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Rhys Webb has taken inspiration from football greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after ending more than two years in the international rugby wilderness. Ospreys scrum-half Webb is on course to make his first Wales appearance since November 2020 in next Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against Ireland. Webb, who toured New Zealand with the 2017 British and Irish Lions, featured on just five occasions during Wayne Pivac’s 34-Test reign as Wales head coach.

Dwayne Peel was able to enjoy one of the best victories during his time as head coach at the Scarlets as his side picked up a 37-28 bonus-point win over the Bulls on Friday. Despite having five players away on Wales duty and a number of others ruled out through injury, the Parc y Scarlets faithful saw their side notch a first win over the Bulls in the URC and pick up a fourth try late in the game to take the extra point. It was their fifth win in a row this year in all competitions and moved them ahead of the Dragons in the table.

Sol Bamba insists his new boss at Cardiff City, Sabri Lamouchi, commands respect and has the tactical nous to keep the club in the Championship. Bamba has rejoined the club he enjoyed success with as a player as their new assistant and right-hand man to Frenchman Lamouchi. The pair worked together when Lamouchi was manager of the Ivory Coast national team between 2012 and 2014 and Bamba was a player in that squad alongside former Swansea City star Wilfried Bony.

The Welsh Rugby Players Association has urged the Welsh Rugby Union to take the "strongest possible action" after allegations of sexism and bullying within the organisation. An open letter was sent to WRU chairman Ieuan Evans from the WRPA following a BBC investigation, which featured former WRU employees alleging incidents including racism and homophobia during their time with the organisation. One contributor claimed she had considered suicide as a result of her experiences.

James Botham insists Cardiff have forced their critics to eat their words, having recovered from heavy defeats earlier in the season. It’s a big claim from the Wales international, given that the team have lost three of their four matches played so far this year. But as Cardiff prepare for the toughest assignment in European rugby – a trip to Dublin to face Leinster on Saturday evening in a game that is live on S4C – Botham believes the capital city region have already proved some sceptics wrong and insists there is more to come.

Wales winger Sorba Thomas has swapped a relegation fight with Huddersfield for a promotion chase with Blackburn Rovers after being told he had fallen down the pecking order with the Terriers. Thomas – who went to the World Cup with Wales only two months ago – was told his chances were going to be limited at Huddersfield after they brought in some new additions. The club are languishing in the Championship relegation zone, three points adrift of Cardiff City who are in 21st place.

New attack coach Alex King says Wales are determined to play an entertaining brand which is rooted deep in the country’s DNA. King joined up with the rest of Warren Gatland’s coaching staff on Monday, with the New Zealander having chosen the former England fly-half to replace Stephen Jones as attack coach. The 47-year-old has little time to get his messages and methods across ahead of the Guinness Six Nations opener against Ireland on February 4, but King is confident that he can do so to mark Gatland’s Wales return with a winning start.