Latest news with #WillCarling
Daily Mail
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gary Lineker's nephew is the son of a celebrity sports star - can you guess who it is?
Gary Lineker 's nephew is the son of a celebrity sports star. The broadcaster, 64, has four sons, George, 34, Harry, 31, Tobias, 29, and Angus, 27, with ex wife Michelle Cockayne who he tied the knot with in 1986. Through Michelle, he also has a nephew-in-law via her sister Ali Cockayne, to whom his sons are close. Sharing an update to Instagram this week Gary's son, George, uploaded a photo to his story with his cousin, Henry. But, can you guess who his dad is? From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Henry Carling is the son of rugby legend Will Carling. Will and Henry's mum Ali separated when he was just 11 months old in 1998. Tragically the family were left saddened in September last year by the death of his brother Jonty, who Ali shared with her new partner Bob Parkinson. Jonty died of a crush injury to his abdomen after the incident in Oxfordshire. The incident happened while the 18-year-old was working as a tree surgeon. A inquest opened in October 2024 at Oxford Coroner's Court heard Jonty, of Coln St. Aldwyns, Cirencester, died on Friday September 6. At the time, two of Gary's sons wrote moving social media messages about the death of their 'much-loved' cousin. George posted an Instagram story featuring a picture of himself with Jonty as a youngster. The caption read: 'One of the nicest boys you'll meet, taken far too soon. Fly high cousin, you'll be missed by all.' Meanwhile Tobias also posted a boyhood picture of Jonty smiling with a message, saying: 'Taken from us far too soon, rest in peace little cousin.' The relationship between Ali and Will reportedly began in early 1996, several months before his divorce from television presenter Julia Carling. His two-year marriage to Julia had ended after he was publicly linked with the late Diana, Princess of Wales, although he always denied having a relationship with the Royal. Ali and Carling were said to be preparing to marry in 1998 when he walked out on her to be with Lisa Cooke, the estranged wife of his friend and ex-England rugby player David Cooke. She was reportedly devastated to learn their relationship was over when she discovered a press release which Carling had written in the study of their luxury home in Sunningdale, Berkshire. It allegedly read: 'Will Carling is leaving his partner Ali Cockayne for a future with Lisa Cooke'. The couple's dramatic break-up happened just a month after Will retired from rugby, having won three Grand Slams. Lisa's relationship with Will is said to have begun while she was organising his testimonial match at Wembley. Will released a statement at the time through his agent, saying: 'This has been a very sad and painful time for everyone concerned. 'It is even more difficult and emotional because of Henry, but I plan to fulfil my duties and responsibilities as a father.' He and Lisa married in Fiji in 1999 with her two children from her earlier marriage being the only guests. The couple have since had two children together.
The Guardian
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
RFU makes radical bid to ditch ‘old farts' council in Sweeney shake-up
The Rugby Football Union plans to do away with its council - the decision-making body infamously dubbed '57 old farts' by Will Carling - in a radical governance shake-up following Bill Sweeney's survival as chief executive last month. In a move that would significantly strengthen Sweeney's position and represent the biggest change to the structure of the organisation in recent history, a proposal has been sent for public consultation featuring two options to overhaul the RFU's governance - both of which would do away with the council, which currently has 63 members. At last month's Special General Meeting, Sweeney survived a vote of no confidence – facing down a rebellion that was sparked by the RFU pay scandal – while a second vote was passed to expedite the union's governance review. As a result, the RFU has begun the consultation process which will run until the end of June. The proposal is expected to go down badly among the rebels given it is the council who provides oversight of the board on which Sweeny sits. Options set out by the governance and representation review group include replacing the council with a smaller national advisory group or replacing those members with game representatives who would be embedded within all the decision-making bodies. Ultimately, the review group will report back to the council with a final report and set of recommendations after the consultation period. 'This review represents an opportunity for real change,' said Malcolm Wharton, chair of the review group. 'We want to work with the game to identify a progressive, inclusive, agile and local approach to governance, where we can deliver greater transparency built on a culture of shared ownership so rugby can thrive across the country.' As well as providing oversight of the board, the RFU is responsible for setting regulations for the game in England such as competition structures and laws. The majority of council members are elected from geographic areas made up of a single county, or group of counties. The council has long since been opposed to doing away with relegation and promotion between the Premiership and the Championship but, amid plans for a franchised top tier, its removal would appear to remove that hurdle. An emergency council meeting called shortly before Christmas sought to stave off a vote of no confidence in the then chairman Tom Ilube from a group of disgruntled members. Instead he resigned shortly afterwards with pressure mounting on the board after it emerged Sweeney was paid £1.1m last year. Following that explosive council meeting, a group of members turned on their colleagues, accusing them of 'bullying, entitlement and elitism'. Ed Warner, the chair of GB wheelchair rugby, a former chair of UK Athletics and a member of the review group, said: 'The headline-grabbing corollary is our suggestion that the RFU Council be disbanded entirely, or alternatively be replaced by a smaller collection of selected [not elected] individuals who are available to be consulted as expert advisors when necessary. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion 'I've no doubt this will rankle with a number of existing council members, but am hopeful that the logic of this streamlined structure, empowering those within community rugby, will win the hearts and minds of the majority. None of this lets the RFU board and executive off the hook. 'In fact, it makes it near impossible for them to wriggle out of their responsibilities. Which is just as it should be. All, then, will rest on the effectiveness of the system established to identify appointees to the Board, and on the willingness of clubs to exercise their influence, as enshrined in their voting rights, to ensure that the directors and the executives they employ are held firmly to account.'
The Guardian
04-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Carling questions calibre of England coaching staff and ‘sensitive' players
The former England captain Will Carling has questioned the quality of the coaching within the national set-up and suggested it is holding the team back. Carling, who was part of England's backroom staff under Eddie Jones, has also rejected complaints from squad members such as Ellis Genge that ex-players are 'out of touch' after their criticism of last month's win over Scotland. Carling, who captained England from 1988 to 1996 and presided over one of the country's most successful periods, says the players look restricted by a gameplan that prevents them from replicating the ability they show at club level. 'You look at the calibre of the England coaching team and you have to question whether that's the best we can put out there,' Carling said on Radio 4's Today programme. 'Some of them are learning, some of them are very young and maybe lack the experience at Test level. Maybe that's what we're seeing impact on the players. Someone like Alex Mitchell has been outstanding [for Northampton] all season and yet we see him play in a very different way for England. We do have some talented players there's no doubt. And maybe we're seeing a slightly restricted version of them.' Carling, who led England to 44 wins in his 59 Tests in charge, suggested that Genge's dismissive reaction to concerns expressed by a number of former England internationals was wide of the mark. 'I wouldn't necessarily agree with him,' Carling said. 'A lot of ex-players are hugely experienced and have a lot of knowledge. 'But I understand that when you're a current player you're highly sensitive. You're trying as hard as you can to win games [and] they've had a tough run. Let's be honest, we're talking a tough run for three or four years now. That's where players have to understand people will have opinions. 'I remember all these times we had some very ugly wins and you watch the reaction of the media and the fans. It is a bit frustrating but you have to take a deep breath and accept that's part and parcel of it.' The 59-year-old former centre was first recruited by Jones to be a squad mentor in 2018 at a time when the current head coach, Steve Borthwick, was on the coaching staff. Along with other ex-England stalwarts such as Will Greenwood and Ben Youngs, however, he was unimpressed by the manner of the performance against Scotland, despite the team's 16-15 victory. Carling subsequently described it as 'very ugly' and believes supporters are entitled to ask questions about the side's development before Sunday's game against Italy. 'I still think we're way off the potential of this team and let's just hope we start seeing that. There are definitely frustrations and that's what the players probably sense from the fans and the media.' Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion With the Six Nations title still up for grabs, Carling backed France to upset the defending champions, Ireland, in Dublin on Saturday. 'The French were unbelievably impressive against Italy. When they're playing at their best they're extraordinary. The England defeat still hurts them so I would go along with them at the weekend.'
