Dai Sport

Good morning.....and welcome to Dai Sport's live blog as Elfyn Evans bids to become the first Welsh driver to be crowned World Rally Champion. The 31-year-old is lying fourth after Thursday's opening special stage of Rally Monza on Thursday.

Neil Harris insists he is “not fussed” by the presence of Watford fans for Cardiff City’s visit to Vicarage Road on Saturday. The Bluebirds manager is more concerned by the continued absence of his own club’s fans from home games which he says is leading to unfairness within the Championship. Fans returned to Football League matches for the first time in 266 days on Wednesday as clubs in tiers one and two welcomed back supporters.

Zoe Backstedt's chances of claiming another UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup victory this month have been dashed by COVID-19 regulations. Cycling's governing body has cancelled the junior women's races that were scheduled to take place victory in Belgium, in Namur on 20 December and Dendermonde on 27 December.

Elfyn Evans admitted he took it steady as he got his bid to be crowned World Rally Champion underway in Monza. Having had a spin in the pre-event shakedown earlier in the morning, the title pacesetter took a cautious approach on SS1 in Monza's F1 circuit.

Former Wales striker Nathan Blake has told sports in Wales to stop talking and start doing something about their lack of diversity. His call comes after an ITV Wales investigation revealed levels of diversity that were described as "shocking" and "shameful" by Race Council Cymru. A survey conducted showed there are only 19 people from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background out of 765 employees across some of Wales' biggest sports governing bodies.

Laura McAllister has been backed by the Football Association of Wales to bring expertise and insight to world football’s governing body. Professor McAllister – a former Wales captain, former chair of Sport Wales and now professor of public policy and governance at Cardiff University – has is standing for election to FIFA’s council. Nominated by the FAW and backed by the other home associations, McAllister is bidding to become UEFA’s designated female representative on FIFA council.

Gerwyn Price could face an all Wales clash when he begins his bid for the William Hill World Darts Championship later this month. The No 3 seed has been drawn against either countryman Jamie Lewis or Luke Woodhouse in the second round.

Golfers around Wales will be able to enjoy the first Club Finals Weekend next year, with several of the traditional tournaments being wrapped into one event. The COVID-19 pandemic meant those events were cancelled in 2020, but also saw lessons learned which have contributed to planning ahead for their hopeful return in 2021.

Elfyn Evans discovered just how treacherous this weekend's World Rally Championship title decider could be as he spun on the pre-event shakedown in Monza. The title pacesetter was caught-out at one of the chicanes in the snowy and slippery conditions on the F1 circuit.

Elfyn Evans is on the verge of becoming the first Welshman to win the FIA World Rally Championship drivers’ title, with just the final Rally Monza (3-6 December) between him and glory. And after a remarkable first season with the Toyota team, the 31-year old Dolgellau ace doesn’t need to win the event to secure the title.