Welsh

John Higgins remained on course for a sixth Welsh Open title after brushing aside Zhou Yuelong in the quarter-final.

The Scot clinched three scrappy frames before making breaks of 75 and 67 to win the contest 5-0.

Higgins will meet Jack Lisowski in the semi-final after he defeated 2017 champion Stuart Bingham 5-2.

Lisowski stormed into a 4-0 lead in Llandudno, with breaks of 70 and 118, before Bingham wrestled two frames back.

But Lisowski, who won his first ranking title at the Northern Ireland Open in October, held his composure to seal victory.

Cardiff: Winnett; Beetham, Millard, B Thomas, Grady; Sheedy, A Davies; Barratt, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, Nott, Lawrence, D Thomas, Basham.

Replacements: D Hughes, Southworth, Assiratti, Thornton, E Rees, Mulder, I Lloyd, Bowen.

Yellow card: Beetham 65

Leinster: O’Brien; Kenny, Ioane, Henshaw, Moloney, Byrne; Gunne, Cahir, McKee, Sparrow, Spicer, Deeny, Deegan (capt), Penny, Culhane.

Replacements: McCarthy, Usanov, Slimani, Snyman, Ericson, McGrath, Tector, Osborne.

Yellow card: Tector 12

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) & Carwyn Sion (Wales)

TMO: David Sutherland (Scotland)

Hawkins will meet another two-time champion, Neil Robertson, in the last eight after the Australian edged Welshman Jones 4-3.

Jones had made a flying start with a 126 break, before Robertson responded in kind with a 122 break.

With the match later tied at 3-3, Robertson came out on top of the deciding seventh frame to claim victory.

Jones’ exit left Page as the only Welsh hope, but he was beaten by Jack Lisowski who amassed breaks of 67, 84, 99 and 54 in a convincing 4-2 victory.

Lisowski will be hoping his tournament form continues when he takes on fellow Englishman and 2017 champion Stuart Bingham, who beat Chinese world champion Zhao Xintong 4-2.

It was an excellent first day for the Welsh players, as Jak Jones, Dylan Emery and Mark Williams all won their first-round matches.

Jones took a comfortable 4-1 win over England’s Liam Highfield, while Emery shocked China’s Lei Peifan with a deciding-frame victory.

Home favourite Williams – who was the last Welsh player to win the title back in 1999 – overcame Michael Holt to win 4-2 and set up a second-round match against Martin O’Donnell or Tom Ford.

England’s Robbie Williams knocked out world number 16 Si Jiahui with a 4-2 win.

Williams will face last year’s runner-up and former Welsh Open winner Stephen Maguire in the second round after his come-from-behind win over Ricky Walden.

Barry Hawkins was forced to go the distance against fellow Englishman David Lilley, though the 12th seed came out on top with a 4-3 win, sealing his win with a 108 break in the decider.

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.”

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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In the UK, there is a proud tradition of naming long-distance walking paths after talented reprobates. I mean the various opium fiends, international terrorists and child murderers who make up our colourful national tapestry (see the Coleridge Way, Drake’s Trail and the Richard III Trail). So perhaps a 30-mile weekend walk dedicated to the Mortimers, and their most notorious scion, Sir Roger, is an appropriate addition to the weave.

After all, this is the man who allegedly slept with a reigning queen (Isabella), probably killed her husband (Edward II), and certainly became de facto tyrant of the realm for three turbulent years in the 1320s, feathering his own nest relentlessly during that time. They don’t make world leaders like that any longer, do they?

Roger’s stomping ground, however, was not where you might expect: he was a marcher lord on the Welsh border, and his family trail wends its way through tranquil countryside from Ludlow in Shropshire to the quiet Herefordshire border town of Kington, the perfect distance for a weekend hike. But can such a location, so peaceful and orderly today, live up to the outrageous standards of Sir Roger? The Mortimer Trail itself has existed for some years, but now a new guidebook and app have brought this magnificently horrid hero back into the limelight.

I start then in Ludlow, a town now famous for its foodie traditions, but also a place that oozes history throughout its crooked lanes. Walking down Broad Street, I admire the bay window of The Angel, from which Horatio Nelson waved to the crowd in 1802, with his left hand, of course. Local legend has it that the hero of the Battle of the Nile leaned out the window and shouted, “Thank you for the oak,” to the adoring crowd below. Behind him stood Emma Hamilton, his mistress, and her husband, Sir William, the trailing third in a menage that would thrill the British public until Nelson died at Trafalgar in 1805. (The Angel restaurant is currently closed but will reopen soon.)

I get my lunch under the walls of the castle at CSONS, one of Ludlow’s celebrated cafes. There is a lot of good food in this town, plus an excellent farmer’s market and at least three “parlour pubs” – front room pubs marked only by a lamp outside and often serving only one type of beer from a cask.

The castle in Ludlow is really the start of the trail, being the seat of English borderland power in medieval times and worth a detour. Look out for the solar wing, built for Queen Isabella who stayed here in 1328. Sir Roger’s wife, Joan, was also in attendance, apparently, but slept in a different wing. History has not recorded where Sir Roger spent the night; no doubt Netflix will, when they get hold of the story.

The trail sets off across Dinham Bridge, climbing up into Mortimer Forest with great views back to the castle. Watch out for the deer and goshawks that are resident in this ancient woodland. My first night is in Salwey Lodge whose farming owners, Arabella and Hugo, not only organise walks along the trail, but have devised their own handy guiding app. They also shuttle visitors around, so no car is needed (Ludlow is on the main railway line between Shrewsbury and Hereford).

The lodge proves to be the perfect place to get into the ambience of a regicide like Sir Roger. An ancestor of the Salweys was sent to the Tower for anti-monarchial tendencies and was implicated in the Farnley Wood Plot of 1663. Richard’s Castle, close to the lodge, is where he is thought to have lived, but little remains, although there is a lovely decommissioned 12th-century church worth visiting. The lodge is atmospheric, lined with the type of ancient ancestral oil portraits that most families, including my own, inadvertently forgot to commission. The superlative food comes from the house’s vegetable garden, the farm and local suppliers.

Day two of the walk takes me up through more woodland to fabulous views of the Shropshire countryside, notably from an iron age hill fort at Croft Ambrey, abandoned after six centuries of occupation at around the time of Emperor Claudius’s invasion in AD 43.

I pass only a handful of people on the path during the entire weekend, but see plenty of reminders that this area was once a highly militarised and dangerous borderland. All through the middle ages, the Welsh kept up a sturdy resistance to the Norman conquerors, who responded with unwavering brutality. Sir Roger, of course, was right there in thick of it until the newly crowned Edward III had the insufferable upstart hanged at Tyburn. (The ruins of Roger’s main residence, Wigmore Castle, can be seen from Croft Ambrey, but rather inexplicably the trail does not go there. The closest diversion would add five miles.)

The path rolls along pleasantly, unveiling magnificent panoramas of the Welsh mountains, before dropping down to the River Lugg and an overnight stop at the Riverside Inn. The food here is excellent, serving the kind of breakfast that, without some self-restraint, could nail you to an early siesta rather than set up a big day of hiking.

This starts with a long ramble by the river, then up into quiet woodlands and high heaths, with plenty of historical military madness. The serene church at Byton was sacked several times by angry Welsh nobles, including the last Welsh king, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, and later Owain Glyndŵr. The Mortimers, of course, were always in the mix. Llywelyn was killed in 1282 by the forces of Edmund Mortimer, Roger’s father, and then another Edmund, Roger’s great-grandson, cocked a snook at Henry IV by marrying Glyndŵr’s daughter, Catrin, in 1402.

It is possible to shorten this third day at a 12-mile limit, finishing at the church in Titley, but for me it’s much better to press on, rising up towards the Welsh border and a meeting with the ultimate symbol of militarisation and tribal anxiety, Offa’s Dyke. The path curls up across a featureless mountain pasture, and there it is – the formidable security wall of its day, designed to keep two irredeemably hostile peoples apart, now a little ripple in the earth which sheep use to see if there’s more grass in the next field. Sit down and ruminate on human folly before striding into Kington where there’s a decent cafe, the Border Bean, and wait for Arabella to collect you.

The trip was supported by Visit Shropshire. Download the new Mortimer Trail guidebook or buy it in Castle Bookshop, Ludlow. Salwey Lodge offers a four-night Mortimer Trail package that includes accommodation at the lodge and Riverside Inn, walking information, breakfasts, packed lunches, one dinner and local transfers for £560 per person

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.