Category Sports News

Welsh rugby may be in the new year, but the issues still exist.

Players and coaches will be busy in January as they compete in European and domestic competitions.

When the Six Nations begin in February, Wales head coach Steve Tandy will then train his squad for the big game.

The administrators of the game will find a way to fix Welsh rugby’s growing problems, which will turn out to be just as difficult.

Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM) held in 2014, 2020, and 2023 appear to be a key component of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

Less than three years after the first one, there is now the possibility of a new emergency gathering.

Central Glamorgan Rugby Union, a district in Wales, is urging clubs to hold an EGM and vote in favor of PRB chair Malcolm Wall and PRB chair Richard Collier-Keywood.

Clubs looking to receive the 10% of support in a letter from the district have written a copy of the letter.

We’ll need to support the plans from about 30 of Wales’ close to 300 clubs, so we’ll have to wait and see if the process gains any momentum.

The end of November saw the annual general meeting (AGM), which was held in Cardiff on the day Wales record 73-0 defeat to South Africa.

Even considering that as a call for change, there was little dissention on Collier-Keywood that day. Some areas have experienced changes after five weeks.

We see the meandering between various plans, causing chaos, confusion, and uncertainty, paying extortionate amounts of money to external consultants, and the current board’s inability to formulate and implement a coherent strategy for rugby in Wales, according to Central Glamorgan’s call to arms.

The WRU is pushing to overcome its fundamental changes to the domestic game at a time when all of this is happening.

In October, the WRU announced a plan to reduce one of the men’s professional sides from four to three.

One team’s licence would be given, one for Cardiff, one for the west, and one for the east, according to the governing body.

Ospreys, Scarlets, Cardiff, and Dragons have continued to negotiate, but nothing has changed since 2025.

A six-month tender process could be in place to choose the successful trio if an agreement is not reached in January.

The professional sides have recently received more information about the licenses, who have expressed reservations about some of the document’s terms. We anticipate further discussions.

The WRU asks backers to contribute money to the initiatives while maintaining control over the remaining three sides’ rugby operations.

The Dragons raised the issue in November, which also stifled the negotiations and caused significant delays.

The sale of Cardiff, a WRU-owned entity, could play a significant role in the drop in numbers.

After Cardiff temporarily went into administration in April 2025, Welsh rugby’s governing body took control of the Arms Park outfit.

Since then, the WRU has been looking for new investors, with Y11 Sports and Media and Ospreys owners interested in purchasing Cardiff. This could lead to the WRU’s triple-digit success.

Fans of the Ospreys have expressed concern about the team’s survival on social media, but the WRU and Y11 have both declined to comment.

The Cardiff club and its supporters have continued to work toward a long-term, sustainable future, according to the WRU.

This decision will be carefully considered and evaluated accordingly.

With former Cardiff director Martyn Ryan joining a group made up of three American-based television and film producers, a new consortium is looming.

The WRU will make the decision as to whether Cardiff’s final plans are beneficial or not.

It has been suggested that the waning uncertainty in Welsh rugby is a cause of the departures, and convincing other players to stay is becoming challenging.

On Saturday, February 7, Tandy’s side takes on England in the opening match of his first Six Nations campaign.

Wales’ bid to avoid a third consecutive Six Nations wooden spoon and win a game of the tournament for the first time since 2023 won’t be what Tandy and his squad want.

Because there is no predictable outcome, it seems inevitable that Welsh rugby will continue to suffer. Whatever outcome is decided, there will be outcry from the general public, and legal and financial issues may arise.

These issues are still centered on money-related issues. Collier-Keywood has just made it clear that Wales’ four rival rival sides do not have enough money to pay for them, but that has not dissuaded the doubters about this assertion.

People agree that things must change. Particularly now that the Wales men’s team has lost to record numbers against Argentina, England, and South Africa, and the women’s side has failed to win a World Cup game.

Welsh fans are unsure about how that change will take place and do not want their own small, subpar aspect of Welsh rugby to be offended.

The number of people who watch Six Nations games at home against France, Scotland, and Italy in February and March will be able to tell how much this constant drama is testing the patience of the average fan, along with the nation’s subpar form.

With more than 50% of WRU’s revenue coming from the men’s home games, poor attendance will have an even greater negative impact.

Enzo Maresca, who left on January 1st, is expected to take the place of the 41-year-old Englishman.

Rosenior said, “I can’t turn down this opportunity to play for an incredible club, incredible squad that has won the Club World Cup.”

The multi-club ownership group BlueCo, which also controls Chelsea, is made up of Strasbourg and Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

I’m here because I care about [Strasbourg], and I thought it was appropriate to respond to your questions in person before moving on.

Rosenior announced the arrivals of Chelsea’s Kalifa Cisse, Justin Walker, Justin Walker’s assistant head coach, and Ben Warner, the head of analysis.

Ronseior joined Strasbourg in July 2024, helping the French club reach seventh in the Ligue 1 last year, ensuring European football for the first time in eight years.

His fifth league game without a win came on Saturday, when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Nice.

They are the top of the Conference League and seventh in Ligue 1.

Ronseior remarked, “The last 18 months have been the best and most enjoyable times in my professional life.”

“I can’t turn down Chelsea, but I will love this club for the rest of my life.”

The former Fulham and Hull full-back has previously coached in the Championship with Derby County and the Tigers but has never won a championship title.

If I wasn’t prepared, Rosenior said, “I wouldn’t have accepted the job at Chelsea.”

You can’t turn down clubs, they say. I sincerely hope that Strasbourg supporters will notice and be happy about it.

He continued, “I have had interest from numerous clubs, including Champions League clubs, that I have always been open to [our president] Marc [Keller] and our ownership.”

Prior to Wednesday’s (10:00 GMT) game against Fulham at Craven Cottage, Chelsea are currently fifth in the Premier League.

It jars that Sydney is a city of cricketing endings.

Circular Quay, flanked by the shimmering Opera House and magnificent Harbour Bridge, is a place of inspiration. The fireworks of new year’s eve signal spectacular renewal.

Yet, the Sydney Cricket Ground is a place where the Australian greats wave goodbye. Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer, Mike Hussey and David Warner are just a few to have taken their final bow in this grand old stadium. Usman Khawaja will do the same in the coming days.

England have had plenty of endings here, too, just not many that were planned. This century, 13 Englishmen have played the final Test of their careers on this ground – a lot when you consider England only come here every four years.

Kevin Pietersen, Jos Buttler and Andy Caddick are among those to have not known an SCG Test would be their last.

This has been England’s most disappointing tour of Australia in recent memory. A win in the finale, cutting the deficit to 3-2, would provide a rose-tint fitting of the pink day in Sydney. With a decent T20 World Cup, a few tweaks here and there, then maybe Brendon McCullum and the rest of the hierarchy would survive.

A 4-1 scoreline more accurately reflects the cricket played, denies the opportunity to paper over the cracks and provides clarity for the way ahead. In what was supposed to be England’s big opportunity to finally win the Ashes down under, they have been thumped by an Australia team with a reserve bowling attack.

This tour has ended like all the others – injuries, collapses in form and a selection trifle.

England had planned to hit Australia with pace, only for part-time off-spinner Will Jacks to play as many Tests as Mark Wood and Jofra Archer put together.

Matthew Potts was England’s eighth-choice seamer for this tour and ended up opening the bowling. There was no reserve opener or keeper to take either Ben Duckett or Jamie Smith out of the firing line.

Before Smith’s all-time honker of a dismissal on the second day, England were 323-5 in their first innings. Despite a collapse and a Travis Head assault, the tourists were still in the contest as day three dawned.

But this was a terrible Tuesday, beginning with the most damaging session since the first drink was ordered in Noosa.

Potts bowled like a man England turned their backs on in the home summer and Head hit the ball anywhere he pleased. Jacks was guilty of the worst drop on a tour where fingers have been bathed in butter.

Michael Neser, Australia’s nightwatchman, faced more deliveries than England’s top three combined. England wasted two reviews on him and, when he was finally removed, Zak Crawley dropped Steve Smith.

On it went into the afternoon. Jacob Bethell looked like England’s best spinner and bowled seven more overs than Jacks – the man chosen to bowl spin.

Ben Stokes, England’s best seamer, flogged himself with the old ball then gave the second new ball to Potts and Brydon Carse – England’s worst seamers.

Smith made a century, because that is what Smith does. The best since Bradman is the modern killer of England Ashes dreams, responsible for ending a few careers.

It is fair to argue it is unhealthy for English cricket to clear the decks after every failed Ashes expedition. England do not win here often. Lurching between leaders and methods is not a recipe for sustained success – ask Manchester United.

England’s batters exist in a world without consequences and therefore exist in a world without responsibility. There have been three different bowling coaches in little more than a year, resulting in an attack that cannot execute a plan. Fielding drills are often limited to slip catching and Jamie Smith is rarely seen practising his keeping.

McCullum’s methods are ingrained and creating a culture is his super-strength. He is suited to reviving an ailing team, just as he did with England almost four years ago.

Perhaps, with ultra-hindsight, the perfect time for his departure would have been the end of the previous Ashes. He had turned the ship around and could have handed the reins to a more meticulous leader capable of taking England to the next level. Sydney is on track to be a 14th defeat in 28 matches since then.

It has been suggested McCullum could have additions to the staff imposed upon him. It is hard to see how any head coach is forced into a backroom shuffle without feeling undermined.

Stokes has publicly supported McCullum, as he should. If Stokes has strong feelings about the identity of the coaching staff, he should be heard. Surely the captain can see where his team have failed, and where they need to tighten up.

The immediate future is not clear. England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Richard Thompson and chief executive Richard Gould have been in Sydney to see the grisly ending. Director of cricket Rob Key will take as much accountability as McCullum and is of similar risk of losing his job.

This England regime has escaped criticism for previous results, often because mitigation has been found.

England enforced the follow-on against New Zealand in Wellington in 2023 and lost, but it was lauded as a one-run classic. Falling 2-0 down in the Ashes of the same year was masked by the Jonny Bairstow stumping and fightback to 2-2.

Series defeats in India and Pakistan in 2024 were explained by historical struggles batting against and bowling spin. The disappointment of a 2-2 draw with India last summer was lost in the heroics of a one-armed Chris Woakes at The Oval.

More than anything, evaluation of the Bazball era was reserved because this England management asked to be judged on this Ashes series.

After winning the match 47 minutes to avenge Cristina Bucsa in the 2026 season, Aryna Sabalenka defended her “Battle of the Sexes” against Nick Kyrgios.

In a highly anticipated exhibition match in Dubai last month, Sabalenka, the women’s world no. 1, lost to Kyrgios 6-3, 6-3.

Sabalenka, a four-time major winner from Belarus, said it improved her fitness after beating Spain’s Bucsa, who was 28th overall, 6 0 6-1 in the Brisbane International second round.

The intensity is completely different when playing against a guy, Sabalenka said.

However, Sabalenka claimed that the game “attracted a lot of attention.”

It was not about proving anything to anyone, they said. She claimed that it demonstrated how important tennis can be.

It was enjoyable during that exhibition. It presented a significant challenge.”

In round three, Sabalenka will face Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, who was given a first-round bye in Brisbane.

At the ASB Classic in Auckland, British number four Katie Boulter defeated Yulia Starodubtseva of Ukraine to begin her season.

Boulter won 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of her first game since October, and her first under new coach Michael Joyce.

Given a wildcard in the WTA 250 main draw, she will face Ukrainian top seed Elina Svitolina.

Boulter, who had dropped out of the top 100 in the world, was unable to claim a spot in the Australian Open’s main draw.

Without enough withdrawals, she will need to qualify for Melbourne Park and become the third alternate.

In the opening round of Auckland, compatriot Sonay Kartal defeated Indonesian Janice Tjen 6-1, 6-6 (4-7) 6-3.

In the opening match of the Brisbane International, Nick Kyrgios lost to Aleksandar Kovacevic in straight sets in his first ATP Tour appearance since March.

The 30-year-old Australian was given a wildcard for the event after only six ATP singles matches in the previous three years and was eliminated from the tournament by American Kovacevic in just 65 minutes.

The defeat comes after Kyrgios won last month’s exhibition match against Aryna Sabalenka, the female world number one.

Kyrgios and world number 58 Kovacevic exchanged elbows in disarray during the second set, where they managed to draw a point with one of their signature underarm serves.

Kyrgios’ chances of winning his first Grand Slam since his first-round defeat by Jacob Fearnley at his home tournament in 2025 will suffer as a result.

Next up for him is a matchup on Wednesday with Australian-Greek partner Thanasi Kokkinakis, who will then compete in the Kooyong Classic warm-up exhibition in Melbourne the following week.

Craig Gordon claims he was persuaded to keep playing after having conversations with Scotland manager Steve Clarke and Hearts boss Derek McInnes.

The 43-year-old goalkeeper has only made two competitive appearances during Scotland’s World Cup qualifying double-header against Greece and Denmark in November. He has yet to play for the Scottish Premiership leaders in a league game this year.

He told BBC Scotland, “Both of them wanted me to continue, so that undoubtedly improved the situation.”

Gordon and his family are “definitely discussing retirement,” but Gordon claims helping put an end to Scotland’s long search for a World Cup spot means the effort has “already been well worth it.”

The keeper, who started out at Tynecastle and returned in 2020, is currently back-up to Alexander Schwolow, 33, after missing the start of term due to injury.

He may seek a January loan to get some game time before the World Cup because of this. McInnes says he is content with the situation and that Gordon is eager to keep such an experienced player.

He remarked about a potential departure, “I’m not going to be pushing for it.” There is still a lot of time left in the season. I believe I’m only one step away from being given the chance to play here, and it will be my responsibility to do so.

We have a chance to really push ourselves in the second half of the season and see where it can lead. It’s therefore somewhat in the balance.

There is a lot to look forward to here, despite the fact that I can’t guarantee that it won’t happen. I still feel like a significant member of the squad.

I must be prepared and demonstrate to [McInnes] in training that I am ready to play if he does so. At this point, we are. More than that, nothing else is discussed.