Spinner Nicholas retires aged 38
Welsh spin bowler Claire Nicholas has retired from top-level cricket aged 38.Nicholas was the leading wicket-taker for the Welsh Fire franchise in 2022.She was one of the first Welsh players to represent the Western Storm regional side.Swansea-born Nicholas, formerly Thomas, made her Wales debut aged just 16 and helped the side to three successive promotions.She combined her sporting ambitions with a career as a teacher as well as motherhood.A tribute from Glamorgan described her as "leaving a great legacy in Wales and beyond".The news came just a few days before the first competitive match played by the new Glamorgan women's side, which is due to become a full-time professional outfit in 2027.
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Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
The Hundred set for 'enormous boost' after ECB decision and new 'silver bullet'
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Wales Online
3 hours ago
- Wales Online
Welsh star opens new local skatepark in Cardiff
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Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as Wales collapse against England and Farrell sweats on injured Lions stars
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But England hit back in the 25th minute when backrower Reggie Hammick barged his way over the line with Josh Bellamy adding the extras. Whiffin made mass substitutions after the break and second-row Luke Evans got sent to the sin bin for a technical offence. England's pack began to gain the upper hand, with flanker George Timmins smashing his way over the line. Article continues below Wales wing Aidan Boshoff was then cruelly denied a try from 45 metres because he was deemed to be offside when he received the ball. The hosts fell apart after that and England extended their lead through a penalty try which also saw Wales tighthead prop Jac Pritchard sent to the sin bin for illegally collapsing the maul. Hammick then claimed his second try for England, with Bellamy adding the extras. England piled on the misery as Tyler Ofiah - son of rugby league legend Martin Offiah, ran in an interception try from 70 metres out. There were further tries for Jonny Weimann and Nic Allinson. Farrell sweats on Lions Leinster have lost two more of their British and Irish Lions call-ups to injury, with both Josh van der Flier and Hugo Keenan missing for the United Rugby Championship semi-final against Glasgow Warriors. They join fellow tourists Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose on the sidelines just two weeks before the Lions' first match, as Leinster continue their bid to avoid a fourth successive season without silverware. Ireland international Robbie Henshaw is also missing through injury. Keenan and van der Flier both picked up injuries in their BKT United Rugby Championship play-off quarter-final victory over the Scarlets last Saturday, which could well have Lions coach Andy Farrell concerned ahead of the tour of Australia. The Lions travel down under later this month, ahead of their three Test series against the Wallabies in July and August. 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Zebre's Massimo Brunello is the surprise winner of the Coach of the Year award after guiding the Italian side to five wins and a draw this season CEO of BKT Europe Lucia Salmaso said: 'Massimo has done a wonderful job this season with Zebre Parma, guiding them to some famous wins against tough opposition. 'He has demonstrated excellent leadership in his first season at the helm, creating history with Zebre's first away win in four years. In creating a custom ring for him as the BKT Coach of the Season, we want this achievement to live long in the memory. 'Congratulations to Massimo on his fantastic work this season, and we wish him all the best in the future.' Wales' Ioan Lloyd won the Golden Boot award, while Cardiff's Harri Millard was top try scorer and Cam Winnett took the Ironman prize for the most appearances. Full list of URC Awards Winners 2024-25 Gilbert Golden Boot: Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets) OFX Top Try Scorer: Harri Millard (Cardiff Rugby) Tackle Machine: Ruben van Heerden (DHL Stormers) Ironman: Cam Winnett (Cardiff Rugby) Playmaker: Tom Farrell (Munster Rugby) Elite XV: Jamie Osborne (Leinster Rugby), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Tom Farrell (Munster Rugby), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Craig Casey (Munster Rugby), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster Rugby), Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) Next-Gen Player of the Season: Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) Innovation Award: Hollywoodbets Sharks Try of the Season Powered by Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) South African Vodacom URC Player of the Season: Sacha Feinburg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) BKT Coach of the Season: Massimo Brunello (Zebre Parma) Players' Player of the Season: RG Snyman (Leinster Rugby) Huw Jones to miss out again as Warriors face Leinster in URC semi-finals By PA Sport Staff Glasgow centre Huw Jones will again miss out as Warriors travel to Dublin to face Leinster in the BKT United Rugby Championship semi-finals. Jones has been missing for several weeks with an Achilles problem and has failed to make the 23-man squad for the Aviva Stadium encounter despite some optimism over his fitness from Scotstoun earlier in the week. Forwards Matt Fagerson, Jack Dempsey and Zander Fagerson all miss out again as expected but were progressing well in their recoveries earlier in the week. Head coach Franco Smith has made just two personnel changes following the 36-18 triumph over Stormers last weekend, which took the defending champions into the final four of the competition. Former Scotland Under-20 international Fin Richardson comes into the starting line-up at tighthead prop as Murphy Walker drops out of the 23. Adam Hastings is recalled at fly-half to spark a reshuffle in the back division. Tom Jordan moves to inside centre, where he will partner Sione Tuipulotu. Stafford McDowall drops to the bench. Warriors are making their third trip to Dublin inside two months and will need to make further improvement. Glasgow were thrashed 52-0 by Leinster in April in the Champions Cup and lost 13-5 in the Irish capital in the final match of the regular URC season. Article continues below Smith told 'Leinster are the standard setters in this competition. They finished top of the standings for a reason, and have consistently out-performed teams across the course of this season while showing their strength in depth. 'It is a challenge that we know we will need to be at our best to meet, and the players are focused on the task at hand. 'Training this week has been sharp and competitive, with every player working hard for each other to put this squad in the best possible position.'
