Classic Wallabies win the battle of the old-timers
The Classic Wallabies ran out 41-31 winners, but the highlight of the match probably didn't figure on the scoreboard. Mitchell pulling a hamstring, to the delight of the watching Kurtley Beale, and then downing a pint garnered most online interest in the aftermath.
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Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Underground fight club organiser claims he's saving Aussie blokes' lives with violence: 'There are men who enjoy being punched in the face as a form of therapy'
An underground fight club organiser has clapped back at critics, including Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech, claiming that the fighting competition is helping men dealing with mental health issues. The Hood Contender series was founded by western Sydney rapper Caleb Valeri, who insists that fights are all conducted with appropriate health and safety precautions in place. Participants are understood to typically compete over two one-minute rounds per fight. Events can feature a 16-man elimination bracket with each combatant vying for a shot to win a $5,000 cash prize. Fighters wear MMA gloves during the bouts. Recent footage shows two competitors squaring off in a ring made out of straw bales, in front of a crowd of onlookers. The Hood Contender has now amassed over 20,000 subscribers on YouTube and more than 20,000 followers on Instagram. While the new fighting league has sparked concern among NSW Police and the Combat Sports Authority of NSW, The Hood Contender has appeared to gain some support from some big names within the Aussie sporting community, with Willie Mason, Latrell Mitchell and surfer Koby Abberton appearing to like some of the league's social media content. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CEO (@hoodrichhefner) In light of the criticisms, Valeri has fervently insisted that his unsanctioned fighting league is helping men cope with mental health issues. In a video published on his Instagram, the organiser hit out at several news outlets regarding recent articles published online and in print, that shed light on the organisation. 'I just want to give a quick shout out to The Daily Telegraph and Channel Nine News for their ongoing support and sponsorship,' he said to his 80,400 Instagram followers. 'Mental health or just mental?' Valeri added, appearing to quote a headline from one of The Daily Telegraph's articles on the fighting competition. 'Firstly, they are making a mockery of men's mental health. Yet, the world wonders why men don't seek help or ask anyone, or speak to anyone for that matter, because we get laughed at. 'This is exactly why men don't open up to anyone, because when we do we're labelled crazy. 'Believe it or not there are men out there who enjoy being punched in the face as a form of therapy. They love this s***,' Valeri added. Statements on The Hood Contender's website echo Valeri's comments. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CEO (@hoodrichhefner) The league recently copped some flak from Aussie boxing legend Jeff Fenech (right) who claimed those competing in the series were not 'tough', branding it 'sad' Valeri hit back at Fenech over the claims, telling the Aussie boxer and his 80,400 followers that health and safety procedures were in place at his fights to protect the wellbeing of competitors 'This event is a controlled sparring organisation,' the website states. It adds that the competition is: 'For men's mental health, youth crime prevention and suicide awareness. This is not an event for thugs.' Valeri has also returned serve at former world title holder Fenech, who appeared to brand the events 'sad', before adding that those who participated in The Hood Contender were not 'tough'. 'Sure, your friends will call you tough because you do this underground street fighting, but see if they're there in 30 years when you need someone to wipe your a***, Fenech said to The Daily Telegraph. 'It's sad. These guys have one thing, they got ego and they want to show how tough you are. Show people how tough you are by taking care of your family.' Valeri reaffirmed that all the events organised by The Hood Contender fight series, were operated with proper safety precautions in place. 'G'day Jeff mate,' Valeri said to Fenech. 'All you had to do was ask me to come to a The Hood Contender event and I would have allowed it. But now you've gone and spoken to your little media buddies and you've gone and f***ed it for yourself and everyone else.' He went on to add: 'We don't sell tickets. Any money the fighters make are donations from people in the crowd. There's no alcohol, there's no crowd fights, we have security, we have first aid, we have all the good stuff on standby for our fighters. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CEO (@hoodrichhefner) Valeri (pictured) has fervently insisted that the main objective of the operation is to help men with their mental health, adding that no alcohol or drugs are allowed at the events 'No one's getting stabbed. No one's getting their head kicked in. No one's drinking and knocking out some bloke from behind. He hits his head on the ground and he's in hospital for the rest of his life - there's none of that mate! It's a well-controlled sparring event. 'You should come down and check it out, you and your little mates.' 'We're providing a platform with no weapons, no alcohol, no drugs or anything like that,' he added in a separate video. Valeri then criticised news outlets for being too judgmental when it came to the fight league. 'People fear what they don't understand. I wouldn't expect a bunch of office workers to understand what this is about because you're a bunch of cats and we know that - and that is fine! You can be a cat but just stay in your lane. This is where the big boys play.' He added: 'They also said that I have gang ties, links to organised crime and bikie connections. Maybe 100 moons ago I did. But I can't afford a new door. Do you know how many times I got my door kicked in? It's expensive. 'It's never a good sign when you see a bunch of ninjas kicking your door in. I couldn't afford the repairs and I'm done with that lifestyle. The police know I'm a good boy now and that's that. 'That is also another scrape at the barrel because I haven't been around organised crime for nearly six or seven years now. I haven't even had a set of cuffs on my wrists for years now. I wouldn't even know what that lifestyle is about anymore. Ask around, I haven't been involved in s***.' Videos of the fights have gone viral on social media. One video, which has, at the time of writing, amassed over six million views on The Hood Contender's Instagram, appears to show one fighter dislocate his shoulder, before popping it back in. Another clip, which has gained 5.1million views on the social media platform, shows one fighter being knocked down, get up again before knocking his opponent to the ground with a brutal right hook. The NSW Combat Sports Authority explained to The Daily Telegraph that they are yet to receive an application for a permit to stage The Hood Contender series. 'On information received regarding the proposed conduct of the contest, the authority and NSW Police took the proactive step of giving a direction to the organisers prior to the event under the Combat Sports Act 2013 (NSW) to not proceed with the contest,' a spokesperson said. 'The authority will be taking compliance action against the organisers and all registered combatants who participated in the contest. 'The authority will continue to remain vigilant in its efforts to regulate the NSW combat sports industry to minimise harm to combatants and ensure the integrity of combat sport contests.' Meanwhile, NSW Police say they are also investigating Hood Contender events. 'Anyone who organises or participates in these events can expect appropriate action by police,' a police spokesperson said. 'All evidence will be used at the disposal of police to help identify those involved, including social media.'
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Nic White immediately reverses Australia retirement after impressive Lions performance
Nic White's retirement from international rugby lasted all of a few days as the Australia scrum half is back in the Wallabies squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship. The 35-year-old White had declared the third and final British and Irish Lions Test in Sydney last weekend would be his final international match but, on Thursday, he was included in Joe Schmidt 's 35-man squad for the opening games of the Rugby Championship in South Africa. An injury to regular No 9 Jake Gordon threw a spanner into Schmidt's plans and White has duly answered the SOS call after producing such an impressive performance in the Wallabies' 22-12 success to avoid a series clean sweep against the best of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 'White (is) putting his hand up to help the group again due to Gordon's injury, just a week after announcing his plans to retire,' Rugby Australia confirmed. Uncapped scrum half Ryan Lonergan will join 73-Test White in the squad for next week's clash (16 August) against the world-champion Springboks in Johannesburg, before another Test in Cape Town on 23 August. Fly half Tom Lynagh will miss the tour, though, after being struck high by Lions hooker Dan Sheehan during the Sydney triumph and subsequently failing a head injury assessment. Playmaker Tane Edmed, who has one previous cap to his name, replaces Lynagh in the squad, joining Ben Donaldson and James O'Connor among the fly half options. Edmed's call-up caps a rollercoaster year for the 24-year-old whose Test debut against Ireland last November lasted three minutes before being forced off field with concussion. He had a miserable Super Rugby season with the Waratahs, falling down the fly half pecking order under coach Dan McKellar before announcing a switch to the ACT Brumbies for next year. For all that, Edmed said he had not lost faith he would eventually find his way back to the Wallabies. 'I've been in close contact with Joe (Schmidt) and the coaches, and they've always said 'stay ready',' he revealed to reporters on Thursday. 'And despite the Super competition probably not going the way I would have liked, I always felt like I was a chance.' With Allan Alaalatoa injured, uncapped prop Aidan Ross gets a chance, while Schmidt also recalls uncapped winger Corey Toole and adds the Queensland trio of centre Josh Flook, hooker Josh Nasser and lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto. Prop Taniela Tupou and hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, a late inclusion for the third Lions Test, have also been retained. Australia squad for Rugby Championship matches against South Africa: Forwards: Angus Bell, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Billy Pollard, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Carlo Tizzano, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, James Slipper, Jeremy Williams, Josh Nasser, Langi Gleeson, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Nick Frost, Rob Valetini, Taniela Tupou, Tom Hooper, Tom Robertson, Will Skelton, Zane Nonggorr, Aidan Ross
BBC News
19 minutes ago
- BBC News
Ex-England prop Perry has 'earned' Ireland chance
Women's Rugby World Cup warm-up: Ireland v CanadaVenue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast Date: Saturday 9 August Kick-off: 12:00 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two NI and BBC Sport website; text updates and reaction on BBC Sport website Ireland head coach Scott Bemand says former England prop Ellena Perry has "more than earned" her place in his matchday squad for the team's final World Cup warm-up who qualifies for Ireland through her maternal grandfather and was eligible to switch nations after last having played for England in November 2020, is set to make her debut off the bench against World Rugby's regulations, players are allowed too represent a second nation after a three-year stand-down period if they, a parent or a grandparent were born in that second 28-year-old Gloucester-Hartpury player's inclusion for Saturday's game follows a try-scoring debut from centre Nancy McGillivray - who was formerly on a transition contract with England - against Scotland last week. "She's hit the ground running," Bemand said of Perry, who plays alongside Ireland internationals Neve Jones and Sam Monaghan for the Premiership Women's Rugby champions. "So she's more than earned her place in and around the area, in and around the group. "She's known to some of the players anyway, so in terms of the fit, there's been quite a seamless transition." When asked if handing debuts to Perry and McGillivray undermines some of Ireland's longer-serving players, Bemand said: "If done incorrectly."But with Christy [Haney] picking up the hamstring niggle we needed to bring in and supplement the front row. "So actually, everything has been done well, in my opinion. In terms of the playing group, she's known to a good few of our group. So actually transitioning in, in terms of the block that we've gone through, it's been a pre-season block. "So people coming in and getting touch points within pre-season blocks is actually a really healthy point to enter. And it gives people time to acclimatise. "It gives people time to understand what the culture is of the group. It's not just an on-pitch piece. There's an off-piece culture where people like to be themselves, and add to our wave. She's been able to do that."Bemand added that Exeter's McGillivray, who grew up in Hong Kong and has an Irish father, has added an "enormous amount" since coming into the squad. "She's played with a good few of the players, other players have got to know her, and it's brought just a little bit of energy when you sort of get through your pre-season bits," he said.
