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Scotsman
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
'It's a weird one': Scotland's latest cap ready to head home
Burke has been on song - on and off the pitch Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... There weren't too many positives to take from Scotland's tour loss to Fiji in Suva but the performance of Fergus Burke at stand-off was certainly one of them. The Saracens 10 found himself making a few more tackles than he had anticipated on his Test debut but he acquitted himself well in what was a relentlessly physical encounter. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He was in good voice too, by all accounts, with a rendition of the Fijian gospel tune 'E Da Sa Qaqa' at the post-match dinner to mark his first cap. Fergus Burke made his full Scotland debut against Fiji. | SNS Group / SRU 'I went for a Fijian song so the Fijian community could all join in and help me out,' he said. 'So I think I did about the first line of the song and then let them take over.' Scotland hope to be back on song on Friday when they take on Samoa in the final match of their tour at Eden Park. It is a venue at which the Scots have never won but one that is familiar to New Zealand-born Burke who will have family and friends supporting him in the stands. Burke, who hails from Gisborne on North Island, around 300 miles south-east of Auckland, qualifies for Scotland through his Edinburgh-born grandfather and now finds himself returning home to make his international breakthrough. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Burke: 'Almost like it was meant to be' 'It's a weird one, it's almost like it was meant to be,' he said. 'I was in the Six Nations squad and didn't get a crack so it was almost like this is where I was meant to get my first opportunity so my family could actually be here and things like that. So it is pretty cool and I'm definitely not taking it for granted and soaking it all up.' Defensively sound, with good hands and an eye for putting players into space, Burke impressed against the Fijians on an afternoon when Scotland were second best. He played in Tom Jordan for the Scots' second try but they were on the backfoot for the most of the game. 'I spent a bit more time on defence than I would have liked, and probably ended up making a few more tackles than I would have liked,' said Burke. 'I probably would have liked to spend a bit more time on attack but I guess that's something we can look forward to this week. Fergus Burke was part of Scotland's Six Nations squad. | SNS Group / SRU 'I think we can expect a similar challenge to Fiji and I think for parts of that Fiji game we showed how good we are as a team when we get it right. But when we get our discipline wrong we end up making a lot more tackles than we need to and we're tiring ourselves out against big sides like Fiji and Samoa. So we need to get the discipline side of our game right and that way we can be a bit better.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Burke has played Super Rugby at Eden Park with Crusaders, scoring a try there against the Blues in 2023, and is looking forward to returning to one the sport's most storied venues.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Ugly Betty star unrecognisable with grey hair and beard 15 years after show was axed
A MAJOR Ugly Betty star looks unrecognisable with grey hair and a beard 15 years after the show was axed. Fans were left devastated when 5 Grant Bowler looks unrecognisable from his Ugly Betty days Credit: Instagram 5 The actor starred as Connor Owens in the hit series Credit: Getty 5 Connor was the love interest of Wilhemina Slater, played by Vanessa Williams Credit: Getty Connor had the staff at Mode magazine swooning from the moment he stepped off the elevator, with his good looks and sharp style. And, 15 years on from the show, Grant, 56, looks as dashing as ever, showing off a beard and greying hair in Instagram photos. After his time on Ugly Betty, New Zealand-born Grant went on to pursue a career as a TV presenter, hosting The Amazing Race Australia from 2011 until 2014. read more on Ugly Betty He also continued to act, starring in the likes of Australian drama Harrow and the American reboot of British sitcom Getting On. Ugly Betty icon Vanessa, 62, previously praised her former on-screen flame Grant, telling The West Australia: 'It's a small, little community and Aussie men are fantastic men.' Earlier this year Vanessa - who is starring as Miranda Priestly in the Devil Wears Prada musical - sent fans wild when Ugly Betty also starred the likes of Most read in TV Becky, 46, and Michael Urie - who starred as Wilhemina's assistant Mark St James - recently teamed up And Ana Ortiz, who played Betty's sister Hilda, has insisted Actor who starred in huge noughties series looks unrecognisable as he reunites with co-stars for new podcast - can you guess who he is? During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Ana, 54, said: "There's been so much talk about it, thank you for asking. "We're very, very close and we're all really wanting to do a reunion." 5 Vanessa recently sent fans wild when she reunited with Betty actress America Ferrera Credit: Instagram 5 And Ana Ortiz - who played Betty's sister Hilda - confirmed the entire cast in on board for a reboot Credit: Bravo
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Ugly Betty star unrecognisable with grey hair and beard 15 years after show was axed
Another huge Ugly Betty star recently confessed the entire cast is on board for a reboot con man Ugly Betty star unrecognisable with grey hair and beard 15 years after show was axed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR Ugly Betty star looks unrecognisable with grey hair and a beard 15 years after the show was axed. Fans were left devastated when Ugly Betty was cancelled in 2010 and have been calling for a reboot in recent years. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Grant Bowler looks unrecognisable from his Ugly Betty days Credit: Instagram 5 The actor starred as Connor Owens in the hit series Credit: Getty 5 Connor was the love interest of Wilhemina Slater, played by Vanessa Williams Credit: Getty Grant Bowler played a pivotal role in the final two seasons as Connor Owens, the love interest of Wilhelmina Slater - who was portrayed by Vanessa Williams. Connor had the staff at Mode magazine swooning from the moment he stepped off the elevator, with his good looks and sharp style. And, 15 years on from the show, Grant, 56, looks as dashing as ever, showing off a beard and greying hair in Instagram photos. After his time on Ugly Betty, New Zealand-born Grant went on to pursue a career as a TV presenter, hosting The Amazing Race Australia from 2011 until 2014. He also continued to act, starring in the likes of Australian drama Harrow and the American reboot of British sitcom Getting On. Ugly Betty icon Vanessa, 62, previously praised her former on-screen flame Grant, telling The West Australia: 'It's a small, little community and Aussie men are fantastic men.' Earlier this year Vanessa - who is starring as Miranda Priestly in the Devil Wears Prada musical - sent fans wild when she and America Ferrera, who played Betty, reunited in London. Ugly Betty also starred the likes of Ashley Jensen as seamstress Christina McKinney, Eric Mabius as editor-in-chief Daniel Meade and Becky Netwon as receptionist Amanda Tanen Sommers. Becky, 46, and Michael Urie - who starred as Wilhemina's assistant Mark St James - recently teamed up to launch rewatch podcast Still Ugly, breathing new life into the beloved series. And Ana Ortiz, who played Betty's sister Hilda, has insisted the entire cast is on board for a reboot. Actor who starred in huge noughties series looks unrecognisable as he reunites with co-stars for new podcast - can you guess who he is? During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Ana, 54, said: "There's been so much talk about it, thank you for asking. "We're very, very close and we're all really wanting to do a reunion." 5 Vanessa recently sent fans wild when she reunited with Betty actress America Ferrera Credit: Instagram
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Straits Times
Scientists launch effort to resurrect extinct giant flightless bird
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The South Island giant moa was the tallest bird which ever lived, growing up to 3.6m tall. SINGAPORE - At up to 3.6m tall, the South Island giant moa was the tallest bird that ever lived. It roamed New Zealand's South Island before becoming extinct around 600 years ago. Now, a team of scientists is trying to bring it back. This effort is led by Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based biotech company, which on July 9 added the bird to the list of extinct animals it hopes to resurrect , by altering the genes of the giant moa's closest living relatives. Other animals on their list include the dodo, woolly mammoth and thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger. To resurrect the giant moa, Colossal is working with New Zealand's Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, which is housed within the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. The project is also backed by several high-profile investors, including Mr Peter Jackson, the New Zealand-born director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Mr Jackson has one of the largest private collections of moa bones, reported the Associated Press. Moas played an essential role in natural ecosystems, and for early ancestors of the indigenous Ngāi Tahu tribe in New Zealand. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore HSA looking to get anti-vape cyber surveillance tool with AI capabilities Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student who used AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore Jail for contraband cigarette syndicate member over conspiracy to give bribes to security officer Singapore Residents in South West District get help to improve employability, find career opportunities Life Kinokuniya opens third bookstore at Raffles City, weeks ahead of schedule Business DBS shares rally to a new record as STI clocks yet another high Professor Mike Stevens, the research centre's director, said in Colossal's press statement: 'During the 14th and 15th centuries, moa provided meat for sustenance, and bones and feathers for tools and decoration. 'And the loss of moa, through over-harvesting and habitat modification, was a salutary lesson as to the New Zealand archipelago's 'fragile plenty'.' New Zealand is a biodiversity hotspot due to its isolation from the rest of the world and natural history, with a high proportion of endemic species - or species found only in a single defined geographic location - Colossal added in a media statement. 'Colossal Biosciences has committed a large investment to New Zealand to build biotechnology within and protect its unique biological heritage, including flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth,' it said. But many scientists are sceptical of the ethics behind such costly 'de-extinction' efforts, which sap funds that could otherwise be used to conserve currently endangered species. Setting out to revive extinct species may be 'intellectually interesting, but really should be a low priority,' Dr Scott MacDougall-Shackleton told the CNN. 'If we are concerned about island bird conservation there are hundreds of threatened and critically endangered species in New Zealand, Hawaii and other Pacific islands that need conservation resources more urgently,' added the co-founder and director of the Advanced Facility for Avian Research at Western University in Canada. Whether or not 'de-extinction' is even possible is also a contentious issue among members of the scientific community. In April 2025, Colossal made the news for announcing the birth of three pups of the dire wolf - an extinct canine predator - which they had birthed by partially altering the genome of its closest modern-day relative, the grey wolf. 'Is de-extinction possible? No, it is not possible. What you could potentially do - we'll see - is create a genetically modified organism that may contain some appearance traits that are linked to a previously extinct species based on what we think they were like,' Dr Tori Herridge, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Sheffield, told The Guardian.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson comes full circle
A desperation to wear Wallabies gold kept driving Harry Wilson when his Test ambitions looked dashed. The No.8 was a 20-year-old Wallabies regular after his explosive 2020 rookie season. But he fell just as quickly down the pecking order and, after two years in the Test wilderness, was not in the frame when the 2023 World Cup squad was named. Instead he returned to clubland and won a Brisbane premiership with older brother Will for Brothers, claiming player-of-the-final honours for good measure. Exactly a year later, after knocking back overseas interest to remain in Australian rugby, he was captaining the Wallabies to victory in Argentina as the side's eighth leader in their last 15 Tests. On Saturday at Suncorp Stadium the unlikely skipper will join James Horwill, John Eales and Nick Farr-Jones as a Wallabies captain for a British & Irish Lions tour. "I've just always wanted to be a Wallaby," the 25-year-old said of what drove him when he was being overlooked. "To me, it's the biggest honour you can get. "You have your ups and downs - no-one has a career where you don't have downs - and I've definitely had a fair few. "But I've just always wanted to put myself in these situations. It definitely has made the lows all worth it, to get back." A desperate Wilson contorted his way over the line for the match-winning try against Fiji in the Wallabies last start and will be called on for a mountain of work at Suncorp Stadium with backrow partner Rob Valetini out injured. New Zealand-born Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said that passion was central to his captaincy call. "He just loves representing Australia, loves any Australian team," the coach said. "He doesn't say a lot, Harry. But what he does do well is demonstrate. "I'm not saying he can't speak, he's just out of breath a lot of the time."
