Dai Sport

In 2014, Will Taylor started for Wasps in front of 82,000 people against Harlequins at Twickenham.  Three years later he was selling vegetables on the streets of London and collecting empty glasses in his friend's nightclub. They say life’s a rollercoaster but the 29-year-old from Swansea wouldn’t have expected there to be quite as many sharp turns.

The Welsh Rugby Union will receive financial support from Welsh government funding, which is set to be confirmed this week. After a devastating year dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the WRU’s bank balance has been decimated. It's estimated each Wales home match brings in about £10million and the WRU believe they have lost more than £50m due to Covid-19.

Steve Cooper paid tribute to the consistency shown by Swansea City as they tightened their grip on second place in the Championship with a hugely impressive 2-0 victory at Barnsley. Ben Cabango and Jamal Lowe struck in either half at Oakwell as Cooper's side made it six games unbeaten in all competitions.

Neil Harris has insisted questions over his own future as Cardiff City manager are “pointless” despite a fifth successive defeat. The Bluebirds boss was defiant after saying he was proud of his team’s performance in their 2-1 home defeat to Championship leaders Norwich City. Cardiff were thoroughly outplayed by a slick Canaries team who were 2-0 ahead at the break, despite missing five players, including top scorer Teemu Pukki – four of them due to Covid-19.

Newport County boss Mike Flynn said he feared for football after seeing Wales midfielder Josh Sheehan red-carded in the 0-0 draw with Salford City. The Exiles boss was unhappy with the performance of referee Anthony Backhouse saying his side were also denied a penalty at Rodney Parade.

Wales and other rival nations to France for this season’s Six Nations should prepare for the tournament and expect that it will definitely go ahead. The message has come from French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte who says this season’s Guinness Six Nations Championship “will take place”. The World Rugby vice-chairman also says there will be an expanded coronavirus testing programme for the tournament, while each country will have “a Covid manager”.

New Swansea City signing Ben Hamer was allowed to leave Huddersfield in order for young goalkeeper Ryan Schofield to gain a contract, according to the Yorkshire club. Hamer has joined the Swans on an 18-month deal for an undisclosed fee and will provide back-up to Freddie Woodman for the promotion-chasers following a long-term injury to Steven Benda. Hamer, 33, had been first choice at Huddersfield at the start of the season, but lost his place to 21-year-old Schofield in November and the Tykes have suggested the older man was unlikely to win it back.

Cardiff Blue Dragons have given Wheelchair Rugby League in Wales a huge boost by launching a team to add to their ever-expanding player base in the capital. Players are now being recruited by the club during lockdown in readiness for training to start later in the year.

Zoe Backstedt has seen her junior cyclo-cross World Championship hopes dashed by the coronavirus pandemic. The Pontyclun teenager has seen the junior races due to take place in Belgium later this month scrapped because of the on-going COVID-19 crisis.

Run Wales is looking to inspire even more people to join in the running revolution sweeping the nation. More than 350,000 people – 18 per cent of Wales’ adult population - used running for their daily exercise during the 2020 lockdowns. With gyms closed once again and running clubs not able to exercise together, Run Wales is looking for first-time joggers, power walkers and race finishers to join their new campaign - From My Door.