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BBC News
25-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Scotland must find their inner 'dog' in vital finale
Emma Wassell says Scotland have "wrongs to right" in their "vital" final game of the Women's Six Nations against Ireland on suffered a damaging loss at home to Italy in round three, Bryan Easson's side have only one win from four having targeted three victories this now host an improving Ireland who had a seismic win over New Zealand last year. The Irish have won two from four in a tournament that is especially important given the World Cup takes place in England in Wassell, whose return to rugby is progressing following operations to remove a tumour in her chest last autumn, has called on her team-mates to find their inner-dog against the Irish."You can't really coach bringing out the dog," the 30-year-old told the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast. "Sometimes you need something that can bring that out and individual players just need to find what it is."This game is vital. Ultimately, you could see us bottom of the table [if results go against them] and that's the honest truth of it."The disappointing and unexpected loss to Italy in Edinburgh was the day Scotland's campaign went off track, Wassell added: "I don't think it was really us out there. It felt quite flat. Why that is, I don't think we're 100% sure. Verbally, no one was complacent, but mentally, have we almost assumed that we would win that game? It's hard to really pinpoint it."Everyone knew it wasn't good enough. I think we have a few wrongs to right. Sometimes before a game it's very easy to go into your shell and I think we need players to express themselves out there."I know the capabilities of this squad. So, yes, fans may be frustrated, but it's really hard and the players feel it more than ever."
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sylvia Henkin: Parade Pioneer
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — Saturday's St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Sioux Falls marks a milestone for the city. This annual celebration is now in its 45th year. It all started in 1980 with a flash of inspiration from someone who wasn't even Irish. First-ever Amber Alert issued from Sioux Falls Sylvia Henkin was a businesswoman, civic leader and a trailblazer in many fields. 'I got involved in the Chamber of Commerce, and became one of the first lady presidents there. I was asked to join the rotary club and again another, the first lady there. I made quite a few dramatic entrances, I don't know if you wanna call it that,' Henkin said in 2009. So it was only natural that Henkin would be the first to propose a St. Patrick's Day Parade for Sioux Falls. She pitched the idea from inside her kitchen while serving drinks and chocolate chips cookies to friends. 'I got the ball rolling. Let's put it that way. Everyone has to become Irish on this day,' Henkin said in 2016. This feisty force of nature quickly convinced other community leaders to get on board. 'So she tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'Hey, you're going to be the guy.' And trust me, when you get appointed by Sylvia Henkin and you listen and you do what you're told,' Parade Grand Marshal Shawn Cleary said in 2024. Henkin firmly believed Sioux Falls could outdo bigger cities when it came to throwing St. Patrick's celebrations. 'If they can do it in New York, we can certainly do it better in Sioux Falls. After all, look who we are,' Henkin said in 2016. The St. Patrick's Day parade would keep growing in popularity through the years, attracting thousands of people to downtown Sioux Falls. Henkin would serve as a two-time grand marshal of the parade. And while she couldn't trace her family roots back to Ireland, to her, all roads led back to Sioux Falls. And she was always quick to sing the praises of the city she loved. 'I'm from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, it's my home town!' Henkin died in 2018 at the age of 96. The parade she started begins at 2 p.m. Saturday in front of our KELOLAND studios and proceeds north on Phillips Avenue. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales prop Smith aims to make up for lost time
Men's Six Nations: Scotland v WalesVenue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 8 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMTCoverage: Watch on BBC One, BBC Sport website and app. Text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app. Listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. With more than 50 caps to his name, Nicky Smith is one of the elder statesmen in Wales' Six Nations Taulupe Faletau, Tomos Williams and Elliot Dee have played more Tests than the loose-head prop of the players in Wales' starting side to face many rugby observers believe Smith's cap tally should be far higher after an 11-year international 30-year-old looked genuinely surprised when a journalist informed him that Saturday will see him start back-to-back Wales games for the first time since the 2021 summer Tests."When I look back, when I started my Wales career I was in and out," said Smith."With every selection you always, as a sportsman, back yourself every time, even if you are playing well or aren't playing well."You always think you deserve to be there and I'm no different in that."Of course every time you aren't selected is tough but I got to the point where I said all I can do is crack on with the Ospreys or when I moved to Leicester."I try to pride myself on putting in my best performance each week." Overcoming testing times Smith made his Wales debut in 2014 and has experienced some frustrating has played Test rugby every season since the 2014-15 season, but 30 of his Wales appearances have come off the bench and he has made just six starts in the last five campaigns, with only two during Warren Gatland's 26-Test, second reign as head three separate occasions, Smith has gone 400 days or more between Tests, and the Scotland game will be only the fifth time he has started two Tests in has been battling with the likes of Gareth Thomas, Rob Evans, Wyn Jones, Corey Domachowski and Rhys Carre for the number one jersey during that time. Smith's former Ospreys team-mate Thomas is the surviving rival from that cohort in the current Wales squad, alongside Scarlets loose-head Kemlsey had spent his entire career with Ospreys before joining Leicester Tigers last season and a string of good performances in the Premiership saw him recalled by Gatland for the 2024 autumn internationals."It's been nice to be in the squad and get a bit more game-time than I'm used to," said Smith."I'm just thankful and it's a huge honour to have the opportunity to wear the shirt."Wales' scrum was one of several positives from a much-improved performance against Ireland under interim head coach coach Matt was part of a new-look front row, with Dee and WillGriff John, which won three early scrum penalties against the Irish."We will look to build on that," said Smith, looking ahead to the trip to Murrayfield."It was a good start - well I say start - against a tough Ireland team. "We are looking for the same again and getting dominance in that area." Family affair Smith will always remember a try-scoring display at Murrayfield five years ago for the celebration he forgot to do.A whirlwind 24 hours began with the birth of Smith's first child Albie, then he flew to Scotland, with his touchdown helping the Ospreys claim a 25-10 league victory over Edinburgh the following day."I scored, and I forgot to do the baby celebration," Smith said."My wife has reminded me of that every day! So I really messed that one up. It was a good day, apart from me missing my celebration."Murrayfield is up there among one of my favourite places to play. The atmosphere is awesome, you always get a good game against Scotland, so I am sure they are not going to disappoint this weekend."
