logo
Walters named Australia coach for rugby league Ashes in England

Walters named Australia coach for rugby league Ashes in England

France 244 days ago
Walters, who was sacked by the Brisbane Broncos last year, takes over the Kangaroos from Mal Meninga who has taken charge of the new Perth Bears franchise.
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys said Walters was the right man for the job.
"Kevin has played for the Kangaroos, had a successful coaching career with Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Maroons, and will bring that expertise into the national team for the Ashes," he said.
"Kevin has toured with the Kangaroos as a player, was a leader as a player and as a coach. His coaching pedigree is a natural fit for the national team."
Walters played 291 matches with the Canberra Raiders and Brisbane Broncos, winning six Premierships, while featuring in 20 State of Origin games for Queensland and playing 11 Tests.
Australia face Shaun Wane's England in three matches starting at Wembley on October 25, with Everton's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool and Headingley in Leeds also hosting Tests.
England have not faced Australia since the 2017 World Cup final, which the Kangaroos won 6-0.
Australia also announced that current women's team coach, Jess Skinner, would extend her tenure with the Jillaroos through to the 2026 World Cup.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Norris reassured by pole after Belgian Grand Prix 'worries'
Norris reassured by pole after Belgian Grand Prix 'worries'

France 24

timean hour ago

  • France 24

Norris reassured by pole after Belgian Grand Prix 'worries'

The 25-year-old Briton, who was beaten by series leader Piastri in Friday's sprint qualifying, said it was tough for both McLaren drivers as they battle for supremacy in their intra-team rivalry -- and slug it out for the drivers' world championship. After 12 of this year's 24 races, Piastri leads with 241 points and five wins ahead of Norris on 232 and four wins. Defending four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull is third on 173 after two Grand Prix wins. Norris, who is chasing a third consecutive Grand Prix win on Sunday to overhaul the 24-year-old Australian, admitted he was aware that "everyone was worried" after Friday when he was three-tenths slower. "I wasn't that far off, but there were a couple of little issues and everyone was pretty worried," he said. "But I was confident after yesterday and I was confident coming into today so it's nice to see that I could get back to the top." Asked where his improvement came from, he said: "Three-tenths is just slipstream and not being the first out of the pit-lane. "It was nothing to worry about, but people like to make a lot of things up. "I felt good and the car has been flying all weekend." Norris has been accused of mental fragility and being over-sensitive to his own high expectations and media criticism. He said that it was intense and challenging for both McLaren drivers to maintain a strong relationship as team-mates while fighting for the drivers' title. "Oscar has been doing a good job all weekend and we've been pushing each other a lot," said Norris. "It's tough because you see where your strengths and weaknesses are clearly -- and then you learn from each other quickly. It's good, but it's a tough battle that we have at the minute." Piastri agreed that maintaining a balanced approach was difficult. "We're a good team-mate pairing and we learn a lot from each other each weekend. That's what makes us a good team, but it also makes it difficult to fight each other." Norris said he wanted Sunday's race to be run in dry conditions, despite forecast heavy rain for the Ardennes. "I prefer it to stay dry honestly. For the fans! I think it's rained here for the last 10 years or something so it would be nice to have a dry Sunday." © 2025 AFP

Paris 2024 volunteers recall the thrill of being part of history 'from the inside'
Paris 2024 volunteers recall the thrill of being part of history 'from the inside'

LeMonde

time2 hours ago

  • LeMonde

Paris 2024 volunteers recall the thrill of being part of history 'from the inside'

If you thought that being a volunteer for the Paris 2024 Games ended with the Paralympic closing ceremony on September 8, think again. "It stays with us for the rest of our lives," said Amandine Guillaume, 36, a team member assisting athletes in judo and wrestling, who has carefully kept her volunteer gear. One year later, it is impossible not to notice an Olympic-ring-branded bag in a supermarket, a dark blue and turquoise striped shirt on a running trail or a colorful bucket hat on the beach. In the streets of the capital, in Bordeaux, Lille and even outside France, volunteers are instantly recognizable. "– Which division? – Champ de Mars, logistics team." Much like war veterans, volunteers greet each other with a nod or a smile. On their chests, a collection of pins bears witness to their service: "Field hockey, Australia vs. South Africa, I was there." This protocol flair is not just for show. The event left a lasting impression on these unsung heroes at the heart of the action. "It felt like we were living sports history from the inside. The atmosphere was incredible," said Guillaume. As a physical education teacher, she especially recalled a long conversation with the father of judoka Teddy Riner, who was anxious before his son's individual final. The discreet yet joyful presence of these 45,000 volunteers – one third of whom are members of sports clubs – quickly made them favorites among the public and athletes alike. "A year after the Olympics, I really want to thank the volunteers. They took such good care of us," said Riner, a five-time Olympic judo gold medalist. Stationed at competition venues, the athletes' village, media center, training sites and even at train stations and airports, volunteers played an essential role in the event's success. A giant picnic at La Villette Just like the athletes, some volunteers felt a letdown once the flame was extinguished. "We call it JO-stalgia [a pun on 'nostalgia' and 'JO,' the initials in French for the Olympic Games]," said Amandine Guillaume, who hopes to volunteer again "for Los Angeles [in 2028] or even sooner, for the Winter Games [in Milan-Cortina in 2026]." To fill the void left by Paris 2024 and to keep the magic alive, some volunteers even formed associations. Anne Barthaux, who worked in protocol at Roissy airport during the Olympics and then as a press team leader at the Stade de France during the Paralympics, helped develop a volunteer group in Bordeaux. "Every month, we get together. We talk about the Games, we go out to restaurants in our uniforms and little by little, real friendships are formed." A similar energy inspired Katy Grignon, 52, a sales professional in the food industry, who helped create the Paris 2024 Volunteers Association. "Today, we've completed 60 volunteer missions. In March, for example, I worked at the French boxing championships!" Positive momentum for sport This positive momentum benefits sports in France, whose model relies heavily on volunteering, a resource that has been declining for several years. "I continued volunteering, even in sports, which wasn't my area before," said Yvette Gilbert, 70, a former media library director. To celebrate the first anniversary of the Paris Games, nearly 400 volunteers planned to gather "wearing their uniform" on Saturday, July 26, at La Villette for a giant picnic. "I'm bringing pins to trade, just like in the good old days," said Thierry Goulet on the Facebook group Volontaires Paris 2024. This is a way to keep the Olympic spirit alive, but also to continue wearing the outfits designed by sporting goods manufacturer Decathlon as part of its partnership with Paris 2024. "The pants are practical and they make my students smile during PE class, so I still wear them regularly," said Guillaume, who gave the rest of her kit to her daughters. The Paris 2024 flame looks set to shine on for a long time to come.

Norris on pole as McLaren lock-out front row at Belgian Grand Prix
Norris on pole as McLaren lock-out front row at Belgian Grand Prix

France 24

time3 hours ago

  • France 24

Norris on pole as McLaren lock-out front row at Belgian Grand Prix

The 25-year-old Briton, whose mother Cisca is Belgian, shrugged aside concerns over his struggles on Friday to clock a best lap in one minute and 40.562 seconds, beating Australian Piastri by 0.085 seconds as McLaren reeled off a convincing front row lock-out. It was his fourth pole this year and the 13th of his career. Charles Leclerc qualified third with a late improved lap enabling him to overhaul defending world champion Max Verstappen's best effort for Red Bull. Alex Albon was fifth for Williams ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull, Racing Bulls' rookies Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson and Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton failed to make it out of the Q1 session for Ferrari and will start Sunday's 44-lap race from 16th on the grid in the company of Mercedes' mercurial rookie Kimi Antonelli, who was 18th and two-time champion Fernando Alonso 19th for Aston Martin. After victories in Austria and Britain, Norris will be seeking a third consecutive win to overhaul Piastri's nine-point lead in the title race. "It was a decent lap and I'm happy," said Norris. "Everyone was a bit worried after yesterday, but I wasn't that far off. "There were just a few little issues we had. I was confident that I could get back to the top." Piastri, who had been faster than Norris in Friday's action, said: "It's a bit disappointing. The second lap was coming together well and then I made a mistake into turn 14 and I lost a lot of time. The car was very good again, but it's about fine margins." Leclerc said he was surprised by his time. 'Really bad' "I didn't expect it. We thought we were a lot more behind. We thought we had something more in the car with the upgrade, but it was a good lap. It takes time to maximise those upgrades." After a masterclass from Verstappen in the sprint race earlier, Red Bull chose to change his 'skinny' rear wing to a bigger high-downforce version in anticipation of Sunday bringing heavy rain to the sweeping Ardennes circuit. Norris found his pace to clock 1:41.010, six-tenths better than the Ferrari, followed by Piastri two-tenths down in second, the pair showing McLaren's intent under grey skies before a frantic finale during which Hamilton found a late survival lap which was promptly deleted for exceeding track limits. That left Gabriel Bortoleto 15th for Sauber and eliminated the Ferrari driver along with Alpine's Franco Colapinto, Mercedes' rookie Antonelli, who replaced Hamilton, and the two Aston Martins of Alonso and Lance Stroll. Q2 began with everyone on softs and Verstappen fastest, trimming Norris's time, before Piastri and Norris took over for the opening runs. The Dutchman chose not to run again, leaving the usual suspects a clear run to the top-ten shootout while the Haas pair Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman exited along with Alpine's Pierre Gasly, Hulkenberg and Sainz. Russell, who was stripped of victory last year because of an underweight car, was first out for Q3, but it was Verstappen again on top before the McLarens flexed their muscle, Norris beating Piastri by 0.189 on their first runs. Verstappen's final run on fresh softs was not enough to resist an improved lap from Leclerc as Piastri also failed to improve, leaving Norris to claim pole position. "Oh my god, that was really, really bad" said Verstappen, as a rise in track temperature beyond 40 degrees subdued his performance.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store