Latest news with #Wainwright
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cardiff sign Test props Sebastian and Wainwright
International tight-head props Javan Sebastian and Sam Wainwright have joined Cardiff from Edinburgh and Scarlets respectively for 2025-26. Sebastian, 30, moved from home region Scarlets to Edinburgh in 2023 having made his Scotland debut in 2021. Advertisement Wainwright, 27, impressed for north Wales side RGC and Wales Under-20s before joining Saracens in 2019. He earned a Wales call for their 2022 tour to South Africa under then-national coach Wayne Pivac and played in the historic win over the Springboks in South Africa. That was the only time Wales have beaten South Africa on their own soil. Sebastian and Wainwright, whose contract lengths have not been disclosed, will challenge Wales tight-head Keiron Assiratti for the number three jersey, as well as Will Davies-King. "Javan has gone away from Wales and developed as a person and a player, picking up international experience. He is technically excellent around his set-piece and will add to the Cardiff game model with his work in open play," said Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt. Advertisement "Sam will add real depth and competition to the tight-head position. He has very good experience for a 27-year-old - playing in the English Premiership at Saracens and the URC (United Rugby Championship) with the Scarlets, while gaining international experience. "He has a real passion for the set-piece and a great work ethic that will enable him to add to our game model." Sebastian said: "I have seen what they have been building at Cardiff over the last couple of years and it's really exciting. "Moving closer to home and family is also nice and I'm looking forward to giving 100% for the jersey." Advertisement Wainwright said: "Myself and my family are really grateful for the opportunity Cardiff have given us and we are really looking forward to coming to the capital and linking up with such a great team, with so much history. "We have heard nothing but good things about Cardiff. It is a great environment for players and their families, which was a big reason for signing." The signings come during a torrid period in Welsh professional rugby. Cardiff have been owned by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), who took them out of administration in April amid serious financial difficulties. Cardiff and Dragons subsequently signed a new deal with the governing body - the new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA). Advertisement Scarlets and Ospreys have not done so and say they asked the WRU for assurances the takeover "will not disproportionally benefit Cardiff and disadvantage the independent clubs" but claim they were not given guarantees.
Wales Online
a day ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Cardiff announce double signing as Wales international switches regions and Scotland star joins
Cardiff announce double signing as Wales international switches regions and Scotland star joins Matt Sherratt has added two internationals to his squad ahead of next season Wainwright has joined Cardiff ahead of next season (Image: Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency ) Cardiff Rugby have announced the double signing of international tighthead props Javan Sebastian and Sam Wainwright. Scotland international and former Scarlets player Sebastian returns to Wales after spending two seasons with Edinburgh, while four-cap Wales front row Wainwright makes the move from Parc y Scarlets to the Arms Park, having spent three years in Llanelli since moving from Saracens. The pair will now compete with Keiron Assiratti and Will Davies-King for the starting number three jersey for Matt Sherratt's side from next season. 'We're delighted to secure the services of Javan and Sam," said Sherratt as the double signing was confirmed. 'Javan has gone away from Wales and developed as a person and a player, picking up international experience. "He is technically excellent around his set piece and will add to the Cardiff game model with his work in open play. 'Sam will add real depth and competition to the tight head position," he added. "He has very good experience for a 27-year-old - playing in the English Premiership at Saracens and the URC with the Scarlets, while gaining international experience. 'He has a real passion for the set piece and a great work ethic that will enable him to add to our game model. We look forward to welcoming both players and their families to Cardiff.' Article continues below Wainwright - who made 50 appearances during his stint with the Scarlets - said that he had heard "nothing but good things" about the capital city region as he spoke of his excitement at joining Sherratt's squad. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. 'Myself and my family are really grateful for the opportunity Cardiff have given us and we are really looking forward to coming to the capital and linking up with such a great team, with so much history," he said. 'We have heard nothing but good things about Cardiff. It is a great environment for players and their families, which was a big reason for signing.' Sebastian, who represented Wales at U16 and U18 level but has won 10 caps for Scotland after qualifying through his father, added that he was "looking forward to calling the Arms Park home." "I'm really looking forward to joining such a great club," he said. "I have seen what they have been building at Cardiff over the last couple of years and it's really exciting. 'Moving closer to home and family is also nice and I'm looking forward to giving 100% for the jersey. Article continues below "I know a lot of the boys there, so it will be awesome to catch up with a few of the guys I have grown up with in Wales, playing with and against. 'I'm also looking forward to calling the Arms Park home. It's always a really special place to play with an awesome crowd.' Sebastian and Wainwright are the latest players to sign for Cardiff ahead of next season, with deals already confirmed for Wales internationals Taine Basham and Ioan Lloyd as well as locks George Nott and Tom Cottle.
Edinburgh Reporter
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Speaking to Martha Wainwright
Martha Wainwright is about to return to Edinburgh for a special evening at The Queen's Hall to perform her debut album supporting a 20th anniversary release which includes a first release on vinyl. 'If you heard the record you were special because it was a little niche and emotive and it felt special'. The album was a long time in the making but as Wainwright explained: 'I felt a great relief because I had been working so hard. I was concerned about what was going to happen and to 'make it' or have a career. Finally, after years of effort, I flew over to England and the press showed up, the record came out and I appeared on Jools Holland. It felt all of that was not for nothing and I was going to have an opportunity to have a career in music.' The debut is a confessional singer-songwriter long-player that continues to stir the emotions, what's it like to revisit those tracks twenty years later? She said: 'I wouldn't want to tour an anniversary record for the rest of my life but a lot of the lyrics still apply or have taken on a new meaning. One of the lyrics in Far Away is 'I have no children/I have no husband/I have no reason'. I no longer have a husband and my children are almost teenagers, so in a way, it still applies. It was a period in life, the people and relationships, it was such a very emotional record and not necessarily a pop record or one that everyone knew or listened to. 'If you heard the record you were special because it was a little niche and emotive and it felt special. It was my story in the music business and I was really at a turning point or crossroads. What's a relief is that I can still easily sing the songs, they are in the same key. I'm not wrestling with the material and I'm still enjoying it.' The album contains a beautiful rendition of Whither Must I Wander by composer Ralph Vaughn Williams. He was inspired by the Robert Louis Stevenson poem of the same name and used Stevenson's verse for the lyrics. Martha said: 'My mum (Kate McGarrigle) and brother Rufus (Wainwright) would have suggestions for songs and they picked that one for me. I usually do at least one cover, they are quite important on my records. It's funny Rufus says 'We're the same age now' and I'm like 'Nope; I'm two and a half years younger'. After all the time he spent telling me what to do as the little sister I get to hold on to being younger!' Rufus also joins Martha for Bring Back My Heart on the vinyl release of a track that only appeared on certain editions of the album. She said: 'I've tried to use my brother and his name to my advantage and that includes having his talent on the records.' Being part of a songwriting dynasty does have its advantages. A memorable event was when her mother and aunt, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, were invited to record with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds for his No More Shall We Part album back in 2001. 'It was super cool that Nick Cave had them be Bad Seeds and introduce people of our generation to them. I don't know if they knew how cool Nick Cave was and is, they were just into the music and into him and whatever he did. It was so awesome, interesting and intriguing. I think for them it was exciting to be part of an album that mattered and to be invited by Nick Cave who they were both completely in love with.' The sisters, also said to be an influence on Kate Bush, inspired a variety of artists but chose to keep a relatively low profile adding to their mystique. 'My mother pointed it out in a cool McGarrigle way (about Kate Bush), she was happy to tell me about it. I don't know if it was made clear by Kate Bush or in an article. They were so hip in so many ways without trying and that was the nature of their career. It was a little outside of the grind of the music industry and they made decisions as artists that were perhaps unconventional. They toured but didn't tour like many of us do, it was a rare thing. I think she wondered what might have happened had she gone further and dedicated herself more but for whatever reason she didn't.' Martha also starred in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator (2004) performing the great American standard I'll Be Seeing You. It was a definitive experience that included her father Louden Wainwright III and brother Rufus. 'That was really where nepotism came in handy. I was in that movie with Rufus and my father and we all do a scene each at different points.' The song was recorded in New York City and Martha was later invited to shoot her scenes in Montreal. After a long wait in full costume and make-up, she began to wonder if her scene was going to happen, at the end of a long day a sense of deflation set in. 'The next day they finally called me to do my scene, it took about 45 minutes and it was just me and Scorsese and he directed me. It was one of the greatest things that ever happened in my life.' The last time I met Martha for an interview, she had just climbed Arthur's Seat with her band for the first time back in 2005. Is it something she plans to do this time around? 'In Edinburgh that first time I got the band up to Arthur's Seat, it's always a big thing and experience to do that walk before a show.' While this tour will feature a full band she is expecting to also take the songs out on another run during an acoustic tour. 'I have to say this band is fantastic. I'll probably have to go out on the road and do this record solo to make some money but it's wonderful to come out with musicians on the first go around and recreate the music. 'We've been on the road with the record for a month in North America so we are getting really comfortable with it and we are opening up the songs and taking more liberties. The Maker has been really fun, there are some songs where you feel connected less but they can return and ring true in that moment.' Martha Wainwright will play The Queen's Hall on Wednesday 4 June Tickets are sold out but there is a waiting list. Credit Gaëlle Leroyer Credit Gaëlle Leroyer Credit Gaëlle Leroyer Like this: Like Related
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fell race to take place through tunnels of Honister's historic slate mine
A unique fell race is set to return to the Lake District this summer. Honister Slate Mine will host the Bowels of Fleetwith race on Saturday, July 5, offering runners a blend of outdoor and underground terrain. The 6km course, just 20 minutes from Keswick, features a mix of rugged fell and a rare 1km section through Honister's historic slate mine tunnels. The race combines subterranean terrain with exposed mountain ridgelines (Image: Tom McNally) The route boasts an ascent of about 1,500 metres, including two iconic Wainwright summits: Fleetwith Pike (648m) and Grey Knotts (697m). Beginning at Honister Slate Mine, runners face a steep incline before entering the mountain via an old mine entrance. With helmets and head torches, participants navigate various underground chambers and passageways, areas not usually open to the public. The fell runners will traverse tunnels not usually open to the public (Image: Tom McNally) They then emerge partway up Fleetwith Pike, remove their equipment, and continue the ascent before traversing to Grey Knotts and descending back to the finish. The race, combining subterranean terrain with exposed mountain ridgelines, has attracted both seasoned athletes and newcomers. The event, in its fifth year, has built a dedicated following. With helmets and head torches, participants navigate various underground chambers and passageways (Image: Tom McNally) It's seen as an immersive experience, deeply rooted in the Lake District's rich landscape and heritage. Open to runners aged 16 and over, those under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. The entry fee is £30 per person, and due to limited capacity, booking is described as "essential." The race has become a distinctive part of the UK fell running calendar, providing a unique test of stamina in an environment unlike any other.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
1,500-year-old bucket was cremation burial vessel, archaeologists say
A 1,500-year-old bucket discovered in England has been identified as an ancient cremation burial vessel, experts said. The 6th-century bucket was found at Sutton Hoo, an archaeological site near Suffolk, England, that is home to two ancient cemeteries. Fragments of the bucket, named the Bromeswell bucket, were first found in 1986. Researchers found more pieces of the relic last year during an excavation by Time Team, a British TV show where archaeologists conduct excavations on-camera. An analysis of the newly-discovered pieces determined that Time Team had found the entire base of the bucket, and that it contained human bone fragments, the National Trust, a U.K.-based conservation organization, said in a news release. The bones included part of an ankle bone and fragments of a skull, which the National Trust said was proof of an "early Anglo-Saxon cremation burial." Angus Wainwright, a National Trust archaeologist, said in the news release that the burial appeared to be "very special," and that researchers will conduct further analysis. There were also animal bones inside the bucket, which is made of copper alloy and is decorated with a hunting scene. The National Trust said the bones were larger than those of a pig, and noted that horses were often included on funeral pyres as a symbol of status during this time. The bones will undergo radiocarbon dating, the National Trust said. "We knew that this bucket would have been a rare and prized possession back in Anglo-Saxon times, but it's always been a mystery why it was buried," Wainwright said. "Now we know it was used to contain the remains of an important person in the Sutton Hoo community." The bucket was made in the Byzantine Empire and may have been a diplomatic gift or acquired by a mercenary Saxon soldier, the National Trust said. The vessel is decorated with a scene of men armed with swords and shields. The scene also includes lions and dogs. The newest fragments help complete the picture, showing feet, paws, the base of shields and the face of one hunting man. Also inside the bucket was a double-sided comb that the National Trust said was likely made from antler. The agency said its researchers hope ancient DNA can be recovered from the object. The item was not burned in the cremation process, the National Trust noted. The inclusion of such combs in other burial sites suggest that "personal appearance and grooming was important to the Anglo-Saxons." The comb could also have been used to control lice, the trust said. Plant remains were found during the excavation of the bucket pieces. Analysis of those pieces could "reveal more about the climate and seasonality around the time the bucket was buried," the National Trust said. Time Team aired a documentary about the discovery and year-long analysis project earlier in May. The group will conduct more research at Sutton Hoo through mid-June. Trump delivers Memorial Day remarks at Arlington National Cemetery Full interview: Jack McCain on "Face the Nation" Trump seeks to end all federal contracts with Harvard
