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Craig Bellamy is determined to banish the perception of him as a firebrand as he steps into his first senior management role with Wales. Bellamy courted controversy on and off the pitch during a colourful playing career that saw him win 78 Wales caps between 1998 and 2013.

Wales have been forced into four changes, two of them positional, for the second Test against Australia in Melbourne on Saturday. Two of the changes come in the back row, where Taine Plumtree moves to number eight with Aaron Wainwright ruled out of the remainder of the tour by a hamstring injury.

Former Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb has insisted he will appeal a four-year ban from the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) for taking a growth hormone substance. Webb, 35, tested positive in July 2023 and was provisionally banned the following month having joined French second-tier club Biarritz earlier in the year.

Wales have suffered a huge blow - the loss of number eight Aaron Wainwright - ahead of Saturday’s second Test against Australia in Melbourne. Wainwright, who won his 50th cap when Wales went down to a 25-16 defeat in the series opener last weekend, suffered a leg injury and was forced off during the closing stages.

In his brutally frank autobiography, “Goodfella”, written a decade ago towards the end of his playing career, Craig Bellamy gives a blunt account of his first impressions when he initially broke into the senior national squad. “When I first started playing for Wales, it often felt as if I had stumbled into a black comedy,” says the newly appointed Wales manager.

Wales’ hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the U20 World Championship were blown of course in storm-ridden Cape Town when defending champions France secured a 29-11 victory at Athlone Stadium. Wales were unable to capitalise in the first half when they had a gale force wind behind their backs. France scored three converted tries to give the defending champions a comfortable 21-6 lead at the break.

The former Swansea, Oxford University, London Welsh and Wales prop Ian Buckett has died at the age of 56. Born in north Wales, Buckett was admired and feared in equal measure as a loose head prop who played for Wales throughout the age-grade ranks before going on to win senior honours. He made 186 appearances for Swansea over 10 seasons and played for the All Whites against New Zealand in 1989 and South Africa in 1994.

Craig Bellamy has welcomed his appointment as Wales manager by revealing the job is a dream fulfilled. Bellamy succeeds Rob Page - who was sacked last month - after turning down the opportunity to stay at Burnley under new manager Scott Parker. He has signed a contract until 2028.

The pressure is mounting on Wales and their head coach Warren Gatland after they suffered an eighth successive defeat last weekend. They have a chance to make amends in Sydney on Saturday, but coach and analyst Tomas Marks says they will have to make major improvements.

Craig Bellamy is expected to be named the new Wales manager on Tuesday. It is understood that Bellamy will succeed Rob Page – who was sacked last month – after turning down the opportunity to stay at Burnley under new Clarets boss Scott Parker.