Latest news with #Jones.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'All that matters is showing I deserve to be here'
Mason Jones says "showing I deserve to be here" is the only thing that matters before his return to action in the Briton, 30, is set to face American lightweight Jeremy Stephens in Iowa on Saturday - three years after parting ways with the Jones said he left the UFC for "financial and performance reasons", and has since built a four-fight win streak in UK-based promotion Cage Warriors."All that matters is me showing I deserve to be here and how good I can perform and put my footstep back on that ladder," said Jones. Jones made his UFC debut in 2021, having won the first 10 fights of his career, but won only one of four fights in the left following defeat by Slovakia's Ludovit Klein in 2022."My last trip here - my last four fights in the UFC - none of them went well. None of them I performed," said Jones."I had issues and problems and all the excuses you can imagine."Now everything's going well. There's no injuries, my camp's gone well, I feel fantastic."Stephens is also making his return to the UFC after almost four years away from the who will be performing in front of his home crowd in Iowa, fought 34 times in the organisation, winning 15 bouts, but left following a five-fight losing fought in the PFL in 2022, losing to Natan Schulte, before joining Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), where he won all three of his said Stephens is seeing him as a "molehill", while he views the 38-year-old as a "mountain"."Jeremy is a mountain but he's not insurmountable. I'm going to go out there and piece him up," said Jones."He's a task; he's arduous. I'm not underestimating him at all. He's the most dangerous opponent I've ever fought, he's a big hitter and make one mistake and you're sleeping."
BBC News
20-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cardiff top Judgement Day cast as future explored
Four teams, two derbies, one venue and a trophy presentation for a Welsh Day is over for another year as Welsh rugby's showpiece took over Easter Saturday at the Principality were the headline act as they overcame off-the-field financial issues to beat Ospreys and enhance their United Rugby Championship (URC) play-off also allowed captain Liam Belcher to lift the Welsh Shield as Cardiff became the leading side this season among Wales' four professional were the main support act, with a later victory against Dragons to maintain their own hopes of a top eight finish. Will there be another Judgement Day? This was Judgement Day's 10th edition of the derby double-header concept involving all four regions on the same day at the same 28,328 crowd was the lowest attendance of the nine Principality Stadium occasions, although it was 8,000 more than turned when the event was switched to Cardiff City Stadium in comparison, more than 40,000 tickets have already been sold for when Bath and Bristol arrive in Cardiff next month for an historic English league game at the home of Welsh 68,000 fans turned up to Judgement Day at the Principality Stadium in held on Easter Saturday, the timing of the late scheduling in the season and general apathy towards Welsh rugby have been floated as reasons to explain the loss of 40,000 supporters in nine the question turns to whether this format should continue in the Welsh calendar with indifference existing towards the event inside Wales and no interest from head coach Mark Jones hopes it remains, if crowds of old can be coaxed back."The concept is the right one where you have a day where everyone comes together and celebrates Welsh rugby with the talent we have and way we can perform," said Jones."We need to work out how we get 60,000 in there like we used to, that's the challenge."The selfish side of me says open it up, make tickets £1, fill the place out and get them in love with rugby."But I know electric is not free and you have to pay people to staff it and make money, so I get it."Jones says struggling Welsh rugby needs showpiece occasions."At some point we have to get people back in love with Welsh rugby, get them in the stadiums and cheering on the teams," said Jones."We have got to create heroes out of players. We should definitely try and keep it going and here at the Principality Stadium."Everybody is aligned around the fact it needs to be a big spectacle from a visual point of view also."Scarlets captain Josh Macleod echoed Jones' sentiments."It is always a special occasion," said Macleod."This was the first time in a while we have had three sides battling it out for a top eight place and play-offs. "It is vital for Welsh rugby to have a spectacle like this with four sides going against each other in back-to-back games."We need to get fans through the door. This is one way we can do it." Cardiff did not 'down tools' Cardiff took a significant step towards securing an end-of-season play-off spot after defeating wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb claimed a hat-trick against a jaded Ospreys side who were left counting the cost of a European Challenge Cup defeat to Lyon the previous Sherratt's side overcame adversity in the first game since Cardiff were temporarily placed into administration before being swiftly taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).So what would making the play-offs mean?"It would be massive," said head coach Sherratt."When I took the job, I was thinking within three years I would love to get us into a play-off or a knock-out game."We are in the fight. There's been a backdrop of a lot of negativity and twists and turns over the last two years."Sherratt praised how his players had dealt with the most recent turmoil."It would have been so easy for them in the last two weeks to down tools," said Sherratt."What I said to the players before the game is they are the club and outwardly people will judge Cardiff by watching them on the field."If they can show the heart and ambition they have shown over the last two years that's what 90% of people will judge Cardiff on, not the stuff off the pitch."It's important for the players to realise they are the perception of the club and credit to them they have done themselves proud."Cardiff face a massive game against play-off rivals Munster at the Arms Park next Friday before two matches in South Africa to finish the regular season."Our fans have got history in terms of when the club needs them, they usually come out so let's hope we can get the Arms Park rocking on Friday night," said Sherratt."It is always a special place to play and we will definitely use that in the week to build the players up."It will be a big occasion for many reasons. Not only the league table, but there's going to be personal reasons because it will be some people's final home game together." Scarlets still in the hunt Scarlets were far from convincing but what they required was the bonus-point win - and eventually it was job done against Dragons. Dwayne Peel's side overcame a major scare to secure a 31-23 victory to keep alive their play-off Thomas, Alec Hepburn, Vaea Fifita and Blair Murray scored Scarlets' tries with Ioan Lloyd converting all four and kicking a penalty."I would have taken the five points before the game," said Peel."It was tough and I am pleased with the character we showed. It was all on the line for us and we now move into the next couple of weeks. We are in the hunt."Scarlets have risen to ninth, two points off the top eight and they welcome runaway league leaders Leinster to Llanelli next Saturday evening."It's a massive challenge and we want to test ourselves against the best," said Peel."It will be an awesome occasion and why we play the game." Same old sorry story for Dragons It was the same old story for Dragons as they suffered a 14th successive league defeat and remain rooted to the bottom of the URC table, 18 points adrift of tries for Jared Rosser and another score from fellow wing Ashton Hewitt helped Dragons lead 20-7 and 23-21, before Scarlets ensured the Gwent side left the Principality Stadium yellow cards and a couple of crucial errors cost Dragons their second win of the season."We gave ourselves an opportunity to win the game but we've got to be more clinical around some of the basics," said head coach Filo Tiatia."We've got to be at our best every time and it's fine margins."It's about when we have momentum, how do we keep the foot on the throttle and don't let it off."We've got to be better with another opportunity to prepare next week."That will be a trip to Swansea to face Ospreys, who Dragons defeated on the opening weekend of the season in distant memory of eight months ago remains their only league success during this campaign. Penalties galore It was not only players gaining referee Ben Connor was a busy man in only his second league game when he took charge of Cardiff and 21, issued five yellow cards with Cardiff trio Teddy Williams, Alex Mann and Harri Millard and Ospreys duo Morgan Morse and Keiran Williams sent to the sin-bin. There was also the little matter of 31 combined penalties also conceded by both lock James Ratti put excessive transgressions down to the local derby element."Games go like that sometimes, especially in a derby," said Ratti."Both sides were competing for everything around the breakdown and set-piece."Nobody goes out to concede penalties but it is part and parcel of rugby."
BBC News
13-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ospreys count cost of European elimination
Ospreys have been left to count the cost of the end of their European adventure after an agonising Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat 20-18 defeat against forward trio Justin Tipuric, Adam Beard and Rhys Davies all picked up injuries and are set to miss the Judgement Day game with Cardiff at the Principality Stadium next Saturday."They're being assessed and it is a bit of a mixture," said Ospreys head coach Mark Jones."They're obviously not great or they wouldn't have come off if they were. "They'll probably miss next week based on what we've seen earlier. "But we've not seen any further than that, so I can't say any further than that without speaking to the physios or the doctor." Tipuric concern Tipuric was forced off early on with a pectoral muscle problem that will make him a doubt for the home game against Dragons on 26 occasion is being billed as the flanker's last match in Swansea before he retires from playing at the end of the season to become the Ospreys' defence coach."He felt something in his pec area that he was uncomfortable with," said Jones."When you're a guy in a line-out like he is aerially or uses your hands in the contact area like he does, you've got to be able to use two hands on the rugby field. "He's a tough cookie so for him to come off, there must have been a serious amount of discomfort for him."Ospreys are aiming to finish in the top eight of the United Rugby Championship (URC) again and need to beat Matt Sherratt's men to keep that dream two Welsh derbies, Ospreys finish the regular season with two games in South Africa."Judgement Day becomes a big focus for us and we hopefully have an opportunity to have a good crack at that," said Jones."If we can get some momentum through the next couple of week hopefully we can push for potentially getting in the top eight when we get to South Africa." European woe Jones was left to reflect on a disappointing European exit after his side went toe-to-toe with their French Top 14 opponents, captain Jac Morgan again front of a crowd of only 3,723, Ospreys ultimately missed out on a possible chance of extra-time when Dan Edwards' conversion attempt of George McGuigan's 71st-minute try hit a ended Welsh involvement in Europe for another season with Cardiff hosting the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals in May."It's disappointing because the effort was there, as you would expect, but we definitely dropped below a level of accuracy that we've shown over the last few months," said Jones."Some of that was down to Lyon and the pressure they put on us around the contact area, but also a lot of skill-set stuff there we are a bit disappointed with."The little errors add up at the end and that's disappointing because a lot of it was in our control."Ospreys dominated possession and territory in Swansea and forced Lyon to make more than double the tackles of their Welsh side ultimately though lacked game management at crucial times."We wanted the ball, dictate the speed of the game and move their big guys around," said Jones."We did move them around, but we just didn't move them around well enough and accurately enough."It is a good lesson for us that the closer you get to the finish line the more accurate you have got to be."All we can do is learn from it and hopefully we get into future knockout games. "We want to build on this one and take the next step forward."
BBC News
23-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
New signing Nayacalevu still missing for Ospreys
Ospreys head coach Mark Jones says Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu is dealing with a personal matter after not yet playing for his new 34, signed for Ospreys in February from Sale on a deal until the end of the season as cover for injured Wales centre Owen have played two United Rugby Championship (URC) matches against Glasgow and Connacht since Nayacalevu's arrival but the centre has not featured in either the 43-40 win against Connacht on Saturday which lifted Ospreys into seventh in the URC table, Jones said: "He [Nayacalevu] has got a personal matter at the moment where we are allowing him to spend time with his family. "We feel that is important and we are giving him the time to get that right. "Once that is bottomed out we will see where he is at and where we can go next with him." Will the star signing play for Ospreys? Nayacalevu joined Sale from Toulon for the start of the 2024-25 season as a replacement for Manu Tuilagi and played seven games for the English side during this had agreed a one-year deal with the Sharks with the option of a further 12 months but left Sale for spent a decade at Stade Francais where he scored 82 tries in 200 switched to Toulon two years ago and is in line for a return to French club rugby next scored a try in Fiji's famous win at Twickenham before the 2023 World Cup, a tournament in which he captained his country. Injury concerns Ospreys could do with some midfield cover after centre Keiran Williams was injured against Connacht, although Phil Cokanasiga has recovered from long-term injury and came on as a replacement in victory against Connacht came at a casualty cost with centre Williams, flanker Justin Tipuric, lock James Fender, scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams and props Tom Botha and Garyn Phillips forced off because of injury. Flanker Harri Deaves missed the game after picking up an injury in squad members Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Gareth Thomas missed the Connacht win after their Six Nations commitments, but British and Irish Lions lock Adam Beard played 80 minutes in his first game back in four months after recovering from injury."We have picked up some injuries but the boys are tough," said Jones."We have very good replacements and a good squad of guys who will come in where others have left off."Ospreys face Scarlets twice in eight days as they travel to Llanelli for the URC match next Saturday, before hosting a European Challenge Cup last-16 match in Swansea on Sunday, 6 April."We always look forward to the derbies, they are great," said Jones."The good thing about these occasions is there are a lot on it with first the league and the week after European competition honours up for grabs."
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Babies cheering up care home residents in Bristol charity project
A charity which takes babies into care homes has said the initiative has brought "so much joy" to a Bristol-based organisation which works to improve the lives of older people, runs the Lullaby Circle, linking children up to six months old with people in care homes."We ran a pilot project in Weston-super-Mare, and there was a resident there who was a midwife, who said she never thought she'd be able to hold a baby again. "When we put a baby in her arms, she was crying, saying it was like Christmas Day for her," said Alive CEO Isobel Jones. Alive has run inter-generational events for 15 years, and was recently given National Lottery funding to expand this to events also allow new mothers to chat to each other while the residents look after their children."Being a new mum can be a challenge, and new mums need support," said Ms Jones."The older people have so much love and support, and they've worked with young people all their lives and it gives them a purpose."We see so many smiles with older people who might not talk normally but they sing and chat and they're just able to smile," she added. Katie, one of the mothers who attended the session at Deerhurst Care Home in Bristol, said: "You can see how much it means to the residents interacting with the babies."Some of the ladies here love babies more than anyone I've met. "We can have a chat with the other mums which is a nice way to spend our maternity leave and it's lovely."
