Owen Farrell, the former England captain, will be eligible for a remarkable call-up for the Australian tour of the British and Irish Lions.
Utility back Elliot Daly has been ruled out with an arm injury he sustained in Wednesday’s win over the Queensland Reds, and coach Andy Farrell will turn to his son in the interim.
After a difficult season in Paris with Racing 92, 33-year-old Owen Farrell recently made his Saracens debut.
Before taking a break from England duty after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, he won 112 caps for his nation.
There is no denying Farrell’s credentials because he was a Test Lion on the 2013 and 2021 tours.
However, his request is contentious.
After suffering a concussion while playing for Racing against Lyon on May 4, his final game for the Top 14 side, Farrell hasn’t played international rugby in nearly two years and hasn’t played at all in nearly nine weeks.
Other contenders have been training and getting ready for competitive rugby with their respective national teams, including Blair Murray from Wales and Tom Jordan from Scotland.
However, Andy Farrell confirmed that Owen, despite not having any international rugby, was in contention for a place in the Lions squad when he named them on May 8th.
Images courtesy of Getty
The Lions’ midfield could change with Farrell’s inclusion, with the Saracens playmaker comfortable at both the fly-half and inside center.
Finn Russell, Bundee Aki, and Sione Tuipulotu are the clear favorites to start the Test series at fly-half, as of right now.
Marcus Smith had yet to have the opportunity to start in his preferred position of number 10, while Fin Smith had been scheduled to serve as Russell’s backup.
After the Lions defeated the Queensland Reds 52-12, Andy Farrell suggested even if Daly was ruled out, they still had “lots of full-backs.”
Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn, who both arrived late following Toulouse’s Top 14 victory, have both struggled with injuries and illness, respectively.
Four days later, the Lions take on the ACT Brumbies in Canberra before hosting the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.
Following the deaths caused by weather-related deaths in other parts of China, northern and western China are still on high alert as a result of more torrential rain.
Rains made their way to Gansu province in the northwest and then Liaoning province in the northeast on Thursday, making it extremely dangerous.
More than 1, 000 rescue workers were dispatched to Taiping, a town in central Henan province, on Wednesday as a river burst its banks, causing three people to pass away and three to go missing, according to state media.
After a heavy downpour on Wednesday and Thursday, another state media report confirmed the death of two people at a construction site in Gansu.
In Hubei, China’s central province of Xianfeng experienced a record-breaking summer downpour, bringing in more than a month of rain in just 12 hours, with local videos demonstrating how torrents werehed away cars.
On June 25, 2025, workers in Liuzhou, in southwest China’s Guangxi region, clear mud after the floodwaters subside.
Authorities there evacuated 18, 000 people on Tuesday, shut down schools, and halted bus services.
China’s Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing reaffirmed his country’s leadership’s call to increase the volume of evacuations over the course of a two-day visit to Hebei, which included a visit to the province’s northern province.
Although there is a nationwide system to forecast and monitor severe weather, scientists say it’s challenging to make localized forecasts, especially in rural areas without the capacity to do so.
Early this week, Meng Gao, a climate modelling specialist at Hong Kong Baptist University, told the Reuters news agency that it is challenging to accurately forecast the intensity and exact location of heavy rain.
More than $10 billion in economic losses were caused by the “plum rains” in China last July, which came about during the plum-ripening season.
The Gaza Government Media Office claims that Israel has committed “26 bloody massacres” during that time, including more than 300 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Government Media Office.
33 desperate aid seekers are among the controversial Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid sites where at least 73 people have been killed by Israel since dawn on Thursday.
According to medical sources who spoke to Al Jazeera, Israeli forces killed 13 people when they attacked a tent in al-Mawasi in the south of Gaza, and another 11 were killed and many were hurt in an Israeli attack on the Mostafa Hafez school, which provides shelter to displaced people west of Gaza City.
The attacks, according to a statement from the government media office on Thursday, targeted civilians in shelters and displacement centers overrun with tens of thousands of displaced people, Palestinian families living inside their homes, popular markets and crucial civilian facilities, and starving civilians looking for food.
According to accounts and videos obtained by The Associated Press news agency, American contractors ostensibly guarding Gaza’s aid distribution centers have been using live ammunition and stun grenades to pelpel Palestinians for food.
Under the condition of anonymity, two US contractors claimed they were speaking out because they found these practices to be dangerous. They claimed that the security personnel they were employing frequently lacked credentials, improper training, excessive weapons, and an open mind to do whatever they desired.
On Tuesday, more than 130 humanitarian organizations, including Oxfam, Save the Children, and Amnesty International, demanded the GHF’s immediate closure, alleging it to be a source of aid to Palestinians who are starving.
According to the NGOs, Israeli forces and armed groups “routinely” fire on civilians who attempt to get food.
Nearly 4, 000 Palestinians have been hurt and more than 600 have died since the GHF started operating in late May.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 56 of the 647 people killed and 134 of the 105 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza. During the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks, an estimated 1, 139 people died in Israel, and more than 200 were taken prisoner.
In the balance, there is no longer a ceasefire.
Hamas claims to be looking into new options for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, but it insisted that an agreement would put an end to Israel’s bloody conflict is still being sought.
Hamas said in a statement on Wednesday that it had received mediation proposals and is speaking with them to “bridge gaps” so that it can return to the table of negotiations and attempt to reach a ceasefire agreement.
The group stated that its goal was to reach a resolution that would end the occupation of Gaza and allow the enclave’s Israeli forces to leave.
The announcement comes a day after Donald Trump said Hamas should accept the proposed 60-day ceasefire and that Israel had agreed to it. Trump has been putting more pressure on Hamas and the Israeli government to negotiate a ceasefire and for the release of Israeli prisoners in Gaza.
Kate Price revealed that she was forbidden from their daughter Princess’ 18th birthday party, and that she has a relationship with her ex, Peter Andre.
As she opened up to her sister Sophie on the most recent episode of her Katie Price Show podcast, the mother yelled about the snub.
Katie stated in the opening message of this week’s episode that “Princess is now officially an adult, so mummy and Princess can now go out together.” She sprained if certain people would allow her to see me.
Sophie said, “I noticed in her 18th birthday pictures that she was wearing the shoes you gave her.”
Oh no, did she? Katie acknowledged the minor inclusion, saying, “I love that.”
Katie continued, “Everyone knows she’s doing this documentary, but I’m not in it.” “Princess should not be seen with me, according to some people. People who used to care for me.
You, Katie, are not on brand. Your sister called her “you are too risky Katie.” It’s pitiful, “. Katie remarked, “I’m her mother.
She continued, “It’s so sad.” When some of the people who once looked after me are now. Sophie’s sister Sophie then urged Katie to “save it for another day.” Katie allegedly made reference to Peter Andre and their former PR team, who now care for her ex-husband and their young children Junior and Princess.
Katie yelled, “I’m just saying. Princess said, “I’m having a party,” and Princess said, “I’m having a party.” And I wasn’t invited because the event was “filming.”
Oh no, that was a big deal! Sophie sarcastically said “she.” She quipped, “I wonder what restaurant did that for free.”
The management team for Peter Andre and Katie’s children has signed an unidentified name (unknown via Getty Images).
“Katie fumed again because it was for filming,” mummy was obviously not invited.
Do you think she’ll attend an 18th party? A ‘ real ‘ 18th? “sophie mocked.
Katie responded, “I’m not allowed to be seen at any of the things my daughter is doing.”
“Some of the people who are filming the Princess documentary did my filming. It’s fine, but there’s always a conflict of interest. This will be accepted by everyone. So we must do something for Princess’ 18th birthday, Katie said.
The teenager was then contacted by Sophie to find out if she and the family could travel to the Isle of Wight to visit their terminally ill mother Amy.
Katie responded, saying she hoped Princess could join them once filming was over so they could finish it by then.
After having parties with Conor McGregor’s fans in Ibiza, Katie Price’s sister claimed she was “bad for brand” (Conor McGregor Instagram).
After being seen taking a vacation in Ibiza with her daughter, it was speculated that Katie had “snubbed” her daughter’s birthday of her own choosing.
After having more cosmetic procedures, Katie jetted off to the party island, where she had previously been unhappy with her rear enhancement work. She had already had her breasts removed. Katie was spotted hanging out with the host and fellow guest Conor McGregor at Wayne Lineker’s Ocean Beach Club, where she is recovering from surgery.
“Princess has had a really special time over the past few weeks,” according to a source. As she approached her milestone birthday, she had been filming her very own television show, and she has been working really hard in the background with her influencer career.
“Her mother has once more been making headlines for all the wrong reasons.” She has been posing in her bikini, having fun while doing so, and getting lots of attention.
Princess Andre celebrated her 18th birthday with a lavish photo shoot, but her mother was unaffected by the festivities (princess_andre/Instagram).
“Princess should be in the spotlight, but sadly, Katie is unable to stop herself. She has been making every effort to appear in front of the papers. Anyone familiar with Princess will claim that she loves her mother but can also admit that she can be challenging at times.
It was very unfortunate that Katie wasn’t at the bash because “nobody around Princess wants that for her.” She had no intention of attending the celebrations because she wasn’t invited.
Since splitting 16 years ago, Katie has previously revealed that she hasn’t spoken to Peter Andre. After meeting on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, they were married in 2005 and 2009, respectively. Junior and Princess communicate solely through legal teams despite having co-parents.
Former glamour model Katie has pleaded with singer Peter to be her forever partner, but he has refused to do so.
Katie was asked to dispel the rumors that she left Peter heartbroken after cheating on him while speaking on Paul Brunson’s podcast We Need to Talk this year.
He said, “We broke up because he thought my dressage rider and I were having an affair, and I’ve never slept with him.” He was married, and I just kept my horse there.
However, because he used to say, “That’s it,” he and I broke up. There is enough for me. There is enough for me.
I was told, “Well, I’m going until I’m done,” I can recall the time, which was when I and the kids flew to the Maldives.
It was not mutual at all because I was at the airport that day and it was all on Sky News. And then I changed my statement to say that Pete is the one who is splitting with me.
“Up until this day, neither Pete nor I have sat down and discussed it.”
Kevin Lerena sank heavily into the couch in his dressing room as the agonizing weight of loss and grief weighed down on him.
Justis Huni, an Australian prospect, and the South African heavyweight had just won a razor-thin match in Saudi Arabia. In the final round, he outlasted Huni, but he was unable to deliver the decisive blow.
Coming so agonizingly close to victory is difficult for most boxers to accept. However, Lerena felt incredibly relieved.
He was informed of the devastating news that his mother had passed away in South Africa a day earlier.
He told BBC Sport, “I was just happy the fight was over and I could go home and rest my mother.”
Lerena claims that he never felt like pulling out because he never thought it would happen, despite the fact that he never even entered the ring.
When she unexpectedly passed, he continued, “I kept quiet and put on my strong armour to represent my country, my family, and myself.”
“But it was difficult. I was affected by it emotionally. I experienced it during the fight because I’m the only human. I experienced fatigue and draining feelings.
In the most extraordinary life full of highs, lows, and true cinematic drama, Lerena will face Briton Lawrence Okolie on July 19 at Wembley Stadium.
I “tried to put up his hardest fight,” Dubois said.
Rugby was Lerena’s first love at the time she was born and raised in Johannesburg. But he changed his focus to boxing and discovered a pugilism talent when that dream faded.
He is no stranger to the stage and has 33 professional victories and three losses since turning 32.
British fighters will be fond of Lerena for nearly delivering a seismic shock to Daniel Dubois, the current IBF heavyweight champion, at 2022’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Dubois was clearly stunned after the first knockdown and suffering what appeared to be a knee injury during the first round.
Lerena moved forward, but Dubois dropped him in the third, and the referee was forced to intervene.
Lerena remarked, “The referee stopped me from fighting back.”
“It was what it was,” he said. I’m not interested in going on about it. I am aware that Daniel has had his most difficult and difficult test to date.
Lerena’s strong matches with Dubois and Huni established him as a strong heavyweight contender.
Images courtesy of Getty
Lerena distances herself from the Pistorius case.
Lerena might choose to lean into the headlines that his life has produced, but he says that is not his “style” and that he would rather cut himself off from his past.
He testified in courtroom testimony in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial in 2014.
Pistorius was accused of shooting a gun at a restaurant a year before shooting and killing Reeva Steenkamp, the Paralympic sprint champion.
“It was a bad time,” he said. He claimed that he does not want to experience negativity in his life and that he has no ties to those people.
“What occurred then for Oscar and the Steenkamp family was terrible, but it’s not my fault and I don’t think you should base your profile on such events,” said one commentator.
Later, Lerena mentions leaving a 2021 helicopter crash with minor injuries, which would define him but which is just another footnote.
“It was an accident during training.” My pilot license is now available. He expressed regret, praising the circumstances that prevented it.
Okolie up against the “warrior spirit.”
Lerena and Okolie, both of whom were previously cruiserweight champions, square off in the ring. His remarkable story would only grow stronger if he were to win over the Londoner.
However, Lerena’s defeat won’t be due to lack of heart or effort.
“I have that warrior spirit,” I said. I make an effort to find the deepest. He claimed that he had never received a silver spoon in boxing or that he had never received one in life.
Lerena is clear that he wants his fists to speak for themselves, but his life has turned into a Hollywood thriller, from near-death experiences to courtroom drama.
Taylor Lautner, a star of Twilight, is the choice Lerena makes for him in a movie.
