Dai Sport

Jonny Clayton produced an inspired comeback to threaten Luke Humphries but it was not quite enough to claim the World Masters title. Welsh star Clayton rallied from 5-2 down but eventually lost 6-5 victory in a dramatic last-leg decider in Milton Keynes.

Omer Riza is hoping the return of Aaron Ramsey can offer a chink of light for Cardiff City after a dark weekend left the manager needing to apologise to fans. Amid the gloom of a 7-0 thrashing at Leeds United - which required a humbling “sorry about that” to travelling Bluebirds supporters - was the boost of Ramsey playing 45 minutes for Cardiff's Under-21s in a 3-2 victory over Everton in the Premier League Cup.

Warren Gatland has admitted he’s already reached a new crunch point just one game into the Six Nations. The Wales coach - who managed to cling on to his job before the tournament - will know his team’s opening day defeat will fuel more doubts over his ability to halt a steep decline.

The back garden of the Emanuel household used to resemble “a war zone” when their sons Ioan and Steff were growing up. Straight and hard running was always the requirement when the two boys, who are only 18 months apart in age, played “one-on-one” rugby matches.

It looks like things are getting to get even worse before they get any better for Warren Gatland's Wales after they were blown away by France in a 43-0 humiliation in Paris. As an opening gambit in a Six Nations championship, it was a pretty dire scoreline - the first time Wales had failed to score in a Five or Six Nations game since France won 51-0 at Wembley back in 1998.

Wales might be entering their opening clash of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations as massive underdogs on Friday night, but for second row Will Rowlands, at least the match at the Stade de France will feel like home turf. Currently playing his club rugby for Racing 92 in the Top 14, Rowlands is relishing the opportunity to start the tournament in the city where he now lives.

As if things were not tough enough for Wales on Friday night – French crowd, the return of Romain Ntamack, and, of course, the irresistible will of Antoine Dupont – comes news of a new opponent. Dupont – widely regarded as the best rugby player in the world, and by many as the best of all-time – is now fueled, not just by the Euros paid to him by Toulouse, but also by bitcoin.

Blue Monday is supposedly the saddest day of the year, but not if you are a Swansea City fan. For them it’s not just the third Monday each January - when Christmas bills hit the doormat and the weather is still grim - that brings on the gloom.

Warren Gatland insists Wales have some surprises up their sleeve – enough to thwart France when the Six Nations starts in Paris on Friday night. Without a Test victory in 14 months and on the back of a 12-match losing streak, Wales are enormous underdogs for their trip to the Stade de France.

Swansea City captain Matt Grimes is reportedly due to have a medical at Coventry City on Thursday, with a view to completing a move suggested to be worth £3m to £4m. The switch will be a huge blow to Swans supporters and further evidence the January transfer window is like kryptonite to the club every year – draining their strength and self-belief.