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Wales Online
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
England international James Haskell announces heartbreaking news as he's flooded with support
England international James Haskell announces heartbreaking news as he's flooded with support James Haskell revealed sad news on his social media channels and was flooded with support from the game of rugby James Haskell said his dad was "an amazing husband, a loving father, and a man who would help anyone in need." (Image: James Haskell on Instagram ) Former England international James Haskell has announced the tragic passing of his father, adding that he is finding comfort in knowing his dad is now at peace. Taking to Instagram, Haskell revealed the news with a collection of photos and a fitting tribute to his dad. The rugby family flooded the comments, with the likes of Mike Brown, Danny Care and Ugo Monye offering their condolences. Haskell branded his father's humour as "legendary" and recognised the unwavering support of his rugby career. In Haskell's post, he included some touching photos to remember his dad, which included his wedding day and multiple family photos from years gone by. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "This is never an easy thing to write," began Haskell. "My dad has passed away and while it's unbearably sad, it's also a celebration of an incredible man. He had more energy, more wit, and more heart than anyone I've ever known. "He made me who I am. He supported me at every game, pushed me to be better, and loved me unconditionally. "He didn't always get it right but he always gave his best, and his work ethic was second to none. "He was an amazing husband, a loving father, and a man who would help anyone in need. His humour was legendary. His presence filled every room. "In the end, he was in a bad way, and though it's heartbreaking to say goodbye, there's comfort in knowing he's now at peace. "He leaves behind a huge hole in our lives especially for my mum and brother but we will hold onto the memories that made him who he was. "I love you, Dad. I know you loved me and I know you were proud of me. You kept everything I ever did, framed it, treasured it and I'll never forget that. I'll think of you every single day. Always. "You lived your life and always did it your way!" Content cannot be displayed without consent Haskell retired from rugby in 2019 and has since forged a successful post-playing career. Alongside Alex Payne and Mike Tindall, The Good, The Bad and The Rugby has become one of the most popular rugby podcasts in the world, going on multiple tours in recent years. Article continues below Alongside that, he's written a plethora of books and is also an accomplished house music DJ and producer.
Wales Online
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Nigel Owens: The 'disaster' rugby law I'd change immediately and the big problem that isn't going away
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info It may only be five and a half years since I retired, but the game of rugby already looks quite different to when I was refereeing, with a number of changes being made. Of course, as with anything, some of the changes are good and some are.... let's say, not as good. Actually, I think a couple of them are even bad. You will always have your traditionalist rugby supporters who want to keep things largely the same. But those at the top of the sport are making efforts to grow it and improve it as a spectacle, while also reflecting a greater awareness of player safety and welfare in the laws of the game - and quite rightly so. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Change has been deemed necessary to get more people into stadiums and to simplify the game for those watching for the first time - hence why they brought in the ref's mic many years ago - as well as to keep things safe and ensure that players are adequately protected in the modern game. Some of the recent changes that we've seen have, in fairness, enhanced the game. Or, at least, they haven't made it worse. The speeding up of the game - in regard to things like scrum set-ups and shot clocks - has certainly been a positive change. The 50:22 law probably hasn't opened the game up as much as people would have liked it to, but we're certainly seeing far less aimless kicking because of it, and some of the kick attempts are hugely skilful and exciting to see. There have also been big clampdowns in certain areas over the years, on things like spear tackles and recklessness in the air when competing for the ball. Those have had a real effect, and we certainly see those kinds of incidents much, much less than we used to. I'm all for law changes, particularly from a safety point of view, and I'd never be against something that actually benefits the game. Earlier this week it was reported that the British and Irish Lions board is considering a proposal for sudden-death extra time to be introduced, in the event that a deciding third Test against Australia this summer finishes in a draw. That change would see the first team to score in 'golden point' extra time win the match and it's something that I think would prove to be hugely exciting if it came about. It is a bit of a disappointment when something as hotly anticipated as a Lions tour ends in a draw, so bringing in that bit of jeopardy and excitement to settle it can only be a good thing, in my opinion. I will always remember that infamous penalty shootout between Cardiff and Leicester Tigers in the Heineken Cup in 2009 - and poor Martyn Williams' face when he missed his kick at goal. It was nail-biting, but exciting at the same time. However, while I'm supportive of law changes that enhance the game of rugby, I'm wary of changes being made just for the sake of increasing ball-in-play time. Rugby is a physical sport and when it's played at its best you certainly question why we need to tinker with it so much. Just look at the goal line drop-out. To me, that is a total disaster and I would get rid of it tomorrow if I was in charge. It hasn't brought anything positive to the game, you're not seeing any less driving mauls or pick-and-gos. It has only brought negativity in the sense that the defence can throw bodies underneath a player and if they don't ground the ball, the defending team gets the drop out. It is a total punishment for the attacking team. Even though it's hugely important that rugby is a fair contest for both teams, when it comes to try scoring, the benefit of the doubt should always go to the attacking side. Look for a reason to give the try, rather than a reason not to, which seems to be the case these days with the endless TMO referrals. The same can be said for depowering the scrum. Nobody wants to see a scrum-fest, granted, but they are an important part of the game and we never see scrum fives anymore. Having a team that is strong at scrummaging and can push the other team back only adds to the excitement of a game. Rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes and if the scrum is diminished further then, in two or three years' time, we will be watching rugby union games that may as well as be rugby league. The change to lineout throwing is another that wasn't needed either. You can now throw a ball in not straight and get away with it, and it's all a bit of a joke. Then there's the very divisive 20-minute red card, which has just been put through for a global trial. As I've said before in this column, it certainly hasn't changed players' behaviour. It's not a deterrent and I think a red card offence should always be met with a straight, permanent red card. If it's an accident or just unlucky, then it shouldn't be a red card in the first place. Despite all the changes that are being made, the thing that is still cropping up time and time again is head contact. Even though we've seen a huge increase in red cards, we still haven't really seen a change in player behaviour, in terms of clearing out and trying to make lower tackles. We saw it with Sam Underhill during Bath's Challenge Cup final win over Lyon - he went high and it was a head-on-head collision. He's now been handed a four-match ban after initially being shown a yellow card, but that should have been a red card from the start. It's one area that those at the top of the game are really trying to grapple with but we haven't seen much positive change in practice. There has been more emphasis placed on dangerous behaviour and a crackdown on head contact, but why are we still not seeing a change in player behaviour? It is still happening far too often. For me, there has to be zero tolerance. If you go into a tackle like Underhill did, that should be a straight red card, end of. A lengthy ban should follow too, if we're going to stamp it out of the game effectively. Either that or they need to change the tackle height law, and that certainly will be a hot topic for debate. So, there have been plenty of changes made to the game and a few more that need to be brought in. As I said, I have no problem with changes if they actually enhance the sport we all love. But I think, in some areas, they really need to stop and think things over before they bring in something new, just to keep people happy. You can try to make it an 80-minute game of end-to-end action, but that's just not going to happen - that's the nature of rugby. This is not soccer, where you're just continuously running. There are lineouts, there are scrums, mauls, stoppages. That's what has served rugby well, so those making these decisions need to be very, very careful when they tinker with the laws. Changing things for the sake of it, quite simply, does not help to grow the game. It may well have the opposite effect.
New European
16 hours ago
- Politics
- New European
Donald Trump's digital landgrab
The department of the US government most responsible for managing its relationships with friendly nations has accused Europe of engaging in a 'strategy of censorship, demonization, and bureaucratic weaponization'. It goes on to suggest that 'the global liberal project' is 'trampling democracy, and western heritage along with it, in the name of a decadent governing class afraid of its own people'. Here in the maelstrom of Donald Trump's second term, the state department sets out the US government's diplomatic position on Substack . That is, at this stage, perhaps the most normal thing that it does. While the delivery mechanism may be unconventional, it is nothing when compared to the content of the message. This is an astonishing series of accusations to make against any ally, but especially against fellow western democracies which have served as US allies throughout the Cold War – especially at a time when Trump is visibly courting dictators in the middle east and when his administration spent much of its first months cosying up to Vladimir Putin. Much of what the state department is complaining about is, frankly, none of the US government's business: it raises Germany's designation of the AfD as an extremist party, or the conviction in France of Marine Le Pen for charges connected with embezzlement. These are, very obviously, the internal affairs of the country concerned – and when European countries have dared to comment on such matters in the US, Trump's team have responded with spluttering indignation. It is worth stopping for a moment to acknowledge that we should not dismiss concerns over free expression or elections just because of who is raising them. It is a matter of legitimate public debate whether it is right, either morally or tactically, for Germany to proscribe the AfD. Similarly, there are serious questions to ask about the rate at which the UK is arresting people in connection with their social media posts – 1,000 people per month seems extremely high, especially with routine crimes like shoplifting or street assaults going unpunished. But the state department raising an issue is very different from a Fox News talking head doing the same, or even from a US politician raising it. For one thing, diplomacy is a serious business, and it is steeped in endless norms about what is and isn't the business of other nations. Trump's state department is explicitly threatening the future of the transatlantic alliance based on matters that are traditionally nothing to do with it. Moreover, state claims its concerns 'are not partisan but principled', continuing piously: 'The suppression of speech, facilitation of mass migration, targeting of religious expression, and undermining of electoral choice threatens the very foundation of the transatlantic partnership.' At present, Trump is personally suing multiple television channels that have criticised him. He is, as president, threatening those same channels with losing their broadcast licences. He is investigating the social media activity of anyone applying for a student visa to enter the USA. He is attempting to deport students for writing pro-Gaza op-eds – without threatening violence – in student publications. He is interfering with law firms that represent people or causes with which he does not agree. The list goes on, and on, and on – the state department's claims to have a 'principled' concern about free expression in Europe simply do not pass the laugh test. If they are so bothered about free speech, why are they serving in an administration that has all but openly declared war on the first amendment? The implications of the state department missive go much deeper, though. Already the administration is threatening to revoke the credentials of European officials who speak out on the enforcement of European social media rules. At first, this might appear at least slightly more legitimate than some of the state department's other claims – the big tech companies are, after all, mostly American. This falls apart under further scrutiny, though. McDonald's is an all-American company, but when it operates in the UK it has to meet UK food safety rules, comply with UK employment law, and pay the minimum wage – and no-one bats an eyelid at this. Similarly, when US tech companies provide services to Europeans who are located in Europe, it is not unreasonable for their governments to expect to oversee the terms of that interaction. The state department is now claiming otherwise: if you're on the internet and using a service provided by a US tech company, they say, then Donald Trump sets the rules. The US is quietly declaring sovereignty over cyberspace and expecting the world to acquiesce, making an unprecedented digital landgrab in the name of freedom. This is not something the rest of the world is likely to tolerate, and nor should it. Trump generates endless sound and fury, and this row is likely to get lost among others that seem far more urgent. But in the online era, and as governments turn to AI as the future of the economy, this might be the most significant of all. Trump's attempts to claim Greenland or Canada might get the headlines – but his attempt to claim the internet is far more real, and far more dangerous.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Evangeline Lilly Stuns Fans After She Reveals Gruesome Injuries From Freak Accident
Evangeline Lilly Stuns Fans After She Reveals Gruesome Injuries From Freak Accident originally appeared on Parade. Lost star Evangeline Lilly is opening up about a terrifying accident that left her with a painful injury to her face during a recent beach trip. On Friday, March 30, the actress, 45, shared a photo and video of her face that showed her swollen and bloody nose and front teeth knocked out of place after she took a fall. "I fainted at the beach. And fell face first into a boulder," she wrote in the caption. Sharing the full story in a Substack post, Lilly explained that despite having a history of "fainting spells" since childhood, doctors had never been able to pinpoint a diagnosis, and the hospital trip that followed her fall on the beach didn't yield any results, either. Doctors were able to stitch up her face, though, and now, fans are sharing their well wishes for her recovery. "Oh my goodness Evangeline! I am sending you all of the healing energy in the world," one of her followers wrote. In another comment, another follower joked, "Was the boulder rushed to the hospital too?" This update from Lilly comes one year after the Ant-Man and the Wasp star announced that she was retiring from acting. "Stepping away from what seems like the obvious choice (wealth and fame) can feel scary at times, but stepping into your dharma replaces the fear with fulfillment," she wrote on Instagram at the time. "I might return to Hollywood one day, but, for now, this is where I belong." 🎬 🎬 Evangeline Lilly Stuns Fans After She Reveals Gruesome Injuries From Freak Accident first appeared on Parade on May 30, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Powys County Times
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Marvel's Evangeline Lilly says she had ‘hole punctured into face' after fainting
Marvel star Evangeline Lilly has said she had a 'hole punctured into my face' after she fainted and 'fell face first into a boulder'. The Canadian actress and author, who is known for her roles in TV series Lost and Marvel films Ant-Man (2015) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), shared photos online that showed a scab above her top lip and marks on her nose and chin. In an Instagram post, she said: 'I fainted at the beach. And fell face first into a boulder. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Evangeline Lilly (@evangelinelillyofficial) 'At the hospital, the nurses and doctor went straight into action, more determined to find the cause of my blackout than to stitch up the hole punctured into my face by the rock.' The 45-year-old said in a Substack post that she had had fainting spells 'since I was a little girl' which had been put down to hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar. She also said that she had 'blacked out' on the way to the hospital, as well as on the beach. Lilly has also starred in films including comedy White Chicks and two Hobbit films – The Desolation Of Smaug (2013) and The Battle Of The Five Armies (2014).
