It has been a yr of change in Welsh sport and whereas our nationwide groups could have wobbled – individually our stars proceed to shine.

New sporting heroes emerged on the athletics and biking tracks in addition to within the pool and ring, whereas just a few previous heads continued to roll again the years.

But it was additionally a yr marked by the retirements of a list of Wales’ greatest sports activities figures.

Welsh rugby bordered on civil battle however little may halt Wrexham FC’s revival.

Managers got here and left as the remainder of Welsh soccer battled for survival, whereas our males’s and girls’s nationwide sides skilled each dramatic highs and lows.

Emma Finucane, Matt Richards and Joe Cordina grew to become world champions whereas Mark Williams and Geraint Thomas proved there’s nonetheless loads of life within the veterans of their sports activities.

There have been World Cups for our rugby, netball and hockey gamers whereas ladies’s sports activities skilled a outstanding rise in attendances with file crowds in rugby and soccer.

And we bid farewell to a number of heroes of the previous, together with Charlie Faulkner, Brian Price, Dai Watkins and Clive Rowlands.

So let’s look again at Welsh sport by way of 2023.

The new yr introduced departures and arrivals in Welsh sport, starting with the most important title of all as Gareth Bale declares his fast retirement from soccer.

It was the second Welsh soccer had dreaded because the five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Bale hangs up his boots on the age of 33 as his nation’s file cap-holder (111) and goal-scorer (41).

Cardiff City sack Mark Hudson and appoint former Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi, who would save the Bluebirds from relegation however not his personal job.

However the sport in Wales is rocked by allegations of sexism and misogyny in a BBC documentary.

The scandal would plague the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) all yr, resulting in chief government Steve Phillips resigning and a radical overhaul of the governing physique’s board.

Ospreys shock English champions Leicester as – for the primary time – all 4 Welsh areas progressed to the knock-out levels of Europe, although little may examine to the cup heroics of Wrexham.

Hollywood proprietor Ryan Reynolds is amongst those that noticed them knock Coventry City out of the FA Cup and are available inside seconds of dumping out Championship high-flyers Sheffield United.

James Carson writes his title in hockey historical past by scoring Wales’ first aim at a World Cup whereas Laura Deas gained silver on the Skeleton World Championships in St Moritz.

Sprint bike owner Emma Finucane indicators her potential with 4 golds on the British Championships, whereas athletics mourns the dying of Anthony Hughes, the driving pressure behind a few of Wales’ most profitable Para-athletes, aged 63.

Warren Gatland’s return can’t forestall Wales making their worst begin to a Six Nations since 2007 with their heaviest residence loss to Ireland in 22 years and a file defeat to Scotland.

The loss to England was overshadowed by the specter of strike motion earlier than the sport by gamers over the monetary instability within the recreation.

There was higher information on the observe as bike owner Elinor Barker wins European Madison gold and para-athlete Aled Sion Davies breaks his personal world indoor shot put file.

Joe Allen retires from worldwide soccer and rugby loses certainly one of its most vibrant characters as Charlie Faulkner dies aged 81.

Women’s rugby and soccer each see file crowds. Nearly 5,000 watch Wales beat Ireland within the opening Six Nations recreation at Cardiff Arms Park, a file that may be smashed in April’s recreation in opposition to England, in entrance of virtually 9,000 followers.

A crowd of 9,500 then watch Wrexham raise the Genaro Adran North title at The Racecourse.

Cardiff Met retain the Genero Adran Trophy, beating Cardiff City in Bridgend 3-1 in a repeat of final yr’s remaining.

Menna Fitzpatrick turns into GB’s most decorated winter Paralympian with a seventh World Cup and World Championship medal, whereas newly-crowned British indoor 3,000m champion Melissa Courtney-Bryant provides European bronze and bike owner Elinor Barker wins two European observe golds.

Wales end the Six Nations with only a solitary victory in Italy, whereas Taulupe Faletau wins his a hundredth cap within the remaining defeat in opposition to France.

Wales Under-20s head coach Byron Hayward resigns after a whitewash.

Ex-Cardiff RFC chairman Peter Thomas dies aged 79. Olympic gymnast Denise Middleton (nee Goddard), and former GB rugby league worldwide David Willicombe, die aged 72.

Joe Cordina reclaims the IBF world super-featherweight title with a break up resolution win over Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in Cardiff.

Wales Women beat Italy to clinch their finest Six Nations end in 14 years and an historic excessive of sixth place on the earth rankings.

Scarlets’ spectacular European Challenge Cup run is ended by Glasgow within the semi-final whereas Cardiff win the WRU Premiership Final.

Swimmer Daniel Jervis turns into double British champion at each 800m and 1500m freestyle and Matt Richards units a Welsh file within the 50m.

Gerwyn Price is the primary darts participant of the season to win 4 nights within the Premier League beating Michael Smith 6-3 within the Brighton remaining.

In soccer, The New Saints and Cardiff City Women full their respective home doubles.

Paul Mullin is the hero as Wrexham sealed the National League title and a return to the Football League after a 15-year absence in entrance of 10,000 followers.

Wrexham conceded to Boreham Wood after 43 seconds, however Mullin scores twice in a 3-1 win that sparked a joyous pitch invasion and later a bus parade by way of the city.

Celtic Dragons, backside of netball’s Super League, half firm with head coach Danielle Titmuss-Morris and appoint former Australia coach Jill McIntosh.

Kitty’s Light, educated by Christian Williams, turns into solely the second horse to win each the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and Scottish Grand National within the house of per week.

However Dream Alliance, winner of the 2009 Welsh Grand National, and star of the 2020 movie Dream Horse, dies on the age of twenty-two.

Rugby gamers Josh Navidi and Caryl Thomas in addition to GB ice-hockey star Jonathan Phillips retire and former Newport benefactor Tony Brown dies, aged 86.

Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric announce their shock retirements from worldwide rugby 4 months earlier than the World Cup, adopted swiftly by Rhys Webb.

Jones, 37, who later reveals he has been identified with a coronary heart situation, is world rugby’s file cap holder after 170 Tests for Wales and the British & Irish Lions and gained 5 Six Nations titles, whereas Tipuric gained 4.

At the identical age as Jones, Geraint Thomas is left “devastated” after his hopes of turning into the oldest winner of the Giro d’Italia have been dashed on the penultimate day.

Thomas spent eight days within the maglia rosa however is overhauled by Primoz Roglic within the time trial and completed second by simply 14 seconds.

Jade Jones is crushed within the quarter finals of taekwondo’s World Championships however boxer Lauren Price wins the inaugural British feminine welterweight championship in solely her fourth skilled struggle. Flyweight Jay Harris emulates his father by turning into British champion.

Wales captain Sophie Ingle is a part of the Chelsea crew that wins a 3rd successive double in entrance of 77,390 at Wembley.

However days later on the similar venue, Wales’ Tom Lockyer is taken to hospital after collapsing throughout Luton Town’s Championship play-off remaining. He recovers and is cleared to kick off the Hatters’ first season within the prime flight for 31 years however suffers a relapse on the pitch in December.

Wales bow out of their first look on the Under-17s European Championships with a 3-0 win over Poland and Llandovery win the Welsh Premiership title for the primary time.

Cardiff and Swansea each appoint new managers however just one remains to be there on the finish of the yr.

Ex-Fenerbahce boss Erol Bulut takes over the Bluebirds whereas former Northern Ireland defender Michael Duff will get the Swans job – solely to be fired in December.

Wales supervisor Robert Page was additionally beneath stress as their promising begin to the Euro 2024 qualifiers was derailed with losses to Armenia and Turkey.

Jade Jones follows victory over world champion Nahid Kiyanichandeh with European Games gold in Krakow, the place boxer Rosie Eccles additionally clinches Olympic qualification.

Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton win the PDC World Cup of Darts for a second time and former world triathlon champion Non Stanford is amongst these recognised within the King’s birthday honours checklist.

Josh Tarling, 19, turns into the youngest British males’s time-trial champion whereas Megan Barker wins the ladies’s circuit race in a photograph end. Tarling would go on to win the European title and a shock world bronze in a outstanding summer time.

Golfer Stuart Manley claims his fourth European Challenge Tour title – the Open de Bretagne – with a 15-foot birdie putt.

Former Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap retires from rugby whereas Lewis Prosser, 34, additionally finishes as Wales’s most capped (180) males’s hockey participant.

Wales’ athletes and swimmers set data tumbling throughout a golden month.

At the World Aquatics Championships in Japan, Matt Richards beats the Olympic champion to win 200m freestyle gold, breaks the British file 3 times on his approach to fifth in 100m earlier than successful a second gold with the 4 x 200m relay crew.

Melissa Courtney-Bryant broke Hayley Tullet’s 20-year Welsh file for the 1500m (3:58:01), earlier than setting one other file for the mile in Monaco.

Jeremiah Azu breaks an even older mark, Christian Malcolm’s 100m time set in 2001 with 10.05 seconds on his approach to European U23 100m gold.

Pembrokeshire Harriers’ Heather Warner turns into British 5km stroll champion with Bethan Davies of Cardiff second.

Aled Sion Davies wins a outstanding fifth world title in F63 shot put, whereas Sabrina Fortune (T20 shot) and Hollie Arnold (F46 javelin) additionally win gold in Paris whereas 18-year-old Michael Jenkins took (F38 shot) silver.

Wales Women break new floor with their first soccer worldwide exterior of Europe, dropping 2-0 to world champions USA in California, whereas Cheryl Foster and Hannah Dingley push again boundaries.

Wales’ Oliver Farr qualifies for the Open Championship however fails to make the lower at Royal Liverpool.

Wales Under-20s shake off an horrendous Six Nations to complete sixth on the World Championship, having pushed New Zealand 27-26, although head coach Mark Jones opts to affix Ospreys on their return.

At Cardiff Arms Park, a three-month saga ends as director of rugby Dai Young leaves regardless of “insufficient evidence” into alleged bullying allegations whereas players leave in their droves from all 4 areas amid drastic finances cuts.

Welsh cyclists take the observe by storm on the World Championships in Glasgow.

Elinor Barker provides Madison gold to her crew pursuit title win alongside fellow Welsh riders Anna Morris and sister Megan.

Athlete Joe Brier takes silver within the 4x400m on the World Championships in Budapest and Laura Sugar completes a hat-trick of titles in KL3 para-canoe World Championship in Germany.

Wales take bronze on the European ll Women’s Hockey Championship in Prague with a penalty shoot-out win in opposition to Ukraine, whereas our netballers end ninth within the World Cup following wins over Trinidad & Tobago, Sri Lanka and Scotland.

Cardiff appoint Matt Sherratt as head coach whereas Wales start preparations for the World Cup with a 20-9 win over England on Leigh Halfpenny’s 100th cap earlier than a file 52-16 loss to South Africa.

Two long-time fly-halves announce their retirements from Test rugby in Elinor Snowsill and Dan Biggar who says he’ll retire after the World Cup.

Rarely can a county have seen chief government, chairman, coach and captain all depart inside the house of lower than 12 months.

That was the situation at Glamorgan as chief government Hugh Morris declares he’ll step down on the finish of a year of change at Sophia Gardens that additionally noticed coach Matthew Maynard, captain David Lloyd and chairman Gareth Williams depart.

Ollie Wynne-Griffith wins world rowing silver, Josh Tarling takes the European time-trial crown and Matt Bush is world para taekwondo champion – once more.

Despite a torrid yr for Welsh rugby on and off the pitch, Jac Morgan’s facet beat Fiji (32-26) in Bordeaux, Portugal (28-8) in Nice and a memorable file thrashing of Australia (40-6) in Lyon.

David Watkins, dual-code rugby worldwide, dies aged 81 and former WRU president Glanmor Griffiths, the driving pressure behind the redevelopment of the Millennium Stadium, dies aged 83.

Warren Gatland is left to rue a “massive missed opportunity” as Wales are knocked out of the World Cup.

Wales defeated Georgia 43-19 to prime their pool unbeaten after which led Argentina 10-0 and 17-12 earlier than happening 29-17 in Marseille in what marks a remaining look for Biggar.

Wales Women play within the inaugural WXV1 event in New Zealand, dropping all three video games together with 70-7 to the hosts and world champions, whereas Wales Women rugby league fare a bit of higher in opposition to France and England.

The Nations League prime tier additionally proves a step too far for our feminine footballers as they concede 5 for a second recreation in a row – to Germany – earlier than dropping 2-1 to Denmark, following an earlier loss to Iceland.

Robert Page’s facet fare higher. Wales play on the Racecourse for the primary time since 2019 – beating Gibraltar 4-0 – earlier than Harry Wilson crowns his fiftieth cap with two targets in a surprising 2-1 win over World Cup semi-finalists Croatia in Cardiff.

Wales is known as as co-hosts of a serious worldwide soccer event for the primary time with Cardiff to host video games in Euro 2028 – and potentially the opening match.

Michael Beckett is known as within the GB crusing crew for the 2024 Olympics whereas Mark Williams turns into the second oldest winner of a rating title – at 48 – since fellow Welshman Ray Reardon in 1982 – aged 50.

We bid farewell to Dennis Gethin, former WRU President and Secretary 79, in addition to former Glamorgan cricketer Gwyn Richards, 71, and Wales soccer worldwide Ronnie Rees, 79.

Joe Cordina defends his IBF super-featherweight title in Monte Carlo with a majority factors verdict over American Edward Vazquez in Monte Carlo.

Elfyn Evans wins Rally Japan – his third victory of the yr – to safe runners-up spot within the World Rally Championship for the third time in 4 years.

Welsh rugby bids farewell to Alun Wyn Jones, Leigh Halfpenny and Justin Tipuric however the WRU is pressured to apologise for staging the uncapped recreation in opposition to Barbarians on the identical day as a regional derby.

Sophie Ingle units a Women’s Super League file along with her 184th look, although Wales males’s look at a fourth main event in a row is left hanging within the stability.

Having seized management of their very own future, Page’s facet draw 1-1 with each Armenia and Turkey, so should now progress by way of the play-offs in March.

Cardiff Devils lose their opening Continental Cup semi-final group match however get better to beat Zemgale Jelgava, of Latvia, and their French hosts Bruleurs de Loups to achieve the ultimate, which they are going to host in January 2024.

Former rowing cox Chris Jenkins is elected Commonwealth Games President.

Swimmer Medi Harris wins her first senior title on the European short-course Championship the place Matt Richards added two golds and a silver to his medal haul.

Emma Finucane is known as Welsh Sports Personality of the Year.

Swansea City sack manager Michael Duff after their worst begin to a season in 32 years however their pursuit of Tottenham assistant Chris Davies fails.

Wales Woman are relegated from the Nations League prime tier however log off with a reputable draw with Germany.

Samson Lee retires however Rob Howley makes a shock return to Gatland’s teaching workers whereas Brian Price, who led Wales to a Triple Crown and Newport to their well-known win over the All Blacks, dies aged 86.