The Bath warrior and local hero who epitomises what rugby is built on, writes CHRIS FOY amid the threat of a breakaway league
What a time for Tom Dunn to strike a blow for rugby's cherished local heroes, just as the notions of identity and belonging are under threat from a global 'travelling circus' rebel league.
The 32-year-old hooker was the heart and soul of Bath's comeback win over Bristol, propelling Johann van Graan's side to Twickenham for another shot at clinching their first Premiership title since 1996. Dunn became the poster boy of a blood-and-thunder West Country derby, with his club releasing a social media post showing his muddied, bloodied and swollen face, and the caption 'Tough to Beat'.
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The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Next Brentford Manager Odds & Betting: Who Are The Contenders to Replace Frank?
Long-serving head coach Thomas Frank appears on the verge of departing Brentford for pastures new, with the Dane reportedly in talks with Tottenham Hotspur, and betting sites have reacted by opening a next Brentford manager market. Frank has been at the Gtech since 2018, taking over when Brentford were still in the Championship and earning promotion before turning the Bees into a well-established Premier League side. But his impressive showings mean he has long been touted for a move to a bigger Premier League club, and Spurs have identified him as their top candidate after deciding to part ways with Europa League winner Ange Postecoglou. And Frank's upcoming move leaves Brentford looking for a new manager for the first time in seven years ahead of preparations starting for the 2025/26 season. A 10th-placed finish last term has left Brentford in a good position ahead of next term, but with Frank leaving, alongside the potential departure of Bryan Mbeumo, the new boss will need to act quickly both on the pitch and in the market ahead of the season beginning on 16 August. According to football betting sites, current assistant manager Justin Cochrane is the leading candidate to take over at Gtech, with Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna also admired. And with plenty of movement possible before the new season starts, we've taken a look at the leading contenders for the Brentford job. Next Brentford Manager Odds Manager Odds Betting site Justin Cochrane 4/7 Parimatch Kieran McKenna 6/1 Unibet Danny Rohl 8/1 Unibet Michael Carrick 12/1 BetVictor Edin Terzic 16/1 talkSPORT Bet Marco Rose 16/1 BetVictor Steven Gerrard 16/1 Unibet Sean Dyche 16/1 Parimatch Carlos Corberan 20/1 Unibet Ange Postecoglou 20/1 Parimatch Ralph Hasenhuttl 20/1 Unibet Mauricio Pochettino 25/1 BetVictor Note that according to the terms on most betting sites, 'caretaker and interim managers completing at least 10 consecutive competitive games will be deemed the permanent manager'. Current first team coach Cochrane is the leading candidate to take over from Frank, with the Englishman also a member of Thomas Tuchel's coaching staff within the Three Lions set-up. An appointment to the lead role at Brentford would likely mean Cochrane has to shelve that role with England, but the 43-year-old may well jump at the chance for a first head coach role having previously coached at numerous levels at Manchester United, Tottenham and with the national side. Cochrane is short as 1/3 on some betting apps to take over at the Gtech, though it is not known for sure whether the Bees hierarchy will judge him to have enough top-level experience to take over such a job. Current Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna is an interesting proposition at around 6/1, with the Englishman having seen his side suffer relegation from the Premier League this season. Nevertheless, McKenna has received plaudits for his performance while in charge of the Tractor Boys, and having also won promotion from the Championship the season before, he certainly has the edge in experience over Cochrane. Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl is the other 'leading' candidate, according to the betting odds, at 8/1. The German's side finished 12th in the Championship last season, and it doesn't seem as though that performance will be enough to tempt the Bees into discussions. Former Premier League and Champions League bosses in the running Ex-Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick is next on the list at 12/1, with Carrick having parted ways with the club after failing to finish in the play-off spots last season. Carrick initially showed plenty of promise at the Riverside, and though it ended on a sour note he will likely have plenty of suitors – though it is likely that a job of this size will be too much for him at this point in his career. Further down the odds, there's a wealth of experience among some of the less likely candidates, including Champions League finalist Edin Terzic. Former Dortmund boss Terzic guided Dortmund to the 2024 final but lost out to Real Madrid, and has been out of work since being sacked by the club not long after. He is priced at 16/1 to take over, as is fellow ex-Dortmund boss Marco Rose. Rose, who is a free agent after leaving RB Leipzig in March, has over 12 years of experience including time at RB Salzburg, and a first role at a Premier League club could be enough to tempt him away from Germany. And if Brentford want to go with experience then former Everton boss Sean Dyche could be a good choice, with the ex-Burnley boss out of work since his sacking in January. He's offered around 16/1, though his football would be at odds with that of Frank, so hiring him would perhaps be counter-productive for the Bees. And the last manager at 16/1 is Steven Gerrard, who recently left Al-Effitaq in Saudi Arabia after a string of poor results. Though he won the Scottish title with Rangers in 2021, the fact that he left Aston Villa in 2022 with the club just above the relegation zone suggests that Brentford will steer clear of the former Liverpool man. Spurs Favourites in The Mix? There's plenty of intrigue among the less-likely candidates to take over at the Gtech, with two names standing out in particular – Ange Postecoglou and Mauricio Pochettino. The two former Spurs bosses are seen as unlikely to join Brentford considering the circumstances, with Postecoglou perhaps taking time off – and hoping for a step up from the Spurs job – while Poch has only just begun his tenure as manager of the United States national team. They are priced at 20/1 and 25/1 respectively. Valencia manager Carlos Corberan is another outside shout at 20/1, having impressed in Spain after taking over at the end of 2024 with the club near relegation and subsequently overseeing a climb up the table to 12th. And Ralph Hasenhuttl rounds off those offered at 20/1, with the Austrian having been sacked by VFL Wolfsburg after an 11th-placed finish in the Bundesliga. Responsible gambling When having a bet, it's vital to practice responsible gambling. When using gambling sites be aware that sports betting can be addictive. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies whether you're using new betting sites, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, betting apps, or any other gambling medium. Even the most knowledgeable punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses. It's particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino offers you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution. You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:
Telegraph
19 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Horse racing tips: Tuesday, June 10
It's a low-key day's racing but our in-house tipster continues to be in form and has selections from the meetings at Catterick and Wolverhampton. Ron Wood's selections: Odds provided by William Hill and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (max 5). If you already have a William Hill account and are looking for a new bookmaker to use for this week's racing, check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. 5.50 Wolverhampton – Class 6 Handicap (1m ½f) In a weak race, CLASSIC CAUSE (NAP) still has some potential. This Charlie Hills-trained runner kept on well for a close third in an all-weather event over 7f at Southwell on his seasonal reappearance and handicap debut, and that form has worked out. He failed to build on that at Nottingham next time, but the return to the all-weather is in his favour and this looks a good opportunity for him. 7.10 Catterick – Class 5 Fillies' Handicap (7f) Stall 10 may be a bit wider than is ideal for CROWN'S LADY but she is in form and still looks like she has more to give. A sharper test than she faced when third at Carlisle last time looks to be in her favour and she also drops back down in grade from Class 4. Selection: Crown's Lady @ 4/1 with William Hill Today's racing (Flat unless stated) Salisbury 2.00-5.05 Wolverhampton 2.45-5.50 Sligo (NH) 5.28-8.28 Catterick 5.10-8.40 Fontwell (NH) 6.20-8.50 Ron Wood 2025 horse racing P/L (Up to and including Sunday June 8) Star ratings explained ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy ⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims ⭐⭐ - tentative choice ⭐ - minimum confidence If you want to find more odds and offers, take a look at our list of the best betting sites and free bets Check out our list of the best casino bonuses in the UK
Scotsman
20 minutes ago
- Scotsman
21 brilliant retro photos of Scotland fans at the famous 2-2 draw with England in 2017 at Hampden
Can you believe it has been eight years since Leigh Griffiths bagged those two unforgettable free-kicks for Scotland against England in the sun in front of a sold-out Hampden? 'I've not seen a football celebration in a ground like this for a long, long, long time,' remarked a crestfallen Gary Neville on co-commentary, as the then-Celtic forward fired two unstoppable free-kicks beyond the outstretched arm of Three Lions goalkeeper Joe Hart in the dying embers of the World Cup qualifier in Glasgow. The home crowd exploded into scenes of wild celebration that have struggled to be matched since. Griffiths sprinted around the Hampden track as if he was a 200 metres runner and, for a moment, the southside of Glasgow was the place to be! It is one of the most iconic games in the history of the stadium. Okay, so Harry Kane's even later leveller spoiled it a little, but let's not labour on that ... Were you there that day? If so, here are 21 of the best retro photos of Scotland fans during the famous 2-2 draw with England in 2017. Can you spot yourself in our gallery? 1 . Hampden history Two different generations of Scotland fan witnessed one of the greatest games in Hampden history. | SNS Group Photo Sales 2 . Let's go Scotland! A Scotland fan cheers on the team against England in 2017. | SNS Group Photo Sales 3 . The Rampant Lion Scotland fans wave their flags during the game against England. | SNS Group Photo Sales 4 . Flower of Scotland Fans sing the national anthem ahead of kick-off at Hampden. | SNS Group Photo Sales
