- By Matt Lloyd
- ` Sport Wales
37 minutes ago
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Wales' sporting stars have big things to look forward to in 2024.
The summer sports calendar is expected to be dominated by three major events in Europe – Euro 2024, the Olympic Games and the Paralympics.
However, with important dates coming up in rugby, football, darts and cricket and with more and more of our boxers and mixed martial arts fighters aiming for world titles, it promises to be a record year for sport.
So what are we most looking forward to in 2024?
Six Nations premieres
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Wales have three games at the Principality Stadium in the Six Nations
For the first time since 2006, Wales enter the Six Nations without Alun Wyn Jones.
They also have no clear contenders for the number 10 or 15 jerseys as they are eliminated and no longer available.
The World Cup showed that Warren Gatland is still capable of turning regional contenders into Test match winners… with time. However, that's a luxury he may not be able to afford, even with Rob Howley back on board his coaching staff.
Wales face Scotland in Cardiff on February 3 and then travel to England and Ireland before back-to-back home games against France and Italy.
Gatland will then tour Australia alongside him in July.
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The Welsh women are ranked sixth in the world after finishing third in last year's Six Nations
The Welsh women start their campaign a week later – against Scotland on March 23 – and are far more optimistic after their best result in 14 years in 2023 and sixth place in the world
After back-to-back attendance records last year against Ireland and then England, the Welsh Women will play their first Six Nations game at the Principality Stadium on April 27, against Italy.
Euro 2024… hopefully
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Cardiff City Stadium 'fortress' will help Wales in Euro 2024 play-offs – page
Wales are still two games away – both in Cardiff – from Euro 2024.
After missing out on automatic qualification, Robert Page's side must now beat Finland (March 21) and the winner between Poland and Estonia five days later.
If they win these two games, they will pack their bags for Germany and the tournament, which takes place from June 14th to July 14th.
Wales would be in a group alongside France, the Netherlands and Austria, but at least the atmosphere for the traveling Red Wall promises more Euro 2016 than either the logistical problems of Euro 2020 or the costs of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Women's qualification for the European Championship 2025
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Gemma Grainger's Wales plan is working – Wales match of the day experts
Relegation from the top tier of the Nations League last year means Gemma Grainger's side face a longer road to reaching their first major finals at Switzerland 2025.
However, ahead of the qualifying draw on March 5, they will be buoyed by a shock 0-0 draw against world number six Germany in their last game.
“Our goal is to qualify for a European Championship. Has League A helped us get closer to this goal? Yes, she did,” Coach Grainger said.
“This experience marks the next stage of our journey for us. We are ready to qualify for a big tournament.”
There have been several failures in Wales over the past year and for veterans such as Jess Fishlock and Sophie Ingle this may be the last chance to reach a grand final.
Wales face three teams home and away in the group stage, which begins on April 3, before potentially two play-off rounds in October and November.
Olympians strive for gold
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Emma Finucane has been named ` Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2023
Emma Finucane emulated Becky James as the world's fastest cyclist in 2023 and now has her sights firmly set on Olympic success in Paris.
Fellow Welsh cyclists Elinor and Megan Barker will look to compete in various events, while rising young stars Zoe Backstedt and Josh Tarling may get a first Olympic chance.
Players such as Jade Jones and Lauren Williams (taekwondo), Jasmine Joyce (rugby sevens), Rosie Eccles (boxing) and Medi Harris (swimming) will all start the year with medal ambitions.
Swimmer Matt Richards had a standout 2023 as he beat the Olympic champion to win gold in the 200m freestyle at the World Aquatic Championships, as well as relay gold and three British records.
On the track, Joe Brier was a 4x400m relay medalist at the World Championships, while Melissa Courtney-Bryant and Jeremiah Azu both broke long-standing Welsh records last summer.
The 33rd Olympic Games will take place from July 26th to August 11th.
Paralympics in Paris
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Aled Sion Davies (left) and Hollie Arnold (right) both won gold at the Paralympics
Throwers Aled Sion Davies and Hollie Arnold are expected to be part of the ParalympicsGB team traveling to France from August 28th to September 8th.
Three-time Paralympic champion Davies broke his own world indoor shot put record in 2023 before winning his fifth world title in Paris last summer.
Arnold also claimed her fifth world gold in javelin last year but is aiming to regain her 2016 Paralympic title in her fifth Games.
Sabrina Fortune (T20 shot), 18-year-old Michael Jenkins (F38 shot), Funmi Oduwaiye (shot and discus), Olivia Breen (long jump and 100m), Harrison Walsh (discus) and Laura Sugar (canoe) will all be push for medals.
Cordina eyes the price
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Joe Cordina boxed for Team GB at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Joe Cordina has regained his world title in 2023, now he wants to make the big breakthrough.
The 31-year-old regained the IBF super featherweight world title, which he lost due to injury, defeating Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov, then defended it against Edward Vazquez in Monte Carlo.
Now the Cardiff fighter wants a unification fight against WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood or WBO world champion Emanuel Navarrete.
“Everyone will want a piece of me now. I have a world title, now I want to earn a lot of money to secure the future of my family,” he said.
This could also be the year that Lauren Price becomes world champion, while Gavin Gwynne can continue his renaissance, Rhys Edwards can maintain his unbeaten record and Liam Williams reminds everyone of his abilities.
In mixed martial arts (MMA), Oban Elliott is expected to make his UFC debut in California following his victory over Kaik Brito on Dana White's Contender Series last year.
Jack Shore will return to the cage after hand surgery, while former two-time world champion Brett Johns will look to continue his momentum
It could also be a big year for Cory McKenna and former Cage Warriors two-weight champion Mason Jones.
England T20 visits
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Sophia Gardens will host two England T20 internationals this year
It's always entertaining when Australia is in town, not least because of the cricket.
England and Australia will battle it out for the T20 World Cup in the summer before Australia travels to these shores in September.
The second T20 match will take place on September 13th at Sophia Gardens and promises to be colorful.
England also face Pakistan in the third T20 clash in Cardiff on May 28, while Glamorgan begins its domestic season in April with a new chairman, chairman coach and captain.
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