Latest news with #RossThompson
The Guardian
30-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Ethnic minorities in England at higher risk of heat-related deaths, says study
Ethnic minorities and people living in the most deprived areas of England are at increased risk of dying due to excess heat, according to research. A study, published in BMJ Public Health, is the first of its kind to assess the role of socio-environmental factors in the risk of heat-related deaths. Previous figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) found almost 600 people were expected to die in the heatwave that took place in early June across England, with more than 10,000 people having died prematurely in summer heatwaves between 2020 and 2024. The report analysed the records of more than 430,000 patients across England who died between 2016 and 2020, and used relative effect modification, or REM, which indicates whether a risk, such as dying due to extreme heat, affects some groups more than others. If the REM is 1, it means both groups are affected the same while if higher than 1, the group being compared is more affected. The study found that black people had a REM index of 1.27, and for Asian people it was 1.1, meaning that the effect of heat on the risk of dying was 27% higher for black people compared with their white counterparts, and 10% higher for people from an Asian background. This data suggests heat has a more harmful impact on these groups, possibly due to differences in housing, access to cooling, underlying health issues or other social and economic factors that all affect health outcomes more generally. People in the two most deprived groups across England had a higher risk of a heat-related death than their counterparts from the two least deprived groups. The study did not find a significant association with the middle groups of deprivation. 'These findings provide important further evidence on the role of climate change in exacerbating existing health inequalities,' said Dr Ross Thompson, principal environmental public health scientist at theUKHSA and lead author of the study. He added: 'Despite increases in heat-related deaths in England in recent years, there are still gaps in our knowledge around the risk that extreme heat presents to each individual, which hinders targeted prevention, and so these findings enhance our understanding. 'These findings will help the healthcare sector in developing strategies to identify and subsequently prioritise patients at the highest risk during heat events, and it is vital that we work with our partners to capitalise on these insights to protect those in need as extreme heat becomes more common.'' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Figures show there were 2,985 excess heat deaths recorded in England after the heatwaves of 2022, when temperatures reached in excess of 40C. Heat deaths across England and Wales are expected to rise in the coming years, and scientists say 30,000 people a year could die from heat-related causes by the 2070s. Prof Lea Berrang Ford, head of the UKHSA Centre for Climate and Health Security, said that it was clear that even with adaptation, heat-related deaths across the UK will increase due to climate change and an ageing population. 'Of particular importance is the distinction identified in this study between clinical vulnerability and risk,' she added. 'When identifying those most at risk, these findings highlight the need to take into account a number of contextual factors … which will have important implications for how patients are prioritised by clinicians during periods of heat in the future.'' Matthew Bazeley-Bell, deputy chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said: 'The climate crisis is a public health crisis and this alarming research underpins the need for urgent action. As well as reducing emissions, it is vital that policymakers put robust plans in place to protect communities that are disproportionately impacted by rising temperatures.'
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Bulls power through to semi-finals after Edinburgh threaten to rip up play-off script in Pretoria
Pretoria Bulls 42 Edinburgh 33 RETURNING home to South Africa, Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt enjoyed some dinner on Friday night with his Bulls counterpart Jake White. The pair are close friends and fired up the grill for a Braai, a traditional South African barbecue, at White's house just hours before this quarter-final clash in the United Rugby Championship. But it was Everitt and his Edinburgh players whose goose was cooked in Pretoria as the Bulls feasted on six tries to claim their place in the semi-finals. This was not the hammering that many feared it might be for Edinburgh. On the contrary, this was very much a case of what might have been. Everitt's side led 21-8 after half an hour thanks to two tries from Ross Thompson and one from Wes Goosen. They were in the process of ripping up the script. But the surroundings at Loftus Versfeld can do strange things to visiting teams. Perhaps it was the altitude of the Highveld and the thought of scaling such heights on the field, Edinburgh suffered a collective nose bleed. They collapsed midway through the game, conceding all six tries in the space of little more than half an hour, and three in little more than 10 minutes after half-time, before finding a second wind again near the end. There was a lot to like about their performance, a lot to be proud of away from home in such a testing arena, but the reality is that their season is now over. Knockout rugby offers no second chances and no pats on the back. Having been in such a commanding position after half an hour, the reality is that Edinburgh threw this one away. 'We started the game really well,' said Everitt. 'We looked really dangerous, caused the Bulls a lot of problems, and got ourselves into a lead. 'But then there was a 12-minute blitz from the Bulls where they scored three tries early in the second half to take the game away from us a little bit. 'I am really proud of the guys in terms of how they still fought back towards the end. It's been a long, tough season but we still kept going right until the end. We've improved a lot this year and we should be proud. 'Congratulations to the Bulls. They have got a home semi-final now to look forward to and they are a very hard team to stop when they have momentum.' Playing at such altitude on the Highveld, and with baking-hot sunshine beating down as the match kicked-off, this would be a test of Edinburgh's fitness and mental fortitude as much as anything. The Bulls had finished the regular season in excellent form, with six straight victories ensuring they came into the play-offs as one of the form sides in the competition. But it was Edinburgh who made the perfect start and took the lead on five minutes, just seconds after Bulls winger Sebastian de Klerk had been sin-binned for a high shot on Darcy Graham. Harry Paterson played a key role in the build-up as Edinburgh worked the ball out wide, with Hamish Watson eventually delivering the final pass for Goosen to score in the corner. The sense of shock among the home crowd when a rampant Edinburgh scored a second try on 13 minutes to race further clear. It was a brilliant finish from Thompson, with the fly-half waltzing through a gap and showing great footwork before touching down. The Bulls made a dent on the scoreboard thanks to a penalty from fly-half Keagan Johannes, before they finally clicked into gear and scored their first try on 19 minutes. It was their talismanic No 8 Cameron Hanekom who powered over from close range. Having made his international debut last year, it wasn't hard to see why 23-year-old Hanekom is viewed as the next big thing in the Springboks' back row. Credit to Edinburgh for the way in which they kept asking questions of the Bulls. Their enterprising approach was rewarded with a third try on 29 minutes. After James Lang made a good line-break, the ball was fed to Thompson and he darted over for his second try of the afternoon. Leading 21-8 after half an hour, Edinburgh were threatening a huge shock. But the Bulls came roaring back with two tries in the space of half an hour just before half-time. Veteran full-back Willie Le Roux broke through a gap and fed the prolific centre David Kriel to score, before his midfield partner Harold Vorster went over in the corner. From Edinburgh's point of view, the defending was poor. Ali Price, in particular, should have done far better to make a tackle and get Vorster into touch as he neared the try-line. But the Bulls were profligate with their kicking and another missed conversion ensured that Edinburgh still led 21-18 as the teams went in at half-time. But it was clear that the home side now had the bit between their teeth. Perhaps starting to smell blood, the Bulls took the lead just two minutes after the break when Springbok winger Canan Moodie scored after a lovely offload from Le Roux. Edinburgh were starting to wilt in the searing heat and energy-sapping altitude, with the Bulls making it a quickfire double when Johannes broke through a gap and raced away to score his team's fifth try of the day. Trailing 32-21, Edinburgh knew they really needed to find the next score if they were to claw their way back into the game. But the Bulls put the matter beyond doubt when skipper Ruan Nortje powered over from close range on 53 minutes after a period of sustained pressure. Edinburgh finally got going again when the ball was recycled quickly from a ruck and hooker Ewan Ashman crashed over on 59 minutes, with the Bulls down to 14 men again as lock JF van Heerden was yellow-carded. But Edinburgh's momentum was halted immediately when Magnus Bradbury fumbled the restart and gifted possession back to the home side, with Thompson then sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on shortly after. Another penalty from Johannes stretched the Bulls' lead to 42-28, before Edinburgh replied again when Goosen touched down in the corner after a flowing team move from the visitors. With Thompson off the pitch, it was Mark Bennett who took aim with the conversion but the ball sailed wide of the posts. A chaotic game rather fizzled out in the final 10 minutes, with the Bulls seeing it through for the victory. Having been chewed up and spat out, Edinburgh were left to ponder a missed opportunity.
Irish Examiner
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Edinburgh fall short in South Africa as Bulls progress to URC semi-final
URC: Bulls 42 Edinburgh 33 The Bulls claimed a 42-33 victory over Edinburgh in an exhilarating United Rugby Championship quarter-final at Loftus Versfeld. Wes Goosen opened the scoring after five minutes before Ross Thompson's double came either side of Cameron Hanekom's try for the South Africans. Tries from David Kriel in the 32nd minute and Harold Vorster four minutes later ensured the Bulls went into the break only 21-18 behind. The Bulls stepped it up early in the second half as Canan Moodie showed a great turn of pace to crash over as Edinburgh's defence had lost control. Keagan Johannes and Ruan Nortje went over to make it 39-21 and although Edinburgh responded with efforts from Ewan Ashman and Goosen, the game was up.
BBC News
31-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Edinburgh score first try against Bulls
Update: Date: 4 mins Title: Converted try Bulls 0-7 EDINBURGH Content: Wes Goosen The man with family from Pretoria scores in the corner! What a homecoming! Expansive rugby from Edinburgh, with Harry Paterson shining. They go right to left, and execute with accuracy. Speaking off, Ross Thompson bisects the posts with an inch-perfect kick from the touchline. What a start! Update: Date: 3 mins Title: Sin-bin Sebastian de Klerk (Bulls) Content: Bulls 0-0 Edinburgh It's a yellow card, according to referee Adam Jones. De Klerk is trying to charge Graham down, but his shoulder catches Darcy Graham flush on the chin. The crowd aren't happy, but it looks more clumsy than aggressive. Either way, it's contact to the head. Update: Date: 3 mins Title: Post Content: Bulls 0-0 Edinburgh A contentious early moment. Darcy Graham takes a shoulder to the chops as he kicks ahead. The Bulls field the ball, and aim at Edinburgh's right wing - where Graham is still strewn on the floor. Adam Jones chooses not to stop the play, but the ball eventually leaves the field organically. They're now having a look at this. Update: Date: 2 mins Title: Last time out at the Hive... Content: Bulls 0-0 Edinburgh It's not been too long since these two sides last met and Edinburgh sprung a surprise in the Challenge Cup quarters. Sean Everitt's side held off a second-half fightback to secure a home semi-final, after two tries from James Lang and a Magnus Bradbury score put the hosts 24-7 up at the break. Grant Gilchrist's try gave Edinburgh breathing space on the scoreboard before the Bulls came back strongly with a penalty try, one from Cameron Hanekom and a second from Kriel to set up a grandstand finish, but the hosts held on. The aggregate score between these sides so far this season? 50-50. Update: Date: 0 mins Title: Kick-off / First-half Content: Bulls 0-0 Edinburgh Adam Jones is the referee, resplendent in his purple and fluorescent green kit. Keaghan Johannes, the stand-in stand-off due to the absence of Johan Goosen, kicks us off. Update: Date: 12:29 BST Title: Statue awaiting if Everitt can scale URC mountain Content: Bulls v Edinburgh (12:30) Tom EnglishBBC Scotland's chief sports writer on Sportsound Jamie asked: What is success for Edinburgh in the play-offs? Is it crazy to think Edinburgh have a better chance at the title than Glasgow? Tom answered: I wouldn't say Edinburgh have a better chance. They have a really hard assignment away to Bulls on Saturday and if they win that then, on seeding, they'll be playing Sharks away in the semi-final and, again on seeding, Leinster away in the final. That's a brutal run. If they win the URC then forget the chat about Sean Everitt keeping his job, the only thing up for debate at that point will be where to put his statue. Update: Date: 12:27 BST Title: What happened last night? Content: Bulls v Edinburgh (12:30) Glasgow Warriors continued their defence of the URC title last night by putting the Stormers to the sword, thereby booking their place in the last four. Rory Darge, Kyle Rowe and Henco Venter crossed for first-half tries for the hosts, with a Seabelo Senatla try and eight points from the boot of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu keeping the Stormers within six points at the break. Senatla struck early in the second half for the South African side, but Glasgow responded with tries from George Horne and another from Rowe to ease home with a bit to spare. Warriors will face either Leinster or Scarlets, who meet in Dublin on Saturday, in next weekend's semi-final. Rory Darge dazzled after his Lions' disappointment Update: Date: 12:25 BST Title: Everitt wants Edinburgh to 'stay in the fight' Content: Bulls v Edinburgh (12:30) Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt tells Premier Sports: "We're all excited, it's been a great week. We flew in on Wednesday and had a light couple of days. It's massive for the club, and for Scottish rugby. "It was really good [braai]. Jake did some chops and ribs, his wife made a lovely salad. We had a good evening." "We're always excited to play the Bulls. We played them five weeks ago and got the result, we'll take a lot of confidence out of that. It's a bigger challenge for us, but one we know we can win if we play well. "It's about being really good in the first 20 minutes. They've scored 29 tries here in the first 20 minutes this season. It's about staying in the fight, like Glasgow did last year." Update: Date: 12:22 BST Title: How did Edinburgh get here? Content: Bulls v Edinburgh (12:30) It's been an odd season for Edinburgh. For much of it, they flattered to deceive, struggling with the same problem that hamstrung them last year - inconsistency. It was immensely frustrating to watch, given the talent on show. Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe will be a touring Lions, while Jamie Ritchie and Darcy Graham will be high-up on the standby list. Yet, they found a bit of momentum at the end of the season to defy the odds and book a place in the play-offs thanks to a triumphant win over Ulster. Sean Everitt has been under pressure at times, but he's got his side going at the right time. Can they continue this run and do the unthinkable? Pierre Schoeman celebrates with Darcy Graham Update: Date: 12:20 BST Title: Van der Merwe out, Ritchie starts Content: Bulls v Edinburgh (12:30 BST) Duhan van der Merwe is the big miss for Edinburgh, as Sean Everitt makes just one change to his capital side. Jamie Ritchie, who will join Perpignan this summer, starts at blindside flanker as Ben Muncaster drops to the bench from the team that beat Ulster to clinch a play-off spot. Scotland wing Van der Merwe, who has been sidelined since March with ankle ligament damage, has resumed training and is with the squad in South Africa. But Everitt said: "He's probably still a few days away from being ready to return to full match action. We're managing his return carefully to ensure he's fully prepared when he does step back onto the field." Update: Date: 12:18 BST Title: TEAM NEWS from Pretoria Content: Bulls v Edinburgh (12:30) Bulls: Le Roux, Moodie, Kriel, Vorster, De Klerk; Johannes, Papier; Wessels, Grobbelaar, Louw, Wiese, Van Heerden, Coetzee, Nortje (c), Hanekom. Replacements: A Van der Merwe, Matanzima, Smith, Kirsten, Van Staden, Burger, Gans, Williams. Edinburgh: Goosen, Graham, Currie, Lang, Paterson, Thompson, Price, Schoeman, Ashman, Rae, Sykes, Skinner, Ritchie, Watson, Bradbury (c). Replacements: Harrison, Venter, Sebastian, McConnell, Muncaster, McAlpine, Healy, Bennett. Update: Date: 12:15 BST Title: Welcome to Loftus! Content: Bulls v Edinburgh (12:30 BST) Edinburgh's season has come down to this. Win, and it's a place in the semi-finals. Lose, and it's all over. It's a place that we Scottish rugby fans know well, given Glasgow's heroics last year. But can Edinburgh repeat the feat and pull off a heist at altitude?
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Thompson eager to end first Edinburgh season on a high
Ross Thompson feels he has "grown" as a player in his first season with Edinburgh and is determined to help Sean Everitt's side progress in the 26-year-old stand-off has started 16 of 18 league games since his move from Glasgow last to prior to Saturday's quarter-final against Bulls in Pretoria, Thompson said: "I think there's definitely things I can get better at, but I feel like I've grown."As the team performances have got a bit better, I feel like I've been playing a little bit better."I'm really happy here, I'm really glad I made the move and I've enjoyed this season. Hopefully there's still a few games left for us."Thompson won the last of his seven Scotland caps on the 2024 summer tour of the Americas, but is fully focused on club matters for if he had hopes of earning a recall to Gregor Townsend's squad for this summer's tour of the South Pacific, the fly-half said: "I'm not too sure to be honest, I'm not giving it too much thought. I'm just looking forward to this quarter-final and the chance to go far in knockout rugby."We did it in the Challenge Cup, got to a semi-final, and it's really exciting to be a part of."
