Dai Sport

Our reporter Tom Prosser spoke to Wales U20s coach Ioan Cunningham at today's press conference. Wales kick off their Six Nations Campaign against Italy on Saturday.

Ethan Ampadu insists Wales have no fears that their Red Wall might be drowned out by thousands of noisy Turkey fans on Wedbnesday. The Wales midfielder know only between 500 and 1,000 Wales supporters are likely to be in the Olympic Stadium in Baku for their second Group A match of Euro 2020. Those fans – who have paid around £2,000 each for a week in Azerbaijan and gone against Welsh government advice – will be hugely outnumbered by Turkish fans who can reach Baku by car.

PRO 14 chief Martin Anayi has claimed the newly titled United Rugby Championship will operate at international rugby standards. That will raise an eyebrow among regular watchers of the Guinness Pro14 in Wales who have got used to many matches where the standards and intensity have been way beneath Test level. But Anayi insists the introduction of four new South African teams to compete in a new 16-team tournament will raise the league to new heights.

Growing up as a cricket-mad girl in Port Talbot, Alex Griffiths had far more opportunities to play the sport she loved than those who had gone before her. Still, by her own admission, cricket was a small part of her childhood sporting landscape which makes it all the more remarkable the 18-year-old has made it to the top of the game. A highly talented allrounder, Griffiths came through Wales’ development pathway and in one summer, she represented every team from her under-13 age group to the senior side.

The 2021 British & Irish Lions tour could be the toughest test of Warren Gatland’s coaching career according to three-time Lions tourist Dai Young. It’s not that Gatland won’t have the talent to face down the world champion Springboks, but Young believes his biggest challenge will be in keeping his players mentally fresh off the field when they are confined to their strict COVID bubble. “There is nobody more experienced than Warren Gatland and he knows how to get the best out of teams. But this is a different kettle of fish for any coach,” said Young.

Sam Gordon produced a blistering performance on the hottest day of the year to smash his PB in London. The Cardiff athlete clocked 10.25 in his second round heat at the Newham and Essex Beagles Sprints and Hurdles Open on Sunday.

Wales’ Euro 2020 hero Kieffer Moore had to be protected after a gruelling domestic season impacted by Covid-19, interim manager Robert Page has explained. Former lifeguard Moore was Wales’ saviour in their tournament opener against Switzerland as his second-half headed equaliser secured a 1-1 draw in Baku. The 6ft 5ins Cardiff City striker had only started two of the eight games Wales had played since manager Ryan Giggs went on leave in November, with Page preferring to play a false nine alongside two widemen.

Nick Selman labelled Marnus Labuschagne “a nightmare to run with” – but it didn’t deter the pair from sharing a century stand to lead Glamorgan to their first T20 Blast win of the summer against Essex Eagles. Chasing 154, Selman was joined by his fellow Queenslander at 21 for 1, and both passed 50 as they proceeded to put on 110 in 13.1 overs and ensure Chris Cooke’s team bounced back from Thursday’s agonising defeat against Gloucestershire. Man of the match Selman struck seven fours and two sixes to make 65 in just 45 balls before tamely giving a return catch back to Essex captain Simon Harmer.

Rising young Welsh distance athlete Osian Perrin produced a sensational run to break the 44-year-old Welsh junior 5,000m record in Watford on Saturday. At the end of a thrilling 5,000m B race where Perrin swapped the lead with Dominic Nolan several times, the Menai Track and Field athlete broke the tape in 13:53.03.