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BBC News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
The first Sikh woman to play rugby for England
The first Sikh woman to represent England at rugby says she wants to break down the cultural barriers that may prevent others accessing the Nagra, from Hove, East Sussex, started playing at Bath University in the 1990s where she was then selected to play for England Students."When I went home, unfortunately, the expectation for me was to stop playing rugby, to start looking for a job, to think about getting married and have children," she dream of a senior England call-up ended and she pursued a career in law, but she continued to be involved in the game and, 10 years ago, set up Hove Girls Rugby. She said: "I suppose my life was like a rugby version of Bend It Like Beckham I often say."Quite often when I played, I was the only person of Asian heritage on the pitch, and that was in my 30 years of play."People need reminding that we are a community that is engaged in sport, we're good at sport. We just need the chance and the opportunities, and people to reach out to us."When Manjinder founded Hove Girls Rugby, the team had just six players, but now have about 80 girls playing across four different age says the Women's Rugby World Cup coming to England later this year will have a "phenomenal" impact on attracting players from all backgrounds into the sport. Brighton & Hove is one of eight cities hosting said: "I didn't have role models when I was growing up, but if these girls can see the change, see their role models, it will encourage them to think about a sport that they may not have otherwise a thought of."Mark Ward is the head coach of the U12 girls at Hove Girls Rugby and says they are looking forward to watching international rugby at the home of Brighton & Hove Albion."There's already a buzz in the club about it," he said."We've already planned the events around it. Loads of the girls have already got tickets for the games at the Amex and the final at Twickenham as well."England are hosting the Women's Rugby World Cup starting in Red Roses will face Australia in Brighton on 6 September with the match being shown live on BBC Sport.
Euronews
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Controversy at the UK's Royal Society of Literature – Is this a turning point for the institution?
The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) held its highly anticipated Annual General Meeting (AGM) earlier this month, following a year of intense scrutiny and controversy. For an organisation steeped in over two centuries of literary tradition, the meeting marked a critical moment of reflection and transition, as it navigates both internal changes and public criticism. A key announcement that set the tone for the AGM on 15 January was the news that Molly Rosenberg, the RSL's director since 2017, would step down at the end of March to "pursue new career opportunities". Rosenberg's departure came after months of heightened tension within the organisation, which has faced questions about its governance and leadership. Alongside this, Daljit Nagra, who has served as chair for the past four years, confirmed that he would also stand down at the meeting, as his term comes to a close. The AGM saw Nagra introduce the results and recommendations of the RSL's first-ever governance review, which was commissioned in 2024 and conducted by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). The review, which had been in the planning stages since 2022, was part of the RSL's wider effort to modernise its governance and address concerns raised over the past year. The RSL told the Guardian that it would likely share some elements of the report publicly following the AGM, although the organisation has not published anything since the meeting. Nagra said that he is proud to have overseen the review and that it will 'increase transparency for the future'. As part of the ongoing efforts to rebuild its reputation, the RSL confirmed in February 2024 that it had referred itself to the Charity Commission, following increasing criticism over its stance on censorship, its response to the stabbing of Salman Rushdie, and its recent changes to the fellowship election process. The Society's decision to self-refer was described as a responsible move to safeguard its future, given the damaging press coverage surrounding these issues. A statement on the RSL's website entitled "Statement of facts 2025" clarified that the decision was 'one of good governance,' with trustees and the Charity Commission having examined the claims and found no evidence of wrongdoing. One of the central topics to inevitably be discussed at the AGM was the controversy over the RSL's annual magazine Review. In 2024, the magazine's publication had been postponed, sparking claims of censorship, particularly around an article critical of Israel. Maggie Fergusson, the former editor of Review, had publicly speculated that the delay was directly linked to this article. However, the RSL vehemently denied the accusations, stating that there were 'a number of issues' with the issue's contents. The magazine was eventually published in full in March 2024, including the article in question. In 'Statement of facts 2025', the RSL reiterated that 'the magazine was not cancelled, nor was any article contained within it censored,' noting the improvements made to the publication in terms of design and content. The RSL has also faced significant criticism for its response – or perceived lack thereof – to the stabbing of Salman Rushdie in August 2022. Some writers and Fellows, including Ian McEwan, voiced outrage over the organisation's failure to issue a strong public statement in support of Rushdie. McEwan, who had been a vocal defender of the author in the past, remarked that the RSL's leadership showed the institution to 'inhabit a remote moral universe that most of us do not share.' In response, RSL President Bernardine Evaristo defended the organisation's actions, pointing out that the RSL had posted two tweets offering support to Rushdie following the attack. Another area of contention was the rapid expansion of the RSL fellowship, which some critics argued had diluted its prestige. The Society's recent efforts to diversify the fellowship by recognising younger writers and those from underrepresented backgrounds – were met with mixed reactions. Former president Marina Warner voiced her concerns in The Observer, saying that the fellowship, 'used to mark an acclaimed career'. However, Evaristo, in a February 2024 letter to The Guardian, wrote: 'Even today, only 4% of the fellowship is under 40, while more than 55% of it is over 65 – and more than 34% is over 75. Sidelined? Clearly not.' In the "Statement of facts" released shortly before the meeting, RSL attempted to clarify a new election process, launched in December, which invites members of the public to recommend writers for fellowship. 'Only Fellows can nominate writers for Fellowship,' the statement reads, underlining that the recommendations are assessed by a panel of fellows, who make the nominations, with final nominations voted on by the RSL's Council and senior members. As the Royal Society of Literature withstands the turbulence, questions about its future remain front and centre. Will the changes implemented be enough to restore trust and align the institution with its rich literary legacy, or is a deeper overhaul still needed to navigate the challenges ahead?
