Cardiff

Six police officers will face a misconduct process following an investigation into their action after three people died in a car crash.

Sophie Russon, 20, Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, Rafel Jeanne, 24, and Shane Loughlin, 32, were last seen at about 02:00 GMT on 4 March 2023 after they went missing on a night out.

Two days after the crash, Gwent Police confirmed the car had been found on the A48 near Cardiff, with three of the five occupants tragically killed.

Craig Bellamy laughs when asked about Rubin Colwill, the 23-year-old forward currently impressing for Cardiff City.

“He’s big for you, isn’t he?,” Bellamy asks the reporter who brings up his name.

Not that Bellamy is not a fan of the nine-cap midfielder, to the contrary.

However, Colwill has not always featured in Bellamy’s Wales squads despite playing a starring role in Cardiff’s League One promotion bid and their quarter-final EFL Cup run.

“Rubin is able, there’s still one or two bits that we need more from, but he’s capable,” insists Bellamy who has plenty of other reasons to be a regular at Cardiff City Stadium.

“For the first time in a long, long time, I’ve really enjoyed coming away from Cardiff games with a smile,” he added.

“Last year was difficult, the atmosphere was down, but now I get to see a number of Welsh young players playing in a way I like.

“I only see them improving and selfishly I just see that this is going to benefit the country, so I’m over the moon with that.”

Robertson’s absence has been a big talking point for Cardiff fans, who have been perplexed as to why a player who cost the club a seven-figure fee when he joined from Manchester City in the summer of 2024 has not been used.

He was in Australia’s squad for their friendly matches in the United States and Canada earlier this month, but did not feature in either game.

“I think it’s fine for the supporters to talk about him in whatever way they want,” said Barry-Murphy.

“Alex is somebody who I know really well from long before he was at this club [when Barry-Murphy coached Manchester City Under-21s], so all I want for all the players is to be at their best.

“My duty is then to get them into that condition where they can compete against each other. But I have to be very fair and consistent in the way that I judge all the squad once they reach that level.

“That’s the same for Alex as it is for everybody else. If he was in the shoes of the other players, he’d want the exact same thing.”

Meanwhile, centre-back Dylan Lawlor could be back for Saturday’s League One trip to Bolton Wanderers having missed last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Reading with a groin injury.

Fellow centre-back Will Fish is also managing a knee issue, which limited him to 45 minutes against the Royals last weekend.

“Will Fish has an ongoing knee issue which is getting better, particularly when he hits longer passes,” said Barry-Murphy.

“He’s had some discomfort in his knee. But the amount of discomfort is getting less and less, so he’s making good progress.

“Dylan has had a good week of training so far. I think it’s important that he can do certain things that we want from later on this afternoon [Thursday] when we train, and then hopefully he can be available for Saturday.”

John Toshack held the record of being Cardiff City’s youngest player for 42 years. Aaron Ramsey then had the honour for 18 years. Rob Tankiewicz? Just 64 minutes.

Midfielder Tankiewicz started in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy match against Newport County at the age of 16 years and 117 days.

That saw him break the record set by Wales captain Ramsey, who made his Cardiff debut at 16 years and 123 days old in 2007, to surpass John Toshack’s previous mark from 1965.

But just as Tankiewicz was getting used to his achievement, Cardiff replaced him with Axel Donczew, even younger at 15 years and 234 days.

Both are attacking midfielders, products of the Bluebirds’ academy and Wales youth internationals, though they both qualify to play for Poland.

PRINCE William has been seen boarding Doctor Who’s Tardis.

The future king stepped into the iconic time travel device during a studio visit – though he’s not making a surprise switch to acting or pursuing adventures through time.

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The Prince of Wales, 43, was a special guest at the Bad Wolf Studios in Cardiff which produces the BBC sci-fi show.

Wills was given a tour around the set of the upcoming Beeb series The Other Bennet Sister by studio chief Jane Tranter – which included a look around the Tardis police phone box.

In a series of posts on The Prince and Princess of Wales X account today, the royal was seen in a video entering the famous set and posing near the control panel.

It said: “From period pieces to all of time and space, both the BAFTA bursary and @BadWolf_TV are inspiring the next generation of creative talent.”

Wills was following somewhat in his dad’s footsteps after King Charles was snapped in 2017 entering a replica Tardis during a visit to Worq co-working space for young entrepreneurs in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

The royal was introduced to trainees who have come through Bad Wolf’s Screen Alliance Wales (SAW) training initiative and built careers in TV by scheme boss Allison Dowzell.

They were recipients of The Prince William Bafta Bursary programme.

Tranter said: “It was a complete joy to show Prince William around Bad Wolf.

“We are so incredibly proud of the outreach work being done by Allison Dowzell and the team at Screen Alliance Wales, and for Prince William to help highlight the work being done at the studios means a great deal.

“He was introduced to trainees from a wide range of departments, and it was fantastic to see him take such an interest in the new generation of TV creatives.

“We are so proud that many of the SAW trainees have gone on to be awarded Prince William Bafta bursaries, and His Royal Highness was fascinated to hear how each of the trainees was using their bursary to further their careers.”

The visit on September 10 came as part of the studios’ 10th anniversary, and came on the day William visited the Jac Lewis Foundation centre at the city’s Principality Stadium to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.

During the engagement, William also met schoolchildren from St Albans RC Primary School in Tremorfa, Cardiff, during a puppetry workshop held by SAW education and training executive Sarah O’Keefe.

The puppets were used to represent characters’ daemons in the BBC series His Dark Materials and the workshop aimed to introduce children to the TV industry.

SAW has arranged 3,772 studio visits, including classroom lessons, since its inception, and created 149 paid traineeships on Welsh TV productions including Industry, Doctor Who and The Other Bennet Sister.

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Welsh netball’s leading women’s team will lose ‘Cardiff’ from their title for the 2026 Netball Super League (NSL) season and host games in Liverpool as well as the Welsh capital.

Previously known as LexisNexis Cardiff Dragons, the city name has been removed and they are now LexisNexis Dragons and will play home games at Cardiff’s House of Sport and Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena.

Dragons named their squad in early September despite financial uncertainty.

The Welsh side finished bottom of the revamped NSL last season – winning only two of their 14 matches – and there have been question marks about the franchise’s finances.

BBC Sport Wales had been told that players were informed in the off-season that they may not have had a team to play for this coming campaign if Dragons did not secure the required funding.

Premier League champions Liverpool will play FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Holders Newcastle United host Tottenham in another all-Premier League tie while Arsenal, who have not won the competition since 1993, face Brighton.

Grimsby Town, the only League Two side still standing and conquerors of Manchester United, get another home tie against Premier League Brentford.

And with three Welsh sides in the last 16 for the first time, it was perhaps inevitable there would be an all-Welsh clash as Wrexham host Cardiff City, with 2013 winners Swansea handed a tie against Manchester City.

It will be the first meeting between Wrexham and Cardiff since 2002.

Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham will find out who they will play next when the fourth round draw is made at around 22:00 BST on Wednesday, following Arsenal’s televised third-round tie at Port Vale.

There are seven Premier League sides in the hat so far – Liverpool, Chelsea, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Brentford, Fulham and Wolves – along with Wycombe Wanderers, of League One, and League Two club Grimsby Town, who knocked out Manchester United in round two.

As well as the Arsenal tie, Manchester City are in action on Wednesday at Huddersfield Town, while Newcastle United host Bradford City and Tottenham Hotspur are at home to Doncaster Rovers.

There is a decent chance, therefore, that Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham could face heavyweight opposition as they look to reach the quarter-finals.

There is also the possibility, of course, of a Carabao Cup Welsh derby.

Scott Parker’s team have beaten Derby County in this season’s Carabao Cup after entering at the second-round stage, while Cardiff have seen off Swindon and Cheltenham to set up the trip to Lancashire.

“I am really excited to go to a Premier League team in a competition where we have produced really good performances,” Barry-Murphy added.

“It’s a good test for our players. Burnley have a super-talented squad and to test ourselves in that stadium against them will be very good for us.”

Cardiff have fitness concerns over Ronan Kpakio, who came off during the Bradford loss with a foot problem, and Dylan Lawlor, who missed the Bantams’ visit with a groin injury.

“We have a group we really believe in,” Barry-Murphy said. “We will see who is OK and then pick a team.”

Cardiff say they have begun a review process to find Sherratt’s long-term successor.

The region’s interim managing director, Jamie Muir, said: “The fact he has been approached by Wales is testament to the progress we have made as a club with him at the helm as head coach.

“We are confident with the staff that remain in place and are fully focussed on kicking off the new season on Saturday night in positive fashion.”

Former Osprey’s coach Tandy took over his role as Wales head coach on 1 September and has already added Danny Wilson to his management team with responsibility for the line-out and contact areas.

Wales have four autumn international in November against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.

Sherratt returned to Cardiff for a second stint as Backs and Attack Coach in 2021 and spent the past two seasons as head coach.

“I am proud that we have been able to put the club back on solid foundations, have implemented a playing style that resonates with the history and city, and enjoyed so many memorable moments at the Arms Park,” added Sherratt.

“The timing is not ideal, however I am confident that the club is in good hands with some excellent coaches and staff behind the scenes.”

AN URGENT hunt for a 15-year-old girl is underway after she went missing last week.

The girl was last seen in Flintshire but is now believed to be 120 miles away in South Wales, police said.

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Shyla has been missing for a week with and was last spotted in the village of Drury, Flintshire, last Saturday, September 13.

She is described as around 5ft tall with an average build and her hair dyed red.

When she was last seen she was wearing grey jogging bottoms, a brown woolen hoodie and white trainers.

It’s also believed that she has connections to Barry, Penarth and Cardiff Bay.

South Wales Police are now urging anyone with information on her whereabouts to come forwards.

They also want to talk to anyone who may have seen her in recent days.

England suffered a 14-run defeat by South Africa in a farcical rain-affected opening T20 at Cardiff.

A delayed start meant the match was reduced to nine overs per side, and the Proteas blitzed 97-5 in 7.5 overs before another rain disruption.

England’s target was revised to 69 in five overs and with little choice but to attack from the outset, they reached 43-5 needing 26 from five balls.

From there, the recalled Sam Curran whacked a six to offer the hosts a glimmer of hope, but the tourists eventually closed out a comfortable win as England finished on 54-5 with two wickets apiece for Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen.

Jos Buttler had kept England alive with 25 from 11, including three sixes, but they were left to rue top-order wickets as Phil Salt was caught at fine leg from the first ball of the chase, Jacob Bethell chipped to cover for seven and captain Harry Brook made a chaotic four-ball duck.

Earlier, Jofra Archer was replaced by Luke Wood in a late change, and the seamer removed Ryan Rickelton in the first over before captain Aiden Markram led the charge with 28 from 14 balls.

Dewald Brevis, who became the SA20’s most expensive player in Tuesday’s auction, made an entertaining 23 from 10 balls before he fell to the recalled Curran’s first ball while Donovan Ferreira finished unbeaten with 25 from 11.

The three-match series continues at Old Trafford on Friday, where rain is also forecast.

England were flat in the first two ODIs – particularly the opening thrashing at Headingley, when they were bowled out for 131 – but responded with a record win in the third at Southampton.

Batters Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith have been rested for this series while a new-look side will be led by Bethell against Ireland at the end of the month, providing players such as Curran with another chance to impress McCullum.

“I sat down with him recently and asked him to bang down the door, to force his way into the top six and with his bowling ability,” McCullum told Sky Sports after the ODI series.

“He is a very attractive resource and it was just a matter of putting in performances to get himself back to where he needed to be.

“He was honest. He said he was determined to have a long international career and fair play to him, he has banged it down.”

Duckett and Smith were among those to play all five Tests against India before going straight to The Hundred and then the ODIs.

England have a white-ball series in New Zealand before the Ashes in November, and face another tight turnaround with the T20 World Cup taking place in India and Sri Lanka in February – although the schedule is yet to be released.

“I can only speak for myself but I obviously don’t play Test cricket so I can just focus on the white-ball side of things, I can go to New Zealand and then have a rest so I’m fresh for that World Cup,” spinner Rashid told BBC Sport about the packed schedule.

“It’s probably going to be a bit of a challenge for the guys [playing all formats] but that’s the schedule.

“Everyone will be up for it, no huffing and puffing or no complaining because we all know that’s part and parcel of cricket. We’ll all be raring to go mentally and physically.”

The first T20 starts at 18:30 BST on Wednesday, with the second match at Old Trafford on Friday and the finale at Trent Bridge on Sunday.

A MUM has tragically died a week after coming back from a holiday abroad.

Amanda Cugini, from Cardiff died on July 22 after coming back from Tunisia.

The 47-year-old worked at a local child care nursery and was just about to be fully qualified as a day care nurse.

Her husband David Cugini was with her when she “got into difficulty” and tried to resuscitate her but was unable to.

The family does not currently know what caused Amanda’s death.

“It’s kind of a cliché but she was one in a million,” David said. “She reached out and touched more people that I’m ever going to know.”

“I was with Amanda for 18 years and I knew Amanda for 10 years before that as friends, so I’ve known her a long time and I’m still now getting to hear and meet new people for the first time, who she’d have touched in her life.

“She was an amazing mum, she was an amazing nan to my two grandsons. She was the life and soul of the party. She lit up the room when she walked in.

“It’s the same stuff as what other people say, but not in Mandy’s way. Mandy was different, she was special.”

David said their family had seen hardships, with Amanda losing her parents, as well as the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis, but that she always strove to help others.

“Life has been hard, but someone like Mandy, I always say she would have found a pound and made sure that you either had it all or you’d certainly have half, because she was just a giver,” he explained.

He said Amanda’s loss has left a significant impact on her family, particularly her children. “To be honest, it’s very, very hard,” David said.

“So confusing, upsetting and everything, all rolled into one.

“There are late nights where we sit in with the children and just comfort them because they’re missing mum so much.”

Their family has tried to return to normalcy, playing music and singing like they used to do, but he said their grief comes and goes.

“One minute we’re all laughing, thinking over ‘imagine what mum would have said’ and then next minute we’re all hysterical, emotionally devastated, and crying.”

David said he feels thankful to the community, his family and his friends for their support.

“I’ve been overwhelmed, to be honest, with the outpouring of love and support. The children are the closest to me, so we’ve got each other first, and then it’s a reflection on the friends, family and everybody.

“Even strangers are showing love and support because it’s such a devastating thing for such a beautiful lady at such a young age. It’s been very quick, sudden, very shocking.”

Amanda leaves behind David, her daughters aged 17 and 10, and a stepdaughter aged 34.

She was also a nan to two grandsons.

A GoFundMe was set up to help pay for her funeral.

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Rubin Colwill can sometimes seem like a player who is destined to forever be talked about as a star of the future, a talent of huge – if unfulfilled – potential.

At 23 years old, he is hardly a grizzled old veteran but, with more than 150 Cardiff City appearances to his name, Colwill is no novice either.

Great expectations have followed the attacking midfielder since he first broke into the Bluebirds’ first team as an 18-year-old in 2021 and the hype only intensified when he was named in Wales’ squad for the European Championship later that year.

It was easy to see why there was such excitement. Here was a physically imposing teenager who could dribble past an opponent, play an incisive pass or pick out the top corner with a long-range missile.

Jurgen Klopp, whose Liverpool side he scored against during an FA Cup tie at Anfield, was among those to express their admiration for Colwill.

But his progress has been frustratingly stop-start since then.

There have been growing pains – literally, with a late growth spurt causing injury – and losses of confidence or form which have seen him drop in and out of Cardiff teams and Wales squads.

Now, Colwill is at something of a crossroads in his career and looks primed to grasp his opportunity.

Following Cardiff’s relegation from the Championship last season, Colwill was named vice-captain to new skipper Calum Chambers, as voted by their team-mates.

As Chambers was suspended for Saturday’s League One opener at home to Peterborough United, Colwill led his boyhood club for the first time – and rose to the challenge.

He scored a stunning 20-yard free-kick to bring the Bluebirds level in a 2-1 win, the highlight of a man-of-the-match performance in which he backed up his usual creativity and flair in attack with energy and grit out of possession.

“It was a great day. I think not just personally but I think for everybody involved,” said Colwill.

“We all want to play exciting football, play attacking football, be on the front foot, win the ball back. We’re all buying into that.”

On wearing the armband, he added: “It was nice, it was a big responsibility.

“I thought through what I needed to do, what was required of me but yeah once you almost accept that responsibility I think it’s almost freeing to have that on your shoulders and to try and help everybody get through the game.

“I think that responsibility, maturity is something that comes naturally when you’re around it long enough. I’m probably one of the more experienced players in the squad now. So it almost comes naturally with time, experience, and I think it’s just something that I like to do.”

It is thought Malaysian businessman Tan has little interest in selling Cardiff – the club he has invested £200m-plus into since buying in 2010.

Bale recently confirmed it would be “a dream come true” to purchase the Bluebirds, outlining his desire to take the club to the Premier League.

Speaking to Sky Sports in June, he said: “We’ve been speaking about it (a takeover), trying to engage with Cardiff but more news will come out on that in the future but hopefully we can get something done.”

The 35-year-old was heavily linked with a move to the Cardiff City Stadium prior to joining Los Angeles in the summer of 2022.

Bale went on to help the Major League Soccer side win the MLS Cup by scoring a last-minute equaliser in extra time of the final as LA went on to beat Philadelphia Union on penalties.

He featured in each of his country’s group stage matches against the USA, Iran and England at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before retiring from football in January 2023.

Cardiff – now led by former Manchester City Elite Development Squad boss Brian Barry-Murphy – are preparing for a first campaign in the third tier since 2002-03 having finished bottom of the Championship last season.

The Bluebirds have not commented on the Bale-led consortium’s approaches to buy the club.

Cardiff City captain Joe Ralls is leaving the club, bringing an end to 15 years at the Bluebirds.

Ralls, the Bluebirds’ longest-serving player, had initially been in discussions over potentially extending his stay at Cardiff City Stadium.

But, after talks with new manager Brian Barry-Murphy, the 31-year-old midfielder will move on when his contract expires at the end of this month.

Midfielder or right-back Andy Rinomhota is also set to depart with his three-year deal also not being renewed.

A decision on their futures had been put on hold as the club awaited to appoint a successor to Omer Riza after demotion to League One, with Barry-Murphy being confirmed as new head coach last week.

Ralls thanked owner Vincent Tan and the Cardiff board on social media, and Barry-Murphy for “being completely honest with me”.

“It’s incredibly hard to find the words after 15 years here… but the time has come for me to move on and for the club to go in a new direction,” Ralls said.

Wales captain Ramsey had taken temporary charge as Cardiff were relegated from the Championship last month, Omer Riza having been sacked with three games of the season remaining.

But while it is not clear if a final decision has been made, Barry-Murphy is now the frontrunner to land a first senior manager’s position since leaving Rochdale in 2021.

He would become the Bluebirds’ ninth manager in four years as they prepare to play in the third tier for the first time since 2003.

The Irishman has been on Cardiff’s radar for some time having been under consideration to replace Mick McCarthy in 2021.

Barry-Murphy is a former midfielder with Cork City, Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday, Bury and Rochdale, becoming player-coach at the latter in 2014 at the age of 35.

He succeeded Keith Hill as manager in 2019, winning praise for the side’s style of play and work with homegrown talent despite the team’s relegation to League Two in 2021.

Barry-Murphy resigned from the job to take to take up the role at Manchester City’s academy, succeeding future Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca and winning two youth titles, coaching the likes of Cole Palmer, Oscar Bobb and Romeo Lavia while working under Pep Guardiola.

After quitting the Etihad three years later, Barry-Murphy went on to be named as part of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s backroom staff at Leicester in December 2024.

But Barry-Murphy had been keen for a frontline role of his own and could now be handed the challenge of returning Cardiff to the Championship.

Buckingham, who guided Oxford to League One promotion in May 2024, has also held talks with Cardiff.

The 40-year-old is currently without a club having left the Kassam Stadium in December following a poor run of results.

Buckingham, who previously coached in New Zealand and managed City Football Group clubs Melbourne City and Mumbai City, had previously been under consideration by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) before the appointment of Craig Bellamy as national boss.

Wales captain Aaron Ramsey has agreed a deal to sign for Mexican side Club Universidad Nacional – known as Pumas UNAM – according to the PA news agency.

The former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder would become the first high-profile British player to play in the Mexican league should the formalities of the move be completed.

Ramsey was appointed Cardiff interim manager for the final three games of the 2024-25 Championship season after the club sacked Omer Riza.

The 34-year-old was unable to prevent Cardiff from being relegated to the third tier, but reports had linked him with taking charge of the Bluebirds on a full-time basis this summer.

Ramsey shares the same agent as Pumas manager Efrain Juarez.

FORMER Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey is being targeted by Mexican giants Pumas as Cardiff City dither over offering him the full-time manager’s post.

Ramsey took the reins at Cardiff City Stadium in April and oversaw the Bluebirds’ final three Championship matches of the season.

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But two draws and a defeat condemned them to relegation to League One.

The 34-year-old’s playing contract expires at the end of the month and the club’s plans for Ramsey remain a mystery.

Any hopes they had of appointing Nathan Jones ended on Friday when the boyhood Cardiff fan signed a new deal at Charlton. 

Ramsey came through the ranks at Cardiff before joining the Gunners in 2008 for just under £5m.

He went on to make over 350 appearances and win FA Cup three times, featuring alongside Mexican star Carlos Vela for a number of years.

Now he has a chance to continue playing in Liga MX with Guadalajara-based Pumas – Vela’s hometown club.

Ramsey, who has not played a game for Cardiff since March, is a target for the Pumas, according to Mexican TV reporter Andres Vaca.

He told the Seleccione2 podcast: “I don’t know if they’re selling me smoke, they just told me that Aaron Ramsey is going to join Pumas.

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“They told me it’s almost a confirmation.”

The Mexican club tried to tempt Vela, 36, to reverse his decision to retire last week.

Pumas coach Efrain Juarez, who played alongside Vela for the Mexican national team, revealed his attempt in a FOX Sports interview this week.

Their attention has now turned to Ramsey, who made it clear that he wanted to return to the pitch when he assumed interim charge of Cardiff.

He said in April: “I am just taking these three games.

“I’m still recovering from a hamstring operation, I’m still in the middle of rehab and I’m focused on getting back to full fitness.”