A NIGHT of rugby stories, laughter and behind-the-scenes memories is heading to Milford Haven next month as Welsh rugby icon Shane Williams appears live on stage at the Torch Theatre.

The special event, titled An Evening with Shane Williams, will take place on Saturday (Apr 4) at the Torch Theatre and promises fans a rare chance to hear first-hand stories from one of Wales’ greatest ever rugby players.

Williams, widely regarded as one of the finest wings to play the game, earned legendary status during his career with Wales and the British & Irish Lions. Known for his blistering pace, elusive running and remarkable try-scoring ability, he became a fan favourite across the rugby world and was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2008.

During the evening, Williams will share stories from his playing career, including memories from international matches, Lions tours and life inside the Welsh dressing room. The event will also include audience interaction and opportunities for fans to hear the untold moments behind some of Welsh rugby’s most memorable matches.

Hosting the evening will be entertainer and comedian Phill Howe, who will provide a stand-up set as well as guiding the conversation with the rugby legend throughout the show.

Organisers say the night is designed to combine humour with sporting nostalgia, giving rugby supporters a relaxed and entertaining evening while hearing from one of Wales’ most celebrated players.

The Torch Theatre has long hosted major live events and touring productions, but appearances by sporting legends are always particularly popular with local audiences in rugby-loving Pembrokeshire.

Doors for the event will open at 6:30pm, with the show beginning at 7:00pm.

Tickets are available from the Torch Theatre box office by calling 01646 695267 or via the theatre’s website.

With Shane Williams still one of the most recognisable and admired figures in Welsh sport, organisers expect strong interest from fans across west Wales hoping to hear stories from a career that helped define a golden era for Welsh rugby.

Concerns raised over permit variation as NRW consultation opens

A LOCAL Senedd Member has warned that the controversial Withyhedge landfill site near Haverfordwest should not be allowed to accept any additional waste, following reports that Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is considering a permit change for the operator.

NRW has opened a public consultation on a draft decision relating to a permit variation request submitted by Resources Management UK Ltd (RML), the company which operates the Withyhedge landfill site.

The consultation will run for four weeks and closes on Thursday, March 26, giving residents and stakeholders an opportunity to comment before a final decision is made.

The proposal has prompted concern from Preseli Pembrokeshire MS Paul Davies, who has previously called for the site to be permanently closed following past compliance issues.

Mr Davies said he was alarmed to hear that the regulator may allow the operator to increase the amount of waste it can accept.

“I’m deeply concerned to hear that Natural Resources Wales is considering issuing a permit variation to RML so that it can accept even more waste at the Withyhedge landfill site,” he said.

The Preseli Pembrokeshire MS said the operator’s track record raised serious questions about whether any expansion should be permitted.

“RML has a well-documented history of non-compliance, to the extent that it was ranked the worst performing permitted installation in Wales in both 2023 and 2024 – and so it’s very worrying that the operator is looking to increase the amount of waste it accepts at the site,” he said.

Mr Davies added that he believes regulators should be looking at closing the site rather than allowing it to expand its operations.

“In my view, the site should be permanently closed rather than granted permission to accept additional waste and so I urge Natural Resources Wales to refuse this permit variation,” he added.

The Withyhedge landfill site has been the subject of significant public and political concern in recent years, particularly over compliance issues and its environmental performance.

Natural Resources Wales has said it is now seeking feedback on its draft decision before determining whether the permit variation should be granted.

Members of the public and interested parties can submit their views to the regulator before the consultation deadline later this month.

NRW will consider all responses before making a final decision on whether the permit change should be approved.

Charity says Welsh voters care deeply about animals as parties outline policies ahead of Senedd election

THE RSPCA has responded to the launch of Reform UK Wales’ manifesto for the 2026 Senedd election, welcoming some proposals while urging politicians to base animal welfare policies on scientific evidence.

The charity said Wales has the highest proportion of animal lovers of any UK nation and warned that voters will be closely watching political parties’ commitments to protecting animals.

Billie-Jade Thomas, Senior Public Affairs Manager for RSPCA Cymru, said that proposals to introduce clearer food labelling could help consumers better understand how animal products are produced.

“Wales’ consumers deserve more information about where the food they eat comes from and how it has been produced,” she said.

“Moves to introduce mandatory labelling, including for slaughter methods, are a positive step forward for consumer knowledge and could give the public more information about how any animal products on their plates were made.”

However, the RSPCA cautioned that policies relating to bovine tuberculosis must be based on evidence rather than focusing on wildlife culling.

“Taking an evidence-led approach to tackling bovine TB is always to be welcomed,” Thomas said.

“But the evidence indicates that the Welsh Government needs to combat this devastating disease by focusing on cattle-based measures, and not killing badgers unnecessarily.”

The issue of bovine TB and badger culling has long been controversial in Wales, with farmers, wildlife groups and politicians divided over how best to control the disease.

The RSPCA said the forthcoming report from the Bovine TB Technical Advisory Group for Wales would provide additional evidence to guide the next Welsh Government.

The charity also warned that any reform of environmental regulation must not weaken wildlife protections.

“Reviewing legislation and regulation is an opportunity to ensure it is as effective as possible,” Thomas said.

“But any changes to general licences must not be a back door to weakening protections for many of our species in Wales.”

Looking ahead to the election campaign, the organisation said animal welfare should be a key issue for voters and politicians alike.

“According to our Animal Kindness Index, Wales has the highest proportion of animal lovers of any UK nation,” Thomas added.

“Voters will be eager to hear political parties’ plans for animals of every kind.”

The RSPCA has published its own manifesto ahead of the election, calling for measures including recognising animal sentience in Welsh law, making pet abduction a specific criminal offence and introducing stronger regulation of animal sanctuaries and rehoming centres.

The charity is also calling for improvements in farm animal welfare, including a ban on the caging of farm animals and incentives for farmers who adopt higher welfare standards.

With the Senedd election scheduled for May 2026, campaign groups say animal welfare policies are likely to form part of the debate as parties seek to win over voters across Wales.