A New Player in the Hybrid SUV Game: Meet the BYD SEALION 5 DM-i
Rhodri Evans
There’s a new name arriving on UK roads, and it might just shake up the family SUV market.
Chinese automotive giant BYD has officially revealed the SEALION 5 DM-i, a plug-in hybrid SUV designed to offer the best of both worlds. It promises electric efficiency, petrol flexibility, strong technology and a price that sits comfortably below many rivals.
With prices starting at £29,995 on the road, the SEALION 5 arrives as BYD’s ninth model in the UK and could become one of the brand’s biggest sellers yet.
For drivers who want to dip their toe into electrification without committing fully to a battery-only car, this might be one worth paying attention to.
Big Range, Small Running Costs
One of the biggest talking points with the SEALION 5 is its clever DM-i plug-in hybrid system.
In simple terms, it combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, giving drivers the smooth, quiet feel of an electric car while still having a petrol engine ready for longer journeys.
The result is impressive:
- Up to 631 miles of combined range
- Up to 53 miles of electric-only driving
- As little as 48g/km of CO₂ emissions
- Fuel economy of up to 134.5mpg
For many everyday journeys, especially commuting or school runs, drivers could travel entirely on electric power. When longer trips come calling, the petrol engine seamlessly takes over.
It’s a practical solution for people who want lower running costs but aren’t ready to rely on charging alone.
A Family SUV That Doesn’t Feel Basic
Despite its competitive price, the SEALION 5 doesn’t feel stripped back.
The entry Comfort model comes packed with kit, including:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Automatic LED headlights
- Rear parking sensors and camera
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane keep assistance
- Electrically folding heated mirrors
Step inside and the tech continues. A 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen sits at the centre of the dashboard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while drivers get an 8.8-inch digital display in front of them.
There’s also voice control through the “Hi BYD” system, allowing drivers to manage features hands-free.
In short, this is not a budget interior.
Premium Feel Without the Premium Price
Inside the SEALION 5, BYD has clearly aimed for comfort.
The cabin features vegan leather upholstery, electrically adjustable seats and generous space for five adults. Rear passengers get plenty of legroom and headroom, while the 463-litre boot offers enough space for family life, shopping runs or a weekend away.
Drivers wanting an extra touch of luxury can move up to the Design trim, priced from £32,995.
This version adds:
- 360-degree camera system
- Electric tailgate
- Wireless phone charging
- Heated front seats
- Front parking sensors
- Welcome lighting
It’s the sort of equipment you’d normally expect in SUVs costing significantly more.
Electric Performance Meets Everyday Practicality
Under the bonnet, the SEALION 5 produces 212PS, meaning it’s no slouch either.
The Comfort model reaches 0 – 62mph in 7.7 seconds, while the Design version completes the sprint in 8.1 seconds.
But performance isn’t the only trick up its sleeve.
The SEALION 5 also features Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology. In simple terms, the car’s battery can power external devices. Think portable coffee machines, camping equipment or even garden tools.
It’s the sort of feature that turns the car into more than just transport.
BYD’s Rapid Rise
If you’ve only recently started hearing the name BYD, you’re not alone.
The brand has grown rapidly in the UK and ended 2025 as the country’s leading New Energy Vehicle manufacturer, covering both fully electric and plug-in hybrid models.
The SEALION 5 expands that lineup further, offering an affordable entry point into the brand’s hybrid technology while still delivering the innovation BYD has become known for.
Colours and Availability
The SEALION 5 DM-i is available in four colours:
- Atlantis Blue
- Obsidian Black
- Time Grey
- Polar White
The model became available to order earlier this year and is now arriving in UK showrooms.
Curious to See It in Person?
If the idea of a 631-mile range hybrid SUV packed with tech and priced under£30k has caught your attention, the next step is simple.
Visit your nearest Sinclair BYD dealership in Cardiff, Bridgend or Swansea to see the SEALION 5 DM-i up close.
You can also explore the full range and specifications online at www.sinclairbyd.co.uk.
It might just be the hybrid SUV you didn’t know you were waiting for.
Find your nearest Sinclair BYD retailer at Cardiff, Bridgend & Swansea.
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Wales winger Rabbi Matondo signs for SK Brann
Rhodri Evans
Wales winger Rabbi Matondo has joined SK Brann from Rangers on a permanent deal.
Matondo, 25, moved to Ibrox from Schalke in the summer of 2022 for an undisclosed fee and was nearing the end of his contract. He spent last season on loan at Hannover.
The last of Matondo’s 70 Rangers appearances came in February, with all three of this season’s games coming off the bench.
Matondo has played 15 times for Wales, scoring his first goal in a 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan last March. He was an unused substitute for Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland.
Brann finished fourth in last year’s Eliteserien and will feature in the Conference League second qualifying round later this year. The Bergen side have lost both of their opening fixtures in the 2026 Eliteserien. Brann visit HamKam on Monday.
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'We want to disrupt the establishment': Inside Glamorgan’s ambitious 2026 County Championship campaign
Rhodri Evans
Glamorgan step into the 2026 County Championship season with something they haven’t had for a long time: a seat at the top table of the red ball game.
Promotion has returned the county to Division One and, crucially, they arrive not as wide‑eyed tourists but as a group who believe they belong there. Director of Cricket Mark Wallace is clear that this isn’t a survival mission; it’s a chance to make a statement.
“We’ve got a squad that have done really well to get us promoted,” he says, looking out over Sophia Gardens in spring.
“They’ve now got the opportunity to show that actually they belong on that stage. And we haven’t gone out and, you know, signed a whole new team or anything like that.
“We’ve put a lot of faith in the guys that have got us there, and the opportunity’s now there for them to be able to go and try and grasp it.”
That faith in continuity underpins Glamorgan’s whole approach to this season. Rather than trying to buy their way into credibility at the top table, the club want to prove that the core of this squad can transfer their success into a tougher division.
No Fear of Division One
Moving up a level inevitably brings questions: can this group cope with the extra pace, depth and relentlessness of Division One cricket? Wallace acknowledges the step up but insists the dressing room will not be cowed by it.
“Planning for that level up, and understanding that, by definition, any sport where you’ve got a pyramid system, that the standard at the level above will be higher, without actually that being something which holds you back,” Wallace adds.
“Ultimately, the quirk with cricket is we play against all these teams in the T20 Blast, and at no point do you ever think, ‘These are a Division One team.’ You just play them.
“It’s taking that mentality of, actually, we’re not going to get scared by the potential step up. It’s going to be more challenging. But actually, there’s also challenge of playing against us as well.”
With it being over two decades since Glamorgan have played Division One cricket, there are a number of unknowns for Wallace and the squad but, as he points out, that is the same for regular top tier sides visiting Cardiff.
“If there are any benefits for having not been in Division One for a long time, it’s actually some of these teams haven’t played four‑day cricket at Sophia Gardens,” Wallace explains.
“Some of these teams wouldn’t be used to the style of play that we’re going to bring and actually try and utilize that to our advantage as well.”
In other words, Glamorgan have no intention of simply blending in. Home advantage, identity, and a well‑rehearsed method are all part of the plan.
A Clear Blueprint
For a team going into the relative unknown, it can be difficult to plan. For Wallace, it’s less about clinging on and more about transferring the bold cricket that earned promotion in 2025 into a higher division.
“I think we’re definitely good enough to compete in the First Division,” he argues.
“If we can play the style of cricket that we played last year – which is, in effect, to compete strongly in first innings, if we’re level after the first innings, then win games in the second innings with spin and things like that – we can make an impact in that way.”
That template – solid, hard‑nosed first‑innings cricket followed by a positive push for results later in the game – is central to Glamorgan’s Division One strategy. And the target is deliberately more ambitious than just avoiding the trapdoor.
“We’re sitting here at the start of next season, talking about another year in Division One – that will obviously be the goal,” he says.
“But I don’t want us just to have the goal of going up or staying in Division One. Yeah, I want us to be able to try and play as well as we possibly can, and we’ll finish where we finish then.
“We want to be able to try and kind of disrupt that establishment a little bit. Those sides that have been in Division One a lot – we want to be able to go and show that we deserve to be playing against these guys.”
In a points system that rewards wins, Wallace knows there’s little mileage in passive cricket.
“The way the points system is, winning is important, which means you need to play a style of cricket which is quite progressive – get runs on the board and take 20 wickets.
“It’s not just like you can’t go out there and, as the football parlance is, park the bus. You’ve got to go out there and win some games.”
Ambition in the Dressing Room
A defining feature of this squad is its ambition – especially among the likes of Asa Tribe and Ben Kellaway who enjoyed breakthrough years in 2025. Wallace wants that to be front and centre, not something to hide.
“They both want to play for England, and they shouldn’t be embarrassed, or we shouldn’t be embarrassed about that ambition and wanting to do it,” Wallace asserts.
“Because we want Glamorgan players playing at the highest level.”
Those individual aspirations feed back into the collective standard: if players are pushing for Lions recognition or higher, the level they bring back to county cricket inevitably rises.
“We also want to leverage them for our other guys to go, ‘Yeah, I want to do what Asa’s done or Ben’s done. I want to be the next guy who’s, in a year’s time, sitting here having that conversation – remember where we were a year ago.’”
As the County Championship season begins, Glamorgan find themselves at a crossroads rich with possibility.
Wallace isn’t promising miracles. What he does promise is ambition, positive cricket and a refusal to be overawed.
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Bellamy brings out his old self as lacklustre Wales draw dead rubber
Rhodri Evans
Craig Bellamy gave his players a glimpse of his feistier side during Wales’ 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland – one that had not been seen yet as Wales head coach.
According to a number of players after match, Bellamy gave his squad the proverbial ‘hairdryer’ treatment, slamming tables and raising his voice at halftime.
Wales trailed 1-0 at home to Northern Ireland, due to a defensive lapse which saw Jamie Donley get two bites at the cherry, eventually tapping into an empty net.
“It was the first half-time I had to go in and really go,” Bellamy said. “My hand’s still hurting from hitting the table.
“We cannot be that. I can accept a poor performance with the ball and mistakes are never a problem. But winning duels, winning second balls, coming back together, that to me means the most.
“Did I get them ready enough? Because I thought I did before and the messaging of ‘We can’t waste games’ and ‘Average teams have excuses’. I don’t believe we’re an average team, but our behaviour was. We wasted a half.”
Whatever specifics Bellamy said, his words had an almost immediate effect, with Sorba Thomas scoring within a minute of the restart.
While the Wales head coach’s outburst will not be a surprise to all those who followed his playing career from controversy on and off the field, Bellamy has cut a significantly more introspective figure in his coaching journey, especially at Wales.
It was a game that needed him to bring a level of intensity. A number of empty seats were visible at the Cardiff City Stadium and, following both sides’ crushing World Cup qualifying play-off defeats on last Thursday, the atmosphere was significantly muted.
Bellamy was quick to acknowledge the fans and their support of the team, even in spite of the first half performance.
“I thought the fans who were there were top,” he added. “And it was more of them than I expected because I know we don’t like disappointment.
“I’ve got to be honest, I was expecting boos at half-time. I was with it! But there weren’t boos. I even said to Crofty [assistant manager Andrew Crofts] after the game: ‘How good were our fans today?'”
For Wales, attention now turns to another Nations League campaign – this time in League A – after, of course, watching the World Cup this summer from home.
For now, though, that can wait.
“I’ll probably have about two weeks off now – I need to rest,” he said.
“I am done, emotionally done. I need this period to rest, spend time with my family and then look where I can improve. How can I get better? That’s my aim.”
Wales fans will hope that the disappointment of missing a second successive major tournament will spur Bellamy and his team on to perform well in the Nations League, and qualify automatically to what will be a home European Championships in 2028.
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Glamorgan bolster bowling stocks with overseas duo Farooqi and Hadley
Rhodri Evans
Glamorgan Cricket have announced the signing of overseas bowling duo Fazalhaq Farooqi and Ryan Hadley ahead of the 2026 season.
Farooqi, an Afghan international, joins for the entirety of the T20 Blast, running throughout June and July, while Hadley while represent Glamorgan in the opening six rounds of the County Championship.
Farooqi arrives in Cardiff with a rapidly growing global reputation, having starred for Afghanistan in limited-overs cricket and impressing in major franchise tournaments around the world.
Alongside his international exploits, he has gained valuable experience representing teams around the world such as Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, Islamabad United in the PSL, Sydney Thunder in the BBL, and MI Emirates in the ILT20. He also comes with experience in the UK having played for Manchester Originals in the Hundred and for Notts Outlaws in the Vitality Blast.
“Fazalhaq comes with a growing reputation as one of the leading bowlers in T20 cricket,” Glamorgan Director of Cricket Mark Wallace said.
“He will provide us with a high quality wicket taking threat with the new ball and some excellent death bowling skills at the back end of the innings. We’re looking forward to welcoming our first Afghan overseas player to the Club.”
With the County Championship Division One season starting on Good Friday, the Welsh county welcome Hadley straight into the squad.
The 27-year-old arrives in Cardiff with an exciting profile, having featured for Australia A cricket team and the Prime Minister’s XI, underlining his status as one of the emerging pace prospects in Australian cricket.
A tall right-arm quick, Hadley is known for generating bounce and pace, alongside his ability to move the ball. His experience across Australian domestic cricket has seen him develop into a consistent wicket-taking option, alongside an invaluable experience playing in Ireland for Balbriggan CC.
“We’ve been tracking Ryan’s progress on the Australian domestic circuit and feel his style of bowling will add an extra skill set to our attack at the start of the season,” Wallace added.
“He’s coming off a good domestic season in Australia which has seen him break into the Australia A Team and we’re looking forward to welcoming him to Sophia Gardens in the coming days.”
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French court dismisses Cardiff City compensation claim over Emiliano Sala death
Rhodri Evans
Cardiff City’s claim for more than £100m in compensation following the death of footballer Emiliano Sala has been dismissed.
Sala and pilot David Ibbotson tragically died when the plane carrying them from France to Wales crashed into the English Channel on the night of 21 January 2019.
The 28-year-old Argentine striker was on his way to join Cardiff City – then in the Premier League – from FC Nantes for a £15m transfer fee.
In the latest chapter of a long-running dispute, a French court tasked with ruling on whether the Welsh club was due compensation from Nantes for the loss of Sala has dismissed its claim on Monday.
Cardiff was claiming more than €120m (£104m) for loss of income and other damages, based on the belief that Sala could have kept the club in the Premier League.
The court has also ordered Cardiff City to pay about £400,000 in legal fees and moral damages suffered by FC Nantes.
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Vortex Competitions become latest official partner of Cardiff City
Rhodri Evans
Cardiff City Football Club has announced a new commercial partnership with Cardiff-based prize draw company Vortex Competitions.
Founded in 2022, Vortex Competitions has quickly established itself as a community-focused platform offering a range of prize draws, including performance cars, cash prizes, technology bundles and travel experiences.
The agreement will see Vortex Competitions join the club as an Official Partner, with additional visibility through club channels and fan engagement opportunities.
As part of the partnership, the company will also serve as title sponsor of Cardiff City’s 2026 Golf Day, scheduled to take place on Thursday, 30 April at Whitchurch Golf Club.
Mark McDonald, Director of Vortex Competitions, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with such a prestigious club as Cardiff City.
“Both Liam & I are ecstatic Cardiff City fans and this opportunity for us to partner with a club that shares a community focus like ourselves excites us greatly.”
Adam Pierce, Senior Partnerships Manager at Cardiff City FC, added: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Vortex Competitions to the Club as our latest Official Partner.
“Working with a South Wales-based brand is always exciting for us here at Cardiff City, and we are looking forward to seeing Bluebirds fans enjoying the wide range of competitions, giveaways and prizes that Vortex have to offer!”
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Cardiff, Ospreys & Dragons head into European weekend after winless round: Welsh rugby weekend round-up
Rhodri Evans
It was a winless weekend for the four Welsh regions, with Cardiff and Dragons losing in South Africa, and Ospreys and Scarlets doing the same in Ireland.
Despite a disappointing round of fixtures for the Welsh sides results wise, there were plenty of positives for fans and coaches to hold onto as all except Scarlets go into a Challenge Cup knockout weekend.
Let’s get into the action!
Morgan returns in full force as Ospreys miss play-off chance
Ospreys failed to take a big step towards United Rugby Championship play-off qualification, losing 21-14 to fellow contenders Connacht.
Level at halftime, the game was in the balance before it was settled by a late try from Connacht scrum-half Matthew Devine.
Daniel Kasende and Luke Morgan scored tries for the visiting Ospreys and Dan Edwards kicked four points. The defeat means Ospreys are huge outsiders to reach the play-offs, despite a valiant display in Galway.
Jac Morgan continued his return from injury, starting his first game since October and looking sharp, but defeat leaves fate out of his side’s hands.
Head coach Mark Jones has led Ospreys impressively amid off-field uncertainty and remained upbeat.
“We had our chances but Connacht have been playing well and are a form team,” said Jones.
“I feel we played much better than at Benetton but we just lost a couple of big moments. We are heading in the right direction going into Europe.”
Ospreys will have to do it the hard way in the Challenge Cup – if they cause an upset against Ulster in Belfast then they will travel to Newcastle or La Rochelle.
Anderson shines again as Leinster get the better of Scarlets
New Zealand number eight Fletcher Anderson continued his quest to scoop up all the ‘signing of the season’ gongs, despite his Scarlets side losing 36-19 to Leinster on Friday.
The number eight arrived from Crusaders in November and has made 14 appearances in all competitions.
Despite missing the first four rounds while in New Zealand, the 23-year-old is third in the official URC chart for carries (166) and also a rare forward on the leaderboard for metres gained (488).
He led the effort against Leinster, with a staggering 27 carries and 62 metres made.
“Fletcher Anderson is my favourite player,” said former Wales and Lions centre Jamie Roberts on S4C. “Unfortunately he cannot play for Wales yet, but what a performance.”
Dragons leave South Africa with good signs… but a lack of points
If there is one word to describe Dragons’ season it is growth. This time last year, the prospect of a trip to South Africa to face the Stormers and Lions would have been a case of damage control.
This year, shorn of a number of first and second choice props, Dragons held their own, losing 29-21 and 42-26 to the pair of South African sides.
Despite double defeats, Dragons did leave South Africa with something to show for their efforts thanks to both centre Aneurin Owen and wing Rio Dyer crossing for doubles.
The unflashy Owen has become a huge figure for the Rodney Parade club with telling contributions on both sides of the ball.
First, though, is the bid to cause an upset in the Challenge Cup on Easter Sunday when they travel to face Stade Francais at Stade Jean Bouin.
Cardiff lengthy injury list leaves play-off spot in jepurdy
Cardiff will have to survive an injury crisis at lock in the coming weeks, as they were forced to play regular number eight Alun Lawrence in the second row for 64 minutes of the capital club’s defeat to the Sharks.
Already without Teddy Williams, Ben Donnell and Tom Cottle, regular duo George Nott and Josh McNally went down with injuries in successive games, leaving the last specialist lock standing as Rory Thornton, joined by the makeshift Lawrence.
The dependable forward is having another fine season but has not started a game in the second row since Cardiff were down to the bare bones for Champions Cup matches with Toulouse and Harlequins in December 2022.
To add further disruption, prop Corey Domachowski and number eight Taulupe Faletau also picked up issues, while there is a growing concern at scrum half, with Aled Davies and Johan Mulder both taking knocks.
The Blue and Blacks travel to Scarlets and host Ospreys in April fixtures that will go a long way towards deciding their top-eight fate.
They are now sixth and just two points ahead of ninth-placed Connacht, who have a double-header in South Africa against Stormers and Lions after the break for Europe.
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Kamwa goal sees Newport clinch key victory in relegation battle
Rhodri Evans
Bobby Kamwa’s exquisite second half strike saw Newport secure a key 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town in the League Two relegation battle.
Kamwa went close in the first half and had looked the most likely goalscorer throughout a tense afternoon at Rodney Parade.
He delivered the crucial moment after 68 minutes, cutting inside before sending a perfectly judged dipping shot from the edge of the box across Shrewsbury goalkeeper Matthew Cox and into the far corner.
Saturday’s victory is Newport’s third in their last six games, the second most of any side in the bottom half of the table, seeing Christian Fuchs’ side climb out of the relegation places.
The Exiles are two points above Barrow, albeit they have played a game more than their relegation rivals.
Fuchs hopes Bobby Kamwa can continue to play a pivotal role in Newport County’s quest for survival after he netted a vital winner against Shrewsbury Town.
It was just Kamwa’s second goal of the season, although boss Fuchs hopes the attacker can take confidence from his match-winner.
“It’s one great moment from Bobby Kamwa where he finally hits the goal,” said Fuchs. “I’m really pleased for him.
“It helps every player to have those moments to score a goal, especially the front players. Bobby has so much quality on the ball. There should be a penalty given to us, why would he go down?
“He takes on players, he’s very unpredictable because he can go on the outside or the inside. I’m very happy for him that he found the back of the net today.”
With Newport hosting fellow strugglers Crawley on Good Friday, and travelling to Barrow on the final, Fuchs’ side have their fate in their own hands.
“The boys have dealt with everything that was thrown their way. It was a great team performance and it was a team win,” added the Austrian.
“That’s what I like about my team, we can add more and more the longer the game goes on.
“We have it in our own hands. That’s all we are looking for. It’s only important what we are doing.”
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Wrexham win first Adran Premier title with Cardiff thrashing
Rhodri Evans
Wrexham won their first ever Adran Premier title in emphatic fashion, beating reigning champions Cardiff City 4-1 at Cae Ras.
The home side had thrashed Swansea City 7-1 in midweek, meaning that Wrexham needed a victory to secure top spot in the league, and secure a first league title.
Katie Barker’s hattrick saw Jenny Sugarman’s side come from 1-0 down to win in style at Cae Ras, in front of 2,918 fans.
It has been a remarkable campaign for Wrexham, who only appointed Sugarman six weeks before the start of the season. The former West Brom boss set about transforming the squad with a host of new signings, including the likes of Jodie Bartle, Katie Barker, Mariam Mahmood and Faye Knox who have all proved pivotal to the side’s title win.
Barker in particular has set the Adran Premier alight and become the first player since the league’s restructure to bag 20 goals in a single campaign. The striker currently sits on a tally of 24 from 19 games, with one more match still to play.
The Bluebirds made a dream start as Mikayla Cook rifled a 20-yard free-kick beyond Liz Craven in the sixth minute. But Katie Barker capitalised on some sloppy play from the visitors to level proceedings on the stroke of half time.
Wrexham’s star forward latched on to Faye Knox’s cross before slotting into the net from close range to complete the turnaround three minutes after the restart. Knox got herself on the scoresheet in the 80th minute with a fierce strike to give the home side the breathing space they desperately craved.
Barker completed her hat-trick from the penalty spot just three minutes later as Jenny Sugarman’s side clinched the title in style at Stok Cae Ras.
Defeat for Iain Darbyshire’s side – who had Shannon Evans sent off late on – leaves the Bluebirds five points adrift of Wrexham with just one league match left to play this season. Cardiff take on Swansea City in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup final on 19 April as Darbyshire looks to sign off his tenure with silverware.
“It means absolutely everything,” Barker said after helping her side to secure the title.
“All our hard work has paid off and in the end we thoroughly deserved it. Today was a massive showpiece of why we deserve to be champions. Every time I put on this shirt I just want to do my best and I’m really happy with getting a hat-trick today.”
“Today’s game epitomised our season,” Sugarman added.
“Nothing has been easy, we’ve had to work really, really hard, but in the tough moments we’ve dug in and in the good moments we’ve enjoyed it. This club does special moments.
“That’s why I wanted to come and it’s why the players in that changing room wanted to be here.”
Wrexham will lift the Genero Adran Premier trophy following the conclusion of their final game of the season against The New Saints at The Rock on Sunday 5 April.
If you want to read more pieces from Sportin Wales, why not read to our monthly magazine here or subscribe to the magazine and newsletter at https://sportin.wales/subscribe/.
Our podcast is back for the new season and our co-founder Alex Cuthbert is in charge! You can find all the episodes here or the video versions on our YouTube channel.
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