Dai Sport

The Welsh Academies U23 XV promised to give the Wales U20 side a run for their money in the first of two clashes ahead of the U20 Six Nations and they did exactly that at the Arms Park. In front of a very healthy crowd, Richard Whiffin’s U20 team were forced to tough it out against their older and heavier counterparts in what should prove to be a very useful warm-up to the opening championship game against France in Vannes on Saturday 1 February.

You need to have shown admirable patience if you’re interested in Swansea City’s FA Cup progress this season. The Swans do not begin their Cup campaign until late Sunday afternoon at 4.30pm – the penultimate fixture of the third round – when they visit Southampton.

Golf in Wales is to receive a £1m financial boost from the Welsh Government, to help ensure a lasting legacy from the largest female sporting event ever to be held in Wales. The investment will support the Women’s Golf Legacy Fund which aims to create long-lasting change by addressing barriers faced by women and girls in golf. The initiative will provide grants to golf clubs for projects across Wales, focusing on developing inclusive, family-friendly, and gender-equal facilities.

Omer Riza believes Cardiff City’s surprise 1-0 FA Cup victory at Sheffield United can provide the fuel to propel his team away from relegation trouble. Riza watched a much-changed Bluebirds team beat an equally re-jigged home side thanks to a Cian Ashford goal to move into the fourth round.

Taulupe Faletau will reclaim his Wales No.8 spot for the Six Nations, claims Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt who insists: “If you’re good enough, you’re young enough.” After a frustrating 15 months sidelined by injuries, Faletau is slowly re-establishing himself as a familiar force on the field.

Dwayne Peel has warned his Scarlets youngsters they are in for a Shed-load of abuse on Friday night - and he couldn’t be happier. The Scarlets coach sends his team across the border to face Gloucester, knowing that a victory over the in-form English club will put them in sight of a place in the knockout stages of the European Challenge Cup and the last 16.

Dwayne Peel has refused to confirm the departure from the Scarlets of Wales fly-half Ioan Lloyd, who is poised to join Cardiff for the 2025-26 season. Lloyd, who has slipped down the national team reckoning for the No.10 shirt, will leave the Scarlets after two seasons in Llanelli.

Cardiff City manager Omer Riza insists he is still in love with the magic of the FA Cup – only maybe not on a Thursday night. The old tournament reaches its third round stage this week, a familiar landmark in the sporting calendar and one that has always been neatly squeezed between New Year hangovers and the start of rugby’s Six Nations.

Omer Riza wants “three or four” new players in the January transfer window as he bids to keep Cardiff City in the Championship. The Bluebirds manager has confirmed moves have been made to sign Peterborough United forward Ricky-Jade Jones - whose blistering pace and proven goal-scoring record have caught the Bluebirds’ attention – but the net is being cast wider.

Former Swansea City head coach Graham Potter is poised to be named as the new manager of West Ham. The Hammers are close to appointing Potter, with Julen Lopetegui set to be informed of his sacking on Wednesday morning.