Evans No Longer the Bridesmaid

Elfyn Evans: Wales Finally has its World Rally Champion

WALES has produced world champions across plenty of sports, but this one has been a long time coming.

Elfyn Evans is the 2026 World Rally Champion, finally reaching the summit of international rallying after years in which one of motorsport’s biggest prizes had repeatedly slipped agonisingly from his grasp.

The Dolgellau-born driver and co-driver Scott Martin secured their first FIA World Rally Championship title at Rally Italia Sardegna on Sunday, October 4, bringing a dramatic conclusion to a season that went virtually to the final corners.

Dolgellau-born driver Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin secured their first FIA World Rally Championship Picture credit & copyright: Toyota Gazoo Racing / WRT / McKlein

Evans finished the championship on 243 points, five ahead of Toyota team-mate Oliver Solberg, with Sami Pajari another point behind. He becomes the first Welsh driver to win the WRC drivers’ championship and Britain’s first world rally champion since Richard Burns in 2001.

For Evans, the achievement feels particularly significant because of what came before it.

He had already finished runner-up in the World Rally Championship five times, including four consecutive second places from 2023 to 2025. In 2020 he arrived at the final round at Monza leading the championship, only for his title hopes to disappear when he slid off the road in difficult snowy conditions.

Further near-misses followed. As recently as 2025, Evans lost the championship by just four points.

This time, however, the story had a different ending.

Evans arrived in Sardinia with a 17-point advantage over Pajari and 21 points over Solberg, but his position was far from comfortable. Being first onto the loose gravel stages made life difficult early in the rally, while Solberg steadily forced his way into contention.

By the final day, what had once looked like a useful championship cushion had become a genuine cliff-hanger.

Then came another twist.

A puncture on the penultimate stage forced Evans to stop and change a wheel, costing him around two minutes and leaving the championship to be decided on the final Power Stage.

Solberg was suddenly in position to complete an extraordinary comeback.

Evans reached the finish.

Solberg, pushing for the points he needed, went off the road just two corners from the end.

Only then was the championship finally Evans’ after years of trying.

There is a particularly strong Welsh thread running through the story.

Evans was born in Dolgellau in December 1988 and grew up surrounded by rallying. His father, Gwyndaf Evans, was himself a British Rally Champion, while Elfyn’s grandfather helped introduce the future world champion to driving.

His first World Rally Championship appearance came at Wales Rally GB in 2007, and ten years later Evans claimed his first WRC victory on home soil at the same event.

That Welsh connection makes this much more than another international motorsport success story.

For decades, Wales was an important part of the World Rally Championship calendar. Generations of fans stood in Welsh forests to watch some of the greatest names in rallying compete on stages that became famous around the world.

Now Wales has produced a world champion of its own.

Evans joins an exceptionally exclusive British group. Before him, only Scotland’s Colin McRae and England’s Richard Burns had won the World Rally Championship.

Elfyn Evans on the way to victory in his Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 at Rally Sweden during the 2026 FIA World Championship Picture credit & copyright: Toyota Gazoo Racing / WRT / McKlein

For Welsh motorsport, it is difficult to imagine a more important achievement.

It also comes at an intriguing moment for rallying itself. The championship is preparing for a new technical era, while Ford has announced plans to return as a full factory WRC team from 2028. Evans therefore becomes champion at the end of one chapter in the sport and just as another begins.

But perhaps the most satisfying aspect of the story is simply perseverance.

Evans had been close before — very close.

He had experienced championship leads disappear, final-round disappointment and seasons ending just a handful of points short.

Yet he remained among the sport’s elite year after year.

At 37, Elfyn Evans can finally add the two words that had been missing from an already outstanding career:

World Champion.

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Did Ewe Know?

Elfyn Evans’ first World Rally Championship victory came at Wales Rally GB in 2017 — meaning his journey from first WRC win to world champion began on the very roads and forest stages that helped establish Wales as one of rallying’s most celebrated destinations.

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Crane Call Gives County a Big Lift

Is Glamorgan Finally Back on England’s Cricketing Radar?

FOR more than two decades, Glamorgan supporters have waited to see one of their own walk out for England again.

Now, suddenly, there are signs that the road between Sophia Gardens and the international stage may be opening once more.

The latest evidence comes from Mason Crane, the Glamorgan leg-spinner recalled to England’s one-day squad for the tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka later this month.

Crane has not played senior international cricket since his solitary Test appearance against Australia in Sydney in January 2018. He also made two T20 international appearances in 2017 and is still waiting for his ODI debut.

England national selector Marcus North said Crane had been performing consistently for Glamorgan and described him as an experienced, high-class leg-spinner who deserved another opportunity.

It is quite a comeback.

Crane joined Glamorgan initially on loan in 2024 before making the move permanent and has developed into one of the most important members of the Welsh county’s attack. Earlier this summer he was recalled to the England Lions, eight years after his previous international appearance, following an excellent start to Glamorgan’s return to Division One.

And he isn’t the only Glamorgan player attracting attention.

Asa Tribe may have an even greater chance of establishing himself in England colours in the years ahead.

The Jersey-born opening batter has already become a regular with the England Lions. He made an unbeaten 129 against Australia A during the winter and followed it with 135 against South Africa A at Arundel in May. England selectors clearly regard him as part of their emerging group of top-order candidates.

His international status is unusual.

Tribe made his senior international debut for Jersey, an Associate Member of the International Cricket Council, but is also eligible for England after satisfying the necessary residency requirements. Under the rules applying between Associate and Full Member nations, his appearances for Jersey have not prevented England from selecting him. A senior England appearance, however, would bring his Jersey international career to an end.

In other words, a man born and raised in Jersey could yet become the first player representing Glamorgan to establish himself in England’s senior side for more than 20 years.

Alongside him is Ben Kellaway, born in Newport and another product of the Glamorgan pathway.

Kellaway is particularly intriguing because of his ability to bat in the middle order while bowling spin with either arm. Both he and Tribe have already been identified as players capable of pushing towards senior England honours, with Kellaway’s unusual all-round skills potentially attractive to selectors.

There is plenty of Welsh talent elsewhere in the Glamorgan squad too.

Captain Kiran Carlson, born in Cardiff, enjoyed another impressive season after scoring a career-best 209 against Hampshire earlier in the year, while Newport-born wicketkeeper-batter Will Smale continues to develop. Teenager Tom Norton, from Abergavenny, announced himself spectacularly with a hat-trick on his first-class debut. Glamorgan director of cricket Mark Wallace has spoken enthusiastically about the strength of Welsh-born players emerging through the county’s system.

Then there is the rather curious case of Aneurin Donald.

Born in Swansea and developed by Glamorgan, Donald burst onto the county scene as a teenager before moving on to Hampshire and eventually Derbyshire. This September, aged 29, he finally received his England opportunity and made his T20 international debut against Sri Lanka.

So while Glamorgan cannot technically claim Donald as a current player selected for England, he is very much a product of Welsh cricket and the Glamorgan pathway.

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A Long Glamorgan Tradition

There was a time when seeing a Glamorgan player in an England cap was far from unusual.

Among the most celebrated was Tony Lewis, the Neath-born batter who captained both Glamorgan and England.

Matthew Maynard played Tests and one-day internationals for England, while fast bowler Steve Watkin joined him in the England side against Australia at The Oval in 1993 — the first occasion Glamorgan had supplied two players to the same England Test XI.

Robert Croft, born in Swansea, played 21 Tests and 50 ODIs for England and has spoken about the unusual sporting relationship between the two countries. Unlike football or rugby, there was no separate Welsh international team at Test level for him to aspire to; England represented the highest level available to a Welsh cricketer.

Fast bowler Greg Thomas, another Swansea product and a fluent Welsh speaker, represented England in five Tests and three ODIs during the 1980s.

And then came Simon Jones.

The Swansea-born fast bowler became one of the heroes of England’s unforgettable 2005 Ashes victory, taking 18 wickets before injury ruled him out of the final Test.

Until Crane’s latest call-up, Jones remained the last Glamorgan player to represent England while contracted to the county.

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What About Glamorgan Leg-Spinners?

Crane’s bowling style adds another intriguing historical dimension.

England leg-spinners have appeared for Glamorgan before, but usually after their international careers rather than because of performances for the Welsh county.

Robin Hobbs, for example, won seven England Test caps as a leg-spinner while playing for Essex before later joining Glamorgan and captaining the county in 1979.

That makes Crane’s position particularly unusual. If he makes his ODI debut this month, he will be representing England specifically on the back of performances produced as Glamorgan’s frontline leg-spinner rather than arriving in Wales as an established international.

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But Doesn’t Wales Have a Cricket Team?

Yes — although not in the way Wales has national teams in rugby or football.

Wales does not have a separate ICC Full Member side competing in Test cricket, ODIs or T20 internationals. Elite Welsh men’s players therefore qualify to play for England under the England and Wales Cricket Board structure.

There is, however, a Wales National County side.

Wales National County competes in the National Counties Cricket Association alongside 19 English National Counties, playing T20, 50-over and three-day cricket. It represents the highest level of the recreational game and has increasingly become a pathway into professional cricket.

Recent Wales National County players who have subsequently earned Glamorgan contracts include Ben Kellaway, Will Smale, Henry Hurle, Romano Franco, Tom Norton and others.

So there is a Wales cricket team — just not one presently competing against Australia, India or South Africa in the manner of the Welsh football and rugby teams.

For players such as Kellaway, Carlson or Smale, the international summit therefore remains England.

And that makes Mason Crane’s recall significant beyond the story of one player’s remarkable return.

Glamorgan’s last genuine England era produced names including Lewis, Maynard, Watkin, Croft and Jones.

Now Crane has reopened the door. Tribe appears to be standing immediately behind him, Kellaway is not far away, and an increasingly Welsh core is emerging at Sophia Gardens.

Perhaps the question is no longer simply when Glamorgan will produce another England player.

Perhaps it is how many might follow.

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DID EWE KNOW? Glamorgan legend Alan Jones played against the Rest of the World in 1970 in what was originally regarded as a Test match. When those matches later lost Test status, Jones lost his place in England’s official records. Fifty years later the ECB finally recognised his achievement by awarding him England Test cap number 696.

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Welsh Music Prize

Cardiff Hits the Right Note as Music City Festival Builds Towards Welsh Music Prize

CARDIFF is spending October living up to its claim as a music city — and one of the biggest nights in the Welsh music calendar is now just hours away.

The Cardiff Music City Festival is in full swing, bringing two weeks of live performances, emerging talent, international artists, talks, installations and special events to venues across the capital.

Running until October 17, the festival has grown rapidly since its launch in 2024 and now acts as an umbrella for some of the biggest fixtures in the Welsh music calendar, including Llais, Sŵn Festival and the Welsh Music Prize.

And tomorrow night, attention turns to the Wales Millennium Centre, where one of 15 shortlisted albums will be named winner of the 2026 Welsh Music Prize.

Founded in 2011, the prize celebrates music made in Wales or by Welsh artists around the world, and this year’s shortlist once again demonstrates just how difficult Welsh music is to pigeonhole.

There is reggae from Aleighcia Scott, alternative rock from CHROMA, folk and traditional influences from Cerys Hafana and Mari Mathias, rap from Cardiff artist Local, the distinctive guitar work of Gwenifer Raymond, established names including Gruff Rhys and Skindred, and emerging acts competing alongside artists already recognised internationally.

The full shortlist is:

ADJUA – Everything Is Beautiful
Aleighcia Scott – Taith
Ani Glass – Phantasmagoria
Art School Girlfriend – Lean In
Cerys Hafana – Angel
CHROMA – 25 Forever
Dafydd Owain – Ymarfer Byw
Dewin – Dan y Dderwen
Gruff Rhys – Dim Probs
Gwenifer Raymond – Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark
Local – Too Broke to Be This Busy
Mari Mathias – Cyfarwydd
Skindred – You Got This
The Bug Club – Every Single Muscle
The Royston Club – Songs For The Spine.

The winner receives £10,000, but the significance of the prize stretches well beyond the money. For emerging artists particularly, a place on the shortlist can bring national attention to music that might otherwise struggle to break through beyond Wales.

This year’s ceremony will be hosted by BBC Radio 1 presenter Sian Eleri, with live performances from shortlisted artists ADJUA, Local, Dafydd Owain and Gwenifer Raymond.

They will be joined by emerging artists Mwsog, Casual Smart and Betsan, recipients of this year’s Triskel Awards, together with jazz-influenced R&B duo Papaya Noon, recipients of the PPL Momentum Sbardun Accelerator Fund award.

The ceremony will also be broadcast live on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.

The Welsh Music Prize is only one piece of a much bigger musical jigsaw currently spread across Cardiff.

Llais, based around Wales Millennium Centre, begins tomorrow and runs until October 11, while Sŵn Festival takes over venues across the city from October 15–17, once again concentrating heavily on new and emerging music.

Elsewhere, there are events ranging from experimental performances and installations to gigs in independent venues, while one particularly interesting strand looks backwards as well as forwards.

Resonant Places – Revisiting Cardiff’s Lost Music Venues explores some of the spaces that helped create the city’s musical identity but have disappeared from the landscape — a reminder that being a genuine “music city” is not simply about attracting major performers but preserving the smaller venues where musicians are given the chance to develop in the first place.

That grassroots element is important.

Last year’s Cardiff Music City Festival featured more than 1,000 musicians across 20 grassroots venues, including more than 270 Welsh or Wales-based performers. Organisers say the festival forms part of Cardiff Council’s longer-term strategy to protect and strengthen the city’s music ecosystem.

There is an interesting contrast here with the Cardiff most visitors see.

The Principality Stadium can attract some of the world’s biggest touring acts, but a healthy musical city cannot live on stadium concerts alone. It needs rehearsal spaces, independent venues, promoters, small audiences willing to discover unfamiliar performers and, crucially, opportunities for young artists to make that difficult jump from bedroom, garage or local pub to professional career.

Cardiff Music City Festival is increasingly attempting to join those pieces together.

And the Welsh Music Prize perhaps provides its most visible shop window.

Tomorrow night one album will win.

The more encouraging story may be that Wales can assemble a shortlist of 15 records covering such vastly different sounds and still leave plenty of worthy contenders outside it.

For a country that has spent generations describing itself as the Land of Song, that seems rather appropriate.

DID EWE KNOW? The first Welsh Music Prize was awarded in 2011 to Gruff Rhys for Hotel Shampoo. Fifteen years later, Rhys is back on the shortlist with Dim Probs and therefore has the unusual opportunity to become champion again a decade and a half after winning the inaugural award.

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Anniversary WMC Concert

Katherine Jenkins Comes Home to Wales as She Celebrates 25 Years at the Top

TWENTY-FIVE years after beginning the journey that would make her one of the world’s best-known classical crossover singers, Katherine Jenkins returns to Wales tonight for a special anniversary concert at Wales Millennium Centre.

The Neath-born mezzo-soprano brings her 25 Year Anniversary Tour to Cardiff on Sunday, October 4, with the concert beginning at 7pm.

For a singer whose career has taken her from south Wales to some of the world’s most famous concert halls, the Cardiff date should carry particular significance.

Jenkins was born in Neath in 1980 and began singing in her local church choir before joining the National Youth Choir of Wales and winning the BBC Radio 2 Welsh Choirgirl of the Year competition twice. At 17 she earned a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London.

From there, her rise was rapid.

Her debut album, Première, was released in 2004 and became the fastest-selling classical album by a UK artist at the time. It also established the formula that would become central to her career — a mixture of opera, hymns, traditional Welsh music and accessible classical crossover repertoire.

Songs such as Cwm Rhondda, Calon Lân, Time to Say Goodbye, The Prayer and Nella Fantasia helped her reach audiences far beyond the traditional classical world.

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From Neath to the world stage

Over the following two decades Jenkins became one of Britain’s most recognisable classical performers.

She has appeared at the Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Dubai Opera House and Mariinsky Theatre, performed for British royalty and Pope John Paul II, and sung for British troops serving overseas.

Her career has also stretched far beyond concert halls.

She appeared in the Doctor Who Christmas special A Christmas Carol, finished runner-up on the American television show Dancing with the Stars, performed in Carousel with English National Opera and later appeared in the film Minamata.

Yet Wales has remained an important part of her identity.

Welsh songs have continued to appear in her repertoire, and her career has repeatedly brought her back to major Welsh sporting, ceremonial and cultural occasions.

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Record-breaking success

Jenkins’ commercial achievements are particularly striking for an artist working largely within classical crossover.

By her mid-twenties she had already sold millions of albums.

Later, Guiding Light became her 13th UK Classical Chart number-one album, while Classic FM named her the best-selling classical artist of the previous 25 years in 2017.

Her success also helped demonstrate that classical music could reach a much broader mainstream audience without abandoning its traditional repertoire.

That crossover appeal became her trademark.

One album might include an operatic aria, another a Welsh hymn, a film theme or a modern pop song reinterpreted with orchestral arrangements.

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A voice for major occasions

There is another reason Katherine Jenkins has remained such a familiar figure.

Her voice has become associated with major national moments.

She has performed at remembrance ceremonies, royal occasions and major sporting events, while her work supporting the Armed Forces has included visits to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, Jenkins was asked by the BBC to record the first performance of God Save the King for King Charles III.

Those appearances have made her something more than simply a recording artist.

For many people, her voice has become associated with ceremony, remembrance and celebration.

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Twenty-five years celebrated on tour

The current tour marks a quarter of a century since Jenkins began building the career that took her from south Wales to international prominence.

The tour began in Manchester on October 2 and Liverpool on October 3 before tonight’s Cardiff concert. Further dates include Brighton, Southend, Bournemouth, Birmingham, London, Llandudno, Glasgow, Dublin and Belfast.

And although the tour celebrates the past, it is also a reminder that Jenkins remains an active international performer rather than simply revisiting old successes.

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Katherine Jenkins in Cardiff – what you need to know

Where: Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
When: Sunday, October 4, 2026
Start time: 7pm
Tour: Katherine Jenkins – 25 Year Anniversary Tour
Special guest: JODOKCELLO
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A Welsh success story

The numbers tell part of the story.

The number-one albums. The international concerts. The record deals. The television appearances.

But perhaps the more interesting story is the distance travelled.

A young singer from Neath who began in church choirs and Welsh youth music went on to build a career recognised around the world.

Twenty-five years later, she returns to Wales not as an emerging talent but as one of the country’s most internationally successful musical exports.

And Cardiff gets the chance tonight to celebrate the journey with her.

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Did Ewe Know?

Katherine Jenkins’ debut album Première included several unmistakably Welsh choices, among them Ar Lan y Môr, Cymru Fach and Cwm Rhondda — an early sign that, even as her career was becoming international, Wales would remain part of the soundtrack.

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United Rugby Championship

Dragons Take Derby Honours – But Another Big Welsh Clash is Already on the Horizon

WELSH rugby had plenty to talk about over the opening weekend of October.

There was a 10-try derby at Rodney Parade, Cardiff continued their winning start to the United Rugby Championship, Ospreys came away from South Africa empty-handed — and another Welsh derby is already just days away.

The headline result came in Newport, where Dragons beat Scarlets 38–26 in an entertaining contest that produced a hatful of tries and gave Filo Tiatia’s side a maximum five-point return.

But the result also sets up what now looks like a particularly interesting Friday night at Rodney Parade.

Ospreys next for Dragons

Dragons do not have long to enjoy the win.

They host Ospreys on Friday, October 9, at 7.45pm, the second of two successive Welsh derbies at Rodney Parade.

And the contrast between the two sides could hardly be sharper.

Dragons opened their campaign with a 19–19 draw away to Benetton before beating Scarlets, leaving them unbeaten after two rounds. Ospreys, meanwhile, suffered a 35–19 defeat to the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

That result followed Ospreys’ opening-round 41-24 defeat in South Africa against the Sharks, meaning their first home-based Welsh derby arrives after a difficult start to the campaign.

For Dragons, Friday offers the chance to build genuine early momentum against travel-weary opposition.

For Ospreys, it already feels like an important opportunity to steady the ship.

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Cardiff make it two from two

The most convincing Welsh start belongs to Cardiff Rugby.

After opening their season with a 21–15 victory away to Scarlets, Cardiff followed it up on Friday night with a 40–27 win over Zebre Parma at Cardiff Arms Park.

That gives Cardiff two victories from two and makes them the early Welsh pace-setters.

Their next challenge is considerably tougher: a trip to face Leinster in Dublin on Saturday, October 10.

The opening fortnight has nevertheless given Cardiff a useful platform, particularly in a season when the club is celebrating its 150th anniversary.

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Scarlets still searching

Scarlets, by contrast, have opened with back-to-back Welsh derby defeats.

They were beaten by Cardiff in Llanelli on the opening weekend before losing at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

There were positives in Newport, not least the attacking threat of Macs Page, who scored twice, but the results leave Scarlets still searching for their first win of the campaign.

That makes their next fixture another important one as they look to avoid allowing a difficult start to become an early-season pattern.

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An encouraging Welsh derby

There was also something encouraging about the manner of the Dragons-Scarlets game.

Rodney Parade saw 10 tries, repeated changes of momentum and an attendance of more than 7,000, while Welsh players on both sides were heavily involved.

At a time when so much discussion around Welsh rugby centres on finances, structures and what the professional game should look like in future, matches like this still matter.

They remind people that the domestic game can produce occasions worth watching in their own right.

And there is another one coming almost immediately.

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Welsh URC picture after two rounds

Cardiff Rugby
Played 2, won 2
Beat Scarlets 21–15
Beat Zebre Parma 40–27

Dragons
Played 2, unbeaten
Drew 19–19 with Benetton
Beat Scarlets 38–26

Scarlets
Played 2, lost 2
Lost 21–15 to Cardiff
Lost 38–26 to Dragons

Ospreys

Played 2, lost 2

Lost 41-24 to Sharks
Lost 35–19 to Lions

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Next Welsh derby

Dragons v Ospreys, Rodney Parade, Friday, October 9, Kick-off: 7.45pm

With Dragons carrying momentum and Ospreys looking for a response, Friday night should give us another useful early indication of where the Welsh sides stand.

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Did Ewe Know?

Dragons and Ospreys will meet twice in October. After Friday’s clash at Rodney Parade, they meet again at St Helen’s in Swansea on October 24.

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Cardiff Devils v Glasgow Clan

One Down, Seven to Go – Devils Launch Packed October with Manchester Storm Shutout

CARDIFF DEVILS have started their busiest home month of the season in exactly the right way.

A 2–0 victory over Manchester Storm at Vindico Arena on Saturday night gave the Devils their first Motorpoint Elite League win of the campaign and sent them into Sunday’s home meeting with Glasgow Clan on the back of a shutout victory.

cardiff devils

Bayley Harewood broke the deadlock just 21 seconds into the second period before captain Joey Martin sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 18.5 seconds remaining.

At the other end, Christian Stoever kept Manchester off the scoresheet, completing the shutout.

And there is barely time to draw breath.

The Devils are back on home ice today when Glasgow Clan visit Vindico Arena for a 5pm face-off, with doors opening at 3.30pm.

It is all part of an unusually packed October.

The Devils have seven more home games on sale during the month, with Glasgow Clan, Dundee Stars, Belfast Giants twice, Coventry Blaze, Sheffield Steelers and Guildford Flames all to come.

Several of those fixtures were already close to selling out when the club issued its latest ticket update, with fewer than 30 tickets remaining for the Glasgow game and fewer than 10 for next Saturday’s meeting with Dundee Stars at that point.

Skate with the Devils after Glasgow game

Today’s fixture also includes one of the club’s most popular off-ice events.

After the final buzzer, the whole game-day squad will remain on the ice for the annual Skate with the Team event.

Supporters can bring their own skates or hire a pair from the box office for £3, with hire available from doors opening onwards.

It offers fans the unusual chance to share the ice with the players immediately after the game.

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Foodbank donations welcomed

The Devils are also continuing their collection for Cardiff Foodbank throughout Sunday’s game.

The initiative is being run alongside club partners Howells, with supporters invited to bring suitable donations and leave them with staff at reception from doors opening.

It adds another community element to what is already a busy weekend at Vindico Arena.

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New Devil makes his mark

New signing Jonas Emmerdahl was brought straight into the weekend after training with the club during the week.

He made his Devils debut against Manchester Storm wearing number 42 and will switch to number 4 after this weekend.

The Swedish defenceman gives Cardiff additional depth heading into a month when the fixture list offers very little respite.

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October at Vindico Arena

The remaining home schedule includes:

October 4 – Glasgow Clan
October 10 – Dundee Stars
October 11 – Belfast Giants
October 17 – Coventry Blaze
October 24 – Sheffield Steelers
October 28 – Belfast Giants
October 31 – Guildford Flames

Friday and Saturday home games normally face off at 7pm, while Sunday fixtures begin at 5pm.

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A big month for the Devils

For supporters, October offers almost continuous opportunities to watch the Devils at home.

For the team, it could prove an important early-season period.

Eight home fixtures offer the chance to build momentum, develop the new-look squad and make Vindico Arena increasingly difficult territory for visiting teams.

Saturday’s shutout against Manchester Storm was a useful first step.

Now Glasgow Clan arrive less than 24 hours later — and another sell-out crowd is expected.

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Did Ewe Know?

Cardiff Devils have played home games at three different venues since the club was founded in 1986 — the Wales National Ice Rink, the famous temporary “Big Blue Tent”, and their current Cardiff Bay home, now known as Vindico Arena.

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Wales v Denmark preview

Can Bellamy’s Side Build on Norway Breakthrough?

WALES return to Cardiff City Stadium tonight with their UEFA Nations League campaign suddenly looking much more interesting.

Thursday’s 2–1 victory over Norway, secured by goals from Dan James and Neco Williams, gave Craig Bellamy’s side their first win of the campaign — and their first-ever victory in League A.

Now comes another major test.

Denmark visit Cardiff tonight, Sunday October 4, with kick-off at 7.45pm, just seven days after beating Wales 2–0 in Copenhagen.

Wales v Denmark – What You Need to Know

When is Wales v Denmark, What time is kick-off and Where is the match being played?
Today, Sunday, October 4, 2026. Kick-off at Cardiff City Stadium. is 7.45pm.

What competition is it and are tickets still available?
UEFA Nations League – League A, Group A4. The FAW were still promoting tickets during the build-up, although availability may have become limited by matchday.

Where can I watch Wales v Denmark on TV and can I see the game online?
The match is being shown live on S4C, with coverage beginning at 7.15pm. The game is also available online via S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer.

Cardiff City Stadium opens two hours before kick-off.

Is parking available and what time do the gates open?
Stadium parking costs £10 and is available on a first-come, first-served basis, although supporters are being encouraged to use public transport where possible. Cardiff City Stadium opens two hours before kick-off.

Are there travel problems to be aware of?
Yes. The Cardiff Half Marathon is also taking place on Sunday, so supporters should allow extra travelling time. Transport for Wales is running a late 10.44pm Cardiff Central to Holyhead service after the match.

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So what is at stake for Wales?

Portugal have taken control of Group A4, while Wales, Denmark and Norway all sit on three points after three matches. Bellamy described the group as having “exploded” following Wales’ win over Norway and said the aim now is to stay in the mix with the two Scandinavian sides.

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Consistency is the challenge

Wales were second best in Denmark last weekend, when a Ben Davies own goal and Gustav Isaksen strike gave the Danes a comfortable 2–0 victory. Dan James admitted afterwards that Denmark had been the better side but said Wales now need to reproduce the freedom and intensity shown against Norway.

There is another incentive too.

Wales have lost their last four meetings with Denmark and have not beaten them since Craig Bellamy himself scored the winner in a 1–0 friendly victory in Copenhagen in 2008.

The recent history has included two Nations League defeats in 2018 and the painful 4–0 loss to Denmark in the last 16 of Euro 2020.

So tonight offers Wales a chance not only to build momentum in the group, but also to end an 18-year wait for another victory over the Danes

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Wales need to make Cardiff count

The crowd played its part against Norway, when 32,076 watched Wales finally get their Nations League campaign moving.

Another strong Cardiff atmosphere could be important tonight.

Bellamy’s Wales have already shown that, when the intensity is right, they can compete with highly ranked opposition.

Now they must prove they can do it twice in four days.

A win would suddenly put Wales in an excellent position in the battle behind Portugal.

And after the difficult night in Copenhagen just a week ago, there could hardly be a better way to show how quickly this team can learn.

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Did Ewe Know?

Wales’ biggest-ever win over Denmark came at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham in 1965, when Roy Vernon scored twice in a 4–2 World Cup qualifying victory.

Interestingly, Wales and Denmark have never drawn in 11 previous meetings. Wales have won four and Denmark seven — so if history is anything to go by, somebody should come away with all three points tonight.
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Today’s Super Rygbi Cymru

Saturday Afternoon Rugby is Alive and Well in Wales

SATURDAY afternoon rugby has been part of Welsh life for generations.

The names, competitions and structures may have changed, but across Wales this weekend there will still be supporters heading through familiar turnstiles, meeting familiar faces and standing on terraces to watch clubs representing towns and communities that have lived and breathed rugby for well over a century.

And as the 2026–27 season begins to gather pace, Super Rygbi Cymru provides a particularly attractive Saturday programme.

Five matches take place today, Saturday, October 3, as the 10 clubs contest Round Four of a competition introduced in 2024 to strengthen the level immediately beneath Wales’ professional game.

Perhaps the outstanding fixture is at Eugene Cross Park, where Ebbw Vale host Cardiff.

Both sides have started the new campaign with three victories from three, alongside Newport, making this an early meeting between two of the competition’s pace-setters. Ebbw Vale also finished runners-up last season, while Cardiff topped the regular-season table before falling short of the final.

For supporters unable to make the trip, there is some welcome exposure for the club game. Ebbw Vale v Cardiff kicks off at 2.30pm, with S4C’s Clwb Rygbi coverage beginning at 2.15pm on S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and YouTube, with Welsh and English-language commentary available.

But there is much more happening around Wales.

At the Electric Brewery Field, Bridgend welcome Swansea at 2.30pm for what will be the Ravens’ first home league fixture of the season following three successive away matches. Swansea arrive still searching for their first league victory after defeats against Ebbw Vale, Cardiff and Carmarthen Quins.

Elsewhere, Newport host Carmarthen Quins, Pontypool welcome RGC to Pontypool Park, and defending champions Llandovery face Aberavon at Church Bank.

That means rugby stretching from Gwent and the valleys through Bridgend and Carmarthenshire to one of the most famous old rugby grounds in Pontypool.

And perhaps that is the point.

The professional game inevitably commands the headlines. Wales internationals, the regions and the financial future of Welsh rugby generate far more attention.

But Welsh rugby has never existed only at the top.

Its foundations were built in places such as Ebbw Vale, Pontypool, Bridgend, Swansea, Newport and Llandovery, where clubs became part of the identities of the communities surrounding them.

There is something reassuringly traditional about a 2.30pm Saturday kick-off.

Arrive shortly before the game. Meet somebody you know. Stand close enough to hear the tackles and the conversations on the pitch. And, unlike at many major sporting occasions, you can still feel that the club belongs to the town around it.

Super Rygbi Cymru is still developing its own identity. The 10-team competition is now entering its third season, with the SRC Trophy joined by the Cup and Challenger Shield as clubs attempt to create a stronger and more competitive pathway beneath the professional level.

There will inevitably be debates about the structure of Welsh rugby.

But this Saturday afternoon, perhaps the simplest response is just to go and watch some.

Super Rygbi Cymru – Saturday, October 3

Ebbw Vale v Cardiff – Eugene Cross Park
Newport v Carmarthen Quins
Bridgend v Swansea – Electric Brewery Field
Pontypool v RGC – Pontypool Park
Llandovery v Aberavon – Church Bank

Kick-offs: 2.30pm

On TV/streaming: Ebbw Vale v Cardiff – Clwb Rygbi from 2.15pm on S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and YouTube. S4C

DID EWE KNOW?

Super Rygbi Cymru is using rugby’s new 20-minute red card this season. A player sent off for a red-card offence cannot return, but if the incident is judged not to be an intentional and highly dangerous act, the team can bring on a replacement after 20 minutes and return to 15 players. For the most serious deliberate or violent offences, the traditional full-match red card still applies and no replacement is allowed.

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Cardiff Oktoberfest 2026

Why Is Cardiff Celebrating Oktoberfest? The Curious Story Behind the World’s Biggest Beer Festival

LEDERHOSEN, steins, Oompa bands and bratwurst may seem a long way from Cardiff.

But this weekend, the Welsh capital is getting a distinctly Bavarian flavour.

At DEPOT Cardiff, Friday night brings a Bingo Lingo Oktoberfest Special, complete with steins, a live Oompa band, festive games and themed décor. Doors open at 6pm, with the event running until 11pm.

Then on Saturday, Tiger Yard begins its own Oktoberfest celebrations in Cardiff Bay, the first of four Saturday events running on October 3, 10, 17 and 24.

Each day is split into two sessions, from noon to 4.30pm and 5pm to 9.30pm, with live Oompa music, German street food, steins and Bavarian-themed games.

Versions of Oktoberfest are staged across Europe, North America, Australia and elsewhere, often combining Bavarian music, beer-hall traditions, German food and fancy dress Picture credit: Oktoberfest Cardiff

So how did a royal wedding in Bavaria more than 200 years ago end up inspiring parties in Cardiff?

The answer is rather more interesting than you might expect.

It all began with a wedding

The first Oktoberfest was held in Munich in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, who later became King Ludwig I, and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

The wedding took place on October 12, and the public celebrations continued for several days.

The grand finale came on October 17, when a horse race was held on a meadow outside Munich.

That meadow was named Theresienwiese, or Therese’s Meadow, in honour of the bride.

More than two centuries later, Oktoberfest is still held on the same site. In Munich it is commonly known simply as the Wiesn.

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No beer tents at the beginning

One of the most surprising things about the first Oktoberfest is what it did not have.

There were no giant beer tents.

There were no elaborate fairground rides.

There were no sprawling food halls or international visitors flying in from around the world.

The original festival was essentially a public celebration centred on the royal wedding and the horse race.

The event proved popular enough to be repeated, and over the decades it gradually evolved.

Agricultural displays were added. Food and drink became increasingly important. Fairground entertainment developed, and eventually the huge beer tents that are now so closely associated with Oktoberfest became part of the tradition.

What began as a one-off royal celebration slowly became one of the biggest annual events on the planet.

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Why is Oktoberfest mostly in September?

There is another obvious question.

If it is called Oktoberfest, why does so much of it take place in September?

The simple answer is the weather.

Over time, organisers shifted more of the festival into September to make the most of longer evenings and generally milder conditions, while still keeping the traditional finale in early October.

The 2026 Munich Oktoberfest runs from September 19 to October 4 at the Theresienwiese.

That means Cardiff’s Oktoberfest celebrations this weekend are not merely borrowing the name out of season.

They are taking place while the original Munich festival is still in full swing.

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From Munich to the world

Oktoberfest has long since become an international phenomenon.

Versions of it are staged across Europe, North America, Australia and elsewhere, often combining Bavarian music, beer-hall traditions, German food and fancy dress.

The atmosphere has become almost as important as the beer itself.

Lederhosen and dirndl dresses, brass bands, communal tables, pretzels and steins have become instantly recognisable symbols of the event.

Cardiff’s versions follow much the same recipe.

At DEPOT, Oktoberfest is being folded into the venue’s high-energy Bingo Lingo format, while Tiger Yard is turning its container venue into a Bavarian-style party space across four Saturdays.

It is less about trying to recreate Munich exactly and more about borrowing the spirit of the festival.

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Cardiff gives it a Welsh twist

And perhaps that is part of the appeal.

Cardiff has become increasingly comfortable borrowing international traditions and reshaping them in its own way.

Christmas markets, food festivals, international sporting occasions and themed events now sit alongside more traditional Welsh celebrations.

Oktoberfest fits neatly into that mix.

Nobody is likely to confuse Cardiff Bay with Bavaria.

But for a few weekends in October, the sound of brass bands, the sight of foaming steins and the smell of German-style street food might just make the distance feel a little shorter.

And for those who prefer their Oktoberfest history with a Welsh connection, there is another useful thought.

This weekend’s events provide a neat reminder that Wales has long had cultural, commercial and personal links with Germany — something Ewegottalove will be explores in more detail in its Wales and Germany feature in Wales Around the World.

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DID EWE KNOW?

The original Oktoberfest in 1810 did not feature beer tents at all. The public celebration ended with a horse race held in honour of a royal wedding — and the meadow where it took place still carries the bride’s name more than 200 years later.

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