Dai Sport

Chris Type helped deliver Welsh Boxing’s most successful Commonwealth Games for more than 60 years in Birmingham last summer. Now, he is aiming to help add some extra punch to Welsh Athletics’ ambition to build on the success enjoyed by track and field in Wales. Last summer, Welsh athletes Olivia Breen and Aled Sion Davies won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, with Harrison Walsh earning bronze.

Warren Gatland has been backed to make a success of his second stint in charge of Wales – but it won’t be pretty, according to the man who ground out more victories than most. JPR Williams enjoyed a phenomenal success rate of over 70 per cent in 55 Tests for Wales and believes Gatland can restore the winning habit when his second stint in charge begins with Wales’ opening Six Nations match against Ireland. “I think if anyone can put up a decent show, it'll be him,” says Williams of Gatland ahead of the Ireland clash, which is live on S4C on Saturday.

Luca Giannini has revealed how the meteoric rise of Joe Hawkins is inspiring the current crop of Wales U20 youngsters. Scarlets teenager Giannini will make his Six Nations bow as one of the youngest players in coach Byron Hayward’s side when Wales host Ireland in Colwyn Bay on Friday night in a match that is live on S4C. But the 18-year-old back rower – whose family swapped the Bay of Naples for the Carmarthenshire coast – holds an ultimate aim of following Hawkins into the senior squad in double quick time.

Friends, colleagues and admirers of Eddie Butler joined in a heartfelt celebration of the rich life of the former Wales captain on Thursday afternoon. Abergavenny Market Hall was the venue for an emotional memorial service for the much-loved and multi-talented broadcaster and writer, who died last September while on a charity event in Peru. Around 750 people gathered to hear former Pontypool and Wales teammates share their memories of the1983 British and Irish Lions tourist, who went on to become the voice of the Six Nations as well as an esteemed national newspaper writer.

Swansea City failed to sign a single player in the January transfer window after the club’s plan to bring in West Bromwich Albion striker Karlan Grant on loan backfired. In the dying minutes of Tuesday night’s window, Swansea's attempt to secure a loan for the West Brom forward fell through. The deal was expected to see Grant join the Swans on loan for the remainder of the season – filling some of the gaps exposed by the six players who have left the club this month.

Warren Gatland believes Wales will relish being underdogs for Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Ireland. The Principality Stadium encounter kicks off Gatland’s second stint as Wales head coach, with his previous reign between 2008 and 2019 yielding four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-finals. Ireland will arrive in Cardiff as the world’s top-ranked team following a memorable year when they beat New Zealand twice, South Africa and Australia.