Latest news with #Twickenham
BBC News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Green makes Quins return on loan as injury cover
Scrum-half Max Green has returned to Harlequins on a season-long loan as injury 29-year-old spent the 2023-24 season at Twickenham Stoop, making 11 appearances for the spent last season playing for CA Perigueux in the Nationale, France's third-tier will provide injury cover for Will Porter, new signing Stu Townsend, Jake Murray and Lucas Friday."I'm chuffed to be back at Harlequins. I really enjoyed my first spell at the club and we've got some cracking lads here, so it was an easy decision for me to come back," he told the Quins website, external."I'm looking forward to getting stuck in and doing my bit for the team to help make it a successful season."Quins begin the season in September with two Premiership Rugby Cup fixtures before starting their 2025-26 Prem campaign at home to reigning champions Bath on Friday, 26 September.
Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
John Mitchell bizarrely says Red Roses missing out on World Cup will not be failure
Following the Lionesses' historic European Championship win, attention now turns to the next big women's sports event this summer: a Women's Rugby World Cup on home soil. England head coach John Mitchell announced his 32-player squad for the tournament, which is vastly experienced, with 1,374 caps between them. As his side builds up to their first World Cup warm-up match with Spain on Saturday, Telegraph Sport picks out five key things we learnt from last week's Red Roses' squad announcement day at Twickenham. Mitchell: Losing World Cup will not be a failure This was arguably one of the most bizarre statements Mitchell has said since being appointed England's head coach. The New Zealander was effectively hired in 2023 to ensure the Red Roses, who have won 55 of their past 56 Tests, avenge back-to-back World Cup final heartache and win what could be a record-breaking tournament. Yet he believes if that goal is not achieved, it would not constitute a failure. 'If it doesn't happen, it's not going to define me,' said Mitchell, whose job is secure if England do not win the tournament. 'I won't let outcome get to me like I probably allowed it to get to me because it was everything when I was younger. Ultimately, at the end of the day, I still think through the experience we'll still be very good and to see the way the girls have grown in two and a half years, you don't need [an] outcome to determine how much this team is going to grow. 'It's something we're very keen to do, but it's not the only driver that drives us. We have a greater driver than just winning. We just want to be the best version we can be and should we be the most deserving come September then we'll deserve it. But to put all your eggs in one basket I think there's more to it than just winning. It's about getting it done, but making sure you have a phenomenal experience in doing it.' Heartbreak for England yet again... 💔 What a game. What an occasion. New Zealand are World Cup champions 🇳🇿 #RWC2021 #NZLVSENG — ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) November 12, 2022 World Cup debriefs with Ben Youngs Mitchell has been quoted in recent interviews about not wanting the Red Roses to be trapped in a 'high-performance jail' during the World Cup. It was a phrase he first heard when he appeared on the Love of Rugby podcast hosted by Dan Cole and Ben Youngs, when the latter shared his learnings of competing in four World Cups for England. 'It was quite cool how he described it as a 'high-performance jail', which I get really because the older I've got as a coach in high-performance rugby, you get sick of hotels and rooms,' said Mitchell, who is keen on letting his players enjoy a down day every week once the tournament is underway. 'We very much prefer our own homes and the way the discussion started was, even though World Rugby owns the tournament, how do we get an advantage at our own home World Cup? We've also got to be mindful of how we give the girls a chance to get away from rugby on our free day. We've got to find one free day a week where they can get their independence and energy back.' Learnings from youthful All Blacks squad in 2003 In previous interviews Mitchell has drawn similarities between the Red Roses and the inexperienced All Blacks side that fell to Australia at the semi-final at the men's World Cup in 2003. 'This team is more experienced than the team I exposed to the 2003 World Cup,' said Mitchell, whose England squad includes 24 players who have already been to a World Cup. 'I took the risk with a young All Blacks squad that then eventually served New Zealand for another nine years. I probably wasn't the bearer of my fruit but I made all the changes and took the risk of taking a young, enthusiastic squad who was playing outstanding rugby.' No hard and fast rules with social media The reach of women's rugby is growing all the time through social media, which is epitomised by the sport's most-followed player, Ilona Maher. The American's influence following her three-month stint at Bristol Bears in Premiership Women's Rugby last year has rubbed off on many of the Red Roses. Sarah Bern, the tighthead prop, is one of many following Maher's lead by posting authentic and occasionally humorous content that promotes women's rugby and body positivity. Some players, of course, choose not to look at social media during tournaments, but for those who will, there will be no hard and fast rules. 'I'll probably just play it like a parent as the tournament goes,' said Mitchell. 'The girls definitely know there's going to be good and bad social media and you're going to be judged, but also that they're going to be supported regardless of what happens.' When the post-match interview gets interrupted for a TikTok dance 🤣 #BBCRugby #W6N — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) March 29, 2025 England were 'under resourced' at previous World Cups Simon Middleton, the former England coach and Mitchell's predecessor, repeatedly claimed that the Red Roses' programme was top-notch during his tenure. But Mitchell has cast doubt on that idea when asked if he had consulted the likes of Marlie Packer and Emily Scarratt for advice about the squad's previous World Cup campaigns. 'I'm not sure they understand what the best preparation is because we keep evolving,' Mitchell said of the experienced pair. 'They've had to prepare for World Cups with limited resources whereas now there's probably no excuses around the use of resources and the way that we're supported. I probably should have asked them but at the time it was more like, 'What am I going to learn from an under-resourced program?''
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
S Club Seven star Hannah Spearritt QUITS major Channel 4 show on the first day of filming
S Club Seven star, Hannah Spearritt, sensationally walked out of the upcoming Celebrity SAS on the first day, MailOnline can reveal. The latest series of the Channel 4 show is expected to air in October and viewers will see Hannah, 44, fail miserable during the first few hours of the show before quitting at the end of the day. She was due to take part in the show alongside Strictly's Tasha Ghouri, 26, the Love Islander, Chloe Burrows, 29, and the former X-Factor contestant, Lucy Spraggan, 34. A source said: 'Hannah had pretty much exhausted all of her connections within the industry before she left for Costa Rica. 'She no longer speaks to her band mates and has now completely shut herself off from that world. 'The final straw came last summer when she took part in Celebrity SAS. 'Hannah truly believed that a stint on one of the hardest and most gruelling shows could turn things around for her. 'But sadly she just couldn't hack it and walked on the first day. It was all rather embarrassing.' Hannah - whose band raked in £50million during the early noughties -was due to open a hollistic cafe, Earth & Fire, in Twickenham in 2022 but the venture never got off the ground. She then quit the UK with her daughters Taya, five, and Tora, four, and her fitness instructor partner of 12 years Adam Thomas back in January, with the family now enjoying an exotic new home. The pop star was said to be seeking a fresh start after quitting the band that made her famous in the wake of ex Paul Cattermole's tragic death in 2023. The singer, who has suffered from an autoimmune condition since 2013, had been set to join her former band on their comeback tour but pulled out following a feud over contracts. Following the row, the other members - Rachel Stevens, Jo O'Meara, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh and Tina Barrett – announced that they would continue as a five-piece. She is said to have been blindsided but the announcement, with her left on bad terms with the band in which she rose to fame in the early 2000s. The mother of two then reportedly drafted in lawyers and made the bold move to release her autobiography on the same day they will take to the stage. All seven members of the chart-topping band initially confirmed they were reuniting for a landmark 25th anniversary tour. Hannah initially refusing to join the lineup, citing a lack of childcare and only agreed to join when music manager Simon Fuller offered to pay for nannies to come along. Two months later, band member Paul Cattermole died, Hannah then accepted a five-figure sum to tell her story, which left a bitter taste in the remaining band member's mouths. Hannah apologised to S Club's fans for deciding to leave but said she had to do what was best for herself and her family. Hannah claimed she hadn't been in touch with her former bandmates since she left the band, admitting she is sad not to be but insisted she wishes them 'all the best'. In 2023 the family had to move into an office after losing their house just before Christmas, despite S Club 7, raking £50million as a brand. But Hannah insisted they weren't paid a good wage in comparison with the millions the band was earning. She has now found herself with nowhere to live after her landlord sold their rented home in London at short notice. Hannah had to seek refuge in a friend's office after not wanting to pay 'crazy' rental prices upfront.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bath Rugby finances revealed following Gallagher Premiership win as sport faces 'crisis'
Bath Rugby is facing mounting financial pressure, along with all the clubs in the Gallagher Premiership, as experts warn over the future of the sport. Despite a historic win for Bath in June, which saw the South West side take its first title in 29 years, off the pitch there is less to celebrate. Bath Rugby Limited - the operating company behind the club - is millions of pounds in debt. The company turned over £20.8m for the financial year ending June 30, 2024. This was up on the £19.7m the year before, but it still made a loss of £3.6m, while its net debt stood at £17.2m. Rugby has long been reliant on owners and benefactors to cover ever-mounting debt burdens. Three major clubs - Wasps, Worcester Warriors and London Irish - have already disappeared from the Premiership after collapsing in the 2022-23 season, but it is 'not impossible' that more could go under if changes are not made, one sports finance expert has warned. READ MORE: Police enforce 48-hour ban in Bath city centre READ MORE: Bath Rugby's 2025/26 Gallagher Prem fixtures in full Analysis of Companies House documents by our sister site Business Live reveals that each of the teams in the Gallagher Premiership was in the red for the financial year ended June 30, 2024. Runners up Leicester Tigers, who were defeated by Bath at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham by just two points (23-21), did not fare much better. The club's operating company Leicester Football Club Plc made a loss of £3.5m for the period - up from £1.4m the year previously - despite turnover increasing to £21m from £19.4m the year before. According to a rugby finance report published by Leonard Curtis last year, while some teams may break even or turn a small profit in the next couple of years, the prospect of the current overall loss-making trend being reversed looks slim. Dr Ellie Nesbitt, a senior lecturer in sports management at Nottingham Trent University, says rugby is not operating in the capacity it needs to. "Rugby clubs need to be operating as businesses," she said. "It's about commercialising and hospitality is key. Some clubs are much better with big events, and they can thrive, but you also have clubs that don't have the facilities to do that. "The sport is going to have to change it's approach. It's a short-term fix having owners and benefactors responsible for funding - and debts. These individuals clearly love the sport or the team - and you see that all the way through the structure, not just the Premiership. [But] it's not sustainable and over time we will see that play out even more." Many of the Premiership clubs would, in fact, be 'defunct' if they were 'normal businesses', says Christina Philippou, associate professor in accounting and sport finance in the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance at the University of Portsmouth. 'Rugby at the very basics is a loss-making industry and 60 per cent [of clubs] are technically insolvent,' she told Business Live. Professor Philippou says broadcasting deals and competition from countries like France, drawing top players out of the league with tax incentives, has proved challenging for the sport. 'Rugby is [also] shooting itself in the foot by going behind a paywall with broadcasting deals. People need to be able to watch it. 'You can do that by splitting broadcasting agreements or being clever with digital content to get people interested in the club game, and then that can pull through into actual money.' But she says clubs losing money does not necessarily sound "the death knell' for the Premiership, and that rugby could learn some lessons from cricket. 'Tapping into other formats might be a way forward for the sport,' she explained. 'That is how cricket is rejuvenating itself as it had a similar issue.' 'There is a crisis' Rob Wilson, a professor of applied sport finance and director of specialist sports consultancy Play it Forward, believes the salary cap - the limit on the total amount of money clubs can spend on players' wages each season - is still too high. For the 2025-26 season, the Premiership has confirmed the salary cap is £6.4m, with a number of credits and exclusions, meaning that clubs can spend at least £7.8m plus an excluded player salary. 'A lot of clubs see it as a target rather than a limit and then they overspend,' Professor Wilson told Business Live. 'Clubs need to start spending less than they earn on a cost basis.' He added: 'There is a crisis with three teams going out of business and a shortening of the league. I think they should close off the league for a while and focus on the top 10 clubs. It wouldn't be a popular decision but it would be a sensible one." All the clubs were contacted for comment, but no statements were provided. Financial status of England's Premiership rugby clubs Bath Rugby Year ended June 30, 2024 Operating company: Bath Rugby Limited Turnover: £20.8m Loss for financial year: £3.6m Bristol Bears Year ended June 30, 2024 Operating company: Bristol Rugby Club Limited Turnover: £11.9m Loss for the financial year: £4.8m Gloucester Rugby Year ended June 30, 2024 Operating company: Gloucester Rugby Limited Turnover: £14.9m Loss for the financial year: £516,355 Leicester Tigers Year ended June 30, 2024 Operating company: Leicester Football Club Plc Turnover: £21m Loss for the financial year: £3.5m Sale Sharks Year ended June 30, 2024 Operating company: Manchester Sale Rugby Club Limited Turnover: £9.1m Loss for the financial year: £7m Saracens Year ended June 30, 2024 Operating company: Saracens Limited Turnover: £22.7m Loss for the financial year: £7.5m Northampton Saints Year ended June 30, 2024 Operating company: Northampton Saints Plc Turnover: £21.9m Loss for the financial year: £826,024 Harlequins Year ended June 30, 2024 Operating company: Harlequin Football Club Limited Turnover: £29.3m Loss for the financial year: £1.86m Exeter Chiefs Year ended June 30, 2024 Operating company: Exeter Rugby Club Limited Turnover: £21.6m Loss for the financial year: £876,112 Newcastle Falcons Accounts currently overdue for the year ended June 30, 2024. Last accounts available made up to June 30, 2023 Operating company: Newcastle Rugby Limited Turnover: £11.2m Loss for the financial year: £2.3m
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Newlyweds fined £150 by council for putting the bins out early to go on their honeymoon have had fine scrapped
A pair of newlyweds were hit with a £150 fine after putting their bins out early so they could head to the airport to catch a flight for their honeymoon. Leon Wright, 40, and his wife Amy, 34, returned home from their Athens cruise to find an enforcement notice had been posted through the letterbox of their flat in Twickenham, southwest London. Their property falls under the jurisdiction of Richmond Council, who say residents should leave their bins on the pavement in colour-coded bags from 8pm the night before collection. Mr Wright admits he put his rubbish out at 3:25pm - some four-and-a-half hours before the advised time - but says the fine was unjust as he had to leave for Heathrow Airport and had no other option. The marketing manager decided to challenge the fine, and his efforts have ultimately proved successful, as Richmond Council has now cancelled the notice. 'It's such a relief to have the fine cancelled,' Mr Wright said. 'I only put [the bins] out a few hours before and it was the last thing I did before we left for holiday. 'I came back from my honeymoon with a fixed penalty notice from Richmond Council. 'It said that we had to pay it within ten days, but we couldn't because we weren't even there.' He added that it was 'very surprising' to receive the fine as the couple 'had never had any problems with the council before'. Mr Wright continued: 'It's definitely not what you want to see when you come back from holiday. Especially when you are trying to do your best. 'I do my best to follow the rules but it was literally just a few hours before the collection window so I never thought they would send fines straight away. 'My neighbours couldn't believe it. They were all shocked.' Mr Wright says the fine was issued by WISE (Waste Investigations, Support and Enforcement), who are partnered with Richmond Council as a third-party enforcement agency. Initially, he carried out all communications through them - but was consistently told the fine would be 'upheld'. This was despite Mr Wright finding guidance that stated residents should only be fined if bins were put out before 2pm. Eventually, he contacted Richmond Council directly, who agreed he should not have been fined and cancelled the notice. Mr Wright said: 'WISE weren't listening to any of my complaints or legal arguments. They just stonewalled me and said the fine was upheld. 'So I complained directly through Richmond Council who said their policy means that if someone has put their bins out after 2pm they cannot be fined. 'If it had been before that, the fine would have been upheld. But it wasn't so they cancelled it.' Mr Wright put his bins out on May 27 before leaving to get a 7:10pm flight from Heathrow Airport for his honeymoon cruise from Athens. Ten days later, he and Amy returned from the trip to find the fine on their doorstep. Richmond Council said: 'We are committed to ensuring the borough's streets are kept clean. 'If it is discovered that there has been a littering offence, we may take enforcement action where appropriate. 'Residents can request a review of issued fines if they feel they have been fined unfairly or incorrectly.' Previously, a spokesperson confirmed that waste should only be put out between 8pm the night before and 6am on the day of collection. They added that enforcement action 'may be taken' when these rules are not followed. WISE have been contacted for comment.
