Gair Rhydd

Dragon Relay roars into Cardiff

Officer Training Cadets from Welsh universities take part in impressive relay across Wales

This Friday, Cardiff will be welcoming the arrival of runners from the Wales Universities’ Officer Training Corps (WUOTC) as they complete the final leg of the 2010 Dragon Relay.

The relay, which began last week, sees event organisers 2nd Lt Tom Limb and OCdt Freddie Rider, from Aberystwyth University, run 284 miles around Wales – running an average of 32 miles a day over a total of nine days.

Oli Franklin gives The Word On... Rafa Benitez's highs and lows at Liverpool

So it’s finally happened – last week Rafa Benitez left Liverpool after a ‘mutual agreement’ with the club’s board. His departure was rumoured for months – even during mid-season there were some calling for his resignation after a lacklustre year in all competitions. The much-touted move to out-of-sorts Italian giants Juventus fell through weeks ago, due to Benitez’s seeming determination to stay on Merseyside. How he will be regretting that decision now.

There were many among the Liverpool faithful that remained a Rafa supporter until the very end, although those die-hard few had little to base that on in the closing weeks of the season other than blind loyalty. His tenure was fairly successful – he will no doubt go down in the club’s history for the 2005 Champion’s League win, in particular the final against Milan in Istanbul, and the 2006 FA cup win. However, since those early successes, he has done little to reassert himself as a manager worthy of a club with such an esteemed history.

Twenty20: Editors' Predictions

Adam Horne:

Some may say this is an outside bet but Somerset have a great blend of home-grown talent and great overseas players. Criag Kieswetter has recently come back from Englands World Cup triumph and will be on top form this season. Criag and Trescothick will shape up to be a dominant top order and could bat their way to Somerset glory. Sussex do look even stronger this year but I still think Somerset will lift the trophy.

Alex Bywater predicts an open and exciting season ahead in the upcoming Twenty20 cricket tournament

After England’s Twenty20 World Cup win in the Caribbean and with this seasons’ Friends Provident T20 beginning last week, Crickets’ shortest form of the game is now even more popular than before.

England’s brilliant success in the West Indies was based on a strong team performance in all aspects of the game. Arguably though, it was some of County Crickets most consistent performers, such as Michael Lumb, Craig Kieswetter and Tim Bresnan, who were key to the victory. Having honed their skills in domestic Twenty20 cricket, there can be no doubt that the newly renamed Friends Provident T20 offers some of the best cricket around.

European glory for the Blues

The Cardiff Blues made history in the blistering French sun last weekend, as they became the first Welsh side to win a European trophy in 15 years of competition.

Toulon, from the south of France, were the much fancied side going into the match, and had the vast majority of support from the near 50,000 strong crowd. Yet the Cardiff Blues produced a fantastic display of battling rugby and clinical finishing to claim the Amlin Challenge Cup, in a game which finished 28-21.

Robbie Wells gives The Word On...Blackpool's Premiership prospects

Since the Premier League – the greatest league in the world – began in 1992, there’s been some truly awful teams promoted to it.

With the likes of Swindon Town (often unfairly cited as the worst Premiership team), Mick McCarthy’s lacklustre Sunderland side, and Paul Jewell’s catastrophic Derby team, who managed just 11 points from 38 games two seasons ago, it is easy to think that the gap in quality between the top two leagues in England is becoming larger by the season.

Previews in brief

England v Bangladesh: Second Test

England take on Bangladesh in two Test matches prior to the main event of a Test Series against Pakistan later this Summer.

England really should, and undoubetdly will, dominate the Bangladeshi’s and the result is pretty much a foregone conclusion. However, like the tour to Bangladesh last winter, it gives fringe players the chance to impress the Selectors and Coach Andy Flower. Having made a strong start to the first Test, England will most probably be 1-0 up by the time the team move onto Old Trafford for the Second Test.

Wales v South Africa: Editors' Predictions

Adam Horne:

With the side South Africa have at their disposal I can’t look past them. Wales have had a pretty disappointing year in terms of rugby and I don’t see it getting much better in this fixture.

Lucy Morgan predicts a narrow win for Wales over South Africa as they kick off their summer campaign

This weekend Wales begin their tough Summer campaign as they play World Champions, South Africa, at the Millennium Stadium.

The match is a crucial one as Wales head to New Zealand – the toughest place to play rugby – later this month. If they can secure a victory over the Springboks on Saturday they will be able to head out there with added confidence.

Our Twenty20 vision

When England and One Day cricket are mentioned, what springs to mind first? Inconsistency? Naive team selection? Or just a poor standard of play? Arguably, England’s One Day performances have been dominated by these characteristics for the last decade or so.

The occasional uplifting success, such as the Commonwealth Bank One Day Series in Australia in 2006/07, has been swiftly followed by more disappointment.