there were six at the start of Covid.
“From Cardiff, we’ve been to three European Championships, played for Wales, and in 2017 we came away with some silverware, coming second in the B league.
“Out of clubs in the UK, ours is probably the one that is doing the best in terms of recruiting new members, training them to ride unicycles, and getting people into the game.”
Unicycle Hockey Takes Commitment
The club has two main sessions, one for novices on a Sunday and another for more experienced “confident and competitive” players on a Wednesday.
“We teach people how to ride from absolute beginners, while that’s happening in the background, people who already play and already have some experiences are from playing hockey,” says Tullis.
“The majority of people who come to the club and try the sport are complete beginners.
“They may have no sporting experience in anything else, they have come because they’d like to learn to ride a unicycle, and we successfully get them interested in hockey.
“Occasionally, we will have someone who moves to Cardiff for university or work, or anything else and they are proficient unicyclists already.
“They may be jugglers. They may also be interested in circus skills; we then convert them from being just a unicyclist to a unicycle hockey player.”
Tullis says he has never met anyone who is not able to ride a unicycle, however, it does take commitment.
“Learning to ride a unicycle does take a commitment,” says Tullis.
“You know, it’s normally around 10 to 12 hours of independent practice.
“Getting on, falling off, getting on and falling off, before you can go reliably five metres or so.”
Community Sport
Practices and games are held at Cardiff’s House of Sport at the roller hockey rink.
“The venue is ideal for us with curved corners, Plexiglas up the sides, neither of which are essential but make things easier,” says Tullis.
“It’s a non-contact sport so there’s no need for padding or helmets although it would be wrong to say that people don’t fall over but we don’t mandate helmets especially for more experienced players.
“Generally, when you fall off a unicycle you walk out of it, step off, there’s nothing to get caught up in as you would with a bicycle.”
The sport has a reputation as one which has a strong community and family feel.
“Everyone is so supportive, both literally in giving someone an arm to hold onto until they are no longer needed and in terms of giving others the confidence to carry on,” says Tullis.
“One of the particularly nice things about the game is that because being able to unicycle is the only barrier to entry, the games are all mixed in terms of gender and age.
“We often have parents and children playing the same games, husbands and wives because you don’t get any particular benefit from being male or female, old or young, bulky or lithe.
“Both my children come along. They’re eight and 10 and both love it. My wife also plays but doesn’t have the bug the same way I do.
“It’s unusual in sports in that way. We had someone turn up the other night who’s a second-generation unicycle hockey player, his parents are both unicycle hockey players who recommended he come to join us.”
A sport for all
While playing on one wheel instead of a bicycle with two might seem inhibiting, Tullis says that it is rather the opposite.
“When you’re good at unicycling you can turn on a sixpence, it’s just an extension of your legs,” says Tullis.
“If you’re on a bicycle and want to stay stationary you can do a track stand for maybe 10 or 20 seconds but eventually, you’ll have to get back moving or get off.
“On a unicycle you don’t have that as it’s a completely fixed wheel, you do what’s called idling or hovering, cycling back and forward, which is useful for being in defence or in goal.
“When you want to turn you just throw your shoulders or hips into it and you can turn on the spot, a unicycle allows you to be extremely agile.
“I play bicycle polo as well. One session I had a go with my unicycle, and it was completely unfair. You’re so much more agile on a unicycle.”
Even within unicycle hockey itself there are a variety of abilities and skill sets which bring with them differing styles.
“We have one player who is a professional performer and able to unicycle across tightropes and balance things on his head,” says Tullis.
“He bunny hops out of tackles which is amazing to watch.
“We use ice hockey sticks, and the blade is very subtle allowing you to scoop, lift, and play things in the air.
“Also, we play with a tennis ball so it’s more of an aerial game and the ball is fairly bouncy, able to smash the ball down and get it to bounce up in the air.
“You can play the ball with your hand, head the ball, the only rule is you can’t score with your hand.”
Always Improving
Even for experienced players like Tullis there are skills to be honed and improved upon.
“Currently I’m working on my passing, getting the ball to where somebody’s going to be rather than behind them,” says Tullis.
“I’ve gotten a lot better the last couple of years at being able to weave around people, dribbling or pulling a dummy to jink past someone.
“Everyone’s working on particular skills they need to improve on. I wouldn’t say there’s a hardest skill, merely many elements and aspects you need to work on.”
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‘There’s Nothing Glamorous About The Way I Climb Mountains!’: Ed Jackson on Wales, the Paralympics and his new film ‘The Mountain Within Me’
Rhodri Evans
Ed Jackson does not stop.
Speaking to Sportin Wales in between numerous other interviews with publications from as far afield as Australia and the United States, he admits that he secretly loves to be busy.
“I like being busy,” Jackson admits.
“Ironically, for me, climbing mountains is my break.”
In the last six years, Jackson has climbed numerous peaks in Wales, the Alps, and even Nepal.
Snowdon was conquered first on Easter Sunday 2018, before he led the Restart Rugby Alpine Challenge with a group of ex-professional players up Mont Buet. Together they scaled the 10,000ft peak over 2 days.
Two years later, Jackson scaled the 6,500m Mera Peak in the Himalayas, helping to raise money for a specialist spinal unit.
“It is a weird thing to say and, yes, it’s physically tiring, but psychologically, it is meditative,” Jackson adds.
“You get to spend time in these beautiful environments, disconnected from the outside world. I often come back physically tired and a bit battered and bruised, but always emotionally rested.”
Accident and Recovery
The former London Welsh, Newport Gwent Dragons, and London Wasps number eight’s life was turned upside down in 2017 when he suffered a serious spinal injury after diving into the shallow end of a swimming pool.
Jackson fractured his C6 and C7 vertebrae, which are located at the base of the neck, and was initially quadriplegic with only limited movement in his right arm.
As the name of his charity – Millimetres 2 Mountains – suggests, Jackson’s recovery started with tiny movements in his big toe and, seven years after the accident, he is scaling mountains, with a brace on his left leg.
‘The Mountain Within Me’
And now, on top of everything, Jackson has a film to promote.
“I got a phone call just over three years ago from a lady called Helen Parker who is one of the bosses at Universal Pictures,” he recounts.
“She introduced herself and said that she’d read my book and thought that it could be a film.
“I thought it was a prank!”
Prank it certainly was not and, three years on, The Mountain Within Me has premiered across the UK, US, and Australia in the last week of August.
Jackson is keen to move the credit away from himself but the impact that the film is having is in large part thanks to his charity.
“People are going to take different things away from the film,” Jackson says.
“It can just be entertainment for people, but it can be more than that. We want to have a tangible impact on people. It’s great to be able to raise awareness of the charity and hopefully inspire anyone who watches the film that they too get through a period of hardship.
“I’d like to inspire some people to go on an adventure, not necessarily to the Himalayas, but even it’s as simple as taking each day as it comes and grabbing life by the horns.
“There’s also a hell of a lot of epic mountaineering shots in there too if people are just into that!”
Big Raj and Leaving a Legacy
Even before Universal came calling, Millimetres 2 Mountains had worked hard to leave a lasting impact on the people and communities that have helped them along the way.
As well as the spinal unit, Jackson has befriended a Nepalese guide, affectionately known as ‘Big Raj’ and helped him set up his own tracking and guiding company.
“Big Raj was explaining the system to me and how most of the tracking companies are Western run,” Jackson explains.
“The Nepalese guides do the hard work on the ground, but they don’t have the opportunity to set up their own organisations and companies. There’s a bit of a glass ceiling there.
“Me and a group of friends got together and helped Big Raj set up his own company and now he is able to employ guides from his village and keep the profits in Nepal.
“He is actually in the UK at the moment which is amazing because it’s his first time ever outside Nepal. We were at the premier together in Edinburgh and it’s been so fun seeing him experience new things like the London Underground.”
Why Mountains?
As for the film, you won’t catch Jackson trying to look good for the cameras while trying to climb a peak.
“There’s nothing glamorous about the way I climb mountains!” he exclaims.
“Nothing really changed for me, because they can use drones and cameras like that to film while we climb.
“I’m quite good at ignoring what’s going on around me and focus on trying not to fall off the mountain. The videographers are so good at what they do it’s almost as if you don’t know they’re there.”
The question yet to be answered, however, is why did Jackson pick climbing mountains in the first place?
“They kind of picked me in a weird way,” he admits.
“I set myself the challenge of scaling Snowdon a year after my accident, partly because there’s a path all the way to the top and a train on the way down.
“It was obviously really hard, given my circumstances, but during that process lots of people came to support and I felt like it was the first time since my injury that I had a real sense of being useful again and having a sense of purpose.
“Naturally, after that I wanted to climb higher. I never imagined that one day I would be climbing in Nepal or up the Matterhorn.”
Cymru Connection
Snowdon, or Yr Wyddfa, being the highest peak in Wales, provides a nice link that Jackson has made with Wales, something that began during his rugby career.
“All my coaches during my rugby career were Welsh,” Jackson says.
“Dai Young at Wasps, Lynn Howells at Doncaster, and Lyn Jones at London Welsh. So, it only seemed natural that I was going to end up playing in Wales.
“Two of my best mates from school are from Cardiff and still spend a lot of time there.”
Kyrgyzstan and Paris 2024
As well as his charity and mountaineering work, Jackson has also embarked on a career in TV and media.
The 35-year-old has worked as a rugby reporter for Channel 4’s live coverage of the Champions cup, headed to Tokyo as one of the key presenters of the Paralympic Games, and will be doing the same in Paris this month.
“I head out to Paris to present the Paralympics as soon as I’m finished promoting the film,” Jackson says.
“I was very lucky to be involved in Tokyo and Beijing as well for the Winter Paras. Obviously those two had Covid impacting them, and I’ve heard Paris has been amazing in terms of atmosphere and crowds.
“To be in the Stade de France for the Paralympics is incredibly exciting.”
Jackson does not come across as someone who ever takes much time off, and it comes as no surprise to hear that he has plenty planned for after the Paralympics.
“After Paris we are going to Albania with the charity,” says Jackson.
“We’re also going to climb Mount Kenya in January and then the big one next August in Kyrgyzstan.
“I want to climb an unclaimed peak. So, to be the first to climb a big peak in Kyrgyzstan with a group of other disabled adventurers and have our own mountain.
“Being the first, we’ll have the right to name it, and to be able to plant a flag in the ground for accessible adventure would be awesome.”
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Wrexham March On And Cardiff Need A Win: Welsh Football Weekend Preview
Rhodri Evans
With the international break over, and Wales fans buoyed by Bellamy-ball, the league campaign gets back under way this weekend.
Wrexham and Newport County fans will tell you club football never went away, with the Town their excellent form in the league and cup. County, meanwhile, had their momentum put to halt with a sobering 4-1 home defeat to Port Vale.
Newport travel to Swindon this weekend, while Wrexham have a trip to big-spenders Birmingham City to contend with.
Let’s take a look at what’s ahead of the Welsh clubs this weekend.
Top of the table clash
Wrexham, whose 3-0 win over Shrewsbury Town lifted them to the top of League One, face big spenders Birmingham City on Monday evening in what will be a big test of Phil Parkinson’s side and their promotion credentials.
It is understood that Birmingham’s summer outlay was between £20-25million, which puts Wrexham’s spending into some perspective.
Not to be outdone by their opponents, Wrexham did make a signing this week; Josh Adam has come in through the dressing room door following a trial. The midfielder was previously on the books of Manchester City and Celtic, and signed a deal until the end of the season, with the option of another year.
Wrexham’s excellent recent form has won Parkinson the League One Manager of the Month award, and he dedicated the award to ‘everyone connected to the club’.
Despite their excellent early form, this match may see Parkinson split up the Ollie Palmer-Jack Marriott strike partnership, as Paul Mullin looks finally fit to start in the league. His excellent strike against Salford City showed his undoubted quality, but more revealing was his ability to play 68 minutes, with plenty left in the tank to start against Birmingham for Wrexham on Monday.
Cardiff in Desperate Need of a Win
Sportin Wales don’t need to tell Cardiff City fans the obvious. Erol Bulut is in deep trouble if they extend their winless run at the start of the season to six games.
Their only point in the league came in the South Wales derby, a game where they were outplayed by Swansea, only to equalise late on. The way Middlesborough were able to hold the Bluebirds at arms length at the Cardiff City Stadium was concerning; their inability to assert themselves onto games is the biggest issue right now.
With Wales captain Aaron Ramsey set to miss Saturday’s clash with Derby, Rubin Colwill will be given another chance to show off his talent after his eye-catching display in the 5-3 EFL Cup defeat to Southampton.
Cardiff fans will need their team to be at their best against an inconsistent Derby side, who have won two and lost two so far this season.
Travel Concerns for Swansea’s Internationals
Swansea City return to Championship action against Norwich City on Saturday after some members of Luke Williams’ squad racked up the air miles during the international break.
Eom Ji-Sung, part of a South Korea squad playing World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Palestine, has arrived late in the week, while goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux was an unused sub in Chile’s two qualifiers, having been recalled last month.
Nathan Tjoe-A-On and Zan Vipotnik were also in action; Tjoe-A-On for Indonesia, and Vipotnik for Slovenia.
There were mixed fortunes for Swansea’s Welsh contingent, with Ollie Cooper starting in midfield in the 2-1 victory over Montenegro, while Liam Cullen did not feature after picking up an injury. Ben Cabango also did not feature in either game.
Swansea host Norwich on Saturday, with both side looking to raise themselves out of mid-table mediocrity.
Newport on the short road to Swindon
County will be looking to avoid being the first side to lose to lowly Swindon Town this season when they travel to the County Ground on Saturday. Following a difficult international window, Newport will need to bounce back from defeat and injury concerns.
Defence is the biggest issue for County ahead of this weekend, with James Clarke injured, and Ciaran Brennan and Kyle Jameson both suspended for their red cards against Port Vale.
Centre back Matt Baker should return after Wales Under-21 duty but it leaves County with the prospect of starting with EFL newbies Cameron Evans and Nelson Sanca.
“We will find solutions within the squad, we’ve got more than enough options to make sure we are organised and can compete to win,” Jardim said.
Full Round of Cymru Premier
The New Saints, fresh from their ground-breaking Europa Conference League qualification, look in ominous form in the Cymru Premier.
Laying in fifth, but having played three games less than the others, TNS have scored seven goals and conceded just once in three games. They face Barry Town on Saturday, who are on good form themselves, having won 3-2 against Flint Town and 2-1 at Connah’s Quay in recent weeks.
Elsewhere, winless Briton Ferry travel to Caernarfon Town, while Sunday sees top of the table Penybont go to Connah’s Quay.
Flint Town against Haverfordwest County rounds off Saturday’s fixtures, and a duo of Friday night fixtures kicks off the Welsh sporting weekend.
Fixtures
Friday 13th
19:45
Bala Town vs Aberystwyth Town
Newtown vs Cardiff Met University
Saturday 14th
12:30
Swindon Town vs Newport County
14:30
Caernarfon Town vs Briton Ferry
Flint Town United vs Haverfordwest County
The New Saints vs Barry Town United
15:00
Derby County vs Cardiff City
Swansea City vs Norwich City
Sunday 15th
14:30
Connah’s Quay vs Penybont
Monday 16th
20:00
Birmingham City vs Wrexham
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Cardiff Devils Out To Right Last Year’s ‘Disappointment’
Rhodri Evans
“Any season we end trophyless is a disappointing season, there’s no other way to describe it,” says Cardiff Devils defender Mark Richardson.
“Devils is a club which expects to win silverware and it’s a big pull for joining the organisation.”
Last year the club finished second in the league. That was despite a run of 12 consecutive wins from the 6th of January to the start of February.
In the end they finished comfortably in second, 14 points below table toppers Sheffield Steelers.
“Last season we did a really good job pushing on, finishing the league season strong, despite the fact we couldn’t get higher than second,” says Richardson.
“In the play-off semi-final we played decently, it was a tight game, and we were just pipped in the end.”
Semi-Final Heartbreak
The Devils lost their semi-final 1-2 in overtime against Belfast Giants, meaning they finished a promising season trophyless.
This season, Richardson and co. are out to right those wrongs.
“With the league system we have here in the UK we always need to hit home the importance of every game to the new players,” said Richardson.
“The league is the big trophy in this country, it’s what makes it so important.
“The points you drop in October and November are the same as the ones you drop in March and it’s important you start well to finish top of the pile.”
Tough Work in Pre-Season
Practically, that means working harder than ever in pre-season.
“We’ve been working really hard. Hockey is a very unique sport where it’s hard to replicate anything off the ice,” says Richardson.
“We’ll do fitness tests with acid bath testing, rowing machines, bikes, testing lifts as well and this will be repeatedly assessed throughout the year.
“In other leagues, you have longer pre-seasons, for us, we’re on the ice for four days and then we’re straight into our pre-season games.”
Preparations have been disrupted slightly with Richardson, Welsh Devil Ben Davies’ and five Cardiff teammates a part of Great Britain’s training squad for the Winter Olympics qualifiers in Denmark.
The matches between the end of August and September, against Denmark, Norway and Japan give GB an opportunity to qualify for the 2026 Olympics in Milan.
No Slowing Down
Despite Richardson being 37 – 38 in October – he is “still loving” his life as a professional ice hockey player and has no intention of stopping anytime soon.
He sees it as his role to “lead by example” and aid the new players who have joined the team ahead of the new season, whilst also teaching them about Cardiff’s famed “rocking” atmosphere.
Cardiff begin their league season at home to Glasgow Clan on the 14th of September before a pair of away cup matches at Guildford Flames and Manchester Storm.
“Last season we went on a long spell with lots of travelling, it’s nice to start the season at home it’s always easier being there in front of the fans,” says Richardson.
“As players, we’re looking forward to getting out in front of the crowd. We’ve all told the new players it’ll be rocking and when you hear the crowd, you just want to perform.
“Speaking of the new guys, I can’t speak highly enough of them. Their skill level on the ice is top level and they’re great guys off the ice too.
“The season is so busy you need a team who are strong mentally and we seem to be that this season as we go for silverware.”
Devils Home Fixtures – September
Glasgow Clan – 14th September 19:00, Elite League
Fife Flyers – 21st September 19:00, Elite League
Manchester Storm – 27th September 19:30, Challenge Cup
Photo Credit: James Assinder
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All Hail The Next Generation: Welsh Rugby's Ones To Watch
Rhodri Evans
It’s almost becoming clichéd to talk about youngsters within Welsh rugby.
This year alone, Wales head coach Warren Gatland has given full debuts to 11 players, with league convert Regan Grace also appearing in the uncapped match against the Reds.
Of those 11, only James Ratti is older than 24. Indeed, it is arguably an easier task currently to pick a 23 and under team to play for Wales than it is to pick one aged 30 plus.
While last year saw a lot of youngsters coming through, this year could be similar.
The regions have had to their budgets down again, this time to £4.5million and a raft of experienced players have left.
Sportin Wales takes a look at the new guys on the block:
Cardiff
Starting with the capital city region, there were plenty of success stories for Cardiff’s young guns on show last season with Cam Winnett, Alex Mann, Mackenzie Martin, Evan Lloyd, Jacob Beetham and Ellis Bevan all earning international honours following impressive seasons.
This summer they have seen plenty of departures, including Welsh internationals Tomos Williams, Willis Halaholo, Owen Lane, Shane Lewis-Hughes and Rhys Carre.
There have been incomings with talented 18-year-old centre Steffan Emanuel having impressed this summer for Wales u20s after returning to Cardiff, along with 22-year-old prop Joe Cowell and back threes Iwan Stephens and Tom Bowen.
23-year-old Gabe Hamer-Webb has signed permanently having spent part of last season at the Arms Park and it will be interesting to see how the Welsh qualified wing fares for game time up against the likes of Josh Adams, Theo Cabango and Mason Grady.
Bowen is another who will be looking to eventually push his way into the back three equation having signed what Cardiff called a ‘long-term senior academy contract’.
The back three player returns after taking a scholarship with Clifton College and linking up the Bristol Bears.
On Bowen, Welsh international second row Teddy Williams, a youngster himself at 23 says: “Tom’s been with us from the start of preseason and you wouldn’t know he’s straight out of school with the way he’s handled himself.”
“I remember when I came in I felt a bit of an outsider, but fair play to him and Steffan Emmanuel they’ve slotted in seamlessly.”
Dragons
Gonzalo Betranou, Jack Dixon, Aki Seiuli, Lewis Jones and Bradley Roberts departed at various stages of last season but alongside 30-somethings Steven Cummins and Solomone Funaki Dragons have brought in plenty of talented youngsters.
Front and centre of those is 19-year-old fly-half Harri Ford who joins from RGC having shone for Wales U20s during the summer, particular against Spain.
He is joined by back rower Owen Conquer and hooker Oli Burrows who joins from Exeter.
Meanwhile, expect to see much more of highly rated back three Ewan Rosser after the 23-year-old impressed at fullback towards the back end of last season.
Dragons fans will be looking forward to the return of Wales U20s captains Harri Ackerman and Ryan Woodman from injury.
“Harri seems really positive with his injury recovery,” says fellow Dragons centre Aneurin Owen.
“When he’s on the field, even for how young he is, he’s been class in a Dragons jersey and there’s only more to come from him. Woodman has been class with the U20s, the way he led there, I can see him becoming more prominent now within the Dragons team.
“Huw Anderson is another who’s been really good with the U20s at fullback and has been really impressive in training. I feel at the moment there’s a nice balance between the young lads and the experiences boys which is good.”
Ospreys
In Sportin Wales co-founder Alex Cuthbert, Nicky Smith and George North, Ospreys saw 224 Wales caps depart the region this summer.
The signing of scrum half Kieran Hardy will add to their experience meanwhile talented centre Phil Cokanasiga appears a shrewd signing.
Expect to see more gametime for youngsters Morgan Morse and Dan Edwards after the former became Wales’ most capped player at Under 20s level this summer at the age of 19.
Another who will be looking for more opportunities is hooker Lewis Lloyd. The 21-year-old entered last season as fourth choice behind the likes of Welsh internationals Dewi Lake and Sam Parry, however, he shone particularly against Sale at the Brewery Field.
“Lewis is someone who is exciting, gives 100% every time he plays and is a good prospect coming through,” says Justin Tipuric.
“Also in the forwards with us losing Nicky Smith it’s an opportunity for the likes of Garyn Phillips and Steff Thomas who both have a big potential. Steff has had a few injuries but will be looking to kick on this season.
“Fingers crossed James Fender can continue from where he was last season before the injury and push towards getting in a Welsh jersey and look out for fellow second row Liam Edwards who is a big lump in the second row coming through. While I expect we’ll see more of Tristan Davies in the ever competitive back row.
“Then in the backs there’s the likes of Harri Houston who I thought performed well in the little bits we saw of him last season. We see a lot of his talent in training and I’m excited for the fans and media to see what we see day-to-day.
“Hopefully we’ll see more of the youngsters this season with not as much strength-in-depth as we have had in the past particularly when you have a few injuries.”
Scarlets
Scarlets have seen a raft of experience leave this summer. While they kept hold of Tongan international pair Sam Lousi and Vaea Fifita, Welsh internationals Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, Wyn Jones, Hardy, Samson Lee, Johnny McNicholl and Ken Owens all left.
371 Wales caps are hard to replace and while experience has arrived in the form of Henry Thomas, Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe and Max Douglas, it is set to be a very young Scarlets side at the start of the season.
Macs Page who shone so brightly for Llandovery at the end of last season will be one to look out for, having scored a hattrick for Wales U20s against Australia in the summer.
The centre or wing has yet to nail down a position but will expect further gametime with the departures of Davies and Williams along with win Ryan Conbeer.
Another versatile player is New Zealand born Blair Murray who at 22 has moved from New Zealand to West Wales. Welsh qualified through his mother from Tonyrefail, Murray can play at fly-half, wing or at fullback and it will be interesting to see where he lines up this season.
“In training Murray has been playing a lot on the wing, he’s been looking good and is obviously fast,” says Scarlets’ Ioan Nicholas.
“He’s looking really sharp in the wide channels, poaching around the rucks as well.
“There’s a lot of exciting players coming through our forwards as well but in the backs there’s Macs Page obviously and Jack Davies who played very well last season, scoring some lovely tries for Llandovery.
“He got a bit unlucky with the broken leg but he and Macs have been playing very well so hopefully they get a shot this year.”
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'Outstanding' Wales Turn Attention To Montenegro
Rhodri Evans
Wales head coach Craig Bellamy hailed his side as ‘outstanding’ in their 0-0 draw with Türkiye on Friday night in his first game in charge.
Playing a new style under Bellamy, Wales dominated possession, territory, and shots as Türkiye, who were quarter finalists at EURO 2024, struggled to match Wales’ intensity.
The only thing missing was a goal.
“Believe me, this is the worst we’re going to be,” a confident Bellamy said after the match.
“The more we learn, the more we spend time together, getting the finer details correct, the better we’ll be.
“I believe there’s so much more to come. It’s such a good start, but there’s way more to come from this team.”
Fast Start
Wales flew out of the traps in the first half, with Aaron Ramsey going close from a corner before Joe Rodon put one over the bar from 6 yards out.
The best chance of the game fell to the returning Sorba Thomas, who’s lobbed finish capped off a wonderful Welsh move. The only problem is the linesman adjudged him to be offside from Ramsey’s impudent through ball.
Thomas was Wales’ best player on the night and deservedly won player of the match for his tireless work ethic and constant willingness to take his man on and create something for others.
After missing recent squads under Rob Page, Thomas moved on loan to Nantes in France and has taken the opportunity of a fresh start under Bellamy with both hands so far.
Fiery Fixture
After a fluid start to the match, the game broke up thanks to a number of fouls in the middle third of the pitch.
In all, Türkiye made 20 fouls for six yellows cards in the game. Striker Baris Alper Yilmaz was sent off for a second booking, the first after a complaint to the referee for not awarding a penalty, and the second, a late challenge on Harry Wilson.
Wales were not without fault, either, with Wilson and Brennan Johnson joining the cabal of Türkiye players in the book.
Such was the new style of play from Wales – with an intense press and high defensive line – fouls were committed when the visitors broke the press and flooded the middle of the pitch.
‘More Work’ for Wales To Do
Bellamy, for all his praise of his side, was keen to stress that they have much further to go as a team under his stewardship.
“We’ve had a lot of work this week,” Bellamy explained.
“There’s been a lot of meetings, trying to always be conscious of the load of information going into the players in a short space of time, but they were great all week.
“That gives you confidence going into a game like Friday evening. A few of the players wanted more information, which I loved.”
Bellamy admitted that once Türkiye shifted their tactics to counter Wales’ new gameplan, his own side were a little slow to adapt to the changes themselves.
“There’s a little bit of fine tuning we need to do when we recognise that Türkiye had changed things and were too comfortable,” Bellamy said.
“After 30-odd minutes, we were in control, so of course, a top team with a top coach are going to charge things and adapt.
“Maybe we could adapt to their changes a little quicker, but that’s completely understandable for us being so early in our process.”
Focus On Montenegro
With the Türkiye game behind them, Wales now travel to Montenegro for their next UEFA Nations League match.
A tight turnaround and a head injury to striker Kieffer Moore has put a slight dampener on Bellamy’s first weeks in charge.
“There’ll be changes from the Türkiye game because they play so differently to Montenegro,” Bellamy explained.
“Every game we will approach differently, a different press, how we try to work the opposition, and how we use the ball in possession would adapt to where their triggers are compared to Türkiye.
“We will be trying to move it to what we feel will give us the best opportunity of dominating the ball and hopefully winning.
“It’s a quick turnaround, a really quick one, but we’re used to that.”
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Best Medal-Haul For Welsh Para-Athletes For 20 Years
Rhodri Evans
The Paralympics is over, but Wales are still celebrating an incredible Games. 22 athletes travelled to Paris as part of Team GB, and 14 returned with medals.
Overall, 16 medals were won – seven golds, five silvers, and four bronzes, across 10 different sports.
Most were won in individual pursuits, with Jodie Grinham, Rhys Darbey, and Georgia Wilson winning multiple medals.
The Welsh haul of 16 medals is the most since Athens in 2004, where Wales took home a staggering 22.
Perhaps more impressive was Beijing 2008, where 10 golds were won as part of a medal haul of 14.
Welsh athletes ranged from athletics to table tennis, and archery to equestrian and in age, too: the youngest medal winner being 17-year-old Rhys Darbey in the pool, with the oldest being 40-year-old table tennis player Rob Davies.
Gold Rush on the First Weekend
It was perhaps the most memorable weekend in Welsh para-sport for a generation. Across a 24-hour period, Welsh athletes won five gold medals, beginning with Matt Bush in the para-taekwondo.
Injury ruled him out of the Rio and Tokyo Games, so it was third time lucky for the 35-year-old former javelin thrower.
The second gold medal came in the rowing, as Ben Pritchard won a dominant victory in the men’s single sculls beating the reigning champion and long-time rival Roman Polianskyi of Ukraine.
In the velodrome, James Ball won his first Paralympic medal. beating his Team GB teammate Neil Fachie in the men’s B 1000m time trial. Ball was helped to the title by his pilot, and fellow Welshman, Steffan Lloyd.
At the Stade de France, Sabrina Fortune swept the competition away with a world record breaking shot put throw of 15.12m, putting the memories of a fifth placed finish in Tokyo behind her.
Swimmer Rhys Darbey completed the five-gold set in the pool. In his first ever Paralympic race, the 17-year-old won gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay, in a team made up of fellow teenagers.
Golden Girls
Two further gold medals were won later in the week, as Jodie Grinham added to her individual archery bronze with a team gold, and Laura Sugar rounded off the Games with a gold on the final day.
Grinham, who competed in this Games while seven months pregnant, won the mixed team title with Nathan Macqueen.
Sugar did not just retain her singles kayak title from Tokyo, she also broke the Paralympic record as well.
Silver – Second Winner or First Loser?
For Aled Siôn Davies, the answer to that question is certainly the latter. The three-time Paralympic gold medallist had to settle for silver in the men’s F63 shot put after what he called a ‘massive underperformance’ in the final.
For 40-year-old Rob Davies, though, this Paralympics was a return to form in his later years. Having won gold in the men’s singles in Rio, 2016, he missed Tokyo due to a shoulder injury. Davies roared back to take silver, losing a close final to Cuba’s Yunier Fernandez.
Elsewhere, Georgia Wilson backed up her bronze in the individual championship with a silver in the freestyle, while Darbey did the same: three days after his gold, he came second in the men’s 200m individual medley.
Phil Pratt also took home a silver medal at Paris, as part of an exciting GB wheelchair basketball side that ran the heavy favourites – the US – very close in the final.
Four Bronzes to Add to the Tally
As well as Grinham and Wilson’s bronzes, tennis table player Paul Karbarak and javelin thrower Hollie Arnold also took home bronze medals in Paris.
Karabardak became the first Welsh competitor to win a medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics after taking bronze alongside doubles teammate Billy Shilton.
With no bronze medal match, Karabardak and and Shilton won bronze alongside the other beaten semi-finalists – a rather bittersweet end.
Arnold, a gold medal winner in Rio and bronze medallist four years later in Tokyo, won yet another para-athletics medal with a throw of 40.59m.
Another Successful Games
Overall, the Paris Paralympic Games will be viewed as a phenomenal success for Welsh para-sport and Team GB.
They ended the 2024 Games with a total of 124 medals: 49 golds, 44 silvers, and 31 bronzes. Second behind the juggernaut of China, and ahead of the US is an amazing achievement for British para-sport.
The final Welsh honour in Paris fell to Matt Bush, who was given the task of being Great Britain’s flag bearer alongside para-swimmer Poppy Maskill.
Read More:
Welsh Paralympic Medallists
GOLD
Matt Bush (Para taekwondo – men’s K44 +80kg)
Ben Pritchard (Para-rowing – PR1 men’s singles sculls)
James Ball and Steffan Lloyd (Para-cycling – Men’s B 1000m time trial)
Sabrina Fortune (Para-athletics – women’s F20 shot put)
Rhys Darbey (Para-swimming – mixed S14 4x100m freestyle relay)
Jodie Grinham (Para-archery – mixed team compound open)
Laura Sugar (Para canoe – women’s kayak singles KL3 200m)
SILVER
Rhys Darbey (Para-swimming – men’s SM14 200m individual medley)
Rob Davies (Para table tennis – men’s singles MS1)
Georgia Wilson (Para equestrian – grade II individual freestyle)
Aled Sion Davies (Para athletics – men’s F63 shot put)
Phil Pratt (wheelchair basketball men’s team)
BRONZE
Paul Karabardak (Para table tennis – men’s doubles MD14)
Jodie Grinham (Para-archery – women’s individual compound)
Georgia Wilson (Para-equestrian – individual event grade II)
Hollie Arnold (Para athletics – women’s F46 javelin)
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Boccia: The World’s ‘Most Inclusive Sport’
Rhodri Evans
To say boccia is a tactical sport would be an understatement.
The jack placement: pivotal; having half an eye on your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses: vital.
The Paralympic sport is most similar to boules or pétanque in nature, with balls thrown with the aim of being closest to the jack, however, in many ways it is an amalgamation of so many others.
“It’s a bit like snooker where you can get snookers and have all these intricate shots to play, it’s great to play, really technical,” says Disability Sport Wales’ Boccia Coordinator, Tomas Martin.
“It’s got the physical aspect of boules and bowls but as you get more involved it has the tactical and strategic aspects of a bit of chess, snooker, curling a mix of sports really.
“It seems like you need a degree in boccia to succeed!”
Boccia Geek
Martin regards himself as a bit of a “boccia geek” having found the sport he loves some 20 years ago.
Since then, he hasn’t stopped playing and watching.
The sport itself has been involved in the Paralympics since 1984 but is continuously evolving, as so is Martin himself, as he attempts to stay ahead of the younger athletes coming through.
“Over the years I’ve developed little intricate moves,” says Martin.
“As the game has developed, I’ve had to develop my tactics, including my secret weapon!
“They’re on my heels so I have to keep developing my skills to keep up. It’s good for me and for the sport as well!”
Martin has a form of Dystonia, a neurological movement disorder which causes involuntary muscle contractions and spasms.
He is reigning Welsh champion in the BC4 classification and coaches other champions as well as stars of the future at his weekly development sessions held at Sophia Gardens.
“I coach every Thursday. Up and coming athletes trying to be involved in the sport, developing their skills as well,” says Martin.
“We had the Welsh Championships a couple of months ago which is a great stepping stone to qualify for the British Championships in Scotland.
“I’ll be going. I won the BC4 classification at the recent Welsh Championships. Luke won the BC2 and Mark won the BC3 classification as well. They’re all progressing really well.
“I like to think I’m still the best though!”
The last line is tongue in cheek. All three compete in different classifications reflecting their differing disabilities.
Ramping Up
Mark is Mark Roderick who competes with his ramp operator Rhianna Davies.
While Martin and BC2 champion Luke Walsh physically throw their balls, Roderick pushes the ball down a ramp which is operated by Davies.
Roderick and others who use ramps have to interact with their operators, assessing the distance required before instructing them on whether to increase or decrease the length of the ramp along with the angle.
“Boccia is the most inclusive sport out there. I don’t think there would be any argument in saying that,” says Martin.
“Anybody can play it. We’ve got some players here who use an assisted device with ramp operators guiding the ramp wherever the athlete tells them to.
“It has to be well communicated between the ramp operator and player and it can get really technical.
“It’s fascinating to watch and it’s really great to be involved.”
All ramp operators can only look at the athlete meaning communication is vital with athletes relying on grids or calculations to work out how high the ramp needs to be.
Balls and Max Boyce
The distance to the jack isn’t the only thing which dictates the length of the ramp or type of shot required. The balls themselves are a key factor as Martin explains.
“All the balls are the same weight and same size, but some are softer than others,” says Martin.
“For the rampers, they’ll have slightly different balls to the throwers. You can get a super hard and a hard ball and the rampers will use those to knock balls out of the way.
“The softer balls are for your approach shots to get really close to the jack so that it’s harder to knock them out of the way.”
Those softer shots land like linen, to use a Max Boyce line, and boccia players are skilled at landing their balls on or next to the jack, making them as difficult as possible to remove.
While Martin was hooked on the sport early doors, others such as BC2 Welsh champion Walsh took a little longer to get into the sport.
Early Impressions
Walsh and Martin both went to the same school, however, Walsh initially thought boccia wasn’t for him.
Having tried other sports, Walsh returned to boccia 18 months ago and is now loving it.
“I’ve really enjoyed the experience for the past 18 months or so,” says Walsh.
“I stopped playing for about 10 years as I didn’t have the support to get me into the competitions and the routine back then.
“I thought it was too slow and not for me, took a break and now I’ve come back a year-and-a-half ago and come on leaps and bounds.
“Thanks to Tom, he got me back into the sport. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am right now.”
His rise up the rankings has been a rapid one, winning the Welsh Championships this summer.
“When I won the Welsh Championships, I went home and cried my eyes out,” says Walsh.
“It got me really emotional. I’m really proud of myself having started not that long ago and now I’m going to the UK Championships.
“I’ve never been to Scotland before either!
“I’m going to try and win but I’m also going for the experience of the UK Championships and Scotland too.”
David Smith: Icon of the Sport
Before those championships, are the Paralympics in Paris where Swansea University alumni David Smith will be competing.
Smith has won three paralympic gold medals including individually in Rio and Tokyo, having won five medals in total.
He remains one of the favourites for gold in Paris and is an inspiration for Walsh and Martin along with others. His colourful hair styles and flamboyant celebrations are sure to catch the eye.
“God knows what colour hair David Smith will have at the Paralympics, it may be pink for all we know,” jokes Martin.
“All I know is he’s going to put on a good performance as he always does and he’s a great figurehead for our sport.
“He’s a bit of a character and great for getting that message out there that boccia is great and people should get involved in it.”
Gatling Gun Approach
If Smith is to succeed, it will surely come down to that crucial element for all sports stars: composure.
Smith competes in the BC1 category, where each player is limited to five minutes per end to throw all six balls, athletes often take all the time allowed to assess the situation.
Martin says he used to have a “Gatling gun” approach, throwing in rapid succession, something Walsh admits has been something he has had to stop himself doing too.
“The most important thing is to compose yourself,” says Walsh.
“Before, I used to bombard, but you need to get in a good mental space to go for it.
“My favourite thing about boccia is winning! Losing is alright because you learn from it but it’s the camaraderie of the team, the other players, that atmosphere is good, the whole sport is amazing.
“Whoever wants to look for opportunities in the sport, go for it. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done!”
Image Credits: Sophie Lewis
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