WELSH rugby fans are set for a strong line-up of festive fixtures after BBC Cymru Wales confirmed it will broadcast three BKT United Rugby Championship derbies over Christmas and New Year.

The matches will be shown live on Scrum V Live as part of a co-exclusive agreement with Premier Sports, meaning both broadcasters will carry the games simultaneously. The fixtures include Cardiff v Scarlets on Thursday, 19 December at 7:45pm, Cardiff v Dragons on Boxing Day at 3:00pm, and Ospreys v Cardiff on New Year’s Day at 5:30pm.

All three programmes will be presented by Catrin Heledd, with commentary from Gareth Rhys Owen. Former Wales stars Alun Wyn Jones and Jonathan “Fox” Davies are among the guests lined up to offer analysis.

Garmon Rhys, Interim Director of BBC Cymru Wales, said the broadcaster was pleased to showcase the festive derbies once again. He said the games had become a key part of many Welsh households’ Christmas sporting traditions and praised the production teams delivering the live coverage.

United Rugby Championship chief executive Martin Anayi welcomed the arrangement, describing the derbies as an important part of the Welsh rugby calendar and saying the partnership would help the matches reach as wide an audience as possible.

Calls for investment in transport as Principality Stadium confirmed as host

Wales is set to take centre stage in 2028 after UEFA confirmed that Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will host matches – including the opening game – of the Euro 2028 tournament.

The announcement has been welcomed across Welsh football, with senior figures saying the event will deliver a major boost to the economy, raise Wales’ global profile, and give supporters the chance to witness elite tournament football on home soil for the first time.

The Principality Stadium, which can host more than 70,000 spectators, was selected as part of the UK and Ireland joint bid. It will be the first time Wales has staged fixtures at a major men’s international tournament.

Transport concerns raised

Responding to the news, the Welsh Conservatives urged ministers in Cardiff Bay to address long-standing transport capacity issues and reconsider proposals for a tourism levy, arguing that both could affect the fan experience during the tournament.

Gareth Davies MS, the party’s Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and Sport, said: “This is fantastic news for Wales and will be a huge boost for the economy in Cardiff and beyond. It’s a brilliant opportunity to showcase our culture and our ability to host major international events on the world stage.

“We’ve already proven our credentials with the UEFA Champions League Final in 2017, and on an even bigger stage, I’m confident we can deliver an even better tournament experience.”

He added that Euro 2028 will be “a historic opportunity for Welsh fans to experience a major international tournament on home soil – something that will inspire a new generation of supporters and players alike.”

Davies said the Welsh Government should “rethink their toxic tourism tax to ensure visitors and fans can experience the best of Welsh hospitality.”

Background

The UK and Ireland were confirmed as hosts of Euro 2028 in October 2023 after Turkey withdrew from the bidding process. The tournament is expected to generate hundreds of millions of pounds in economic activity across the host nations through tourism, accommodation, transport, and hospitality spending.

Cardiff previously hosted the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final, the world’s largest annual sporting event, drawing an estimated 300,000 visitors to the city and providing a major test of transport and policing capabilities.

Exact fixtures for Euro 2028 will be confirmed closer to the tournament, but Cardiff’s opening match is expected to attract international attention and bring tens of thousands of overseas supporters to Wales.

Welsh Government ministers have previously said the tournament will be a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to showcase Wales on a global platform.

A CARMARTHEN fighter who once turned his life around after time behind bars is now making waves on the international bareknuckle boxing scene — and says he’s proud to represent West Wales on the toughest stage in the sport.

Luke Steele, from Carmarthen town, has become one of the leading names in Welsh bareknuckle boxing. Last year, he travelled to war-torn Ukraine to compete in Kyiv, where he fought against some of the toughest men in the sport at the height of the conflict.

“I became the first bareknuckle boxer from Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire,” Luke told The Herald. “I’ve fought against the toughest men on the planet — right in the heart of Kyiv.”

Since then, he has gone from strength to strength, earning the title of Featherweight Welsh Bareknuckle Boxing Champion. Now, he’s preparing for the biggest fight of his career — on December 13 — when he competes in the BKFC, a global platform backed by UFC star Conor McGregor.

The 28-year-old fighter says his journey shows that anyone can turn their life around: “I’ve gone from a dangerous prisoner to a professional athlete. I want people to see that it can be done — you can change for the better.”

Luke hopes his success will inspire other young people across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire to channel their energy into sport and positive goals.

“My dream is to put South West Wales on the map,” he said. “No one is representing Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire the way I am — and I’m just getting started.”