Wales

A lot has been said about Wales' performances at the World Cup in New Zealand last year, but after securing successive wins against Ireland and Scotland in the Six Nations, the Welsh have shown that they are a force to be reckoned with and genuine contenders for the Six Nations title.

It sounds like a strange Christmas cracker joke, yet this is the situation that has caused the Welsh and Scottish Unions to become embroiled in a power struggle over 20 year old Steven Shingler.

A gutsy win for England at the Stadio Olimpico saw them go top of the table running out 19-15 winners against Italy. England came from 15-6 down to scrape their second win of the championship.

How's it going my rugby buddies! As the Six Nations swings by it's a great couple of months for all rugby fans in the Northern Hemisphere.

'Four year cycles' is a term that fell into the laps of rugby fans last weekend as the Six Nations kicked off.

Six Nations: Week 2 Preview

Back in their heyday of the 1980's, Romania could list France, Wales and the 1984 Grand Slam winning Scotland side amongst their list of major scalps, while in 1981, they fell to the All Blacks by a mere 14 points to 6 in a game that also saw the 'Oaks' have two tries disallowed.

The stage was set for Ireland to get their revenge over a Welsh side that had won their previous two encounters, at the World Cup and a controversial Six Nations fixture in Cardiff last season.

Philippe Saint-Andre's first game in charge saw France win comfortably against Italy 30-12 in front of the Paris crowd. The home side avenged last year's defeat to the Azzurri by dominating the game from start to finish.

So what did we learn from the first weekend of the 6 Nations. Some would say not much that we didn’t know on Friday but it was a weekend that gave us flashes of brilliance amongst the pragmatism and a couple of controversial refereeing decisions.

When Scarlet's back row forward Aaron Shingler was informed that he was to join the Welsh squad, in one of Warren Gatland's infamous training camps in Gdansk, Poland, the icing was well and truly on the cake.

It is one of those things where you are envious because that guy is living your dream, but you would be too terrified to say anything if you were in his position.

The first game of this year's Six Nations tournament sees World Cup finalists France host Italy at the Stade de France.

Like many young men plying their trade in professional rugby in Wales recently, Justin Tipuric has experienced something of a whirlwind eighteen months representing his club and region.

Six Nations coaches and players chat to Talking Rugby

The Welsh national side won over fans and critics alike at the World Cup. The whole nation got behind the team.

The Welsh Rugby Union have announced a 35 man training squad ahead of next month's Six Nations tournament and after finishing in 4th place in the 2011 Rugby World Cup

When I last wrote a Blog I was still in New Zealand enjoying what I can only describe as the best World Cup to have ever been played out!

Shane Williams wore the number 11 jersey for so long Warren Gatland is going to be faced with some tough choices when it comes to picking who will replace him on the wing, one this is for certain there isn't anyone exactly like Williams and probably won't be again.

It is almost that time of year again. January, in rugby's calendar, is the month where everyone is put into the Six Nations blender of anticipation, expectation, hope, fear, nerves €“ you name it, and it has been tossed in for good measure €“ before the lid comes off in February and you are a left a smoothie of emotion as your country sets off on a five-game quest for glory.