Formula One: Lando Norris helped by Swansea University
Driving at speeds of more than 200mph, punishing G-force, soaring temperatures and adjusting to new time zones.Just a few things a Formula One driver faces during the season.Wales may have been the first nation in the UK to adopt 20mph as the default speed limit on some roads – but sports scientists here are also helping F1 driver Lando Norris hit top speeds.The team at Swansea University put the McLaren driver through rigorous testing ahead of the season to help inform his training and push him to the top of the podium.
"Look at an F1 driver, there's 24 races plus testing across a year," explained Jon Malvern, who is Norris's performance coach."You have international travel, different time zones, hostile hot environments with massive humidity pressure. "How do you consistently help them turn up with the capacity to do that three or four days a week, 24 weeks of the year?"
Last weekend's race in Japan, to this weekend's in Bahrain is a six hour time difference to adapt to.Singapore's grand prix later this year is known for its extreme heat and humidity, with temperatures reaching up to 34C (93F) coupled with up to 90% humidity.Racers' thick protective suits mean temperatures in the cockpit can soar as high as 60C (140F) with some racers losing several kilograms of sweat during the race.It's racers' "ability to thermoregulate" that Swansea University's "environmental chamber" tests, among other factors a racer will face on and off the track.
The 2025 season favourite, Bristol-born Norris, documented the day of rigorous testing in the Welsh labs for his YouTube channel, which also involved assessing "neck strength and neck profiling" to prepare for G-force during braking and steering, and checking grip strength and reaction times.Lando's coach of 12 years then has the responsibility of turning that data into a competitive edge. Jon travels the world with the McLaren star, who is currently top of the championship leader board, all with the hope of helping him perform at his best.
"The big golden rule is - anything that can negatively affect lap time, we want to be able to assess it, grade it and, if it needs it, improve it. We help them build that physical and mental capacity," said Jon.He established the official partnership between his company, Pioneered Athlete Performance and Swansea University's Physiological, Athletic and Cognitive Enhancement for Motorsport Athlete Performance (PACE-MAP) project.After looking at many different universities that "didn't quite tick all the boxes" or "didn't feel quite right", Jon was drawn to Swansea's "amazing facilities" and "excellent academics and research".
"It was certainly a huge privilege to work with someone of his [Norris's] level and calibre", he said."Swansea University is one of the first institutions globally to conduct human research across the elite categories of formula motorsport."With the difference between first and second often coming down to a matter of milliseconds, every detail matters."Historically, there has been a stereotype that drivers are not athletes," said Christian Vassalo, who is involved in the project and is a sports science lecturer."But that perception is changing. It's very clear, physiologically, biomechanically, these drivers are very impressive at what they do."This data allows the driver to leave no stone unturned when it comes to the preparation."The research centre's lead, Prof Liam Kilduff said the impact had been "wide reaching"."What you find with a lot of these sort of things, is it drips through to student applications," he said.This weekend, Norris will be hoping for a win in Bahrain to stay top of the drivers' standings and there'll be a small team in Swansea cheering him on.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
What no-one outside F1 paddock saw about Michael Schumacher as friend speaks out
Sauber F1 team principal Jonathan Wheatley considers Michael Schumacher a friend having worked together in the 1990s at Benetton and has opened up on that experience A friend and former colleague of Michael Schumacher has opened up on what it was like to work with the seven-time Formula 1 champion. Speaking to Pit Lane Chronicle, our new FREE weekly F1 newsletter, Jonathan Wheatley opened up on his "tremendous" experience of working with a true sporting great. Now team principal at minnows Sauber, Wheatley is best known by F1 fans for his 18 years spent as a key member of the leadership team at Red Bull. First as team manager and then sporting director, he was a key lieutenant to Christian Horner right up until he departed last summer. But he has been in F1 for more than 30 years in total, starting out in the early 1990s at the same time as Schumacher. The German famously made his debut for Eddie Jordan but was then snapped up by the Benetton team where Wheatley, in his early 20s, was working as a mechanic. "I did one race with Roberto Moreno and then the next race I was carrying a seat out for this guy called Michael Schumacher and that was at Monza," he told Pit Lane Chronicle. Schumacher wasn't yet the global megastar he would go on to become but, already, he had a presence that inspired those around him. Wheatley said: "It was a pivotal part of my career, I think. "You suddenly realise if you had a talisman, you had a driver of that ability in the team, you just saw this team that wasn't super well connected suddenly just joining up, having this person that you wanted to do your absolute best for." His presence helped to galvanise Benetton and that led to back-to-back drivers' title wins for Schumacher in 1994 and '95, the latter also yielding a constructors' championship victory. He then joined Ferrari and added five more titles between 2000 and 2004. But Schumacher was also at the centre of plenty of controversy, such as in the manner of that first championship success. He won the 1994 title by appearing to deliberately collide with rival Damon Hill in the final race in Adelaide, causing race-ending damage to both cars – though Schumacher always maintained his innocence. Sadly, he is no longer able to speak publicly about his past endeavours after suffering life-changing injuries in a skiing accident in December 2013. Few details of his condition have ever been shared with his family fiercely protective of his privacy, though it is known that he continues to require full-time care more than 11 years on. "Michael was a tremendous person to work with, but also I consider him a friend," Wheatley said of his stricken former colleague. "I haven't seen him for a while, but he still checked in. And actually, that's one of the things with most of the great drivers is they're nice people as well, you just don't always see it."
Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The VERY varied fortunes of F1's most glam WAGs ever: As Silverstone's British Grand Prix turns 75, how one wife 'died of heartbreak' and another went on to steal Elizabeth Taylor's man
From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, handsome F1 drivers have long impressed fans with not only their speed on the racetrack but also their dashing good looks. But it's not only the heartthrob sportsmen who have often left audiences hot under the collar - their equally stunning girlfriends and wives regularly turn heads as they cheer their men on from the sidelines. The glossy pitlane posse of WAGs who are championing their partners this year includes Kelly Piquet, a 35-year-old model from Brazil who's dated Max since January 2021. Elsewhere, Scottish model Rebecca Donaldson and fashionista Alexandra Saint Mleux are proving to be staunch supporters for their drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles, respectively. But today's social media sensations follow on from the glamorous figures of the 1950s, '60s and '70s, with F1's appeal having always extended beyond racing. For instance, Lady Helen Stewart was one half of a glamorous 1960s F1 couple with the British racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart, while Suzy Hunt's marriage to James Hunt in the '70s was the society wedding of the year. This year, Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix, celebrates 75 years of the F1 championship - and the upcoming milestone weekend of racing will no doubt see an array of radiant WAGs once again put on a spectacular display. So, ahead of the three-day event, starting on July 5 with the practise round and finishing with the thrilling head-to-head race on July 7, FEMAIL takes a look at some of the most glamorous wives and girlfriends to ever grace the circuit - and their varied fortunes. 1950s Louise King Married to Peter Collins American actress Louise King and her British driver husband Peter Collins made up a glamorous 1950s racing couple. They met in a Miami bar in 1957 and just two days later, the racer proposed. A week after first meeting they were married, reported The Guardian. Aged 24, Louise was on tour with the Broadway production of The Seven Year Itch, while Peter, then 25, from Kidderminster, was beginning his second season as a member of Ferrari's grand prix team. A year later, the impressive driver won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, after finishing third in the Monaco Grand Prix and fifth in France. But in Germany just weeks later, as his supportive wife sat in the Ferrari pit with a stopwatch and a lap chart, Peter suffered a fatal crash. He had reportedly been set to retire at the end of that season ahead of starting a family. 'I had only a year and a half with Peter, but it was the most joyous time,' Louise later said in the 2017 documentary Ferrari: the Race to Immortality, according to the publication. She continued: 'He was a great driver: when he won the British Grand Prix in July 1958, they even said he might become the best. He was 26. He died three weeks later. 'We'd just bought our first house, near his parents in Kidderminster. We were just starting our life together, and there it was: over.' Louise, who died 18 August 2021 at the age of 88, would later marry Canadian film producer and screenwriter Gordon Burwash. He passed away in 1980. Meanwhile, Louise went on to act again before spending her final years in Florida, volunteering at a local history museum. She would always describe Peter as the love of her life. 1960s Helen Stewart Married to Sir Jackie Stewart Back in the early days, Sir Jackie Stewart, now 85, and his wife Lady Helen, born on 21 January 1941 in Helensburgh, Scotland, were the poster boy and girl of Formula 1 racing. He won 27 races out of 99 starts and was world champion three times before being knighted in 2001, while his glamorous and stylish counterpart was the 'original pit lane girl', attending 'every race'. Lady Helen - who wed her childhood sweetheart in August 1962 - was also an actress, known for Seven Days Too Long (1968), The Wicked Die Slow (1968) and Weekend of a Champion (1972). 'My wife was the original pit lane girl, my professional stopwatch - timing my laps to the millisecond,' Sir Jackie said to the Daily Mail previously. Lady Helen – the love of his life – was around before he made the big time; they fell in love when he was 18 and she 16. Speaking to the publication in 2014, the retired driver - who shares two grown-up children, Mark and Paul, with his beloved wife, added: 'We've had a fantastic relationship. 'It was a glamorous life, there were lots of girls around, but by the time I got into Formula 1 Helen was pregnant with Paul. 'My first victory was just before he was born, so the two are intertwined. We've been married 52 years and we still look after each other very well.' The couple were known to divide their time between their estate in Buckinghamshire, close to Chequers, the Prime Minister's country residence, and a house in Switzerland. For most of the marriage, theirs has been a gilded lifestyle with lots of travel, luxury and hobnobbing with celebrities and royals - Princess Anne has been a close friend for 40 years and Lady Helen is Zara Tindall's godmother. After retiring in 1973, Sir Jackie cut a series of commercial deals (being the first driver to spray a bottle of champagne on the podium brought him a contract with Moet Hennessy) and today he has an estimated fortune of $50million. But life irreversibly changed for the former Formula One golden couple after Lady Helen was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia - a less common form of the illness that can develop at a younger age - more than a decade ago. Lady Helen can no longer walk and suffers from significant memory loss - a common feature in sufferers of the condition. Sir Jackie launched the Race Against Dementia charity with filmmaker son Mark following her diagnosis. 1970s Suzy Hunt Married James Hunt James Hunt, who competed in Formula One from 1973 to 1979, and was played by A-lister Chris Hemsworth in the 2013 film Rush, which explored the British racing driver's intense rivalry with racer Niki Lauda, was married to supermodel Suzy Miller. Together, they were one of the decade's It couples, with their nuptials in October 1974 in London, undoubtedly the society wedding of the year. Suzy was a striking woman, who, while described as 'not classically beautiful', captivated everyone she met with her willowy figure and charming presence. She met her future husband in Spain in 1974, aged 24, a year younger than Hunt. The pair fell into easy conversation, and after a whirlwind romance lasting only a few weeks, Hunt proposed. Immediately after the proposal, he reportedly expressed regret to his friends, saying he was not sure what he was doing - and was said to have spent the run up to their wedding drunk. However, the driver was aware of the great deal of value she added to him so resolved to try to make the relationship work, according to Shunt: The Story of James Hunt author Tom Rubython. But fed up of her husband's antics, Suzy later ran off with Richard Burton in 1976, after the Welsh actor split from Elizabeth Taylor. Burton reportedly paid Hunt $1m during the couple's divorce settlement, with the driver assuring the actor: 'You've done me a wonderful turn by taking on the most alarming expense account in the country.' Hunt died of a heart attack in 1993 at his home in Wimbledon. He was 45. He reportedly left a large sum of money for his friends to get drunk at his wake. Barbro Peterson Married to Ronnie Peterson Barbro met Lotus Formula driver Ronnie Peterson in true swinging 60s style while dancing in a club in Örebro, Sweden, around the spring of 1968. She worked as a secretary before moving to New York City in 1969 to become an au pair, however, she returned for the 1970 racing season. Barbro was more of a hands-on WAG and took up the role of Ronnie's timekeeper and was often found perching on the pit counter, watching her husband's performance. The couple married in 1975 and decided to make England their home, although they had a flat in Monaco and a holiday home in their homeland, Sweden. Barbro gave first to their daughter Nina in the November of that year and the pair lived together as a happy family for a couple of years. However, only three years after they tied the knot, Ronnie tragically died aged 34 on 11 September 1978 after his Lotus crashed during the Italian Grand Prix. Riccardo Patrese had collided with James Hunt and this caused a chain-reaction which launched Ronnie's Lotus into the barriers at 100mph. The impact of the smash tore off the front end of the vehicle and he sustained severe leg injuries so much so that amputation was considered. He was rushed to Niguarda hospital in Milan, but his condition worsened through the night, causing him to pass away from a bone marrow embolism that entered his bloodstream. Barbaro found it hard to cope after the love of her life was taken away from her prematurely and died of suicide less than a week before Christmas Day in 1987 aged 40. As Barbro was so involved in her late husband's racing life, she was thought to be terribly lonely after his passing. She dated British racing driver John Watson for around five years but Lotus team manager Peter Warr believed that deep down she knew her soulmate was Ronnie. Warr told Motorsport Magazine: 'The lifestyle she led and the happiness she found with Ronnie was totally irreplaceable. She wouldn't have found it with anyone else. 'They were made for each other, and they were just delirious that things worked out so well. They loved life and they loved each other.' Their deaths left 12-year-old Nina an orphan and she was raised by her grandparents. 1980s Susie Moss Married to Sir Stirling Moss Lady Susie Moss first met British F1 legend Sir Stirling Moss when she was five years old and he was 28 in Hong Kong, as the pair's families were close. The pair met again years later when Susie moved to London aged 17. The pair struck up a friendship that slowly blossomed into a romance, despite Stirling briefly going out with Susie's older sister, Tina. Susie previously told the Mail: 'The age gap didn't matter. I never thought about it because, to me, he was never old. He was always such fun.' Susie was four months pregnant with their son Elliot when they married in 1980 at Hammersmith & Fulham Register Office. Susie was never worried that her husband might stray and said: 'Once we'd got married, he wasn't a player. He believed very strongly that one belongs to one.' The pair spent 40 years travelling the world together, going to iconic festivals such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed and luxurious socialite events with brands such as Louis Vuitton and Chopard. Despite the many near-misses of his racing career, Stirling always seemed indestructible. In 2010, aged 80, he even survived a fall down the lift shaft at his home. He had summoned it and stepped into a void, realising too late that the door had opened onto emptiness. He broke both ankles, four bones in his foot and chipped four vertebrae in the plunge. 'I thought I'd lost him,' says Susie. 'But he came bouncing back. He made no fuss at all.' Stirling - who was previously married to Elaine Barberino - then passed away aged 90 from a chest infection in 2020 at their Mayfair home. He had retired from public life in January 2018 after undergoing lengthy rehabilitation for a serious chest infection he contracted in Singapore in 2016. Susie was at his bedside as he died, having nursed him through a long illness, at their central London house. She told the Daily Mail: 'He died as he lived, looking wonderful. He simply tired in the end and he just closed his beautiful eyes and that was that.' Three years after becoming a widow, Susie died aged 69 following a protracted period of ill health, however, her sister Tina believes she passed away from 'a broken heart'. 'My beloved sister died of a broken heart,' Tina, wife of ebullient retail tycoon Sir Philip Green, said amid floods of tears to the Daily Mail. 'She never recovered after Stirling left us. Their marriage was the greatest love story I have ever known.' Their union lasted for nearly four decades, in vivid contrast to his first two marital excursions. The first, to Canadian brewing heiress Kate Molson, ended after three years, while the second, to American Elaine Barbarino, with whom he had a daughter, Allison, endured just a year longer. Susie previously told the Mail: 'He had so many beautiful girlfriends. Oh, they were gorgeous!' 'I think there might be a photo of me among them in the book somewhere. We both kept in touch with a lot of them. I didn't have a problem with that. And the first Mrs Moss (Katie, nee Molson, heir to the Canadian brewing dynasty) used to come and stay with us in London and at our house in Florida.' Susie was never worried that her husband might stray: 'Once we'd got married, he wasn't a player. He believed very strongly that one belongs to one.' The couple lived in Mayfair, just a stone's throw from swanky private members' club 5 Hertford Street, at the house which Sir Stirling designed and equipped with a treasury of gadgets. Susie remained there after his death - sleeping close to the urn containing his ashes. 'She has gone far too soon,' her sister Lady Green said in 2023. 'We will miss her terribly.' 1990s Adriane Galisteu Partner of Ayrton Senna Adriane first met legendary Brazilian F1 driver Ayrton Senna when she worked as a hospitality hostess for the oil company Shell at the 1993 Brazilian Grand Prix. Despite the pair seeing each other several times during that race weekend in the hospitality suite, they didn't interact until Ayrton celebrated after the Brazilian Grand Prix at Limelight Club. During their relationship, Adriane lived a glitzy lifestyle and would often jet off to destinations such as Monaco and Hungary to cheer on her boyfriend. According to Tom Rubython's 2004 biography, The Life of Senna, Ayrton planned to stay in Portugal with Adriane for five months during the European race season in 1994 and not return to Brazil during that time, as reported by Business Insider. This caused a rift between the pair and Ayrton's family, who allegedly felt as though the glamorous blonde model was not good enough for their son. Galisteu saw Senna for the last time on April 3, 1994, weeks before his death. She was taking an English language course in Brazil in preparation for spending time in Europe and living with Senna. But their love story was cut short after Ayrton died during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Italy while racing for Williams aged just 34. He crashed into a concrete wall at 190mph and died almost instantly from the impact. Heartbroken Adriane - who saw Ayrton for the last time on April 3, 1994, weeks before his death - witnessed the crash as she was watching the race live on television from his apartment in Portugal. She told the Mail: 'I saw the accident and thought nothing of it,' she said. 'In fact, I thought, 'Good, he'll be back early, thank goodness'.' 'But then I saw it was more serious than I first imagined. I stood in front of the TV and watched the replay over and over again. I could see the car was damaged but I never thought he had died.' Adriane was told to get on a plane to Italy immediately but when it was about to take off, the pilot got a call from the tower. She said: 'I imagined it was Ayrton saying 'You don't need to come, everything is OK'. 'It was a friend [who said] ''Adriane, you don't need to come'. 'Wow, that's good', I said, thinking he must be improving. 'No, he's dead'. My world stopped at that moment. 'In my head it was impossible: he could only die of old age. It was incredible that he died doing what he knew best in life. 'It was very difficult for Brazil, for the whole world, but even more for me. It took me many years to recover my life, especially amorously.' Images show emotional Adriane joining mourners at his funeral in May 1994 as she appears to break down in tears over his coffin. Per Rubython's biography, Aridane said that Ayrton told her that he wanted to marry her someday, switch from Williams to Ferrari and had dreamed of becoming a father one day. After his untimely death, she ended up marrying Brazilian businessman Roberto Justus in 1998, but the pair divorced a year later in 1999. She then tied the knot with her current husband Alexandre Iódice in 2010 and the pair share one son together named Vittorio. The former model now works as an actress and TV host, boasting more than six million followers on Instagram, where she regularly shares an insight into her glamorous life. Modern day Alexandra Saint Mleux Dating Charles Leclerc Alexandra Saint Mleux is a TikTok influencer who stole the heart of her beau, Charles Leclerc over two years ago, with the two having made their first public appearance in March 2023. In May of the same year, her racing driver love finally confirmed the budding romance. When she's not cheering her super speedy boyfriend on, she's filming lifestyle and home videos for her TikTok followers. Her glamorous videos are the hallmark of an F1 WAG with her feed full of luxury travel locations, designer outfit fit checks and the odd few on glamorous yachts. Alex isn't just beautiful in herself, but is a fan of all things beautiful, being a passionate art historian. Carmen Montero Mundt Dating George Russell Carmen Montero Mundt has been in a relationship with George Russell since 2020 - and as reported by GP Blog, the couple happily live in Monaco together. According to the outlet, Carmen has previously worked in finance - as an investor relations associate at Ruffer LLP in London - but previously announced that she is going back to studying. The driver's very glamorous girlfriend - who is originally from Spain and moved to the UK aged 18 - has a business degree from the University of Westminster. Carmen has hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, and often shares snaps of her luxury travels and enviable style online. The couple are understood to have met through friends in London, and have made a number of public appearances since first getting together. Kelly Piquet Dating Max Verstappen Kelly is a 36-year-old model from Brazil and hasn't just bagged herself a boyfriend who is a three-time world champion, but also happens to be the daughter of one too - with her father, Nelson Piquet, having the same badge of honour himself. Kelly and Max have been dating since January 2021 and are often spotted with Kelly's daughter, Penelope. The model previously pleaded with social media fans to stop spreading rumours about her after facing 'a strange and upsetting wave of accusations' in the last three years, some of which relate to her previous relationships, with the 36-year-old having dated Russian Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat. In May, Max announced he had welcomed his first child with girlfriend Kelly, taking to Instagram to share the news with a slew of black and white snaps of their baby girl. Max called his daughter the 'greatest gift' and revealed they had named her Lily. Alongside the adorable pictures, he wrote: 'Welcome to the world, sweet Lily. Our hearts are fuller than ever - you are our greatest gift. We love you so much.' While Lily is Max's first child, model Kelly, 36, already has a daughter, Penelope, born in 2019, from her previous relationship with Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat, 30. When talking about having his first child, Max previously explained he is already somewhat prepared thanks to Penelope. The Dutchman said in the Talking Bull podcast: 'Luckily I did get a little bit of training with Penelope, seeing her grow up already for like four years. Which has been also really, really nice. 'But yes, for sure, when it's like, also going be fully your own [kid]... Yes, it's going to be a different challenge. But I'm looking forward to it'. The couple began dating in October 2020, and announced that they were expecting their first child together last December. Despite having a nine-year age gap, Kelly previously said that her relationship with Max is thriving because of the mutual understanding they have for each other. Kelly, said: 'I think we have a very healthy relationship, easygoing, we have a lot of understanding and support for each other. 'You would think the age difference could be a challenge, but so far things are going really well. I also really appreciate how he treats Penelope. It's so sweet to see.' The subject of marriage has been publicly addressed by Max, who said that only 'time will tell' if he and Kelly decide to tie the knot. Rebecca Donaldson Carlos Sainz started his relationship with Rebecca Donaldson in 2023 Donaldson has appeared on the covers of high-end fashion magazines like Vogue and Marie Claire. Pictured with Carlos in June 2024 The Scottish model (pictured) has been sighted at races with her beau Dating Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz started his relationship with Rebecca Donaldson in 2023 - and now, the Scottish model has been sighted at races with her beau. Donaldson has appeared on the covers of high-end fashion magazines like Vogue and Marie Claire since winning a beauty pageant aged 17, when she was a student at the prestigious Perth Academy, dreaming of breaking into the fashion industry. 'My mum entered me and I was really surprised when I found out,' she said at the time. 'I am really excited to have won and am really looking forward to entering the Top Model UK competition.' Rebecca was first linked to Keeping Up With The Kardashians star and Kourtney Kardashian's ex Scott Disick when the pair attended the premiere of a new series of the show in 2022. They dated for two months before splitting up in June of that year. She founded the activewear fashion label Muse in 2020 during the pandemic, explaining: 'I knew I wanted to create something that not only I would wear and be proud of putting my name against, but also something that was missing from the market.' The couple were first seen out together in Milan in June 2023, then fans started to think they were an item when they appeared at a golf course in Amsterdam in late August. One of Sainz's sisters began following her on Instagram, adding fuel to speculation about a romance, before Donaldson took to the catwalk at Madrid Fashion Week in front of members of the driver's family. Tickets for F1's British Grand Prix at Silverstone can be purchased at ahead of the three-day event on July 5 to July 7.
Wales Online
41 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as Wales star diagnosed with stage four arthritis and audio reveals what sparked row
Today's rugby news as Wales star diagnosed with stage four arthritis and audio reveals what sparked row The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond Wales international Rhys Webb (Image:) Here are your rugby morning headlines for Saturday, June 7. Wales scrum-half told he needs knee replacement Wales international Rhys Webb has revealed he's been diagnosed with Stage four arthritis and told he needs a knee replacement at the age of just 36. Webb suffered with numerous knee problems throughout is career, including undergoing three ACL reconstructions. His rugby career appears over after he was banned for four years in July, 2024 after testing positive for a growth hormone while playing in France. He now lives and works in Dubai and has strongly denied any wrongdoing. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Stage four arthritis is often referred to as severe or advanced stag and is characterized by extensive joint damage and significant limitations in daily activities. This stage involves severe pain, stiffness, and a notable loss of mobility. Posting pictures of him in hospital in Dubai, Webb wrote on social media: "After 3 ACL reconstructions, no meniscus, no cartilage, and battling osteoarthritis for the last 10 years my knee has finally waved the white flag. Over the last few months, it's really gone downhill. Some days I can barely walk properly. "Got it scanned… outcome: Stage 4 arthritis. The knee's had it. A full replacement is needed—but at 36, I'm not ready for that just yet. "So I've gone for one last clean-out. The joint's basically like my dad's old toolbox bolts, screws and all sorts floating around causing pain. Hopefully this gives me another 10 years. That's the target. Then I'll deal with the replacement. "But as you know this won't slow me down. I'm going to smash these next few weeks and get my knee back to the best it can be. This is going to be good "Massive thanks for all your messages it really does mean a lot. I'm all good. Just want to stay fit and healthy so I can keep chasing after my kids." Content cannot be displayed without consent Article continues below A statement through is lawyer at the time of the ban last year said: "The sanction imposed on Rhys Webb is not final, and we have immediately instructed a lawyer at the Conseil d'Etat to lodge an appeal to overturn the AFLD's decision. "In the meantime, Rhys wishes to reaffirm his innocence, pointing out that he has never undergone any other disciplinary procedure, of any kind, during his long career as a professional athlete and has never used any doping product, growth hormone in particular." The statement went on to identify what Webb and his legal team believe are "incompetencies" in the AFDL's testing process. Ref mic audio reveals unheard comment that led to row Irish pundit and former Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman has revealed new information about the enraged reaction of Munster's Jack Crowley in last weekend's controversial penalty shootout loss to the Sharks. The young fly-half exploded with rage when Sharks and Springboks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse went down with apparent cramp as Crowley prepared to take a crucial shot at goal during the shootout. Hendrikse winked at Crowley amid the furore as the Irish man complained to the referee and swore at a Sharks member of staff helping to treat the South African player. Now, Jackman has revealed ref mic audio sheds light on a comment made to Crowley ahead of the shootout that appears to have sparked the tense situation. Speaking on the RTÉ Rugby podcast, Jackman revealed he has now been sent audio of the remarks directed at Crowley before his kick. 'I've actually been sent the ref mic audio from earlier on for the first kick and someone says to Jack that he's a 40% kicker,' said Jackman. 'That's obviously why Jack was so fired up. But to be fair, it didn't impact the result — Jack nailed both his kicks, Conor [Murray] got his, and unfortunately Rory [Scannell] didn't.' Jackman wasn't overly impressed with referee Mike Adamson's handling of the whole situation. 'To be honest, the officials are struggling to control things they see every week, so in a shootout that happens once every few years, it was never going to be properly marshalled," he said. 'Scannell was kicking right beside the Sharks' bench — unless they're incredibly disciplined, there's always going to be something said.' Whiffin finds positives in England collapse Wales U20s coach Richard Whiffin said he learned a lot about his young side after their late collapse against England in their first World Championship warm-up match. Just five of the side that beat England in the Six Nations started at Pontypool Park, but Wales still found themselves leading 14-7 at the break. However, five tries in the final 13 minutes saw England win 47-14. "We were decent for the first 50," said Whiffin afterwards. "I thought we managed the game well. "Our kicking game was strong. We won some aerial battles and our set-piece was good. It gave us the opportunity to be right in the hunt. "Then that last 25 minutes, we lacked a bit of energy. The boys looked tired and we coughed up some soft tries, some intercepts, that blew the scoreboard out. "Disappointed with our energy in that back 20 minutes but pleased with what we put on the field in the first 50 minutes. "We controlled the game and probably left a few tries out there. But I was pleased with our half-backs. They put us in the right areas of the field. "Our set-piece dominated really well. It gave us those opportunities to get scores. There's always the other side of the half and we didn't bring the energy we needed in that second-half. "We've seen the first-half group execute the plan really and we've seen guys put their hand up in that space. We've also seen guys struggle at the level. It gives you a good picture of where guys are at and helps with selection." Finn Russell only dealing with cramp as Bath reached final – Johan van Graan By PA Sport Staff Bath head of rugby Johan van Graan reassured Bath supporters that it was 'only cramp' that forced him to replace Finn Russell before the end of their 34-20 Gallagher Premiership play-off victory against Bristol. The British & Lions fly-half kicked four conversions and two penalties in Bath's comeback win that sent them into next weekend's final at Allianz Stadium Twickenham. 'Multiple parts of his body are cramping,' he said. 'He put in some effort, I thought. His goalkicking was phenomenal, the chases that he put in too. He was still cramping in the changing room but there's no reason to suppose he won't be fine. 'It was amazing how many guys on both sides went down with cramp. It just showed the effort that both teams put in. We worked incredibly hard to get into this position, to get back to Twickenham.' He added: 'That's a Premiership semi-final for you. We knew this was going to be a tough game and we picked a 23 that we believe will get the job done. 'I thought at 34-13, we got some momentum but Bristol is a good team. They kept on attacking and it's never dead on 34-20. 'It was some game of rugby. We knew that we were going to be stretched but we actually defended pretty well. 'At half-time we spoke about our game and composure. It shows that we are a team that is fluid and adaptable. We made one or two tactical changes and then our fitness came through, our hunger, our will to win. 'At 13-6 we had a penalty. Many teams would have kicked for the posts but we went straight for the kill and made it 13-0. 'How good was the crowd! They gave us so much energy so we dominated them in the second half. 'I'm incredibly proud of this win and that we did this not only for ourselves but for the city. The people of Bath were amazing tonight.' Bristol were 13-6 in front at the break and it could have been more. The try of the match was scored by their lock James Dun after Fiji wing Kalaveti Ravouvou set off from his own line, leaving four Bath defenders in his wake. Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said: 'Firstly well done to Bath. They've had a phenomenal season and they thoroughly deserve to be there in the final, if you take what they've done throughout the year. 'We got on the wrong foot with the referee at the very beginning when (Ellis Genge) Gengey got pushed and said a few things. We got turned over and the boys were phenomenal in holding them out.' Lam conceded that the third quarter was decisive: 'At 13-6 we missed the kick-off receipt and off the back of that they got down there and scored. 'We missed some high balls and the penalty count was 5-1, 10 minutes after half-time so we were down there again and they scored. The second yellow card on Kieran Marmion was not ideal in terms of our attack shape.' But he added: 'Man, I'm so proud of the boys coming back at the end there. Article continues below 'It was a great game and, as I said, Bath thoroughly deserved their place in the final. Theirs is a really complete game and we wanted to disrupt that. 'Don't get me wrong – we are disappointed but we gave it a really good go and we missed out to a quality team.'
