'The legacy for us is in the changing room'
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Belfast Telegraph
4 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
PGA Tour officials concerned after Rory McIlroy opts to skip opening round of FedEx Cup playoffs
The playoffs are made up of three rounds through August, starting with the Tour's 70 top-ranked players competing at the FedEx St Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Tennessee. The top 50 progress to the second round, the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Maryland, before the top 30 players contest the Tour Championship shootout at East Lake Golf Club, Georgia. The quadruple points on offer through the first two events offer players the chance to quickly climb the rankings. But McIlroy, who is currently second in the FedEx Cup standings behind Scottie Scheffler after winning the Masters and the Players this year, is already assured of a place in the top 30 and so has chosen to rest rather than take part in the opening tournament. McIlroy's decision comes after the PGA Tour removed the much-maligned 'starting strokes' from the Tour Championship, in which the top ranked players were rewarded by starting the tournament several shots under par. This season, all 30 players will start the finale on level par, removing any incentive for McIlroy to play in the opening playoff round beyond the financial rewards – there is around £2.7m up for the winner – and the five-time major winner is doing OK in that regard. McIlroy signalled his intentions a year ago, as soon as starting strokes were set to be abolished, saying he doesn't get on well with TPC Southwind. But Peter Malnati, a player director on the PGA Tour Policy Board, said he was 'very concerned' by McIlroy's decision to skip the event, which means the FedEx Cup playoffs begin without one of the game's biggest stars when the remaining field of 69 players get underway on Thursday. Asked if the Tour would look to change the rules to prevent something similar happening in the future, Malnati added: 'I think there is stuff in the works and I'll leave it at that.' Fellow player director Webb Simpson empathised with McIlroy's decision, having done something similar in 2020 when he chose to sit out the second round in order to rest for the Tour Championship. 'I think it's too hard of a thing to make guys have to play, we're still a sport where you can play when you want to play,' Simpson said. 'I knew I couldn't fall more than one spot and I thought losing one stroke at East Lake was worth a week of rest because I was toast. I don't know Rory's reason but I totally get it. It's a hard thing to fix.'
BBC News
5 minutes ago
- BBC News
Ospreys' St Helen's stadium plans approved by Swansea council
Plans to redevelop a Welsh rugby team's seafront stadium have been officially July 2024, Ospreys announced they would move from the Stadium to the smaller, historic St Helen's ground for the 2025–26 comes amid wider uncertainty in Welsh rugby, as the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) considers restructuring that could reduce the number of professional chief executive Lance Bradley acknowledged the challenging backdrop but said the move to St Helen's would be "significant in ensuring the future of professional rugby" in Swansea. At a meeting on Tuesday, Swansea council's planning committee members voted unanimously in favour of the redevelopment plans for St Helen's - which will be delivered in two phases. Phase one includes a new 3G pitch, fan zone, and stands to accommodate up to 8,000 two will add a training facility and gym. The St Helen's Ground has been the historic home of rugby in Swansea since the 1880s. However, when rugby turned professional in 2003, Swansea RFC merged with Neath RFC to form the Ospreys. Although the team initially played at St Helen's, they relocated to the Stadium in 2005, sharing with the city's football now left that venue, the Ospreys plan to begin redevelopment in September 2025, once Swansea Cricket Club's season concludes. Under an agreement with the council, the cricket club will relocate to a new ground. Speaking at the meeting, Mr Bradley described St Helen's as an "incredibly iconic ground" and said the Ospreys aimed to become a "hub for the community", not just an elite rugby club in the called the decision an "incredibly exciting moment" and a "vital step" for the future of the team and rugby in the region.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
'It's a privilege to be here with these grassroots heroes'
In April the Telegraph Media Group Honda Rugby Legacy Fund was relaunched to give support to 15 more girls' and women's clubs in the UK, and help them to achieve their goals and kickstart their dreams. Having received over 400 entries, it was the job of the panel judges – including Rugby World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi; Telegraph women's rugby correspondent Fiona Tomas; Rebecca Adamson, head of automobile at Honda UK; and women's rugby commentator Nick Heath – to whittle it down to a final 15. As well as being presented with funds ranging from £3,000 to £1,000 the winners were also invited to a special celebration day at Harlow Rugby Club in Essex. 'I think the thing about meeting other clubs on a day like today is just to share,' says Leon Horton from Tetbury Rugby Club – one of five winners of £3,000. 'We'll be able to get some extra floodlights to create more space for training. We can then get more of the girls from the local community coming in to play rugby.' While the inspiring themes of the competition entries varied, there were many core similarities. Women's and girls' rugby is growing quickly, but it tends to be in clubs that have been historically male dominated. Improving facilities, developing more toilet and shower rooms, expanding training spaces with better lighting and connecting remote clubs are all key elements to growth and success in the grassroots game for women and girls. 'Being part of today has given us such a great chance to see other people that are in the same sort of situation as us, and have those discussions with other clubs to see what they're doing and see what's working for them,' says Beth Hampton from St Ives Rugby Club in Cornwall. Their girls' section only started in September 2024 and it is their geographical location that adds to the challenge. As one of 10 clubs to receive a £1,000 award, theirs will help support volunteers to go into local schools and encourage new girls to join the club. As part of the winners' day, everyone was invited to take part in a special photo shoot before joining Maggie Alphonsi for a fun and light-hearted training session. The great British weather even turned on the summer's first heatwave for the occasion. 'It was really lovely meeting Maggie Alphonsi today and having the opportunity to have a training session on the pitch with her,' says Caroline Meenan of City of Derry RFC. 'We've already got a tour planned to Scotland for next year from meeting some of the girls last night in the hotel. Not many people will have this opportunity so we're very privileged to be here.' Jennifer Scahill from Uddingston Women agrees: 'The opportunity to be with the other winners and train with Maggie Alphonsi has been incredible. It's just super inspiring to hear her stories.' There was also a Q&A panel – hosted by esteemed rugby commentator Heath – featuring Alphonsi and former Wales international Philippa Tuttiett. The topics covered ranged from how the women's elite game has changed through to the challenges of keeping young girls in the game at age grade levels. The passionate views shared would have given rugby's top administrators plenty to think about. 'It's such a privilege to be among these heroes working at grassroots level who do so much,' Tuttiett says. 'The growth of the women's game relies on how well we can look after its development and its roots. To have the chance to meet some of the representatives from these 15 clubs – and these are just 15 out of hundreds out there – has been such a joy. They are all doing so much good work and our communities owe so much to their efforts.' It's a sentiment that Alphonsi supports: 'It's been a real honour to meet the winners of the 2025 Telegraph Media Group Honda Rugby Legacy Fund, all of whom are doing such great work to support women's and girls' rugby across the UK. This is going to be another huge year for our sport and these volunteers are real champions of the game. 'My own rugby story began with an inspirational teacher who introduced me to rugby. It's brilliant to know that even more people will be inspired by these individuals and their ideas and initiatives that will help grow the game. From connecting communities and improving facilities through to improving education around women' s health and nutrition, it's wonderful to learn more about how each club will use the funds they have won. Congratulations to them all and I wish them well in the coming months and years to come.'
