Scarlets add ex-Wales lock Davies to coaching team
Former Wales lock and captain Bradley Davies has joined Scarlets' coaching set up for the 2025-26 campaign.The 38-year-old former Ospreys, Wasps and Cardiff forward will "focus on the contact area" as part of Dwayne Peel's backroom staff.Peel said: "Brad is a young, ambitious coach who will bring a huge amount of energy and enthusiasm to the group as well as his experience at the top end of the game from his playing days."Davies moves from his assistant coaching role at Super Rygbi Cymru side Bridgend, which he combined with working in Ospreys' academy."It's great as a young Welsh coach to have a club like the Scarlets show faith in you and offer you the chance to grow - I'm looking forward to helping the Scarlets become the team we want them to be," said Davies."I'm excited to get going, working with the boys and ripping into pre-season."Meanwhile former Scarlets defence coach Gareth Williams has left his position in charge of their academy.Scarlets removed Williams from his defence coach role in February, 2024 and he went on to become academy pathway manager.Another of Peel's assistants, Emyr Phillips, has succeeded Williams a head of their academy.
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Telegraph
34 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Premiership will rebrand to... ‘Gallagher Prem'
English rugby union's top tier will be rebranded as 'Gallagher Prem' as part of a concerted push to champion the intensity, aggression and athleticism of the sport. The change, which comes a month after the second tier became 'Champ Rugby' in a similar facelift, will be unveiled during Saturday's final between Bath and Leicester Tigers. A teaser will be shown on the big screens at the Allianz Stadium and covered by the TNT Sports broadcast. After this soft launch, a full rebrand will come into action on July 23, when the fixtures for 2025-26 are unveiled. 'What is important to us is evolution,' explained Rob Calder, the Premiership's chief growth officer. 'We are a competition with great history, but we also believe we have a bright future ahead of us. We didn't want to change it [too much] because this competition is flourishing. We wanted to do right by that, but we also wanted to move forward. 'You've seen it with the Championship reducing to the Champ, there's a de-formalisation of sport and being right by the fan is really important. Speaking in the vernacular is important to us. 'We are going to talk how fans talk. It's not formal, it's not corporate, it's not traditional. We know if we are going to grow from Gallagher Prem fans, we've got to attract international fans and then reach out into broader sport audiences.' 'We want people to have a s--- Saturday if their team lose' Calder admitted that different names had been considered but 'there was so much strength in where we've come from' and the priority now is to 'reframe' rugby union to 'cut through to wider audiences'. Next season is due to begin with a Thursday night fixture on September 25 to avoid a clash with the Women's World Cup final two days later. Though this may end up as a one-off, more midweek matches could follow if it is viewed as a success. 'Real grit', 'raw speed' and 'big hits' are three taglines that will underpin the competition's advertising. Bosses want existing and prospective viewers to be 'unashamedly talking about physicality' as well as amplifying existing rivalries among the 10 clubs. 'We want people to have a s--- Saturday if their team lose,' said Andrew Georgiou, president and managing director of Warner Bros Discovery Sports, which owns TNT. 'We want them walking out of a match going: 'This has ruined my day.' That's what we want people to feel like and it's what we've got to build our sport towards.' Calder stressed that safety and welfare protocols and playing within the laws would remain integral to the Premiership's values, though the sport should 'not be shy' about its storytelling. 'Our focus is going to be on the intensity, the physicality and the extreme athleticism of rugby as well as the rawness and the grit of our league,' Calder said. 'It's a really simple proposition. It's about selling what makes this thing unique and what resonates with the broadest audiences. 'This is about big hits. It's intense, it's full contact, and it is unflinching. The players have said celebrate us as players and what we do; the aggression and the gladiatorial nature [of the sport]. Give the brand the intensity it needs to match.' 'Start thinking beyond these shores' There is confidence that showpiece fixtures can be moved to the United States in the build-up to the 2031 World Cup. Simon Massie-Taylor, the chief executive of Premiership Rugby, heralded the launch of the Club World Cup in 2028 as 'a step forward in the club game going global', and is mindful of how English domestic matches in the US have fallen flat in the past. 'The obvious point is the US,' he added. 'We've had games in the US before and they've been a flash in the pan; the wrong time in the season, the wrong area, the wrong teams [involved]. But there is an opportunity in the build-up to the 2031 World Cup. 'We also have a US partner [Gallagher], which is coming up to its 100th anniversary [in 2027]. It needs to lead to something. It's about maxing out what we have domestically first, which is why sell-outs are so important and why that needs to continue. Then you start thinking beyond these shores.' This all comes amid optimism for the competition's growth. Tickets for the final at Twickenham were purchased in record time, making it the 32nd sellout of the season; up from 18 in 2023-24. Away ends, introduced on a trial basis this year, are to be explored further. Stadium occupancy is a priority and powerbrokers aim to offer discounts for travelling away fans eventually. According to a YouGov survey, interest in the league has grown by 10 per cent and by 30 per cent among 18-34-year-olds. Massie-Taylor also said that clubs were 'chipping away' at government debt, from Covid loans, and third-party debt, with the on-field action in the top tier regarded as a major plus. Fast-paced, attacking rugby is viewed as an attractive characteristic, as is the league's unpredictability. Bath are aiming to be the sixth Premiership winner in as many seasons, following Exeter Chiefs, Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, Saracens and Northampton Saints. It is understood that Red Bull's takeover of Newcastle Falcons is close to completion in what is hoped to be a precursor of further outside investment and the Premiership's financial monitoring panel, set up in the wake of Worcester Warriors, Wasps and London Irish going bust in 2022, has been a stabilising force. TNT Sports is tied into a new broadcast deal that will run until 2031 and is thought to be worth just shy of £200 million in total, rising to about £40 million in the last year of the agreement. Leading players including George Furbank, the Northampton Saints full-back, and Beno Obano, the Bath loosehead prop, have been canvassed for opinions on the marketing of the Premiership and are eager for personalities and athleticism to be celebrated. 'Build us into something that attracts the next generation,' was how Calder summarised the pervading message. Another encouraging aspect has been the strengthening and alignment of England's age-group pathways, with the Under-20s reigning world champions. The rise of Henry Pollock, an indelible storyline of the past year, is viewed as an indication of how youngsters can sell the sport and September will see the launch of YouTube content fronted by the players in a bid to bring viewers behind the scenes.
BBC News
38 minutes ago
- BBC News
What is the future of greyhound racing in England?
On Saturday, Towcester Racecourse in Northamptonshire will host the annual English Greyhound Derby, with a £175,000 prize at stake for the adored by some, the event has previously been a target for animal rights protestors, who claim the welfare of dogs is at stake so long as racing News looks at where the divisive sport stands in 2025. Why is greyhound racing controversial? Earlier this year, the Welsh government announced it would ban greyhound racing "as soon as practically possible".It followed cross-party calls for a ban, a government consultation and a petition that attracted some 35,000 timeline has been announced for the ban, but it was welcomed by a coalition of animal welfare charities including the Dogs Trust, which said England, Scotland and Northern Ireland should follow suit."Greyhound racing is inherently dangerous for the dogs involved, and running at speed around oval tracks causes significant injury to many dogs," it said. "In some cases, the injuries are so severe that it is necessary to euthanise the dog."However, the UK culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, said in February that there were "absolutely no plans" to extend the ban announced in Wales. According to data published by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, 109 dogs died trackside at races in 2023. The number does not include deaths which may have occurred during training, or that have resulted later from injuries incurred during 2023, welfare group Animal Rising scaled scaffolding in a bid to disrupt the greyhound derby at racecourse said the action had cost it "thousands of pounds" in security, but racing had not been disrupted. Why do activists want the sport stopped? Claudia Penna Rojas, an activist for Animal Rising, told the BBC that she thought the statistics surrounding the deaths of dogs was "shocking".She said: "If we had this number of deaths in other so-called sport, we would be absolute uproar about it.""What we did [at Towcester in 2023] was protest what was happening, because we don't want to see dogs dying on this track. We don't want to see these dogs injured. "We want to see a safe transition away from this industry. We want the dogs to be rehomed and happy... and to support the people who currently work in the industry to move away from it." A promising future? Although dog racing tracks in both Peterborough and Swindon have closed in recent times, there is still proof of investment in the Racecourse is planning to open a new greyhound racing facility at its venue, to include a track and kennels. It is expected to open in the Hobbs, from Greyhound Racing UK - the organisers of Saturday's English Greyhound Derby - accepted the sport "has faced its challenges", but added "signs of renewal are visible".He said: "The truth is that welfare standards and safety measures in greyhound racing, especially in the UK and Ireland, have seen a dramatic transformation [in recent years]. "The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has played a leading role in this progress, and the sport now sets the standard in areas like drug testing - paving the way even for other sports to follow."Greyhound racing continues to play a vital role in the betting industry and wider economy, supporting thousands of jobs and generating significant revenue and tax contributions."It also remains a cherished spectator experience. There's something uniquely enjoyable about a night at the dogs - watching these graceful, happy animals do what they love. Just look at their wagging tails at the finish line." Mr Hobbs added that the sport had shown "dedication" to rehoming retired greyhounds, and said that "the vast majority" of dogs "now go on to enjoy happy, healthy lives as pets after their racing careers."He said: "Rehoming rates are at record highs, and these gentle, affectionate dogs are increasingly recognised as ideal companions in family homes."The passion is still there [for the sport]. Towcester will be packed this Saturday for what promises to be the best English Greyhound Derby final in years... I can't wait." Finding a common ground Greyhound Homing UK works to support the welfare of racing and retired to the group, greyhounds typically finish their racing career between the ages of one and five years old. The average lifespan of the breed can be up to 15 May from Greyhound Homing UK said she understood the perspective of animal rights protestors, but said people involved in the dog racing industry had much in common with them."It's good to hear the views of those who oppose us," she said."We know that they do that from a position of loving dogs. I think it's perhaps overlooked how much as a sport we love our dogs. "We have greyhounds at home too. We pride ourselves on making everything as safe as we possibly can. [But] nothing is without risk, unfortunately." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
As David Beckham receives his long-coveted knighthood, just one thing threatens Brand Beckham now
Standing in line to greet King Charles at the Chelsea Flower Show last month, David Beckham had rarely looked so delighted. Wearing the King's rose in his lapel, Beckham was seen smiling from ear to ear as he spoke quietly with the monarch, who was accompanied by Queen Camilla. It was reported that Charles had leaned in and said, 'You got it, didn't you?' to which Beckham replied: 'It was incredible, thank you. It was very kind.' Speculation was sparked that the 'it' to which the king was referring was a letter inviting the former England captain to accept a knighthood – an honour that Beckham has infamously been chasing for years. That speculation was seemingly confirmed last week when reports suggested that Beckham was to receive a knighthood as part of the King's birthday celebrations today. The signs were there. As well as the chummy Chelsea Flower Show meet-up, Beckham was formally made a charity ambassador by the King last year. He invited Beckham, a keen beekeeper and gardener, to Highgrove to learn more about the King's Foundation, which focuses on 'creating better communities where people, places and the planet can coexist in harmony'. That's not his only charity accolade; as well as running his US soccer team, Inter Miami CF, Beckham spends a huge amount of time fundraising for Unicef, for whom he asked for donations to celebrate his 50th birthday last month (as well as posing for a commemorative topless cover of Men's Health, because this is David Beckham, after all). Some might say that Beckham has slogged away for this knighthood more than most of its recipients. It has been one of showbiz's worst-kept secrets that he has long coveted the accolade, after first receiving an OBE in 2003. The path to a knighthood has not been a straightforward one, however. He was first put forward for a knighthood in 2011 after helping to secure the London 2012 Olympics. He was, however, said to have been blocked from getting the title by the Honours Committee after becoming caught up in a tax avoidance scheme, along with many other stars at the time. Some years later, in 2017, several British newspapers printed details of leaked emails in which Beckham allegedly criticised the honours system and the honours committee after his honour was rejected. In one, he is reported to have called the honours committee a 'bunch of c**ts' and lambasted Katherine Jenkins because she got an OBE 'for what? Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops, plus taking coke. F***ing joke.' It was a big departure from the footballer who has worked hard at presenting a sweet nature and mild manner. A spokesperson for Beckham said at the time that the emails were "hacked", "doctored" and "private", and yet the story was blamed for derailing the chance of a knighthood under Queen Elizabeth II's reign, at least. Many thought it would finally come in 2022, after he spent 13 hours queuing with the public to pay his respects at Queen Elizabeth's coffin, which lay in state in Westminster, but he was still left off the list. Big sighs of relief are in order for the Beckhams, then, that their patriarch is finally part of this elite club. There have always been those who have questioned why it means so much to Beckham, to which those closest to him have said it became a borderline 'obsession' because it was something he was failing at despite trying his darndest. Beckham 'isn't very good at not being the winner'. Now, with his title about to be firmly in place, his wife of almost 26 years, fashion designer Victoria Beckham, finds herself a 'lady' – her jokey 'Posh' moniker from her Spice Girls days finally a reality. The Wannabe lyrics said, after all, that Victoria is a 'real lady', and now, she is. It certainly is a seal of society approval for the couple who infamously posed on gold thrones for photographs at their 1999 wedding, and, more recently, have been playing lord and lady of the manor at their £12m Cotswolds home, just outside Chipping Norton, where they have an orchard, apiary and chicken coop. The couple have been working hard to reinvent themselves for a new and more grown-up chapter. Their 2023 Netflix documentary pointedly marked their pivot to country living, opening with footage of David collecting honey from his beehive (the product itself isn't for sale but has been given various names from DB's Sticky Stuff, to Golden Beez, to Sticky Vicky) as well as tending to his chickens. The documentary, titled simply Beckham, was filled with intimate looks at the couple's apparently irreverent dynamic and hammered home their mantra that family – both their parents and their four children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper – is everything to them. Viewers were offered sweet romantic moments, giving those of us who have been living under the reign of Posh and Becks for decades a rare look at what's behind their manicured exterior. A clip of the couple sweetly dancing to 'Islands in the Stream' went viral, with other couples sharing their own dances on TikTok. Directed by Fisher Stevens, it's worth noting that the film was also carefully controlled by the couple, produced as it was by David's own content company, Studio 99. The documentary won an Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series, marking yet another new career relaunch for David. While some people on the honours list will rarely use the titles being bestowed on them, it is unlikely that this will be the case with the Beckhams. Not only will they revel in being the new lords of the manor in town, the 'Sir' and 'Lady' titles, then, will open new doors for the couple who are already so influential, not to mention worth an estimated £500m. After many years in the red, Victoria's fashion company Victoria Beckham Holdings Ltd saw revenue growth of more than 50 per cent in 2023, meanwhile her eponymous beauty brand has reported its third consecutive year of double-digit growth, bucking the trend of much of the luxury market. She has her own Netflix documentary in the works, directed by Nadia Hallgren and set to premiere later this year, which will delve into her reinvention as a creative director. David, meanwhile, has his knighthood, US soccer team, multiple brand deals with companies such as Hugo Boss and SharkNinja, and his foray into TV and film production. There's no doubt that David and Victoria would be successful on their own, but this constant growth for Brand Beckham hinges on their power as a couple – and as a family. Some have said they have learnt a lot from 'power families' like the Kardashians. The added affiliations with King Charles handily come at a time when things were starting to wobble for Brand Beckham, threatening to cast shade on their booming business. Just as David was celebrating his 50th birthday, reports of a feud between Brooklyn and his parents started emerging. As their eldest son shunned all of his dad's birthday celebrations (and the photo opportunities that came with them), the latest report claims that the eldest Beckham offspring has now entirely cut ties with his family. Troubled waters have been rumoured ever since the aspiring chef married Nicola Peltz during a £3m wedding in April 2022 at her family's $76m Palm Beach estate. Although they were formerly regularly featured on one another's social media accounts, and Brooklyn and Nicola attended his mother's fashion shows in Paris, they have been notably absent from any family get-togethers for months. And the rift doesn't seem to be going away either. Brooklyn and Nicola even posed for a cover shoot for Glamour magazine last month with the incendiary headline, 'For Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz Beckham, love conquers all'. This kind of feud, which is playing out so publicly in the tabloids, is said to be Victoria's 'worst nightmare', particularly as the family's closeness has been so central to their core narrative. It is said to have been most devastating that the rift has also appeared to extend to his siblings, with whom he was once very close. A recent video posted by Brooklyn showed him riding a motorcycle around Beverly Hills with Nicola on the back. The caption read, 'My whole world x I will love you forever x I always choose you baby x you're the most amazing person i know xx me and you forever baby." It will all be of great concern to Brand Beckham from both a personal and professional point of view, particularly as Victoria and David have spent many years perfecting their shows of public unity, regardless of what might be going on behind the scenes. Friends say that they are hoping that this will be something that they can mend 'sooner rather than later', although Brooklyn is not said to have congratulated David on his knighthood at the time of writing. But as the celebration at the palace beckons, at least Beckham is in good company with King Charles, who is having to battle estrangement from his son too. As Harry found out, nobody is bigger than the show – and the Beckham dynasty will survive as it has always done.
