Latest news with #OllieLawrence
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Rugby world's support for boy with cancer
A nine-year-old boy who was diagnosed with cancer has received an outpouring of love and support from the rugby world. Sam, from Biddulph, Staffordshire, was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukaemia in January and has been undergoing chemotherapy. Advertisement Due to his illness and the treatment, the youngster had to stop playing for his beloved Congleton Rugby Club, temporarily giving up a sport he always wanted to be a part of. After news of his diagnosis spread, and with a little help from family friends, international players started to learn of Sam's story and began sending him video messages. They include Ollie Lawrence, Finn Russell, Marcus Smith, Danny Care and Sam Burgess, after whom Sam was named, his father Chris said. "It was amazing just to watch his face light up and see that," he told BBC Radio Stoke. Ollie Lawrence, left, was one of the players who sent a video message to Sam [Reuters] Chris said players' response had helped the family, adding the first weeks since Sam's diagnosis were "chaos". Advertisement "It's just been a continuous whirlpool of different things that have been happening and things we've got to go through," he added. "It's been a bit of a rollercoaster to say the least." Sam has just gone through his first round of chemotherapy, his dad said, and he has lost a lot of weight in the process. But despite "going through hell", Sam was said to be in a "better space" than he was previously, eating better and laughing with his sister. "He's one of these lads who's extremely jovial and happy, cracking jokes and making fun of people all the time, in a good way," his dad added. 'Origin story' As well as the video messages, Sam was also invited to watch two games at Wakefield Trinity and meet the players. Advertisement Meanwhile, Sale Sharks invited him to a training session, where he spent much of the day among the players. Chris said Sam was treating his current struggle as his "origin story", adding: "This is him becoming that superhero at rugby." Family, friends and Congleton Rugby Club have also raised thousands of pounds in Sam's name, with the money going towards Ronald McDonald House Charities, Young Lives Vs Cancer, Birmingham Children's Hospital and University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust Charity. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story Related internet links
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Rugby world's support for Biddulph boy with cancer
A nine-year-old boy who was diagnosed with cancer has received an outpouring of love and support from the rugby from Biddulph, Staffordshire, was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukaemia in January and has been undergoing to his illness and the treatment, the youngster had to stop playing for his beloved Congleton Rugby Club, temporarily giving up a sport he always wanted to be a part news of his diagnosis spread, and with a little help from family friends, international players started to learn of Sam's story and began sending him video messages. They include Ollie Lawrence, Finn Russell, Marcus Smith, Danny Care and Sam Burgess, after whom Sam was named, his father Chris said."It was amazing just to watch his face light up and see that," he told BBC Radio Stoke. Chris said players' response had helped the family, adding the first weeks since Sam's diagnosis were "chaos"."It's just been a continuous whirlpool of different things that have been happening and things we've got to go through," he added."It's been a bit of a rollercoaster to say the least."Sam has just gone through his first round of chemotherapy, his dad said, and he has lost a lot of weight in the despite "going through hell", Sam was said to be in a "better space" than he was previously, eating better and laughing with his sister."He's one of these lads who's extremely jovial and happy, cracking jokes and making fun of people all the time, in a good way," his dad added. 'Origin story' As well as the video messages, Sam was also invited to watch two games at Wakefield Trinity and meet the Sale Sharks invited him to a training session, where he spent much of the day among the said Sam was treating his current struggle as his "origin story", adding: "This is him becoming that superhero at rugby."Family, friends and Congleton Rugby Club have also raised thousands of pounds in Sam's name, with the money going towards Ronald McDonald House Charities, Young Lives Vs Cancer, Birmingham Children's Hospital and University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust Charity. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-All Blacks forward Sititi ruled out of France series
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn International - England v New Zealand - Allianz Stadium Twickenham, London, Britain - November 2, 2024 New Zealand's Wallace Sititi in action with England's Ollie Lawrence Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Bath flying as Saints struggle
It has been eight weeks since the last Premiership match as the league took a break for the Six Nations through February and part of March. The league returns on Friday with a weekend of derby games in round 12, as clubs face the first of seven matches to conclude the regular lead the way looking to win their first title since 1996, with five clubs behind them separated by only eight points. Defending champions Northampton have endured a disappointing season, but are not out of the running Sport looks at the state of play as we head into the final third of the 2024-25 campaign. League leaders It has been quite a two months for Premiership leaders Bath and they will be brimming with confidence after ending a 17-year wait for a trophy last weekend, when they beat Exeter to win the Premiership Rugby Cup - the first of what they hope will be three trophies this campaign. They have also been rapidly bolstering their team for 2025-26, agreeing new terms with a raft of players including captain Ben Spencer and centre Ollie Lawrence but also signing new headline grabbing names in England back Henry Arundell and Gloucester's Argentine back Santiago return to league action at home to Gloucester on Sunday in pole position, six points clear at the top but perhaps more crucially 12 points clear of Saracens in only blot during Bath's winter break was the loss of Lawrence, likely for the rest of the season, to an Achilles injury suffered during England's win against Italy. But you would think only a drastic and unprecedented drop in form would see Johann van Graan's side finish outside the top four. The challengers After Bath, the fight for the top four is fierce with only eight points separating second placed Bristol with sixth placed Harlequins, with Gloucester, Leicester and Saracens in between separated by a single Bears have not been out of the top four all season and - like the Tigers - are no longer in European action, so will be able to focus all their efforts solely on the league which might prove third-placed Cherry and Whites are in the best position in the table at this stage of the campaign for the past two seasons after languishing near the attack has proved a big part of their step forward this season - they have the third highest scoring tally in the league - but making sure their form does not tail off again will be key as they look to reach their first play-offs since 2019. The big test for Leicester will be staying focused after boss Michael Cheika confirmed weeks ago he was leaving the club at the end of the season. The Australian's departure means Tigers are searching for their ninth boss in less than nine years, although he said this week the desire to succeed still "burns bright". Saracens have only missed the top four twice since 2009-10 - when they were relegated. Losses away to Newcastle and Exeter - albeit both with a number of internationals unavailable - and a heavy defeat by Bath has seen them lose three of their past five but director of rugby Mark McCall did not seem concerned about his meanwhile face tough games away at Saracens and Bath over the next two weekends - although can take confidence from the fact they ended a 1,723 day wait for a win against their London rivals in fell three points short of the top four last season and wins against their major rivals in the next fortnight would put them right into the mix. Still in the mix Sale and Northampton are in no way out of the running but have ground to make up. The Sharks' away form is their biggest area for improvement, having lost four out of five games on the road, and their trip to Newcastle on Friday is the first of four away fixtures to end their season. Taking points from those games will be crucial if they want to close the gap above champions Saints are a place below in eighth, a huge 20 points behind Bath and nine points off the top being said, the performances of their England internationals during the Six Nations will surely rejuvenate the side for the final run-in despite their "backs being against the wall" according to boss Phil Tommy Freeman has been nominated as Six Nations player of the tournament, lock Henry Pollock scored twice on his debut and Fin Smith enjoyed a breakthrough campaign to solidify his place as England's starting fly-half. Although they were dealt a blow with news that wing Ollie Sleigholme is out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury. Cut adrift Exeter and Newcastle bring up the rear and are all-but out of the running for a top four spot, with both having won just two games and sit in ninth and 10th with just 15 and nine points each. If the table stays as it is, the Chiefs are on track for their lowest league finish since they were promoted to the top flight in were dealt another setback as star England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was ruled out for the rest of the season last for Newcastle, there has been some improvement since Steve Diamond took over but their on-the-field struggles aren't likely to get any easier quickly. News this week confirmed that recruitment is on hold as the club look to secure funding for next season. Round 12 fixtures Friday, 21 MarchNewcastle v SaleNorthampton v LeicesterSaturday, 22 MarchSaracens v HarlequinsBristol v ExeterSunday, 23 MarchBath v Gloucester
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
England's Freeman moves to centre against Wales
Men's Six Nations: Wales v EnglandVenue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 15 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMTCoverage: Watch on BBC One, BBC Sport website and app, plus S4C via iPlayer. Text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app. Listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Live. Tommy Freeman will start at outside centre in England's final match of this year's Six Nations against Wales at the Principality has made all 19 of his Test appearances on the wing but moves into midfield in place of the injured Ollie Lawrence for Saturday's trip to a reshuffle to the backline which started against Italy, Elliot Daly also moves to the wing from full-back, where Marcus Smith returns, while Tom Roebuck also replaces Ollie Sleightholme on the coach Steve Borthwick makes two changes in the forwards as Ben Curry partners his twin Tom on the flank, with Ben Earl returning to number eight, while Luke Cowan-Dickie is reinstated at have opted for a six-two spilt of forwards and backs on the bench, where back row Henry Pollock is named for the first time. England line-up to face Wales England: M Smith; Roebuck, Freeman, Dingwall, Daly; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Chessum, T Curry, B Curry, George, Baxter, Heyes, Cunningham-South, Pollock, Willis, Van Poortvliet, Ford. More to follow.
