Kone elated after Italy's thrilling win over Wales
It was a game that neither team deserved to lose, but ultimately Italy made sure they were on the right side of the result despite Wales scoring four tries of their own.
The results from the final day of #U6NSummerSeries action 🤩 pic.twitter.com/rEoKWZm12y — Six Nations Under-20s (@SixNationsU20) July 17, 2025
It caps a pleasing turnaround for Italy who lost to France 46-5 in their opening game before falling 36-20 to England on matchday 2 having led that match 15-0 at half time.
And full-back Kone was full of praise for her team's resolve during their final battle with the competition's hosts.
She said: 'We are feeling pretty awesome right now. It was a tough game, but we kept on going and we believed in our team until the last minute. We're pretty proud of what we've done during this whole experience.'
Italy's physical prowess has been their strength throughout the Women's Summer Series and Cheli was able to score all of her tries from close range off the back of good work by her fellow forwards.
But Kone admitted Wales didn't make things easy for her side.
'It was a very tough game as Wales played pretty well, but we're very excited and happy with the result,' she continued.
'Absolutely [it was a physical game]. The Wales players are really tough, pretty big, but our defence was pretty thick, and we kept on going. I'm very proud of my teammates.'
This has been the second incarnation of the Women's Summer Series, a tournament designed to give U20s players the opportunity to play more competitive rugby to help with their development, something which Kone thinks has helped her side over the past two weeks.
She added: 'Absolutely [this gives us confidence going forward]. From this match we've grown a lot. We started [the tournament] against France and then the English, we've come a long way, and we've enjoyed it.'
Discover the future of international rugby at the 2025 Women's Summer Series – where rising stars shine. Follow the action live at sixnationsrugby.com/u6n and on Instagram @u20sixnations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
11 minutes ago
- BBC News
Swansea challenge Lloyd to be Newport's best
Ben Lloyd has been challenged to be Newport County's star man after joining on loan from Swansea 20-year-old midfielder will spend the season with the Exiles and has already made two has made just a pair of brief appearances off the bench for Championship side Swansea, but he will now try to follow in the footsteps of Ollie Cooper and Brandon Cooper by heading east to impress in Newport with the League Two side."He can learn a lot," said Swansea head coach Alan Sheehan. "He's got to go there with the mentality of being the best player."Yes, he is from a Championship club but he's got to go down there and be the best player, on and off the pitch."He's got to be a role model, be a good example, show the work ethic and the grit to be a professional footballer and prove himself at that level."After that you move onto the next level and that's the goal for a lot of young players here."Meanwhile, Newport midfielder Riley Lonergan has joined Cardiff Met on teenager, who signed a first professional contract in the summer, will get a taste of senior men's football in the Cymru Premier until 12 is yet to make his Newport first-team debut after being an unused substitute in the League Two game at Fleetwood Town in the penultimate game of last season.
BBC News
41 minutes ago
- BBC News
Welsh Fire hoping for early spark in The Hundred
Welsh Fire know their campaigns cannot be slow burners when they get under way in The Hundred today.A double-header against Northern Superchargers at Headingley sees the women start their bid to go one better than 2024 (15:00 BST) before the men begin their hunt for an elusive play-off spot (18.30 BST).They then both take to the field in Cardiff for the first time this summer when hosting London Spirit on Tammy Beaumont and the overseas trio of Hayley Matthews, Jess Jonassen and Shabnim Ismail return as the women stick with a familiar superstar Steve Smith arrives in Cardiff for a first taste of The Hundred as the men try to turn around their fortunes. The Smith factor Smith adds stardust and the hope is that he can give his new teammates, now including Glamorgan's Ben Kellaway, a little bit extra while also piling on the runs."He's going to bring a huge amount to the team," said captain and Somerset batter Tom Abell."His record speaks for itself, he's a great guy and a world-class player who has done it in all formats at the very top level."His influence on the team will be huge. He has been the best player in the world for a good number of years and that will hopefully give everyone an extra little bit of confidence."Anyone wants Steve Smith in their team, don't they? Luckily he will be playing for us."The Australian has passed 10,000 runs in Tests, 5,000 in ODIs and 1,000 in international T20s."Even Jonny Bairstow, who has played 100 Test matches, is asking what Steve Smith is like to play with," said coach Mike Hussey."He will bring a lot to the team, and hopefully a lot of runs, experience and star power."Fire men missed out on the eliminator on net run rate in 2023 and won just two of six fixtures that beat the weather last took until the fifth fixture to get a success and Hussey does not want to be playing catch-up this August."All the teams are pretty strong so we are going to have to hit the ground running," said the Australian."Hopefully we can play some really good cricket, get some confidence going early and then see how we go."I don't know how far we can go, we are hoping to go all the way but obviously you need a lot to go your way." Together, stronger Fire women have been on the up since the opening years of the competition when they finished one from bottom in 2021 and then propped up the table in were third in 2023 when their eliminator was washed out and then topped the table on run rate last year only to lose the final at Lord's when London Spirit chased down their total off 98 call is for more of the same in the bid to go one better."It was an outstanding campaign," said captain Tammy Beaumont. "This year there are some really tough teams - on paper anyone can beat anyone - but I hope that the togetherness that we have had for the last few years really shines through again."That's been our X-factor that has driven us on and spurred us on to win some tight games."In a tournament that features stellar talent, boss Gareth Breese agrees that it needs to be a squad effort if Fire are to go one better."Last year was a phenomenal experience to get to the final, missing out by two or three balls in the end," said the former West Indies all-rounder."Taking each game as it comes and having a real team effort – last year that was the hallmark of our performances."Somebody always seemed to step up and put in the performances. Can we put that fight and determination out there?"Both Fire teams will attempt to do that in Yorkshire before repeating the trick in Cardiff two days later.
Times
2 hours ago
- Times
First-class suites for Formula 1 fun
I'm reclining on a sunshine-yellow sofa, watching a couple enter the final throes of a chess game before flicking through a weighty tome analysing Lewis Hamilton's greatest achievements. Then 3pm rolls around and the couple dash to the terrace to watch the man himself race past at 200mph. The living room-like House 44 suite, a collaboration between Lewis Hamilton, F1 and Soho House unveiled at Silverstone, is the latest addition to the Paddock Club — the vast hospitality complex that overlooks the starting grid. In 2025 the suite will feature at the upcoming Netherlands, Italy, Mexico, Las Vegas and UAE grands prix. 'The House 44 suite is an amazing way of experiencing a Formula 1 race weekend,' says Lewis Hamilton. 'Working closely with Soho House and F1, I wanted to design a space I'd choose for myself if I wasn't on track.' Even the drinks are Hamilton-themed. At the bar, clad with studded metal panels recalling the stripped-back bodywork of a 1950s grand prix car, there's free-flowing Moët alongside cocktails made with Almave. Co-founded by Hamilton, it's the world's first non-alcoholic blue agave spirit brand. The House 44 layout and size will vary slightly depending on the track, but the capacity will stay between 100 and 200 people, making it smaller and more intimate than most F1 Paddock Club suites. The overall sense is of cosiness — it's not a place where you need to know your driveshaft from your DRS. My favourite spot? Perched next to the long, rustic wooden table, watching the on-track action on a screen suspended above a sideboard topped with pot plants and a stack of books pinioned by a starfish-shaped paperweight. If I could design my dream living room, this might just be it. Guests don't need Soho House membership — just a minimum of $12,000 (about £8,900) for a three-day race weekend ticket. Added extras include pit walks, paddock tours and appearances from Sir Lewis. The Singapore GP's Twenty3 is a multilevel trackside retreat famous for its multiple vantage points (you'll find it at the track's final turn, which means unbeatable views of the starting line and post-race fireworks) and entertainment — in previous years performers have included aerial silk acrobats and fire poi spinners. But it's the culinary offerings that put it on the map. Highlights include pop-ups from Michelin-starred chefs (at the GP in October sit-down restaurants will include one from the Seoul-based Soigné, which has two Michelin stars, and La Scène, a Paris bistro also with two stars). Meanwhile, pitstops for thirsty race fans will include one from Barcelona's Paradiso Bar, which bagged a spot in the top 10 of the World's 50 Best Bars 2024. Finally, it's worth bearing in mind this is a race where those vantage points are worth the expense. The action-packed Singapore GP — F1's first night-time race, wrapped around the spectacular Marina Bay — makes for a breathtaking backdrop. From £4,760 for a three-day ticket, A fun fact? The first Las Vegas GP took place in 1981, when the cars raced around the parking lot of the Caesars Palace hotel. There wasn't another Las Vegas GP until 2023, when F1's speed machines raced down the city's neon-lit Strip. Perhaps unsurprisingly the hospitality offerings are as extravagant as it gets, and the pricier offerings include the Gordon Ramsay at F1 Garage — with tickets starting from £20,000. A more affordable (but equally opulent) option for race weekend (in 2025 this will be November 20-22) is Skybox, with its Rat Pack-inspired decor (think vast expanses of red velvet and lots of feathers). This hospitality suite, above the Heineken Silver Main Grandstand, offers stunning views of the starting line while guests feast on gourmet cuisine and toast the race's return to Vegas with cocktails prepared by the city's top mixologists. Tickets include a Heineken Silver Main Grandstand seat in addition to suite access. The suite's proximity to the Heineken Silver Stage is a big draw — it's the setting for driver appearances as well as live music. From £6,530 for a three-day ticket, The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix's 360 at Sixteen hospitality area, which will launch at this December's event, will have a prime position — it will be located at turn 16, which means brilliant views of the finishing straight as well as the circuit's famous chicane section. It will be a multilevel lounge with leafy areas and terraces overlooking the pitlane. Perks for guests include pit walks and complimentary access to nearby attractions such as Warner Bros World Yas Island Abu Dhabi and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Guests will be able to refuel at live cooking stations and at food trucks, although it's worth nothing this will be one of the few hospitality packages that includes only soft drinks — alcoholic beverages cost extra. From £1,200 for a four-day ticket, House 44 wasn't the only F1 Paddock Club suite unveiled at Silverstone — the Atlassian Williams Racing team revealed its beautiful suite at the British GP too. Created for guests invited by the team or its partners, it will appear at the Singapore, Austin, Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi GPs in 2025 (2026's races are to be confirmed). Although exact layouts might vary, staples will include a large central bar, an open-plan layout and vast expanses of dark oak and light stone, and a central stage will be the setting for appearances by team members, including drivers. The vibe? Decadent but fun — at the British Grand Prix there were menu holders made from wheel nuts, and guests can ask for their initials to be embroidered on to complimentary ticket wallets and luggage labels from Carl Friedrik (one of the team's sponsors). Marcus Prosser, the director of marketing at Atlassian Williams Racing, believes this bespoke approach is the way forward. 'Today the F1 hospitality landscape is shifting from a one-size-fits-all to more meaningful, personalised experiences,' Prosser says. Entry to the suite is by invitation only
