Dai Sport

Lock Ben Carter has been released from Wales’ Autumn Nations Series squad after suffering a knee injury and replaced by Cardiff’s Teddy Williams. Dragons skipper Carter was hurt during training, the Welsh Rugby Union said.

It may be the “Land of his Mother” but new Wales squad member Blair Murray will be doing all he can to learn the words of “Land of my Fathers” ahead of his potential first Wales cap next week. The 23-year-old Scarlets wing has made such an impact since arriving in Wales in June that he found himself being chosen by Warren Gatland as one of two uncapped players in his 35-man squad for the November clashes with Fiji, Australia and South Africa.

Phil Salt is optimistic Brendon McCullum can get the best out of him when the England Test head coach also assumes control of the white-ball sides. The parallels between them as ultra-aggressive opening batter-wicketkeepers were remarked upon during Welsh star Salt’s stint this year with Kolkata Knight Riders, the Indian Premier League franchise McCullum previously played for and coached.

Ceri Holland finally settled Wales’ near fatal anxieties with the goal that puts her team on the edge of history. After missing countless chances in a one-sided second leg of their play-off semi-final at home to Slovakia, Holland scored the crucial goal eight minutes from the end of extra-time.

The Wales coaches and players arrived in camp ahead of the three-match Autumn Nations Series this week, all with the same blunt message in mind - "we've got to start winning matches". Warren Gatland's men may have wound-up their summer tour to Australia with a 36-35 win over Queensland, but the hard facts show they have lost their last nine internationals and haven't tasted victory in a meaningful match since beating Georgia 43-19 at last year's World Cup on 7 October.

Dwayne Peel says he’s delighted to see so many of his Scarlets receive “the greatest honour” of being selected by their country. Eight of his players have been named in the Wales squad for the autumn internationals, with the uncapped Blair Murray joined by fellow wing Tom Rogers, centre Eddie James, fly-half Sam Costelow, back rower Taine Plumtree, hooker Ryan Elias and props Kemsley Mathias and Henry Thomas.

Jess Fishlock insists Wales can make it to the Euro 2025 play-off final if they keep cool heads and clear minds when they take on Slovakia on Tuesday night. The Wales star - her country’s best player and inspiration for over a decade - is the potential saviour Wales will look to as they seek to overcome a 2-1 deficit from the first leg.

Llandovery head coach Euros Evans has praised his side for finding a way to win after their 33-26 weekend triumph at Aberavon in Super Rygbi Cymru took them up to fifth place. The Drovers held firm and eventually went on to seal a third straight victory following up on their win at Newport and the six-point home success against Swansea. The hat-trick of wins followed three defeats on the spin before that.

Omer Riza is forwarding all queries over the Cardiff City manager’s position to the club’s hierarchy. The Bluebirds interim manager is now unbeaten in five matches after a gritty performance eked out a 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion.

Two games, two clean sheets and four points – it wasn’t a bad week for Newport County, despite the frustration of missing a penalty in their goalless draw with Fleetwood at Rodney Parade at the weekend. Bryn Morris stepped up in the 25th minute only to see Fleetwood keeper David Harrington, who had moments earlier picked up a yellow card for conceding the spot kick after hauling down Aaron Wildig, save his shot with his legs.