Sport

Wales face Bosnia test in World Cup play-off semi-final

Published

2 months ago

March 26, 2026

Dragons aim to take another step towards back-to-back World Cup qualification

WALES host Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday (March 26) in a high-stakes World Cup play-off semi-final at the Cardiff City Stadium, with a place in next week’s final on the line.

Craig Bellamy’s Cymru side are aiming to reach a second consecutive World Cup after their appearance in Qatar 2022, and a victory would set up a home final against either Italy or Northern Ireland.

Wales come into the match in strong form, having narrowly missed automatic qualification after finishing just two points behind Belgium in their group. They ended their campaign in emphatic fashion, thrashing North Macedonia 7-1 — their biggest win in nearly fifty years.

Home advantage could prove crucial. The Dragons have won five of their last six competitive matches in Cardiff and famously secured play-off victories over Austria and Ukraine at the same venue on their way to the 2022 finals.

However, history suggests this will be far from straightforward. Wales have never beaten Bosnia in four previous meetings, failing to score in three of those encounters.

Bosnia arrive in Cardiff after also finishing second in their qualifying group, missing out on automatic progression despite a strong points tally. Their campaign ended in frustration after conceding a late equaliser in their final match.

The visitors are still chasing only their second-ever World Cup appearance, having last qualified in 2014. They have struggled historically in play-off matches, failing to win any of their last seven in such situations.

Team news

Wales are without several key players, including Ben Davies, Chris Mepham, Kieffer Moore and Connor Roberts through injury. Aaron Ramsey has not been included due to a lack of recent competitive football.

Bellamy is expected to rely on a strong core of Premier League talent, including Harry Wilson, Brennan Johnson, Joe Rodon and Neco Williams.

Bosnia will be led by veteran striker Edin Džeko, who remains their all-time leading scorer and continues to play a central role at the age of 40.

Likely line-ups

Wales (possible):
Darlow; Williams, Rodon, Lawlor, Dasilva; Ampadu, James; Brooks, Wilson, Broadhead; Johnson

Bosnia and Herzegovina (possible):
Vasilj; Dedic, Muharemovic, Katic, Kolasinac; Bajraktarevic, Tahirovic, Sunjic, Memic; Tabakovic, Dzeko

The verdict

This one-off tie could go the distance, but Wales will be confident of edging it in front of a packed Cardiff crowd.

With home form, momentum, and attacking quality on their side, Cymru are favourites — but Bosnia’s experience and physicality mean this is unlikely to be comfortable.

Prediction: Wales 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sport

S4C secures exclusive Barbarians v Wales double-header

Published

2 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Herald Sport

S4C will broadcast a live rugby double-header from Twickenham this summer, with Wales taking on the Barbarians in both men’s and women’s fixtures.

The matches will be shown live and exclusively on Friday, June 27, with the men’s game kicking off at 2:00pm and the women’s match following at 5:00pm.

Both fixtures will be available across S4C, S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and S4C Chwaraeon’s YouTube channel, with Welsh and English-language commentary.

Sarra Elgan will present the coverage, with Lauren Salter reporting pitchside.

Gareth Charles will commentate on the men’s match, with analysis from Ken Owens and Elinor Snowsill. Siwan Lillicrap will also join the team for the women’s fixture, with further members of the broadcast line-up to be announced.

Tomos Grace, WRU Chief Commercial Officer said: “We’re delighted that S4C will bring coverage of Barbarians v Wales at Twickenham to supporters across the country and beyond.

“This fixture is always a celebration of rugby’s spirit and tradition, and it’s fantastic that fans will be able to enjoy it free-to-air, with comprehensive Welsh-language coverage at its heart alongside English provision, which is hugely important for the game in Wales.

“We look forward to what promises to be a memorable summer occasion for Welsh rugby.”

Sue Butler, Head of Sports at S4C, said the broadcaster was pleased to have secured exclusive rights to the event.

She said: “We are delighted to have secured the exclusive broadcast rights to this double-header, bringing Wales together with the Barbarians for a special day of summer rugby.

“These fixtures promise a great Wales day out, and we’re pleased that S4C’s coverage will be available across all platforms.

“This agreement underlines S4C’s commitment to delivering premium live sport exclusively to audiences across Wales and the UK, in both Welsh and English, and to showcasing the very best of international rugby on a global stage.”

John Spencer, President of Barbarian F.C., said: “Barbarian F.C. and Wales have an intertwined history, with supporters of both teams enjoying the spirit and values of the game.

“This summer’s double-header against Wales is a hugely exciting fixture and the announcement that the matches will be on S4C, on free-to-air TV, broadcast by a national broadcaster, with huge rugby experience, is really important.

“We want to showcase the very best of rugby and having the fixtures on S4C will allow us to reach a large audience for what will be a great day of rugby.”

Fans will also be able to attend the double-header at Twickenham, with tickets available through Ticketmaster and England Rugby.

The coverage will be produced by Whisper Cymru.

Sport

Merlins Bridge U14s girls celebrate league title success

Published

22 hours ago

May 12, 2026

Herald Sport

YOUNG footballers from across Pembrokeshire are celebrating after Merlins Bridge U14s Girls secured the league title in the West Wales Women and Girls League.

The team confirmed their place at the top of the table after an away victory against Carmarthen Stars, capping a memorable season for the squad.

Title-winning season

The achievement follows the club’s decision to enter the West Wales Women and Girls League at U14 level, giving the players the chance to test themselves against teams from across the region.

Coach Jan Bojanowski said the success was a proud moment for the players, families and club.

The squad is made up of girls from across Pembrokeshire, who have shown commitment throughout the season and continued to develop as a team.

Growing girls’ football

Merlins Bridge AFC said the title win reflects the strength of girls’ football in Pembrokeshire and the increasing opportunities now available for young female players.

The team’s success is also a boost for grassroots football locally, with more girls taking part and representing their clubs in competitive leagues across West Wales.

The players celebrated with trophies and the league cup after completing their title-winning campaign.

***Champions: Merlins Bridge U14s Girls celebrate their West Wales Women and Girls League title success (Pic: Supplied).***

Sport

Pembrokeshire cricket: Week 3 results and tables

Published

3 days ago

May 10, 2026

Herald Sport

PEMBROKESHIRE cricket’s league season continued on Saturday (May 9), with Carew, Johnston, Kilgetty, Lawrenny II, Llanrhian II and Lamphey II leading their respective divisions after Week 3.

Division 1 results

Home	Score	Away	Score	Result
Herbrandston	59 all out	Burton	119 all out	Burton won by 60 runs
Lawrenny	85 all out	Carew	89-2	Carew won by eight wickets
Whitland	187-6	Cresselly	256 all out	Cresselly won by 69 runs
Neyland	207-5	Narberth	126 all out	Neyland won by 81 runs
St Ishmaels	143 all out	Saundersfoot	244-5	Saundersfoot won by 101 runs

Division 1 table

Pos	Team	Pld	Points	W	L	Ab	Tied
1	Carew	3	56	3	0	0	0
2	Saundersfoot	3	47	2	0	1	0
3	Neyland	3	45	2	0	1	0
4	Burton	3	31	1	1	1	0
5	Herbrandston	3	31	1	1	1	0
6	Cresselly	3	29	1	1	1	0
7	Narberth	3	25	0	1	1	1
8	Whitland	3	23	0	2	1	0
9	St Ishmaels	3	20	0	2	0	1
10	Lawrenny	3	14	0	2	1	0

Division 2 results

Home	Score	Away	Score	Result
Pembroke	209-3	Hook	177 all out	Pembroke won by 32 runs
Fishguard	106 all out	Johnston	109-1	Johnston won by nine wickets
Llechryd	138-1	Llangwm	136-9	Llechryd won by nine wickets
Haverfordwest	144-2	Llanrhian	143-6	Haverfordwest won by eight wickets
Cresselly II	200-6	Pembroke Dock	197 all out	Cresselly II won by four wickets

Division 2 table

Pos	Team	Pld	Points	W	L	Ab
1	Johnston	3	58	3	0	0
2	Cresselly II	3	56	3	0	0
3	Pembroke	3	48	2	0	1
4	Hook	3	43	2	1	0
5	Haverfordwest	3	42	2	1	0
6	Pembroke Dock	3	31	0	2	1
7	Llanrhian	3	27	1	2	0
8	Llechryd	3	21	1	2	0
9	Fishguard	3	19	0	3	0
10	Llangwm	3	17	0	3	0

Division 3 results

Home	Score	Away	Score	Result
Lamphey	184-8	Haverfordwest II	150-7	Lamphey won by 34 runs
Laugharne	82 all out	Hundleton	86-4	Hundleton won by six wickets
Saundersfoot II	102 all out	Kilgetty	178-8	Kilgetty won by 76 runs
Carew II	190-3	Pembroke II	188-7	Carew II won by seven wickets
Burton II	—	Stackpole	—	No game

Division 3 table

Pos	Team	Pld	Points	W	L	Ab
1	Kilgetty	3	58	3	0	0
2	Carew II	3	56	3	0	0
3	Lamphey	3	46	2	1	0
4	Laugharne	3	41	2	1	0
5	Hundleton	3	41	2	1	0
6	Saundersfoot II	3	33	1	1	1
7	Burton II*	2	32	0	2	0
8	Haverfordwest II	3	23	0	3	0
9	Pembroke II	3	19	0	2	1
10	Stackpole	2	14	0	2	0

* Indicates points awarded for opposition failing to fulfil fixture.

Division 4 results

Home	Score	Away	Score	Result
Narberth II	111 all out	Herbrandston II	147 all out	Herbrandston II won by 36 runs
Haverfordwest III	135 all out	Lawrenny II	140-3	Lawrenny II won by seven wickets
Hook II	177-8	Llechryd II	176-6	Hook II won by two wickets
Carew III	106 all out	Neyland II	109-3	Neyland II won by seven wickets
Crymych	157 all out	St Ishmaels II	191-7	St Ishmaels II won by 34 runs

Division 4 table

Pos	Team	Pld	Points	W	L
1	Lawrenny II	3	55	3	0
2	Hook II	3	54	3	0
3	Narberth II	3	48	2	1
4	Haverfordwest III	3	42	2	1
5	Crymych	3	37	1	2
6	Llechryd II	3	37	1	2
7	St Ishmaels II	3	35	1	2
8	Neyland II	3	34	1	2
9	Herbrandston II	3	33	1	2
10	Carew III	3	16	0	3

Division 5 results

Home	Score	Away	Score	Result
Hundleton II	87 all out	Whitland II	89-3	Whitland II won by seven wickets
Llangwm II	293-5	Llechryd III	182 all out	Llangwm II won by 111 runs
Llanrhian II	148-7	Pembroke III	82 all out	Llanrhian II won by 66 runs
Pembroke Dock II	128 all out	Cresselly III	260-5	Cresselly III won by 132 runs

Division 5 table

Pos	Team	Pld	Points	W	L	Ab
1	Llanrhian II	3	60	3	0	0
2	Cresselly III	3	60	3	0	0
3	Whitland II	3	45	2	1	0
4	Llangwm II	2	39	2	0	0
5	Pembroke III	3	20	0	2	1
6	Llechryd III	3	18	0	3	0
7	Pembroke Dock II	3	18	0	2	1
8	Hundleton II	2	10	0	2	0

Division 6 results

Home	Score	Away	Score	Result
H’West/Cresselly	138-8	Whitland III	142-1	Whitland III won by nine wickets
Kilgetty II	73 all out	Lamphey II	74-3	Lamphey II won by seven wickets
Neyland III	149 all out	Laugharne II	103 all out	Neyland III won by 46 runs
Bye	—	Haverfordwest IV	—	—