Dai Sport

Exeter Chiefs have been such a reliable conveyor belt for Welsh talent in recent years, it hardly seemed necessary to check it was still powered up. But this season, someone appears to have unplugged things down at Sandy Park.

Meg Barker claimed it felt “easy” after she struck gold as Great Britain successfully defended the women’s team pursuit title at the Cycling World Championships in Denmark. The Welsh rider - who joined the line-up for the final in place of Jess Roberts - was alongside Josie Knight, Anna Morris and Katie Archibald as Team GB stormed to a victory in Ballerup, reeling in Germany to secure another title.

Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson is confident Chelsea midfielder Sophie Ingle will be fit for next summer’s European Championship should they qualify. Former Wales captain Ingle underwent surgery last month after sustaining anterior cruciate ligament damage during a pre-season friendly, an injury Wilkinson described as “horrible”.

Gareth Davies has been backed to continue delivering the goods for the Scarlets - despite his surprise retirement from international rugby. The Wales scrum-half decided to end his Test career on Thursday, just four days before Warren Gatland is due to name his squad for the autumn series.

There are big decisions to be made in Welsh rugby right now – such as who does Warren Gatland pick in his squad next week and should the Wales coach be able to stick his nose into other people’s business. Gatland is due to name his group of players for the autumn internationals on Monday, as he attempts to turn the tide in matches against Fiji, Australia and South Africa.

Wales’ Olympic champion Emma Finucane and her fellow Paris gold medal-winners Sophie Capewell and Katy Marchant stormed to more gold for Great Britain in the women’s team sprint at the Cycling World Championships. The trio defeated the Netherlands with a time of 45.949 in Ballerup, Denmark.

Wales coach John Kear declared himself pleased with his team’s victory over Jamaica as they warmed up with a 22-16 win ahead of next week’s World Cup qualifiers. Kear’s men mounted an impressive comeback to secure victory in their first Test match in two years, at a rain-lashed Gnoll in Neath.

Having now completed a hat-trick of leagues, Henry Thomas is ideally placed to compare the contrasting competitions. He spent 11 seasons in the English Premiership with Sale and Bath, before embarking on a three-year stint in the French Top 14 with Montpellier and Castres.

Welsh driver Ella Lloyd has been selected to drive for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team for the Women’s Test, as part of Pre-Season Testing for the 2024/25 Season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Lloyd, 19, recently joined the McLaren Driver Development programme and will represent the team in the 2025 F1 Academy season with Rodin Motorsport.

Joe Allen admits he has unfinished business at the World Cup, although he admits that’s a long way down the road. The Swansea City star has made a “whirlwind” return to international football, but insists Wales have unfinished business in the tournament after flopping in Qatar.