Wales manager Chris Coleman has revealed he considered playing for Ireland but his Irish father Paddy told him to pledge his future to Wales.

Wales assistant coach Robin McBryde has issued a clear message to his side’s British and Irish Lions hopefuls — on the day Lions head coach Warren Gatland paid them a flying visit.

St Helen’s Rugby and Cricket Ground catches the eye as you drive down the coastal stretch that is Swansea’s Mumbles Road. A relic of times past, it is watched over by four archaic floodlights and its hotchpotch of stands and terraces sit gloriously at odds with each other like a bad set of teeth.

He may have packed his bags and left Paris for good, but Jonathan Sexton continues to hold a fascination for the French, some of whom have made no secret of their intent to target the Ireland number ten ahead of Sunday’s Pool D meeting between the sides in Cardiff.

A new dinosaur species has been discovered in Wales dating back 200 million years to the earliest Jurassic period, scientists say.

Beyond the work, the pressure and the spotlight, Eanna Falvey enjoyed the ride.

A British adventurer has achieved a world first after becoming the first person to cycle to the South Pole from the edge of the continent in just 10 days.

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS TOUR:

Sam Warburton might be captain of the 2013 British and Irish Lions — but he does not want or expect preferential selection treatment.

Big Fella Thanks bids to bag back-to-back victories over fences for the first time when he goes for a second success in the StanJames Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury.

JUST six months ago few had heard of Alex Cuthbert, even within Wales, yet now the Cardiff Blues wing has been caught by the trappings of fame.

SPIRIT Of Adjisa will carry top weight in the William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday.

IT’S close by, but not too close.

A MOTHER who killed her severely autistic son by strangling him told police she had sent him to the “kingdom of heaven” where he would be happy without the disability, a court heard.

Grade One Aintree staying novice hurdle winner Saint Are is set to go novice chasing next season.

Andy Powell’s Wasps future remains uncertain as the Aviva Premiership club continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding a London pub brawl that involved their Wales international.

Senior Wasps officials are understood to be “angry and frustrated” with Andy Powell, who has been suspended by the club after suffering a head wound in a bar-room brawl on Monday night.

Wales international Andy Powell has said he was knocked unconscious in a bar room brawl with football supporters that left him requiring hospital treatment.

The Metropolitan Police’s violent crime unit are investigating an incident in a west London pub which left Wales international Andy Powell with a head injury.

Wasps have suspended their international forwards Andy Powell and Tim Payne.

SHAUN EDWARDS was suspended from Wales’ Six Nations clash with France after a heated bust-up over the singing of an Irish folk song on the team bus.

The Football Association of Wales have announced the appointment of Gary Speed as the new Wales manager.

The three-month search for a new Wales manager finally comes to an end today with the expected appointment of Gary Speed.

GETHIN JENKINS has claimed Wales must be “a bit smarter” as they dust themselves down and prepare for Saturday’s Millennium Stadium appointment with world champions South Africa.

Injury-hit Wales have today suffered another potential blow ahead of next week’s autumn Test series opener against Australia in Cardiff.

Wales international rugby star Andy Powell was banned from driving for 15 months today after pleading guilty to driving a golf buggy while unfit through drink.

Wales international rugby star Andy Powell will appear in court today to face a charge of driving a golf buggy while drunk.

WALES lock Alun Wyn Jones will undergo surgery today on his elbow which will see him in recovery for six to 12 weeks, ruling him out of the rest of the RBS Six Nations championship.

Andy Powell has vowed to fight to get back into the Wales team after he was dropped from their RBS 6 Nations squad yesterday.

Back row forward Andy Powell has been removed from the 35-man Wales squad for the RBS 6 Nations with immediate effect, the Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed.

The Welsh Rugby Union will today continue to monitor the progress of a police investigation after Wales rugby star Andy Powell was arrested for driving a golf buggy after defeating Scotland in a thrilling RBS 6 Nations match.

WALES star Andy Powell, pictured, has been arrested for allegedly taking and driving away a golf buggy, hours after his team’s dramatic win over Scotland.

Ospreys and Wales full-back Lee Byrne is to appeal his two-week ban imposed after he entered the field as an illegal 16th player.

Ireland's Danielle McVeigh claimed the biggest win of her career with a one-stroke victory in the Ladies' British Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship at Royal Aberdeen.

A CRACKDOWN on sunbeds to protect children could be ordered after a hard-hitting report by experts advising the British government.

Evan Williams reports Deep Purple to be in good form – despite suffering a slight setback at Kempton over Christmas.

Charlotte Church has named her newborn son Dexter Lloyd Henson, her spokesman confirmed today.

Singer and presenter Charlotte Church today gave birth to her second child with rugby star Gavin Henson.

Thirteen-year-old identical twins Lisa and Leona Maguire have been named in the Great Britain and Ireland senior squad for the Vagliano Trophy against the Continent of Europe in Hamburg next July.

WALES coach Warren Gatland looks set to change a winning team when his Twickenham heroes continue their quest for the RBS 6 Nations title against Scotland in Cardiff next Saturday.

Wales coach Warren Gatland looks set to change a winning team when his Twickenham heroes continue their quest for the RBS 6 Nations title against Scotland in Cardiff next Saturday.