Wales

Page’s quest for Welsh Open glory was ended by former world champion Luca Brecel in 2025.

The Welshman was beaten 5-2 by the Belgian in the quarter-finals, ending his best run in the competition to date.

And the pair now meet in the first round of the 2026 Welsh Open, with Page eyeing revenge against the 30-year-old.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Page.

“Luca beat me in the quarter-finals last year, so I owe him one in the way.”

Page came to prominence in the Welsh Open as a 15-year-old in 2017, beating Jason Weston and John Astley before losing to Judd Trump in the third round.

And while Page says he is yet to reach the heights he had dreamed of as a teenager, he still believes he can turn things around.

“I’ve done alright but I’m nowhere near where I want to be, I want to be the best and I still think I can do it,” said Page.

“I’ve had a pretty bad season, it’s not been very good, so I need to kick on.

“Obviously last year was a great year, so I’m trying to turn it around to get confidence in myself and perform like I know I can.

“I’m sure I’ll get there.”

The EGM news comes at a time of turmoil for Welsh rugby off the field.

Swansea Council has applied for a High Court injunction to halt the proposed deal between the WRU and Ospreys owners Y11 Sport and Media to buy rivals Cardiff.

Ospreys are under threat of being removed from the professional tier with owners Y11 the WRU’s preferred bidders to buy Cardiff from the governing body.

The WRU wants to cut one professional men’s side in Wales with Ospreys now in the firing line if Y11 buy Cardiff.

The WRU has told Swansea Council a deal will not be completed with Y11 before 16 March.

On the field, Wales, who have lost the opening three games against France, England and Scotland, finish their Six Nations campaign against Italy in Cardiff on Saturday 14 March after travelling to face Ireland in Dublin eight days before.

The WRU statement continued: “The WRU published its plans for the future of the elite game in Wales at the end of October 2025, following an extensive consultation process.

“We are now focused on rolling out that plan and have been working tirelessly with the key stakeholders during the last months to agree a consensus on its implementation.

“This detailed work has been undertaken with the professional clubs, the United Rugby Championship and player representatives, and we remain committed to reaching consensus on the next steps.

“We ask all stakeholders to continue working with us. We recognise that change is challenging, but it is essential for the long-term health of the game in Wales.”

The isolated quarry village of Nant Gwrtheyrn was once a thriving community before it was abandoned. But it was given a new lease of life as a beloved Welsh language centre

Nestled between the Irish Sea and the Eifl mountains at the very edge of civilisation, this tiny village was once frozen in time before its thriving mining heritage was brought back to life.

The quarry at Nant Gwrtheyrn launched operations in 1861, adjacent to Porth y Nant, which now serves as a cherished language centre at the forefront of campaigns to revitalise the Welsh language.

In this remote community, residents’ existence centred around extracting and transporting Nant Gwrtheyrn stone for road surfacing – dispatching materials primarily via the Irish Sea, which resulted in scant interaction with the wider world, according to Nant Gwrtheyrn.

History.

When demand plummeted during the early stages of World War Two, the quarry closed, abandoning the local community to desolation. The worldwide conflict brought production to a standstill, reports Wales Online.

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The villagers left and their homes fell to ruin. Apart from a brief spell in the 1860s when a handful of outsiders attempted to rejuvenate the settlement, the village stood deserted.

Visitors can step back in time to the era when quarry labourers lived in the local cottages by exploring the quarryman’s cottage. This dwelling and all its contents have been recreated to demonstrate how a quarryman and his family would have existed in 1910.

Subsequently, the location received an injection of funding that would construct a new school – which was eventually taken over by a local trust, spearheaded by Dr Carl Clowes, who established it to create a Welsh language centre.

Tre’r Ceiri.

Close by stands Tre’r Ceiri – among Wales’ most impressive ancient sites.

Initially documented by Thomas Pennant, the renowned author of ‘Tours of Wales’, this represents some of the earliest archaeological proof of existence within the Iron Age hillforts scattered across the elevated terrain surrounding Nant Gwrtheyrn.

Both Tre’r Ceiri and Yr Eifl saw habitation from 150 BC through to 400 AD – our knowledge of them remains limited, though we understand they relied substantially on locally sourced iron, which was traded and exported.

Debs wrote on Trip Advisor: “What a fabulously tranquil place. We spent several hours here, walking and enjoying the peace and quiet. Found the history of Nant Gwrtheryn fascinating.

“We sampled the tasty cakes in the cafe. Would highly recommend a visit. We will most certainly return.”

One visitor said: “What a beautiful place. The Welsh Language Centre. The story behind the revival of this village is inspirational. The vision on a local doctor and the surrounding communities is worthy of a Hollywood film.

“The views are breathtaking and the road down is incredibly steep but worth it.

“We had breakfast in the cafe. Highly recommended good quality produce and full flavoured coffee. Another great plus was the indoor seating where we could have food with our dog.

“The lady who greeted us was so welcoming and friendly too. Just a beautiful place great walks too.”

Tandy’s response to heavy opening defeats against England and France, in which Wales conceded 15 tries and 102 points, was to make four changes.

Uncapped Leicester wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Scarlets fly-half Sam Costelow , Dragons second-row Ben Carter and Scarlets flanker Taine Plumtree coming in for Ellis Mee, Dan Edwards, Adam Beard and Olly Cracknell.

Wales made shocking starts in the opening two games but ensured that was not the case on this occasion.

Plumtree and Hamer-Webb both picked up injuries in the opening two minutes. Hamer-Webb was forced off briefly with a bloody nose before Plumtree was permanently replaced by James Botham because of a shoulder problem.

Wales’ discipline was again poor in the opening exchanges with two soft penalties, before Joe Hawkins was sent to the bunker for a high tackle on Scotland flanker Gregor Brown, who had moved from lock to the back row from the victory over England to replace the injured Jamie Ritchie.

Wing Josh Adams made a couple of important early interventions with a crucial tackle on Scotland centre Huw Jones followed by a vital interception.

Wales rallied with 14 men and after a searing break from scrum-half Tomos Williams, the home side produced an identical successful tap penalty move to last week when Carre dived over after the initial drive from Lake.

Hawkins’ card remained yellow as it was deemed a passive tackle but it was still an 11th sin-binning in Tandy’s seven games in charge.

Scotland took advantage of the extra back with a sweeping move that was finished by Steyn.

Hawkins returned and his fellow Scarlets centre Eddie James, along with Lake, Carre and flanker Alex Mann, laid the foundations for Adams to cross for his 24th Wales try.

Costelow, who was starting his first game since July 2025 with Edwards having played the past seven games, converted from the touchline.

Botham was outstanding after his early introduction and a turnover laid the foundations for a Costelow penalty.

Scotland made a couple of early tactical substitutions as prop Pierre Schoeman and back rower Josh Bayliss came on for Nathan McBeth and Max Williamson, with Brown reverting to lock.

After another storming Steyn break, a vital Mann turnover forced a penalty as Wales led 17-5 at half-time, the first time the home side had led under Tandy at the interval.

Arguably it was Wales’ worst performance of the opening three rounds but they still had enough to avoid only a second home Six Nations defeat to the Scots.

The visitors, who started with an impressive win in Italy and then pushed England hard, will lament missed opportunities when they had the wind at their backs.

With both head coaches of the senior teams, Steve Tandy and Gregor Townsend, in attendance it was the hosts that started sharply.

They were 11-0 up after 12 minutes thanks to Exeter lock Evans going over from close range and a pair of booming penalties by Leggatt-Jones.

The second try came in the 16th minute after fast hands released Tom Bowen down the left and the wing stayed calm to put centre, and Cardiff clubmate, Cutts over for a try on debut.

Scotland needed a response but were denied one when a try from a snipe by scrum-half Hamish MacArthur, one of nine Edinburgh players in the XV, was chalked off due to a neck roll in the build-up.

The final act of a scrappy first half was a third Leggatt-Jones penalty to stretch the lead to 19-0.

The Scots were held up over the line three minutes after the restart but were over through Glasgow centre Waugh from a neat offload by rangy fly-half Jack Dalziel.

Scrum-half MacArthur converted to make it 19-7 but Wales caught the visitors cold with a rare attacking foray in the 52nd minute.

Impressive captain Deian Gwynn burst into the 22 from a cunning line-out move for Leggatt-Jones to find the unmarked Scott with a cross-kick that the debutant did well to gather in the challenging wind.

The nerves were settled and Wales sealed victory on the hour when hooker Howe, their star of the tournament so far, barged over.

Scotland finished hunting a pair of bonus points thanks to tries by Marshall and Rennie but late chances went begging and it was a pointless trip.

After a rest weekend, Wales take on Ireland in Cork while Scotland welcome France to Edinburgh.

A woman has shared her pride after a stunning Welsh beach was named the best beach in the UK by TripAdvisor – and the stunning footage shows exactly what makes it special

A stroll along the beach is a brilliant way to boost both physical and mental well-being, making it an ideal weekend activity, provided it’s not absolutely chucking it down. A Welsh woman, Sian, expressed her pride upon discovering that the beach named the best in the UK by TripAdvisor is located in her homeland.

Rhossili Bay, situated on the westernmost point of the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, consistently ranks amongst the finest beaches in the UK and Europe, and Sian believes it’s “not hard to see why”. Captioning her TikTok clip, she wrote: “Rhossili Bay has been voted TripAdvisor’s best beach in the UK. Honestly, it’s not hard to see why. Endless golden sands, wild Atlantic waves, and sunsets that stop you in your tracks.”

Sian then showcased a video montage featuring various snippets she’d captured of the stunning beach, from the entrance to the hill offering panoramic views over the beach, and a breathtaking sunset she had the fortune to witness.

In the comments section, users were swift to praise the beach as “very special,” and noted that people “don’t call it God’s country for nothing”. This nickname is often bestowed upon Wales due to its dramatic landscapes and spiritual historical significance.

Another user chimed in: “This is one of my all-time favourite places”.

What does TripAdvisor have to say?

Many others on TripAdvisor share the same sentiment. The beach boasts an impressive 4.8 out of five rating on the site, which says: “Rhossili Bay lies at the western end of the beautiful Gower peninsula. Three miles of golden sands, iconic landscapes including Worms Head and Rhossili Down and history everywhere, from neolithic through to the more recent, including home to Edgar Evans.

“It’s a haven for walkers, with trails in all directions, including the Welsh Coastal Path. The beach welcomes dogs throughout the year, and the entire area is stunning regardless of the weather.”

“Today, the National Trust looks after two of the three miles of the beach, Rhossili Down, and most of the coastline between Rhossili and Port Eynon (26 miles of Gower coastline in total). The landscape is free. The village of Rhossili also hosts other private businesses. The car park is free to NT (National Trust) members during the day.

“Non-members are currently charged £5 per day (car). There is no overnight parking/camping. All profits from the car park go towards maintaining the area’s beauty. Please note that the toilets are owned and operated by Swansea Council.”

Public reviews also sing praises of the stunning beach. One visitor wrote: “During our trip to the Gower Peninsula, we also visited the beautiful Rhossili Bay. The stretch of beach there is rightly regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in Wales.”

Another visitor enthused: “One of the most beautiful views you will see – in the UK or even in Europe. It is well-maintained. There are walks, but the views are reasonably accessible for those with mobility issues. Highly recommended.”

However, not everyone was smitten, with one critic labelling it as: “Pitiful, boring, uninspiring. Total waste of time and money.” But they were in the minority.

A third person recounted: “We were blessed with a warm sunny day when we arrived here for a look around. We parked in the NT car park (free with membership) and had a lovely walk along the coastal path, enjoying the fresh air and the views over the bay.

“There are walks of varying lengths, and it is well worth a visit. There are toilets and a few cafes to have a drink and some food too!”

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The Fiji fixture is not Wales’ game to organise.

Wales traditionally play their home matches at the Principality Stadium but this contest is considered an away match with Fiji being the hosts.

Similarly, the invitational Barbarians will be the “home” side when they face Wales at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on Saturday, 27 June.

Fiji are set to play their Nations Championship home matches at venues outside their own country, given the logistical difficulties of travel to the Pacific Islands and the ability to maximise revenue at larger grounds elsewhere.

Fiji face England in the second round of fixtures, before finishing the July group stages against Scotland.

The Principality Stadium is also continuing the tradition of hosting a number of non-rugby events this summer, so is unavailable to stage matches in late June and early July.

There are no official events yet listed in the Principality Stadium calendar for July, but rock group Metallica are holding a concert in Cardiff on Sunday, 28 June, 12 days after Take That have played in the Welsh capital.

Wales will host Japan, New Zealand and Australia at the Principality Stadium in November in the second half of the Nations Championship.

People are witnessing the demise of Wales, a country that have enjoyed Six Nations success and Grand Slam victories over the past two decades.

The dedicated fans will try to stick by their beloved side through thick and thin but it has proved a turbulent time since the 2023 World Cup.

Wales have lost 22 of the past 24 internationals, which included an 18-match losing sequence, with the only two victories coming against Japan.

There have been 12 straight Six Nations defeats, a record now stretching back 1,072 days to when Wales beat Italy in Rome in March 2023.

And there are very few home comforts, with Wales having not won a match in Cardiff in the tournament for four years since defeating Scotland in February 2022. That was 1,464 days ago.

It has also been the manner of humbling home defeats in recent times, with heavy record losses to England (68-14), Argentina (52-28) and South Africa (73-0).

Even the loss to New Zealand in November, which has been held up as Wales showing some green shoots of recovery, was a 52-26 loss.

Despite the results, captain Dewi Lake has extolled the Principality Stadium surroundings.

“It is our ground, the best stadium in the world and we are excited to be back home,” said Lake.

“Our goal with our game on the pitch is to get the fans involved, to give them life and energy because that feeds back onto us.”

Wales need to back up those rousing words with actions.

League A

Group A1: France, Italy, Belgium, Turkey

Group A2: Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece

Group A3: Spain, Croatia, England, Czech Republic

Group A4: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Wales

League B

Group B1: Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, North Macedonia

Group B2: Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia, Northern Ireland

Group B3: Israel, Austria, Republic of Ireland, Kosovo

Group B4: Poland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania, Sweden

League C

Group C1: Albania, Finland, Belarus, San Marino

Group C2: Montenegro, Armenia, Cyprus, Gibraltar/Latvia*

Group C3: Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Faroe Islands, Moldova

Group C4: Iceland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Luxembourg/Malta*

League D

Group D1: Gibraltar/Latvia, Luxembourg/Malta, Andorra

Group D2: Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein

*Gibraltar and Latvia, and Luxembourg and Malta, will contest play-offs in March to determine who will play in Leagues C and D.

Wales have appointed Paul James to replace scrum coach Duncan Jones who suffered a ‘freak injury’ in training.

Jones, 47, has had surgery after injuring both knees following an accidental collision during a live training session last week.

His fellow Ospreys coach James, 43, will step into the role for the rest of the Six Nations, following the opening 48-7 defeat against England.

James, who won 66 caps, has been coaching with the Ospreys since December 2018 and was scrum and set-piece coach for Wales Under-20 in 2021.

“It’s great to add Paul to the coaching team and my thanks to the Ospreys for enabling this opportunity at short notice,” said Wales head coach Steve Tandy.

“We’re all disappointed for Duncan with his injury. He’s been a huge part of the environment will be missed around the group and we wish him all the best with his recovery.”

Powell’s parents are Lucy – one of John’s four children – and Meirion, from Caerphilly, who left Wales for Australia in 2003.

The family would return to these shores to visit their many relatives, with Powell remembering how “dadcu” – Welsh for grandfather – “didn’t stress about anything”.

“I have many memories with him,” Powell said. “But the memories I have are not of the rugby legend Barry John. He was dadcu to all of us.

“He would throw sweets at us in his flat overlooking Llandaff fields. He would tell stories. He was so calm and relaxed and funny.”

When Powell was tasked with doing a school project on a family member, John was the obvious choice.

As a result she rang him for information on his legendary career in which he played for Llanelli, Cardiff, Wales and the British and Irish Lions.

“He was so animated – he would bring up the matches and I could visualise everything. He was such a great storyteller,” she said.

“You could tell he had so much pride for Wales. But he wouldn’t say ‘I did this, I was so amazing’, he praised everyone.

“He said [Sir] Gareth [Edwards] and JPR [Williams] were great players to play with. He would talk about the joy of playing as opposed to what he did.”

From the vast sandy surf beaches of the Gower to the peaks of Eryri national park (Snowdonia), Wales has no shortage of world-class natural attractions. But we’d love to hear about some of your favourite under-the-radar discoveries, whether it be a perfect hiking or biking trail, an intriguing small museum or attraction, or just an unexpected diversion which turned into the highlight of your trip.

The best tip of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet wins a £200 voucher to stay at a Coolstays property – the company has more than 3,000 worldwide. The best tips will appear in the Guardian Travel section and website.

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France arrive in Cardiff next Sunday with Wales searching for a first Six Nations home win in four years.

The calamitous state of Welsh rugby means the WRU are struggling to sell out their three home games this year, with thousands of tickets still available for next weekend.

Tandy hopes Wales will receive the usual home backing.

“The fans have been amazing support for the team,” said Tandy.

“We know what it means to the boys to play in the Principality Stadium and the fans give them huge belief.”

Whether the Wales head coach will make changes remains to be seen as he balances reacting to an underwhelming display and the need to develop a settled side.

He says there would be no “knee-jerk reaction” and full-back Louis Rees-Zammit appears to have done enough to keep the number 15 jersey.

The former NFL triallist was making his first Six Nations appearance for almost three years and is settling into a new position after switching from the wing.

After a shaky start where he had an early kick charged down, Rees-Zammit settled down and produced one searing second-half break.

“He did well in his first start at 15 in a while for us,” said Tandy.

“In Test match rugby, there’s not much space but I thought he adapted with the aerial battles.

“He’s a big man and lit the game up in moments. It’s looking how we can get more of those moments.”

So maybe one thing for Welsh fans hold onto. There is currently not much more.

Ashley Polson, from Swansea, recently climbed a famous mountain. Though he was happy to take on the trek, as was left floored after making an unexpected discovery at the top

Pen y Fan stands as one of Wales’ most beloved hiking destinations, drawing adventurers who’ve braved the ascent in all sorts of conditions. Ashley Polson, from Swansea, is among those who’ve experienced just how demanding the climb can be, having recently shared footage of his morning expedition.

Just days ago, he made his way to the Brecon Beacons to take in the views from the renowned peak, only to encounter an unexpected twist. Upon reaching the summit at 10am, he confessed it was “absolutely Baltic”, and that was merely the beginning of his tale.

Ashley isn’t alone in recording the challenges faced on the mountain. Only months earlier, another hiker revealed that Pen y Fan doesn’t always live up to expectations.

In footage posted to TikTok, Ashley remarked: “While you’re all tucked up in bed, in the warm, I’m up here. Pen y Fan. Oh my god, it is freezing up here.

“I’m up here today for a walk event, some people are running. I’m just walking, I’ve got my sticks. I don’t know if you can hear me, but that’s the top up there.

“It’s snowing. To be honest with you, I feel like I’m going to get blown off before I get back down. I was going to say lovely views up Pen y Fan, but it’s f*****g freezing. So yeah, lovely morning walk, great.”

Ashley cheekily titled his video “scenic walk up Pen y Fan”, seemingly poking fun at the reality that visibility was virtually non-existent. The weather conditions meant he was robbed of the panoramic views, with thick fog obscuring everything.

Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Fortunately, Ashley maintained his sense of humour throughout, appearing upbeat despite being greeted by nothing but a wall of mist instead of the anticipated scenery.

His clip clearly resonated with viewers, racking up hundreds of views. Many were quick to leave comments sharing their own experiences.

One viewer remarked: “I’ve been there. It’s so cold.” Meanwhile, another expressed Welsh pride, commenting: “At our doorstep.”

Ashley responded: “We’re lucky to have all this local.” It’s evident he takes pride in residing in such a stunning nation, though moments like these are undeniably amusing.

Ashley may be familiar to some, as he’s gained recognition for creating viral content about Wales alongside his brother. The duo regularly entertain online audiences with their comedic sketches and humorous footage.

Where is Pen y Fan?

For those unfamiliar, Pen y Fan rises to 886 metres (2,907 ft) and sits within the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. It holds the distinction of being the tallest peak in South Wales and southern Britain.

The location draws countless walkers thanks to its spectacular vistas and demanding yet manageable trails. A four-mile circular path proves particularly appealing to visitors.

In terms of difficulty, the trek ranks as moderately to seriously challenging. Walkers should expect sharp inclines, rocky ground and frequently waterlogged paths.

Although accessible throughout most of the year, its popularity means arriving during morning is advisable to dodge the masses.

The scent of hand-poured candles filled the air in the Little Welsh Dresser, one of Llandeilo’s clutch of arts and crafts shops. This vibrant Welsh market town is a creative spot – it’s where the famous Dinefwr wool blankets are woven and boasts many galleries and antique stores – and is a pretty place to wander. Our eyes land on the rows of handmade cards and mugs stamped with Welsh words. One said: Cwtch. Pronounced “kutch” , it has no direct translation into English. “It’s a big, warm hug,” said the shop owner, “but also it’s a feeling, a sense of belonging,” – and a word that would come to define our weekend.

We – I was travelling with my friend, Anna – were here to try out Discover Carmarthenshire’s new “The Sisterhood” breaks that tap into the growing trend of women swapping prosecco-fuelled girlie weekends for trips that focus on new skills and wellbeing experiences. For those wanting pre-curated stays there’s a Sisterhood Sorted section on the website, but groups of any size can create a bespoke trip by selecting west, central or coastal Carmarthenshire, choosing from a list of places to stay (from barns to glamping pods ), and then selecting experiences led by Wild Kin, a collection potters, painters, coastal foragers, horse whisperers, walking guides, makers and massage therapists.

We’d chosen Ardderfin Farmhouse on the outskirts of historic Carmarthen, a rustic stone cottage with a clawfoot bath and huge open fireplace . It reminded us of the cottage in the film The Holiday.

After settling in, we drove 15 minutes into town for dinner. “Carmarthen is still a community of farmers and the Women’s Instituteis still massive here,” said Rachel Williams, owner of the New Curiosity – a weekends-only, seasonal-menu restaurant she runs with her husband-chef, Daniel. “Everyone at our tables tends to know each other – my home is your home,” she said, as I tucked in to a perfectly pink Welsh sirloin.

Saturday brought low sun that splayed silhouettes of the skeletal trees across the frosted fields as we wended up into the hills to meet Yoka Kilkelly, AKA the “Dutch potter on the hill”, who runs her Siramik pottery studioout of a converted barn on a sheep farm. Inside, the slate stone walls were spattered with flecks of clay.

We started with wedging – kneading the clay to soften it, make its texture consistent and ensure there are no air bubbles in it. It requires serious heft. “No potter has bingo wings,” smiled Yoka, as we struggled away while she made her clay look as soft as bread dough. We portioned our clay into four, thwacked a lump on to the potter’s wheel and started coaxing it into shape as it span. “A person’s personality shapes their pot,” said Yoka. My clay morphed into coffee cups and Anna’s turned into a bowl, which we later daubed with a glaze. “It’s a mindful practice,” she added. With shards of winter sun spearing through the studio windows and the sensation of earthy clay spinning in my palms, I did feel very present.

In the afternoon, we drove toward Llansteffan for a short walk along the sands of the Tywi estuary. Atop a hill was the crenelated shadow of 800-year-old Llansteffan Castle. The tide had drawn back, leaving a trail of bone-white cockle shells and shallow pools that reflected the pinkening sunset. Anna, a keen birder, was scanning for curlews and egrets, camera at the ready. It’s not often I get to see her in her element.

We returned to Ardderfin Farmhouse to find our next activity waiting. Lowri Johnston is a yoga teacher and organic flower farmer based in nearby Nantgaredig. We lit the fire in the living room and she guided us through a gentle session. Then, fuelled by brownies she’d brought from a local bakery, she taught us to make willow wreaths gilded with ivy, eucalyptus, pine cones and dried dahlias foraged from her own farm, slowly warming the willow first to coax it into a circle.

“I love doing this because it embeds people in the seasons and land,” Lowri said. She told us that the Welsh word for sisterhood is chwaeroliaeth. “It means ‘sisters together.’ In Wales we have a history of women meeting, especially while making food – milking, churning butter, that sort of thing.”

After Lowri left us, Anna and I dined on a gourmet picnic of homemade meatballs in tomato sauce followed by ginger cake with toffee sauce that had been delivered by Wright’s Food. We revived the fire, and sat in deep sofas talking until the wee hours as the embering wood hissed and crackled.

Sunday dawned with rain drifting across the fields. I nudged the car toward Newcastle Emlyn to meet primary school teacher turned jeweller Elen Bowen, who runs silver and gold jewellery making workshops at her home. She only turned her hand to it in 2023 after having twin girls and deciding on a career change. “I thought, heck, I’ll start an Instagram page and see how it goes – and it snowballed!” This year, she was selected to craft the crown for best story writer in the National Eisteddfod – Wales’ largest annual festival celebrating Welsh literature, music and arts.

Anna chose to make a bracelet; I decided on a ring. And with Elen’s guidance, we hammered, soldered and polished, bringing our own personalities to the piece, as we had with the pottery. After, we gathered around the table to share bowlfuls of her homemade cawl – Welsh stew.

By the time we left, and had hugged goodbye every woman we’d met, I thought back to the mug printed with cwtch – how it wasn’t just a hug, but a sense of being gathered in by each of the creators we’d spent time with. It was the perfect word for a weekend crafted together with fun, food and a deeper sense of closeness to each other.

The trip was provided by Discover Carmarthenshire’s Sisterhood Campaign. Ardderfin Farmhouse sleeps 8 adults, from £772 for two nights. Activities (based on a group of 6+) include a half-day pottery workshop with Siramik from £80pp; yoga and wreath-making with Lowri Johnston for £90pp; and a jewellery workshop with Elen Bowen for £130pp, including lunch

As a poster boy of world rugby, Rees-Zammit’s return to the Six Nations is not only a boost for Wales, but for fans and media alike.

“I try to not focus on that,” Rees-Zammit said.

“Everything that I’ve had off the field has come from my skills in rugby, and obviously going to America brought a new audience, but it’s all about performance.

“You’ve got Henry Pollock going through the same thing, he’s burst on to the scene and is playing unbelievably.”

And while England’s Pollock ruffles a few feathers, Rees-Zammit believes it is for the good of the game.

“You’ve got to try and bring your personality out when it comes to rugby, because a lot of it gets shut down,” he added.

“Henry is doing a great job of bringing his personality to the game and we need more people like that, it’ll just grow the sport.

“He obviously gets stick for it, and I got stick for it when I was younger, but you just go through it.”

You can watch Sarra Elgan’s Six Nations 2026 Preview at 19:00 on Wednesday, 4 February on BBC One Wales and iPlayer.

Wainwright’s family were in the stands when he won his first cap in Wales’ historic 13-12 win against South Africa in Bloemfontein – the only time the men’s national team has won a game against the Springboks on their soil.

The prop from Prestatyn, then with Saracens after earning a move from Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC), helped win a scrum penalty that set up field position for Josh Adams’ late try that was converted by Gareth Anscombe.

Wainwright was able to celebrate with his father, who was instrumental on his rise to Test level.

“He was a huge influence,” said the prop. “We were best friends and he did everything with me.

“He was one of the biggest support networks for me and when I got the call-up I thought about him a lot, it was quite emotional.

“We’d speak about everything and he’d watch every game. When I was at the Scarlets he would tell me what to pick up on after every game.

“He was unbelievable for me and that’s why getting this call up was a bit emotional for me. He would have been proud of me – 1,000%.”

A former rugby league player and a construction worker, Shaun ensured that Sam was able to give RGC his full attention.

“I told him I wanted to follow his route and have the rugby alongside it, but he would never let me do it,” said Wainwright, whose exploits earned a chance with Saracens in 2019.

“He said ‘I do this, not you – you just focus on the rugby’. I was part-time at RGC and got a wage, but my dad just told me to eat and sleep rugby.”