Latest news with #Monye
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Ugo Monye signs deal to pay off tax debts
The 52-year-old was previously the subject of a bankruptcy petition by HMRC, which it withdrew in September 2023 after saying he had reached an IVA. That IVA is now listed on the individual insolvency register as having 'failed'. Vickery had a request to be made bankrupt granted in February last year after reportedly racking up debts to HMRC and others totalling six figures. Monye retired from playing aged 31 in 2015 after spending his entire 13-year career with Harlequins. In that time he helped them to their first Premiership title in 2012, while he also won 14 caps for England and two for the Lions, finishing top try-scorer on the latter's 2009 tour of South Africa. Shortly before retirement, he joined what was then BT Sport as a rugby analyst. In 2021, he took part in the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing show, a week after it emerged he had split from his wife of five years. He told The Sun at the time: 'We weren't in a volatile relationship, we never hated each other and there was no third party. Forget the Strictly curse – it's the Covid curse!' A week after Strictly began, Monye was named one of the new captains on A Question of Sport following the BBC's controversial dumping of veteran trio Sue Barker, Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell. A furious Barker, now 69, later questioned whether her age had played a part in the decision. During the two-year tenure of McGuinness, Monye and Quek, ratings plunged from a high of four million in the final years of Barker's reign to less than a million. Monye, who earlier that year joined the Princess of Wales for a rugby skills session after becoming a 'champion' in her childhood campaign, Shaping Up, also hit the headlines that November amid allegations he had been racially abused while working for TNT Sports at an Exeter Chiefs match.
Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ugo Monye backs Lions for Australia glory amid 'extra motivation' for squad
The British & Irish Lions squad for the upcoming tour of Australia has been named and former England and Lions star Ugo Monye has tipped them to seal a momentous victory Ugo Monye says the British & Irish Lions have all the experience they need both on and off the pitch to win in Australia. Coach Andy Farrell announced his squad for the summer tour this week and Monye expects the cohort to do the business. Monye, the top try scorer on the classic 2009 tour to South Africa, believes Farrell and captain Maro Itoje have the right tools to succeed in what will be a brutal series. He said: 'They absolutely can win in Australia. To my knowledge, this could be the first time in the modern era that they go back-to-back in Australia – they won in 2013, and now 12 years on it's back Down Under and they have this huge opportunity to do it again. 'It's an opportunity of huge magnitude but also huge difficulty. That said, this will serve as extra motivation for Andy Farrell and the squad. 'As for who needs to deliver big performances? All of them. And I truly mean that, literally all of them. It's not a cliche - literally every member of that squad needs to stand up and be counted. And there's loads of games to play before the Test matches. If the midweek team delivers, it gives energy to the Test team. ' Everyone needs to be rowing in the same direction for a Lions Test to be successful. Andy Farrell's such an experienced coach and before he coached he was a natural born winner as a player, too. And he did it in two sports. Andy is a legend in rugby league and a legend in rugby union. 'He coached me at England, so I understand how highly motivated he is. He wants to win everything. And he brings a unique approach to the table. 'He knows how to bring a team together, how to help the players have fun and feel relaxed. The balance of all that is very important, and he selected the right personalities in this squad to bring out all of those elements. I'm hugely excited for him and what he can bring to the Lions.' As for what Itoje can bring to the table after his spell leading England, Monye is in no doubt. He added: 'The biggest thing Maro will bring to the captaincy is being himself, and that's exactly what I expect him to do. Be himself. 'He's so experienced. He's captained Saracens, captained England, five Premiership titles, three Champions Cups, three Six Nations crowns and a World Cup Final appearance. 'When you're that experienced, and you be yourself, you allow others to be themselves as well. That's a fantastic thing, as everyone will feel comfortable in that squad and that will bring out the best in every player as a result. 'When you speak to Maro, he's a well-rounded character and he has often said himself that leadership is all about serving. He'll lead by example and he'll do it by serving his team-mates. 'I think his leadership qualities during the tour will look like many different things in many different ways but I'm thrilled for him. He's a truly exceptional person.' Meanwhile, Itoje believes it was the right call not to take Owen Farrell in the squad this time. He said: 'As always, there were loads of players that were close to going. It should always be difficult to pick the final squad for the British and Irish Lions, that's the idea. 'It's four nations coming together as one, with tons of individual quality across all four. It speaks volumes to the depth of the quality and players the calibre of Owen Farrell cannot make the cut. 'It's tough for Farrell and others who will, no doubt, be devastated. But while announcement day itself has come and gone, there will of course be the possibility of developments that are unfortunate for players in the squad but fortunate for those on the fringe - injuries, and so on. 'Between now and the tour, there may be some situations arise that lead to openings for new additions to the squad. And that's just the reality of these things.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Farrell plays the O2 Arena but Lions squad reveal slips up by charging fans
When the scores are tied, there's 50 seconds left on the clock, and you need someone who's going to step up and take that drop goal, then Andy Farrell was your man. And when the series is all-square with one game left to play, and you need someone to give the big speech that's exactly what everyone needs to hear in the last hours before the match, you won't find many better. He may very well turn out to be exactly who you need to lead a group of 38 best players from across Britain and Ireland through a six-week tour of Australia, too. Whether any of this means Farrell's someone you want to pay to see play the O2 Arena is another matter. But here he was under the bright lights, regardless sandwiched between Usher and Olly Murs in the (un)coveted Wednesday 3pm slot at the Indigo Lounge, front and centre of the British & Irish Lions' first-ever live squad announcement show. 'So what makes the Lions so special, Andy?' asked the presenter, Lee McKenzie. 'Well,' Farrell replied under his breath, 'it's impossible to put into words'. After four years of waiting, the final 30 minutes started to feel painfully long. Related: Lions squad 2025: electric Pollock forces way in but no space for Owen Farrell Rugby isn't very good at razzmatazz. Three months back Formula One made a runaway success of using this same venue for its season launch, but then, with the best will in the world, they were offering the attendees a little more than the chance to listen to Irish scrum coach John Fogarty make small talk with Ugo Monye, or offer a round of applause to Gavin Hastings, who was sitting in a box somewhere up in the gods. At one point McKenzie asked Monye what he remembered about the day he found out he had been selected, back in 2009. 'The hardest thing about it was waiting, so shall we just get on with it?' Monye said, which got a loud round of applause. He always did have a good eye for an opening. Not that it's such a bad idea to turn the British and Irish Lions squad announcement into a live event. The squad selection is, after all, the most distinctive thing about the team, their USP, as the corporate sorts who run the sport say. It's the fact that the Lions had decided they needed to charge people to come along and watch it which felt all wrong. Tickets went on sale for £60, were then reduced to £35, and, in the very end, were being given away for free, first come first serve, and even then there were plenty of empty seats in the room. No one I spoke to who had paid for their place had been offered a refund. Whatever the Lions are supposed to be about, (and there was, as there always is, an awful lot of talk about their values) it isn't money. It surely would have been a better idea to give the tickets to players, coaches, and administrators who volunteer to help run rugby clubs around the four countries, or people who missed out on going to the 2021 tour to South Africa at the last minute because of the travel restrictions during the pandemic, or even to distribute them to the rugby-playing schools in the neighbourhood, instead of using it as an opportunity to gouge an extra few thousand pounds out of the fans. The few hundred who had made their way along looked a little lost inside the shopping mall that surrounds the venue. Most decided, in the tradition of these things, that in doubt the best thing to do was get along to the bar for a couple of jars, and there was a rush on in the All Bar One in the lobby. They were all wearing red Lions jerseys of one vintage or another, and swapping war stories about the tours they'd been on together. People love this team, and, given what they pay to follow them, they deserve better than being charged fifty quid to provide room meat for a live stream of a squad naming. They even had a man out in the crowd telling everyone when it was time to clap. When Maro Itoje walked in they didn't need any prompting, but got to their feet and started whooping and hollering. A couple of burly, bald blokes at the back started celebrating like they'd just won the call-up themselves. Because there is, still, a beautiful idea at the heart of all this. The Lions are unlike anything else in all sport, you just wish it wasn't getting harder and harder to find it, buried there somewhere underneath all the nonsense.
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Ugo Monye names under-the-radar Scotsman as player who should make British and Irish Lions squad
The British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia will be named on Thursday, and Andy Farrell may have a few surprises up his sleeve that could mean good news for Scotland fans Ugo Monye has backed one surprise Scot and an underrated Englishman to make this summer's British and Irish Lions tour. Andy Farrell is set to announce his touring squad for the trip to Australia on Thursday, with fans eagerly debating who should be included in the quadrennial trip. Around this time in any Lions year, rugby enthusiasts far and wide are on the lookout for insider information on any surprise selections that might make the cut. There are typically at least one or two choices from left field that few anticipated, and this year is bound to be no different. Ireland head coach Farrell, 49, will have had a good idea of most of his squad for some time now. However, former England winger Monye, who was top try-scorer on the Lions tour of South Africa in 2009, pointed out two dark horse selections whom he believes could make a last-minute dash onto the plane. 'I'll give you two: Tom Jordan from Scotland," he told the Daily Express."He's brilliant. Really versatile. [He can play] 10, 12, 13, he can play 15. I wouldn't be surprised if he was there." Former Harlequins winger Monye is correct in suggesting Jordan's adaptability could make him an invaluable asset in Australia. The remote location makes it particularly challenging to fly in injury replacements in a prompt manner, and someone of Jordan's calibre has the potential to fill in several different positions. The Glasgow Warriors back has made a name for himself over the past couple of years and helped his club secure a United Rugby Championship title in 2024. The 26-year-old also made his Scotland debut last year, but Monye named a much more seasoned player as his other underdog selection. "I'm not sure I can categorise this person as a bolter, but he's late into the conversation: George Ford," he added. "I think his late form over the last couple of months has been extraordinary. He's the closest thing to a player-coach as you'll find out there right now. Absolutely. We've got two young 10s that could tour. Sam Prendergast and Fin Smith could do with some experience. "I think that's probably why Johnny Sexton's been brought in to the coaching staff. Finn Russell, we expect to go. But George Ford, I think he's a very, very strong candidate." The debate within the England camp has largely focused on who among Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, and Paris-based Owen Farrell - the son of head coach Andy - will be selected for the Lions tour. This speculation has somewhat overshadowed Sale's standout, Ford, and some might argue he's currently second only to Northampton's Smith in terms of form within that group. Oldham-born Ford, 32, has shone brightly for the Sharks following their shaky start this term, propelling them to third in the Premiership and close to securing a play-off spot. And it's exactly that kind of composure across a three-Test series down under that could prove worth his weight in gold. Farrell - having previously toured with Scotland's Russell - might prefer a familiar face in Australia, while Ford could provide a more stable presence, albeit lacking the same flair. That said, there's a compelling case to be made he has earned his spot on the team, in what is likely to be his final chance to become a Lion. Bath talisman Russell looks nailed on to be one of the fly-half options in the southern hemisphere after clinching a first-place finish in the Premiership. But he may not be the only Scot vying for a place in that backline, with Huw Jones, Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham each in the running. Ugo Monye was speaking on behalf of Genting Casino. For a chance to roar the Lions on in Melbourne and Sydney then head over to Genting Casino LIONS TOUR 18+BeGambleAware
Wales Online
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Ugo Monye: I'd take four Welshmen on Lions tour and Japan series can inject excitement
Ugo Monye: I'd take four Welshmen on Lions tour and Japan series can inject excitement Former England wing Ugo Monye is a well-respected pundit Rugby commentator Ugo Monye (Image: PA Wire ) Former England wing Ugo Monye has singled out four Welsh players he believes are worthy of a place on this summer's British & Irish Lions tour of Australia. Andy Farrell will name his Lions squad on Thursday but Wales are very likely to have their lowest representation since 1993 due to their lowly form. Wales might have slumped to a record 17-straight defeats but Monye is adamant there are quality Welsh players who deserve a place on the tour. "I think there's some outstanding players in that Wales squad despite national performances," Monye told WalesOnline. "It's hard to look past the captain Jac Morgan. "I think he's brilliant but the backrow is the most competitive area of selection for Andy Farrell. Everyone he picks you'll all nod your head and agree with and anyone who is not selected you'll be thinking, 'well, you are Lions quality'. "I'm interested not just to see the selection but also the squad size. I think Dewi Lake's late return in the Six Nations, his size, his quality and his leadership quality is impressive. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "I think they are two standout players who are front and centre of that Welsh contingent. Then you can argue for Dafydd Jenkins as well and I think Tomos Williams has to go. Article continues below "So, I've named four. I don't think many people can argue with that but they absolutely will." Monye - who toured with the Lions to South Africa in 2009 - has also been hugely impressed with Scarlets and Wales full-back Blair Murray who he sees as a bolter for the tour. "If we are just going by form in the Six Nations I think he was one of the best attacking full-backs and it's not like loads were created for him and Wales scored lots of tries," said Monye. "His counter-attacking threat - how did he not score a hat-trick against England on the final day? "It took a tap tackle from Luke Cowan-Dickie and the bounce of the ball. He was unfortunate but what he possesses and what he can show gets people on the edge of their seats. "He's extremely exciting. Anyone who is in the conversation it is quite clearly because they are a good player and by not being selected it's not because you are not a good player. "It could come down to style and experience. "If he was selected on Thursday I wouldn't be going 'where on earth did that come from?' He's a top player and a top operator." Welsh rugby has hit rock bottom with a record losing run prompting Warren Gatland to stand aside with the WRU now looking for a new head coach. But Monye believes there are some green shoots for Wales. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free "I know there's been numerous reviews over the last couple of seasons whether that be the autumn or the Six Nations," he said. "It's often darkest before the dawn. Hopefully it is a period you look back on and say 'OK, that's our ground zero'. "We are at a point now where it feels like Abi Tierney and that executive team are truly looking at everything. "It was reported a couple of weeks ago about the cost of flowers being spent at the Principality Stadium. "Whilst that number was extraordinary (£50k) they are looking at the detail. Everything is coming under scrutiny. "The fact they are even looking at how much they are spending on flowers that should give hope that they are taking this extraordinarily seriously and looking at every single detail. "It is heartening to know that they've found a director of rugby in Dave Reddin and they'll appoint a new coach soon. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. "You've got an exciting tour of Japan this summer and hopefully that brings a level of positivity and they can build some wins to get some confidence. Article continues below "Every nation and maybe we have short termism in sport but every nation has gone through this. Maybe not to the same extreme but every nation has had that dip."
