
McDonald making change as NSL's first club sustainability officer
As LexisNexis Cardiff Dragons battle on the court, Elle McDonald is fighting the good fight off it.
The mid-courter works as the Welsh franchise's sustainability officer to help those around her make informed choices and protect the planet.
McDonald took on the role ahead of the 2025 season and has been involved across several initiatives.
'I've got a new role at Cardiff Dragons as the sustainability officer, which involves being an advocate among the players and our wider community to really make greener choices,' she said. 'And how we can take steps forward in that sustainability space.
'I have a background in teaching back at home, so it is quite different for me to have come across this role.
'But at the end of last year, I was speaking to quite a few people within our franchise and they felt really passionately about the sustainability space, and they wanted to come up with a role that would allow a player to really advocate for that.
'It is something that is important to me, but it should be important to everyone, so I am really proud to step into that space and really try and encourage not only our team, but across the league, all those small changes that can ultimately have a really big impact.'
Dragons were part of history last weekend as they and London Mavericks played the first extra-time period in Netball Super League history.
The game ended 55-55 after 60 minutes before Mavericks pulled away to take the game 72-61.
It means the team in green are still searching for their maiden win of the season and face new side Birmingham Panthers for the first time on Friday.
For McDonald, her performances on the court are fuelled by the choices she makes off it.
She added: 'As athletes, there are so many of those things that we really value, including obviously our health and wellbeing.
'Reducing those environmental toxins will make us feel mentally and physically better, but something that we are really focused on is sustainable travel.
'We are encouraging our fans to travel sustainably, whether it is catching public transport, walking, cycling, or carpooling to our events. We want to make sure we are encouraging that.
'Also, with our food choices, as athletes, that is so important for us and our performance.
'But how can we make sure we are supporting local and organic farms and reducing those transportation emissions.
'It is just a small thing that we can consider doing that will make a big impact. We've teamed up with Grassboots, which is a preloved sports gear app.
"We are hoping to build on the Cardiff Dragons community so people can sell or buy pre-loved sports equipment to help them get involved in sport, but also chose to donate any money to local charities.
'That is something we have been working on as well as some litter picks around the city.
'We are trying to make small changes when we can and hopefully influence our fan base and community to do the same.'
Watch Dragons and the stars of NSL 2025 live in action - purchase your club tickets today. For the ultimate showdown, secure your seat at the 2025 Grand Final at The O2, London!
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Wales Online
5 hours ago
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as Farrell fights back tears in Lions phone call and Welsh star slams 's**t' situation
Tonight's rugby news as Farrell fights back tears in Lions phone call and Welsh star slams 's**t' situation The latest rugby news and headlines from Wales and beyond Lions head coach Andy Farrell Here are your rugby evening headlines for Wednesday, June 11. Farrell fights back tears over first Lions change British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell says the injury withdrawal of Scotland prop Zander Fagerson is "heartbreaking", but admitted the emotion during his phone call to replacement Finlay Bealham "welled me up." Tighthead Fagerson was forced to pull out of the squad for the Lions' tour of Australia this summer earlier this week due to a calf injury, with Farrell admitting he experienced the highs and lows of sport as the Lions lost their first squad member to injury. "It's heartbreaking, but at the same time, he's [Fagerson] a realist," Farrell told Sky Sports. "All rugby players know that's the game. He'll work unbelievably hard to get himself fit and who knows what's going to happen down the track. Finlay [Bealham] has been called up in his place." Speaking from the Lions' training camp in Portugal, Farrell offered further explanation on Bealham's call-up as he spoke about the emotion of calling up the Ireland and Connacht prop. "Because he's in good form," he added. "He's very good at what he does. He was certainly right up there in the conversation from the very start as well. He would have been disappointed not to make the group. Article continues below "So we just know he'll be a great fit for the group going forward. He's the only conversation that I was able to have because of the way we did the squad announcement. "By giving him a phone call and telling him he was selected within the squad, unfortunately for Zander, but it was one of the best phone conversations I've ever had. The emotion that went through the phone actually welled me up. "It was great to be able to do that." Welsh star opens up on 's**t' situation Former Dragons wing Ashton Hewitt has opened up on his departure from Rodney Parade as he explained how the uncertainty facing Welsh rugby is affecting players. The wing, who previously came close to winning a Wales cap, has left the Men of Gwent after more than a decade with the Gwent side. "Filo didn't see me as part of what he's building and that's the nature of the game. Ideally, it would have been nice to know sooner, but I understand there may well have been reasons for that," Hewitt told Mail Online about his exit. "It's tough. I've got a young family. I'm not quite at panic stations, but it is worrying. It's the same for anyone who loses their job when they've got commitments. "There is a lot of pressure. You do feel responsibility and the need to keep going and provide for your family. This is a situation I hoped I'd never be in. It's just s***, to be honest." Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. As for the uncertainty that has affected Welsh rugby in recent years, Hewitt - who is chair of the Welsh Rugby Players Association - admitted it has been difficult. "For the last five years or maybe longer, there has been something every single year in Wales that has impacted the players and put lots of us in difficult positions," he added. "To be honest, it's been difficult to enjoy rugby because of that. It feels like a long time since as players, we've just been able to focus on the game and there's been no noise about anything else. It's been a s*** position to be in. I know I speak for myself when I say uncertainty and off-field stuff impacts performance. It's hard for it not to." Basham targets Wales return Taine Basham is eyeing a return to the Wales squad after revealing why he decided to leave the Dragons. Basham, who had previously impressed at international level in 2021, hopes to rekindle his best form in the capital. The powerful and explosive backrower from Talywain had become a centurion for Dragons, racking up a grand total of 109 appearances and scoring 21 tries for the Gwent side. He won his first cap against Canada back in the summer of 2021, scoring two tries before impressing in the autumn of that year against New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji, and Australia. He went on to score a try against Ireland in the following Six Nations, but that was the last time he has started a Test for the national side after falling behind the likes of Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell in the pecking order. Playing in a consistently poor Dragons side has also not helped his cause and he hopes a change of scenery will take him to a new level. He told the South Wales Argus: 'My rise to international rugby was fairly quick and I haven't been in recent squads. 'A new environment and set of peers will hopefully be good for me because I don't have the number of caps that I thought I would have by now. 'I've seen a lot of people who have stayed at the Dragons for all of their career but I felt that I needed something different and a change of scene. 'I'm going to focus on getting back to the form of 2021 when I played well against the southern hemisphere teams because I am desperate to get back in that Welsh set-up.' Young star reflects on Cardiff 'pain' England U20s will use their Six Nations defeat to Wales in Cardiff earlier this year to fuel their World U20s Championship title bid, according to fly-half Ben Coen. The reigning world champions were not only denied a Grand Slam following their 23-13 defeat to Wales at the Arms Park in March, but also the title as France managed to sneak ahead of them. Last week saw England defeat Wales in a warm-up match in Pontypool, but the ghosts of Cardiff are still fuelling England's title bid this summer. 'There's definitely hurt,' Coen told PlanetRugby. 'There are a lot of boys who are hurting still, but that's going to be fuel for the World Cup campaign. There's no hiding away from it, we were outstanding all tournament, but then didn't show up in that last game (against Wales). That's the way sport is sometimes. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Article continues below 'I feel it's a massive learning curve and will be fuel for the fire. A lot of lads are hurting, including me; it took me a good few weeks to properly get over it, and I'm probably still not over it, but it's probably not regret, it's more learning. 'We've definitely addressed it, but we haven't really lingered on it. We've gone 'right, this is what we did and this is a few tweaks we can make in our game'. We've reflected on it, but we haven't lingered on it, we're just looking at how we can get better for it.'


Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Daily Record
11 forgotten Celtic players poised for transfer summits with Brendan Rodgers this summer
The Hoops have a number of decisions to make over the returning loanees The sight of Kieran Tierney back home at Paradise is such a joy to see for Celtic fans. But the prospect of some other returning stars donning the hoops again may not prove so popular. Brendan Rodgers will oversee another summer transfer window ahead of August's crucial Champions League play-offs. Some outcasts will already have been told to find new clubs, others may view pre-season as the last chance saloon. No fewer than 11 forgotten men will report back to Lennoxtown after mixed loan stints elsewhere in 2024/25. One or two of the club's academy graduates will have done their chances of making the grade no harm after some standout displays. Then there are some big-money signings who may already be resigned to the fact that their long-term futures lie away from Parkhead. Here, Record Sport runs the rule over the raft of loanees who are set to discover whether they will be part of Rodgers' plans going forward. Tobi Oluwayemi The former England Under-20 international gained valuable first-team experience on a season-long loan at Dunfermline, establishing himself as first-choice. In a turbulent campaign for the Pars, Oluwayemi still kept 13 clean sheets, conceding just 38 in 35 games. Neil Lennon may be tempted to bring back the 22-year-old for a second stint this summer, either on loan or permanently. Another highly-rated keeper, Clarke spent the end of last term on loan with Ayr United as the Honest Men fell short in their quest for Premiership promotion. The Northern Ireland Under-21s starlet has been a staple in Celtic's B team in recent years and Scott Brown used his connections to bring the teen to Somerset Park, where he impressed with three shutouts in ten games. Ross Doohan's imminent arrival as third-choice keeper means there's no immediate pathway to the senior ranks and another loan could be on the cards. Gustaf Lagerbielke The £3million Swedish stopper took time to find his feet on loan with FC Twente but gradually forced his way into the starting XI. Lagerbielke made 32 appearances across all competitions and featured eight times in the Europa League - including the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. Deemed surplus to requirements by Rodgers, Celts will be keen to recoup the money they paid IF Elfsborg in 2023. However, Twente's sporting director, Arnold Bruggink, has made it clear the Hoops are demanding too much for the stopper. Stephen Welsh A Celtic diehard, Welsh is now at a crossroads in his career. The homegrown defender is way down the pecking order and was farmed out to Belgian club Mechelen in January. The move was a big success, as the 25-year-old got a regular taste of first-team action that he craved. Wlesh is now regarded as a priority summer signing for the Pro League outfit and other European clubs are also keen. In an exclusive interview with Record Sport, Welsh was asked about his future and said: 'We will see what happens. I will obviously go back to Celtic. I have two years left, so the plan is to go back to Celtic and see what happens from there on." Matthew Anderson Once dubbed as the 'next Kieran Tierney' by former coach Greig Robertson, Anderson is one of the most exciting youth talents at Celtic. The left-back ignored interest from Leeds United as a 16-year-old to pen his first professional contract with his boyhood club. Under contract until 2026, Anderson has caught the eye on loan at Admira Wacker - Celtic's feeder club - in Austria. Greg Taylor's exit could create an opening for the 21-year-old to finally make his mark this season as a deputy to KT. Time will tell. Ben Summers Handed his debut by Ange Postecoglou in 2023, flame-haired Summers joined fellow teammate Anderson out in Austria's second tier. The 20-year-old is known for playing a young Tommy Burns in a documentary but will have his sights set on making his own name at Paradise. Having already starred for Celtic's B side in the Lowland League, as well as a stint with Dunfermline, it could be make-or-break for the creative midfielder as he enters the final year of his deal. Lenny Agbaire The rookie defender has been at the heart of the B team's backline for several years and has also starred in the UEFA Youth League. Agbaire, 20, spent the second part of last term on loan at Ayr United as he earned some experience under Broony in the Championship. The towering stopper has previously been handed game time by Rodgers in friendlies and his imposing physical attributes will likely attract more interest from teams north and south of the border. Adam Montgomery Versatile Montgomery turns 23 next month and has been on the fringes for years. The winger-turned-left-back made his Hoops bow in 2021 but has represented the club just 19 times since then. Injuries have hampered his progress, as well as mixed loan stints at Aberdeen, St Johnstone, Fleetwood Town, Motherwell and Queen's Park. Handed a new deal until 2027, it's clear the Parkhead coaching staff still see potential in a player who has been at the club since the age of seven. He may take inspiration from Anthony Ralston's resurgence, just when it looked like the right-back would be on his way out. Hyeokkyu Kwon The South Korean midfielder made a rod for his own back when he boldly declared:"I will become the best player in Celtic and go to higher places such as the German Bundesliga or the English Premier League." Two years after signing from Busan I-Park, Kwon has yet to make his competitive debut for the club. The 24-year-old did catch the eye on loan at St Mirren last year, but flopped during a season-long stint at Hibs. Clearly not up to the mark, it's unlikely Kwon will ever pull on the green and white hoops. Marco Tilio Promising Tilio became the most expensive export in the history of the Australian top-flight when he joined Celtic from Melbourne City for around £1.5m. The 23-year-old has only made a handful of outings in Glasgow after suffering two severe hamstring injuries and has spent the last 18 months back in the A-League with his former club. The pint-sized winger was recalled by the Socceroos for their World Cup qualifiers but recently admitted he doesn't know what his future holds. Luis Palma The Honduran winger headed to Olympiacos on loan in January in an attempt to revive his career after falling out of the picture at Parkhead. But just like his time in Scotland, Palma flattered to deceive in Greece - scoring once in 15 games. The title-winning Athens club have already informed Celtic they won't be taking up their option to buy the winger for £3.5m. Parkhead chiefs will have to explore other avenues to offload him.


Wales Online
9 hours ago
- Wales Online
Welsh rugby's possible new future as behind-scenes talks reach crucial stage
Welsh rugby's possible new future as behind-scenes talks reach crucial stage Talks are happening in Welsh rugby's corridors of power and it is clear change must and will happen, Steffan Thomas reports Change is coming to Welsh rugby this summer (Image: Huw Evans ) The future direction of Welsh rugby will be shaped this summer. That is no exaggeration. Wales effectively has two choices: it can limp on as it is and consign itself to a future of mediocrity at best or it can radically change the structure of the game in this country to give itself the best chance of sustained success. The penny has dropped with the Welsh Rugby Union and the Professional Rugby Board are working very hard behind the scenes to come up with a solution. The problems do not need another in-depth explanation. The men's national team have lost their previous 17 Test matches - a tier one record - and the four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - have struggled to attain any sort of sustained success. Something has to change and things cannot go on as they are. Article continues below When the men's national side struggles it has a negative knock-on effect on the whole of Welsh rugby from a financial sense. Yes, there are some talented youngsters in the current Wales squad who will get better, while there are some potentially outstanding players emerging from the pathway, but the WRU needs to produce the optimum structure to give them the best chance of developing. Currently Wales' talent is spread too thinly across four professional clubs, while there are also a plethora of Welsh-qualified players in England. During the 2024/25 season, the Welsh clubs were operating from a salary cap of £4.5m, although that will rise next season at Cardiff and the Dragons who have signed the new Professional Rugby Agreement. The Gallagher Premiership salary cap this season was £6.4m which can rise to as high as £7.8m with home-grown player credits, international player credits and extra money for injury dispensation, while they are permitted one marquee player above the cap. In Ireland, Leinster have been significantly more well-resourced than the other three provinces - Connacht, Munster and Ulster - although this gap is closing next season. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. It is very difficult to pin down Leinster's exact playing budgets but Irish sources have told WalesOnline it is in the region of €10.6m Crucially, in Ireland, professional sportsmen get a tax break when they retire which means the sides in Ireland don't have to pay their players as much. For example, a professional player in Wales might be on £120,000 at the Scarlets but get offered £180,000 to sign for Exeter Chiefs. In Ireland a player might be on £120,000 at Munster but get offered £180,000 to sign for an English club but if he stays in Ireland he will be able to claim money back upon retirement. The Irish Government also puts huge investment into professional sport. For example, Connacht received a €10 million grant through the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund to go towards the development of a new stadium in Galway. These are issues outside of the WRU's control but if it wants professional clubs who are competing for silverware every season they are likely to need playing budgets in the region of £9m. The reality is it cannot do this with four clubs any longer and that is why it is looking at the prospect of reducing to three, if not two, professional sides. For the national side to get back to winning Six Nations Grand Slams it needs its professional clubs competing every year in the latter stages of the Champions Cup and United Rugby Championship, if not winning it. This requires a greater squad spend but also creating an elitist high-performance system built on extremely high standards. For example, Leinster have a squad of 58 players and there is huge cohesion in terms of partnerships, which benefits Ireland at Test level. If you look at Leinster's front-row they have the likes of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong as starters but on the bench they have further internationals in the shape of Ronan Kelleher, Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy and Thomas Clarkson, along with a senior France international in Rabah Slimani. To put it into context their two first choice hookers are in the British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia this summer. That is the level of depth and competition for places needed for Welsh rugby to thrive. Also, with greater depth there will be less of a drop off when teams suffer injuries. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free There are also 32 non-Welsh qualified players in Wales, so fewer professional clubs would result in a significant reduction, but the ones that are signed should in theory be marquee players in the same bracket as All Blacks superstar Jordie Barrett who is on a sabbatical at Leinster. At international level Ireland is mainly Leinster with the likes of Tadhg Beirne and Bundee Aki added in on top. The players are all in sync with each other and also benefit from being part of a squad which is regularly competing at the cutting edge of competitions. Wales needs to produce something similar. Two or three clubs competing every year in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup as a minimum, with the aim of winning is what is being discussed behind closed doors. It is close to impossible to achieve this with four clubs. Talent needs to be concentrated to increase competition for places which should in theory drive up standards across the board which was the thinking behind moving to regional rugby back in 2003. Also, it should also be an aim of the WRU to have at least one club participate in the financially lucrative Club World Cup which will be launched in 2028. Latter stage participation will also significantly improve commercial performances and bring in money across the board. But what also needs to be taken into consideration is what structure underpins the professional game. A new-look Super Rygbi Cymru If the WRU decides to reduce to three or two clubs there needs to be greater investment in Super Rygbi Cymru so it can potentially mirror New Zealand's NPC. The first season of SRC has been positive with the competition achieving far greater alignment to the pathway than the old Welsh Premiership did. But the gap between the professional game and the SRC still needs to be bridged significantly before it is anywhere near the level on offer in New Zealand. But if the WRU reduces the number of professional sides it will have the money to invest in the SRC to significantly increase standards, interest among fans who still hold famous club names dear and commercial possibilities. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Naturally, there will also be more professional standard players available to SRC teams if there are fewer professional clubs. If we go down to two professional clubs they will have far deeper squads and will release a greater percentage of players to play in the SRC. Article continues below The discussions at PRB level have to focus on what is needed to get the men's national side competing at the top end of the world game again The way to do that is to have professional clubs regularly competing for and winning silverware. Those at the top of Welsh are increasingly aware the status quo simply cannot deliver that.