Price Fight With McCaskill Her 'Biggest Test Yet'

Rhodri Evans

Ahead of the biggest Welsh boxing event of the year, the Sportin Wales Podcast welcomed former boxer turned trainer Gary Lockett and boxing journalist Dewi Powell to run the rule over Lauren Price’s hometown fight with Jessica McCaskill on Saturday.

The Olympic champion is aiming to win her first world title and is up against current WBA, WBC, and IBO welterweight title holder McCaskill.

Dewi Powell, though, is confident that Price can overcome her experienced opposition.

“It could be a fight where she wins all 10 rounds or wins eight of the 10 rounds, but I would not be surprised at all if she won,” Powell said on the Sportin Wales Podcast.

“Each of the rounds will be competitive. Stylistically, Jessica McCaskill is rough and tough.

“She likes to fight up close and, while she can look a little bit untidy, she has had a lot of success. She’s physically strong for a female welterweight and she makes that count.”

Powell added that he thinks that McCaskill’s style matches well to Price’s strengths.

“Lauren does her best work at mid to long range,” he said.

“If she can manage that distance, she should be able to control the fight. That’s why I expect her to rack up the rounds.”

Price, despite being an Olympic, European, World, and Commonwealth champion, is still a relatively inexperienced at the professional level. She has won all of her six fights since going pro in 2022.

“I think she’s adapted into the pros relatively well,” said Powell.

“There were a couple of little things. When she turned over [to professional boxing] I think her chin was a bit high and she was bouncing on the balls of the feet a bit much, but she has since settled down.

“I think the challenge that she’s had is just that quality of opposition, you tend to find in female professional boxing. There’s a big difference between the top females in the world and those further down.

“McCaskill is really experienced at this stage, seen it, done it. She hasn’t always won, but will be comfortable in this environment. I’m sure Lauren will be as well. But it just might be a new experience for her as a pro.”

One eye catching point of note in Price’s professional career so far is that she is yet to lose a round, let alone a fight. Lockett is not surprised, though, such is the talent that she possesses.

“That’s something that I’d expect from an Olympic gold medalist,” he said.

“She is a talented boxer and I think her talent alone will probably be enough to beat McCaskill but she is going to be tested at certain points.

“You might not see it in the action but McCaskill is strong and knows how to surprise, how to come through adversity. She will push Lauren.”

Powell also added that Price may lose her first round in professional boxing.

“Lauren has made good fighters look levels and levels below her,” Powell said.

“This is the first fight where I think she may lose a round or two. She may have to respond to that and keep going.

“She could win every round but I think that the margin that she wins those rounds against McCaskill may be noticeably smaller than when she’s beaten previous boxers.”

by Rhodri Evans

Williams: Swansea's 'Very Average Season'

Rhodri Evans

Rhodri Evans

Swansea City manager Luke Williams is keen to “move forward” from what has been a disappointing 2023/24 season at the Swansea.com stadium.

Speaking after his side’s final day home defeat at the hands of fellow mid-table floaters Millwall, Williams gave no impression that he or anyone at the club would rest on their laurels in the off season.

“If anyone felt like there wasn’t work to do [for next season] then they must be crazy,” he said.

“We have to keep control, make more chances, be more clinical and concede less chances.

“It’s as simple as that because much of our performances this season suggests that we should be able to do that with time.”

Upon taking over, Williams’ first seven games saw just one win and six defeats, but his side have shown signs of progress since a chastening 4-0 defeat at home to Leeds in February.

Since then, Swansea have won six league games and were on an excellent run before the disappointment of the final day.

Williams is fully aware of how far Swansea have come, and need to go to improve and look towards their main goal: play-offs.

“I think we have come a long way from the beginning of my reign here,” added Williams

“We take the ball off the opposition pretty well and then we’re able to build up well with the ball. We get the ball in the final third well but need to find more solutions to scoring goals.”

A lack of goals has been an issue all season for Swansea. Bournemouth loanee Jamal Lowe is top scorer with 9, while £2.5 million man Jerry Yates has disappointed with just 8.

There was an obvious explosion of frustration for Yates on the final day as he received a red card against Millwall. Having started on the bench, Yates came on with fifteen minutes to go and was sent off within ten minutes for what looked like an attempted punch at Millwall centre half Japhet Tanganga.

Carwyn Bowen, creator of Swansea City unofficial content account Only Swans, was scathing in his assessment of Swansea’s recent transfer business.

“£2.5 million on one striker who averages nine touches a game [Jerry Yates from Blackpool] and simply doesn’t look fit to play for this football club,” said Bowen.

“He was completely miss-profiled and can’t play in a one striker formation so god knows why we signed him.”

“Then the other striker [Mykola Kuharevich], another £2 million spent on him potentially and he’s barely seen the pitch, he sits in the same row as me for every single Swansea game because he doesn’t play.”

“It was damming transfer business, especially when signed by a new sporting director.”

“The January players were players that fit the profile a bit more but we still need to rectify this poor business from last season.”

The number of decisions made by the Swansea hierarchy that have backfired means that, according to TalkSport‘s Laurence Mora, the club have a “summer of problems” coming to them.

“Some of the decisions over the last 12 months have blown my mind, they’ve made some bad decisions in the last couple of years but in the last 12 months they’ve been phenomenally bad,” More said on the Sportin Wales Podcast.

“Andy Coleman came in as chairman and talked a good game, but the mess with Russell Martin around him leaving the club is an embarrassment.

“I see a real summer of problems…sorry Swansea fans!

“Are they going to splash the cash? Absolutely not. They’ve got to remove people from the books. Williams has had half a season to look at his players now, he knows which ones he wants, he’ll have gone through it with Coleman.”

“I don’t think they’ll be fishing in the pool of the Championship, they’ll be looking at League One and League Two and teams like that which they can get a bargain from.”

There are some success stories in Swansea’s recruitment this season. Full-backs Josh Tymon and Josh Key have generally proved to be good acquisitions and, combined with Harry Darling and Ben Cabango, have formed a mean defence this season.

Carl Rushworth, Brighton loanee and Swansea’s player of the season, will be returning to his parent club and Williams needs to look for another new no.1.

Along with a goalkeeper, Swansea need to be focusing recruitment on midfielders, wingers, and strikers, as well as adding depth to the squad.

It sounds like a lot, and it is. The club are well aware that the most of squad is a bottom-half quality. The question is whether Williams will get what he wants in the summer.

Bowen is quietly confident that the decision to bring Williams in from Notts County was the correct one. But he is under no illusions that the squad needs some serious changes for Swansea to be a top-half team next season.

“Since we’ve brought in Luke Williams, we’ve brought in some more exciting players than we had in the summer and it looks more positive now,” he said.

“The midfielder to go next to Grimes has to be one of our first priorities, we’ve been linked to Aberdeen midfielder Connor Baron, I don’t hate it, we usually do well when we sign from Scotland.”

Mora, though, is more pessimistic about the work Swansea need to do away from the pitch this summer.

“This is what worries me about the Swansea summer transfer market,” he warned.

“Liam Cullen is almost out of contract is not getting a long-term deal, not a better paid deal, just an extension and has to go and prove himself again. I do worry that financially they haven’t got the money to push them on.

“Whether we see the likes of Joe Allen there next year, I remain unconvinced whether that will continue.

“It depends if the manager wants him and whether Joe fits. He’s been terrific this season in the bits I’ve seen of him but the body is the body and he’s done a lot of hard yards.”

The good news for Swansea fans is that Luke Williams is fully aware of how much the club need to do.

“There is a lot of work to be done,” said Williams

“If we are not prepared to work hard after a very, very average season, then we are in the wrong place mentally if we think haven’t got a lot of work to do, because we have.

“We have a lot of players to bring in, for sure.

“I am determined to do everything to try to make that a reality and there’s going to be a lot of things that we have to get to make that possible.”

by Rhodri Evans

Swansea Handed Defeat By De Norre

Rhodri Evans

Rhodri Evans

Swansea ended the season in defeat as Casper De Norre’s goal decided a fiery affair against Millwall on the final day of the 2023/24 Championship season.

In the space of eight second half minutes, Matt Grimes had a penalty saved by Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic, before the visitors went down the other end and scored through midfielder De Norre.

It was a blow for Swansea, who had dominated the possession and, largely, the chances in the game up until that point.

As the game was winding down to a close, Japhet Tanganga and Swansea substitute Jerry Yates were both shown straight red cards after they clashed following a heavy challenge.

From there, the game devolved into spats and squabbles before the referee blew for full time.

Defeat means that Millwall leapfrog Swansea into 13th, with the Welsh side a place behind.

There was a familiar, almost comforting, clash of styles on show at the Swansea.com Stadium. Swansea, under manager Luke Williams, have reverted to their patient, attractive, possession-based style of football, while Millwall were more than happy to relinquish control and look to play direct to Tom Bradshaw up front.

Both sides will feel that this has been a season to bank and move on from. Swansea, with the failure of Michael Duff and the protracted signing of his replacement in Williams, and Millwall who, until a  recent run of four wins in a row, were in the relegation mix.

On the nicest weekend of the year so far, as the Championship looked elsewhere for promotion and relegation battles, these two sides had nothing more than pride and potentially an extra place or two up the table to play for.

After some back and forth in the early stages, the home fans were almost out of their seats as Liam Cullen whipped an enticing ball across the face of the goal. It seemed destined for Ronald at the back post but Danny McNamara’s stretching clearance saved his side from going behind in the first ten minutes.

To their credit, the visitors did attempt to press Swansea high up the pitch. They employed a rigid 4-4-2 mid-block and looked to spring onto captain Matt Grimes, as well as fullbacks Josh Tymon and Josh Key whenever they received the back from the centre halves.

Ben Cabango, starting a fifth match in a row, was dominant with and without the ball for the home side. Often tasked with tracking the quick breaks of Ryan Longman and Zian Flemming, the Wales international swept up with authority and was ever-reliable with the ball at his feet.

Half-chances fell onto the head of Charlie Patino and at the feet of Ronald, but neither were able to convert after both were set up by Ollie Cooper.

Just as the first half seemed to be winding down, Bradshaw managed to get the wrong side of Bashir Humphries on the counter and released Longman. The winger drove into the Swansea area but Cabango did well to show him wide and his powerful shot was beaten away by Carl Rushworth with relative ease.

It was a sign off how the game had gone that referee Geoff Eltringham blew the whistle for the break the second his watch hit 45 minutes.

Both sets of players came out after the interval somewhat reinvigorated. Swansea looked to progress the ball up the pitch with more urgency, while this led to some carelessness that Bradshaw and co could exploit on the counter.

The game exploded into life on the 65th minute when Ronald’s drive into the box and feint past Millwall skipper Jake Cooper brought the concession of a penalty.

Swansea’s own captain, Matt Grimes, stepped up and his penalty was saved by Matija Sarkic, diving to his right. Grimes put the ball at a comfortable height and could only look on in anguish as Cullen put the rebounding ball over the bar.

The home side looked a little rocked after the miss and took more chances. Ronald took one risk too many as he looked to flick the ball over the newly-introduced Duncan Watmore in his own half.

Watmore pounced and drove the ball into the box before cutting it back for Casper De Norre to slam the ball home from inside the six yard box.

Ronald and Paterson were hooked by Luke Williams, who looked to Jerry Yates and youngster Azeem Abdulai to rescue their afternoon.

A heavy challenge by Humphries on Watmore sparked a melee between Yates and Japhet Tanganga, with their actions enough for referee Eltringham to send both players from the pitch.

A disagreement between the two led to both grabbing at each other’s shirts before their teammates pulled them apart.

The unsavoury scenes were not over as, the dying minutes, Abdulai skipped past McNamara, who body checked him. The Swansea winger did not take kindly to the defender’s treatment and let him know as much, leading to bookings for both players as they had to separated by the linesman.

Swansea: Rushworth; Key, Cabango, Humphries, Tymon; Grimes, Patino (Walsh 61′), Ronald (Abdulai 73′), Cooper (Lowe 61′), Paterson (Yates 73′ Red Card 86′); Cullen.

Subs not used: Fisher, Kuharevich, Wood, Govea, Lissah.

Millwall: Sarkic, Leonard  (Norton-Cuffy 58′), Cooper, Tanganga (Red Card 86′), McNamara; Longman, De Norre (Goal 72′), Mitchell, Esse (Watmore 58′); Flemming (Hutchinson 86′), Bradshaw.

Subs not used: Trueman, Mayor, Emakhu, Saville, Honeyman, Harding.

by Rhodri Evans

Wrexham Release Tozer, Young, Lainton, Hayden

Rhodri Evans

Wrexham have announced their 2024 list of retentions and released players with some of the biggest names in Wrexham’s modern history now set to leave the club.

Club captain, Ben Tozer is one of those leaving Y Cae Ras, having led the club to back-to-back promotions.

The defender leaves the club having played 136 times, scoring seven goals. From his debut in 2021 onwards, the former Newport County man appeared in 100 consecutive league games, including every minute of his side’s National League title in the 2022/23 season.

Notable for his long throws, that have caused havoc in the National League and League Two, Tozer leaves a legend of Wrexham.

Wrexham’s current longest serving player, Luke Young, is also leaving the club.

Young made 259 appearances for the Dragons and won player of the season in both 2019/20 and 2020/21, as well as taking home goal of the season twice in his six seasons at the club.

Goalkeeper Rob Lainton is another that is departing Wrexham.

The former Bolton and Bury shot-stopper initially joined the club on loan in 2018 and quickly made himself the undisputed no.1 for Wrexham, keeping 63 clean sheets in 143 appearances.

Injuries meant he dropped out of contention in the last two seasons, with Christian Dibble, Mark Howard, Ben Foster, and Arthur Okonkwo all taking the starting spot at various times.

Aaron Hayden has also left the club, having spent three successful seasons at Y Cae Ras.

A defender with an eye for goal, Hayden was a big part of the Wrexham team that won a record breaking promotion back into the football league in 2022/23, scoring a remarkable 11 goals from defence.

Other departures include wing back Callum McFadzean and centrehalf Jordan Tunnicliffe, as well as academy graduates Owen Cushion and Daniel Davies.

Mark Howard, Steven Fletcher and youth-product Aaron James have been offered new deals, while James McClean is staying for at least the 2024/25 season after an automatic extension in his contract was triggered.

Manager Phil Parkinson said: “I’d like to thank all the players for their efforts over the last few years. They’ve all played a part in our success and I’d like to wish them all the best for the future.

“The professionalism shown by all the lads has been excellent, and likewise those who have not been playing as regularly still play an important part with their attitudes and standards off the pitch.

“Ben Tozer and Luke Young have not had as much game time in the last few months, but as club captain and first-team captain they have showed great leadership for the club.”

“All the players leaving the club go with our very grateful thanks for their efforts and contributions during their time at Wrexham.”

by Rhodri Evans

Meet 'Dai Canio', Welsh Football's Overnight Hero

Rhodri Evans

Rhodri Evans

It was a goal good enough to win the Champions League Final, let alone the 2024 Welsh Cup Final.

A sparky final, contested by Connah’s Quay Nomads and The New Saints, was winding down as players started to play for halftime.

Josh Williams, though, had other ideas.

“I don’t even know what it was! I’d call it a scissor kick,” said the Nomads midfielder.

Not quite a bicycle kick, certainly not an overhead kick, Williams’ description is about right, with one fan dubbing the scorer ‘Dai Canio’.

Similar to the former Italy great’s remarkable effort for West Ham against Wimbledon way back in 2000 – four years before Williams was born, no less – the ball drops for the midfielder just inside the area and sits up perfectly to be hit.

“I gave it a good swing and thankfully it went in,” said Williams.

Thankfully, indeed, as that stunning goal would end up being the winner for Connah’s Quay, who won their second Welsh Cup on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over The New Saints.

Harry Franklin opened the scoring for the Nomads before Ashley Baker’s equaliser for TNS.

Then, in the 40th minute, 19-year-old Williams stole the show as the Nomads won the Cup for the first time since 2018.

Cup holders The New Saints were aiming to complete a fourth domestic treble having won the JD Cymru Premier and Nathaniel MG Cup earlier this season.

Connah’s Quay were the last team to beat TNS in the Welsh Cup, defeating them at the quarter finals stage on their way to their first Cup win in 2018.

“I’ve come through the academy [at Connah’s Quay] and you dream of getting these kind of moments,” he said to Sportin Wales.

“To get to score the winner in the cup final for your club, the club I’ve been at since eight years old, it’s a surreal feeling. Crazy, really.”

Previous to this victory, Connah’s Quay had failed to beat TNS in all five encounters this season. However, a 2-0 defeat, with both New Saints goals scored in second half added time, gave Williams and his team a confidence boost ahead of the final.

“The 2-0 defeat the week before was actually a good game for us,” he explained.

“We took a lot from that game because of the chances we created and how well we defended up until the last minutes.

“We said to each other ‘the chances we missed this week, will go in next week’ and thankfully they did.

“It’s been a tough year against TNS and they were always going to give us a tough game. But in a one off final, anything can happen.”

Williams credits a lot of this season’s success to his manager, Neil Gibson, who has entrusted him with a great role in the side as the season has gone on.

“Obviously, getting all the opportunities I have from Gibbo and the club have led up to this moment: scoring in the cup final,” he added.

“When Gibbo came in [in 2022], to be honest, I was a bit reluctant because I had to gain the trust of another manager.

“But straight away he sat me and my dad down and said ‘by this time next year, you’ll play 25 games’. He stuck to his word and gave me opportunities and a platform to play and now I think I have 50 starts for the club.

“That was huge for me, it really gave me a massive boost. I couldn’t really have done it without him.”

Williams is also keen to credit his teammates who have ended their up-and-down season on a massive high.

“We had a great night!” said Williams.

“We started the season, as a group of players and the staff, with the aim for getting second place [in the Cymru Premier] and a cup win.

“To be able to achieve that is massive for us as a group. All the hard work you put in throughout the season, training everyday, playing tough games, travelling down south all the time, this win has made up for it all.

“I have to give the players on my team all the credit in the world, because without them I wouldn’t be playing here and getting these great results.”

With their second place finish secured last weekend, the Nomads’ fans can look forward to another season of European football at Cae-y-Castell.

“To play in Europe is kind of the whole reason we work so hard in the Cymru Premier,” he added.

“The opportunity to play in the Europa Conference League again is huge. Last year, I played my first game in Europe on my birthday so that was pretty special.”

Looking forward, Williams’ clearly has a bright future ahead of him. Not a week on from his stunning winner, he has been linked to beaten finalists, The New Saints, as well as clubs in the English League One and Two.

Williams, though, has just one goal in mind.

“I want to be a full-time professional footballer,” he said.

“I think that’s the aim of everyone playing football who isn’t there yet. I’m in no rush just yet. I’ve got a lot of time so I’m just focusing on preparing for Europe at the moment.

“Who’s knows, though. None of us can predict the future.”

by Rhodri Evans

Welsh Football Round-Up: Connah's Quay Cup Glory

Rhodri Evans

Connah’s Quay Nomads stole the headlines from the rest of the weekend’s Welsh football action as  they beat The New Saints 2-1, denying them another domestic treble.

Harry Franklin and Josh Williams scored either side of Ashley Baker’s equaliser as the Nomads won the Cup for the first time since 2018.

Cup holders The New Saints were aiming to complete a fourth domestic treble having won the JD Cymru Premier and Nathaniel MG Cup earlier this season.

Nomads were the last team to beat TNS in the Welsh Cup, defeating them at the quarter finals stage on their way to their first Cup win in 2018.

19-year-old Josh Williams’ scissor kick won the match in spectacular style for his side.

It was a goal worthy of winning any match and consigned TNS to their first defeat of the season in all domestic competitions, having gone unbeaten in the JD Cymru Premier and Nathaniel MG Cup this season.

Elsewhere, Cardiff City were soundly beaten 4-1 by Middlesbrough in their last home game of the season.

After a tense first half where Matt Clarke’s goal gave the visitors a slim halftime lead, a flurry of goals from Finn Azaz, Alex Gilbert, and Emmanuel Latte Lath sealed the result before Josh Bowler’s late consolation.

Cardiff rivals Swansea City drew 2-2 at Norwich City to continue their quietly impressive run of form a the end of the season.

Goals from Matt Grimes and Jamie Paterson, the latter set up by Wales international Liam Cullen, mean that Swansea and Cardiff find themselves 12th and 13th in the Championship with one game to come next week.

In League Two, Wrexham ended their excellent season on a high by beating champions Stockport County on the final day of the season.

With both sides having confirmed promotion previous to this weekend, pride was at stake at SToK Cae Ras.

A composed equaliser by Ollie Palmer and a late winner from Andy Cannon meant Wrexham “finished the season in style” according to manager Phil Parkinson.

Newport County were well beaten 4-1 by play-off chasing Bradford City. This defeat means that the Exiles have ended the season with eight defeats in a row, with their last win – 2-0 at AFC Wimbledon – coming on March 16.

Newport County boss Graham Coughlan said that “it’s probably been 10 games too many for us this season.”

“It’s a little bit of relief that the season is over. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, we can’t accept what we’ve had as a football club over the last eight games.”

Ben Davies started and won a penalty for Tottenham as they just failed to comeback from 3-0 down against rivals Arsenal in the North London derby. Fellow Wales international Brennan Johnson also played an hour off the bench.

The only other Premier League involvement by a Wales international was Harry Wilson’s cameo off the bench as his side, Fulham, drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace.

Meanwhile Luton’s Welsh manager Rob Edwards saw his side lose 2-1 at Wolves leaving his side one point below Nottingham Forest and still in the relegation zone.

Leeds United’s chances of an automatic promotion place took a massive blow on Friday night as they lost 4-0 at home to QPR.

Wales internationals Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon have formed an outstanding defensive partnership this season but were powerless to the magic of QPR’s Ilias Chair.

Ipswich capitalised on Leeds’ slip up to some extent, but their 3-3 draw left them frustrated by a Hull City side gunning for a play-off place.

Wes Burns started and Kieffer Moore came off the bench as a late equaliser for Hull meant that the battle for an automatic promotion spot will go down to the final weekend.

In another 3-3 draw, Welsh international and former Newport County man, Josh Sheehan played the full match as his Bolton team drew with Peterborough in League One, while Aaron Collins was substituted in the 75th minute.

David Brooks’ Southampton continued their mini-dip in form, losing 1-0 at home to relegation threatened Stoke City. The Welsh midfielder played 62 minutes but struggled to assert himself on the game.

Jordan James and Rabbi Matondo both missed games for Birmingham and Rangers respectively, but there was good news for Matondo during the week as he won Rangers’ goal of the season at their annual awards night for his stunner in the Old Firm derby.

In the women’s game, Sophie Ingle was an unused substitute as Chelsea were knocked out of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.

Gemma Evans and Hayley Ladd appeared for Manchester United in their 1-0 win at Leicester City while their international teammate Josie Green stayed on the bench for the foxes.

Ffion Morgan and Ella Powell’s Bristol City were relegated from the Women’s Super League with two games to go after they were hammered 4-0 by title chasing Manchester City.

Rachel Rowe played an influential role for Rangers as they beat arch rivals Celtic 2-0 in the Scottish Cup semi-final while, across the pond, Jess Fishlock and Angharad James played in Seattle Reign’s 1-0 loss to North Carolina Courage.

Coming up this week, Cardiff and Wrexham meet in the women’s Welsh Cup final, with the capital club looking to complete a domestic treble!

The match is taking place at the neutral Rodney Parade on Sunday with the north Walian side looking to win their first Welsh Cup.

by Rhodri Evans

VAR To Be Introduced To Cymru Premier

Rhodri Evans

Video assistant refereeing (VAR) will be introduced to the Cymru Premier from the 2026/27 season as the Football Association of Wales (FAW) announces a new strategy that also includes adding more clubs and the introduction of Friday night games.

Perhaps the most notable change will be that Friday nights will be the new default fixture slot instead of the more traditional Saturday afternoons.

The FAW has made the move in an attempt to separate themselves from competing with the Premier League and the rest of English pyramid.

Their introduction will be scaled up from next season to the start of the 2026/27 season, when Friday night games will become the standard.

The FAW has not ruled out more changes – to be announced later in the year- as they look to “improve the JD Cymru Premier both on and off the pitch”.

An independent panel will present its findings to clubs by September, but a number of plans have already been announced and given the green light by FAW bosses.

12 teams, including unbeaten champions The New Saints, currently compete in the top Welsh division with more set to join them in 2026, although the exact number is set to be finalised later in the year.

Clubs will benefit from around £4 million of investment joining towards professionalising club administration, building brand awareness, and improving the quality of pitches and club facilities.

On the branding side of things, the league says it is exploring the possibility of new broadcast coverage as well as supporting clubs with marketing themselves domestically and internationally.

A scaled-down version of video assistant refereeing – called VAR Lite by FAW- will be introduced when the new facilities are in place.

Another measure being introduced to “strengthen the on-pitch product” is using a ‘work experience’ loophole to allow clubs to sign scholars on loan from Welsh EFL clubs outside the usual transfer windows.

As well as this, reserve-team football will be replaced with under-23s, following the Premier League’s move, and bringing in a grant programme for full-time roles such as general managers.

Clubs who qualify for Europe will also be supported under the plans, with the FAW helping to arrange warm-up fixtures and provide assistance with logistics.

The plans are sure to be a big shake up to a league that FAW Chief Executive Noel Mooney says needs “a bit of love”.

by Rhodri Evans

'I Can't Go On Forever' - Williams Reacts To Agonising First Round Defeat

Rhodri Evans

Three-time world champion Mark Williams lost to Si Jiahui in the first round of the 2024 World Snooker Championships with a tense 10-9 defeat.

Williams, the sixth seed for the tournament, led 5-4 overnight, but fell 8-5 behind after Si won the first four frames of Tuesday’s session.

The 2000, 2003, and 2018 champion showed his pedigree to pull it back to 8-7 and then 9-9, winning four of the next five frames.

The deciding frame was predictably tense and Williams blinked first, allowing Si to capitalise and make a match-winning break of 77.

Had Williams won, he would have faced fellow Welshman Jak Jones, who convincingly beat Zhang Anda 10-4 on Sunday.

Zhang, the 11th seed, along with Williams, Luca Brecel (1st), Mark Selby (5th), Ali Carter (9th), and Gary Wilson (10th) have all been beaten in the first round leading the tournament to be dubbed ‘the tournament of shocks’.

Despite making clear that he had no plans to retire, Williams did wonder after the match if he would play at the Crucible again.

“I’m 50 next year and I was looking around. I’ve loved every minute,” he said.

“I don’t know if I will be back here again. I’m not considering my future but it’s a tough game so to keep getting to these venues is hard, you have to treat it as if you’re not going to get back.

“Fingers crossed you will see me playing next year but I’m 50 [next year] and can’t keep going on forever.

“Whether or not I’ll be back again, I don’t know. I’m not considering my future really, just it’s a tough game.”

Two other Welshmen are currently fighting for their place in the second round. Dominic Dale faces a steep uphill battle to overcome a 8-1 deficit against 12th seed Kyren Wilson.

Wilson produced some wonderful play with breaks of 52, 75, 123, 96, 50, 77, and 73 against Dale, 52, who is the oldest player at this year’s competition and playing at the Crucible for the first time in 10 years.

Meanwhile, Ryan Day leads Barry Hawkins 5-4 in what promises to be another close encounter.

The winner of Day and Hawkins’ match will play the winner of another tie involving a Welshman. Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan will play 22-year-old Jackson Page on Wednesday afternoon for a place in the second round.

Finally, in the evening session, Jamie Jones, yet another Welshman who got through the qualifying rounds, will play 13th seed and four-time world champion John Higgins.

While most of the Welsh contingent are underdogs in their ties, with the number of upsets so far in the tournament, do not rule out a couple more involving the best of Welsh snooker.

by Rhodri Evans

Wales Still Have 'Learner Plates' On

Rhodri Evans

Wales coach Ioan Cunningham has urged supporters to remember how far his team have come since he took over as head coach amid a dreadful Women’s Six Nations tournament.

His side are bottom of the tournament after losing all four matches so far, the most recent of which was Sunday’s 40-0 defeat at home to France.

It was the first time Wales have failed to score a point at home since a 45-0 defeat to Ireland in the 2021 competition which led to Cunningham’s appointment and professional contracts for players.

Until the last six months, that had contributed to an improvement in performances and individual players.

Despite their poor run extending to seven defeats in a row, Cunningham says Wales “have come a long way” since turning professional in 2022.

“This team was 13th in the world, they hadn’t won a game in two and a half years,” he said.

“We’ve still got L plates on when it comes to professionalism, people have got to understand that.”

Cunningham stressed before the match that he was looking for a better performance from his team after their shock 36-5 defeat in Ireland.

He said “it was a much better performance” than last weekend’s 36-5 loss, where Wales simply “didn’t turn up”.

“If the effort is there and the next action is there we’ve got something to build on,” he said.

“I thought that was there today in abundance.

“We fought for every inch, we went through some good attacking sets, just that clinical edge that we are still searching for, but I am confident if we can produce some plays like that against Italy next week, we can finish this championship on a high.”

Captain Hannah Jones echoed her coach’s sentiments, saying she was “proud” of her side’s performance.

“I’m proud of the girls and the work that they showed today, we put up a fight against one of the best in the world,” said the Wales captain.

“We will reflect and work out how we can be a bit more clinical in the 22.

“I thought we played some great stuff out there. We played with the ball much more and finding our feet in terms of our shape.”

Wales face Italy at the Principality Stadium instead of their normal Cardiff Arms Park home on Saturday, looking to register a much-needed first win of the tournament.

“We’re going next door next week, and we’re looking forward to that,” said Jones.

by Rhodri Evans

France Down Wales In Cardiff Encounter

Rhodri Evans

Rhodri Evans

Wales stay bottom of the 2024 Six Nations table after losing 0-40 to France at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday.

Tries from Annaëlle Deshayes, Joanna Grisez, Romaine Menager, Gabrielle Vernier and Manae Feleu consigned Wales to a fourth defeat of the tournament, with only Italy in the final round to come.

In contrast to last week’s performance in Ireland, Wales were much improved. Their defence was tenacious and in attack they looked to go wide through their backs.

While Wales were the better team in the middle of the park, France dominated in each of the 22s, repelling Welsh attacks and banking points each time they entered Welsh territory.

France received an early blow as Wales’ first period of possession ended with a high tackle from Anne-Cécile Ciofani on captain Hannah Jones. Hollie Davidson was sent to the screen for an on-field review and the wing was sent to the sin bin.

It was a nightmare start for the Sevens star, making her XVs debut for France this afternoon.

After a cagey opening ten minutes the game burst into life when Pauline Boudon Sansus’ quick penalty gave France the chance to counter.

The ball went through the backs’ hands and Chloe Jacquet was eventually bundled into touch by Catherine Richards and Alex Callender.

The Welsh defence switched off, though, and France pounced with a quickly taken lineout. The ball found itself in the hands of Annaëlle Deshayes who crashed over from ten metres out.

Wales responded to the early setback well. Lleucu George’s boot took her team into the France 22 and her flat passing gave the likes of Abbie Fleming and Sisilia Tuipulotu go-forward ball.

The home side kept the ball with their forwards and, inch by inch, worked their way up to five metres out. Disaster struck, though, when Sian Jones’ wide pass for Courtney Keight was intercepted by Joanna Grisez.

The wing pounced on the loose ball and sprinted the length of the pitch for an incredible 90 metre score.

Wales had not done a lot wrong in the opening fifteen minutes and yet found themselves 0-14 down.

The game was played with speed as both sides consistently tried to increase the tempo, France through quick taps and lineouts, and Wales with speed of breakdown ball and pass.

After a prolonged period of possession, Wales worked the ball wide nicely through George and Jones but Grisez’s excellent defensive read shutdown Carys Cox before she could make the break.

The resultant penalty brought the visitors into Wales’ 22, but for the second time this afternoon, the hosts’ maul defence came up trumps, winning a turnover.

Ioan Cunningham’s decision to start three recognised locks – Abbie Fleming, Natalia John, and Georgia Evans moved to number 8 – seemed to be paying dividends early on as Wales showed their power and aptitude at set piece.

Some small inaccuracies gradually crept into Wales’ game as their commitment to playing wide came under the strain of France’s blitz defence.

Wales’ defence was largely excellent in the first period, typified by Sisilia Tuipulotu’s turnover just as France found an edge out wide.

France dominated at the scrum and found their third try through Wales’ own put in. France’s front row got an excellent shove on and won the ball against the head. Debutant Teani Feleu broke away with the ball and skipped past the diving Alisha Butchers.

Richards came round on the cover but Feleu showed composure to feed Romaine Menager to cross for another French counter attacking score.

To their credit, Wales’ confidence was unfettered. George continued to kick excellently, putting Emilie Boulard under pressure in the back field and the backs always looked to go wide and fast.

Their strategy carried no shortage of risk, however, as France intercepted a wide pass again, this time Ciofani was hauled down by Richards before she could work up a head of steam.

Another French mistake at the lineout handed Wales yet another attacking platform but the pass to Alex Callender was slightly behind her and she failed to cling on in contact.

Under severe pressure in their own 22, France’s scrum just about held firm and Bourdon Sansus cleared for touch and halftime.

After the break, Wales’ discipline left them. Referee Davidson marched the hosts back ten metres after a turnover penalty was received poorly. France went to their most potent weapon of the afternoon, a scrum, and after a couple of phases, Gabrielle Vernier skipped through a tackle and dived under the posts for the bonus point score.

The game was starting to fall into a pattern: Wales’ enterprising play gained them possession and territory, while France clinicality brought them points.

Another barnstorming run from Tuipulotu gave her side an attacking platform. The newly-introduced Gwennan Hopkins carried hard and flat and suddenly there was space out wide for Wales.

Cox’s pass to Jasmine Joyce was a touch too low and the winger spilled the ball, ending another attack.

George, always looking for the inventive option, steered Wales from right to left search for the space on the wings. Finally, Wales found it with Hopkins and Cox having to be hauled down in desperate fashion.

George again spotted space before anyone else and grubbered in behind but Kayleigh Powell could not reach the ball before it dribbled out of play.

More good defensive work ensured France would not score a fifth try through Charlotte Escudero as the French lock was well held up over the try line, following a strong lineout.

The fifth would arrive shortly after, however, as Wales’ discipline left them once again. A solid French lineout gave the visitors go-forward ball and skipper Manae Feleu powered over from close range.

Another French high tackle, this time from tighthead prop Assia Khalfaoui, meant France spent another ten minutes down to 14 players.

Cunningham shuffled his pack, with Mollie Wilkinson coming on for her debut at fly-half and George shifting to inside centre.

Wales’ final attempt at playing wide ended disastrously, as Jones’ mispass was picked up by Grisez for her second score and her side’s sixth.

One final Callendar carry gave the partisan crowd something to cheer before the final whistle blew.;

Wales: 0 (0) 

France: 40 (19) Tries: Deshayes, Grisez 2, R. Menager, Vernier, M Feleu Con: Queyroi 4, Bourgeois.

Wales Team: Powell, Richards, H. Jones (c), Cox (Wilkinson 65′), Keight (Joyce 45′), George, S. Jones (Bevan 49′); Pyrs (Constable 60′), Phillips (Reardon 60′), Tuipulotu (Rose 60′); John (Hopkins 45′), Fleming (Williams 60′); Butchers, Callender, Evans.

France Team: Boulard (Bourgeois 71′), Grisez, Jacquet, Vernier, Ciofani, Queyroi (Tuy 68′), Bourdon Sansus (Chambon 60′); Deshayes (Mwayembe 57′), Sochat (Roffonneau 53′), Khalfaoui (Joyeux 65′); M. Feleu (c), Escudero; R. Menager (Fall 65′), Gros (Hermet 53′), T. Feleu.

by Rhodri Evans