Archive August 30, 2025

Warning: This article makes references to rape and sexual abuse.

“It has given me a lot of resilience.” I’m now 26 and have gone through many things in my life.

Brittany Hogan describes her life as going through “a lot.”

She claimed she was a victim of child sexual abuse when she was a child and that she now has the “confidence and courage” to tell her mother after watching a TV show.

She first discovered rugby at the age of 15 and thinks the sport “saved” her life as she pondered what to do next.

While her past is a part of her journey, she is determined that it will not define her either as she plays for Ireland at the World Cup.

The 26-year-old said, “I’ve had quite a lot of trauma.”

“One of the characters I was watching on Desperate Housewives actually experienced the same fate.”

Hogan had been attempting to process what had transpired on her own before speaking out about the abuse to her mother.

Before she started using therapy, she claimed, “it started entangling my personality and making me unhappy.”

“I’ve been going through counsellors and stuff ever since.” “I’ve been receiving therapy for about 12 years,” Hogan continued.

I make the decision to live my life happy because I’m a very happy person.

Hogan claims that rugby has given her “so much,” and that it just makes me smile.

She first joined her local club in Northern Ireland, Ballynahinch, and Ulster soon capped her career with a grade A.

The back row made her senior Ireland debut in the Covid-delayed Six Nations in October 2020 after beginning her international career in the sevens and competing at the Paris Olympics last year.

I adore everything about it. When I was 15 years old, I started playing rugby,” Hogan said.

Her grandfather passed away in August, and Hogan’s father passed away two years ago, and she has been through heartache.

She claims to be playing for them because the Ireland team has backed her.

In my life, those two men have a lot of influence. Both of them kind of sculpted me into who I am today.

I chose not to lie in my bed and worry or to be sad. I made the decision to represent both my teammates and myself.

Hogan, who won 35 caps for Ireland, is a key player and will start her second World Cup game against Spain on Sunday after winning the first Pool C game against Japan last week.

She continued, “Being vulnerable doesn’t mean you’re weaker than others.”

“Just because I’ve gone through something doesn’t mean I don’t deserve to play for my country or have the same opportunities as other people.”

I’m not sure if I would have played for my country if I hadn’t gone through that. My character has already been created. I should be ready to depart right away.

Warning: This article contains references to rape and sexual abuse

“It’s made me such a resilient person. I’m 26 now, and I’ve gone through what some people go through in a lifetime.”

In her own words, Brittany Hogan has been through “a lot” in her life.

Growing up she was a victim of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a person she trusted, saying now that she found the “confidence and courage” to reveal it to her mum after watching a TV show.

Aged 15 she discovered rugby and believes the sport “saved” her life as she navigated through her next steps.

Now, she’s playing at a World Cup for Ireland and, while her past is part of her journey, she is determined that it will not define her either.

“I’ve experienced quite a lot of trauma,” said the 26-year-old.

“I was actually watching an episode of Desperate Housewives, the same kind of thing happened to one of their characters.

Before opening up to her mum about the abuse, Hogan had been trying to process what had happened on her own.

She said it “started engulfing my personality, making me not happy” before she turned to therapy.

“I’ve been through counsellors and stuff ever since. I’ve had about 12 years of therapy,” Hogan added.

“I’m a very happy person, I choose to live my life happy.”

Hogan says that rugby has given her “so much” and the sport “just brings a smile to my face”.

She began playing rugby at Ballynahinch, her local club in Northern Ireland, and was soon capped through the age grades by Ulster.

The back row’s international career initially came in sevens, and she competed at the Paris Olympics last year, but she transitioned to the XVs game and made her senior Ireland debut in the Covid-delayed Six Nations in October 2020.

“I love every aspect of it. I took up rugby when I was 15,” Hogan said.

Hogan endured recent heartbreak when her father passed away two years ago, and her grandfather died in August.

She says she is playing for them having found support within the Ireland team.

“Those are two very influential men in my life. They both kind of sculpted me into the person I am today.

“I could either lie in my bed and worry or lie in my bed and be sad but I chose not to. I chose to show up for my team-mates and show up for myself.”

With 35 caps to her name, Hogan is a key player for Ireland and is set to make her second appearance at the World Cup off the bench against Spain on Sunday, after being named player of the match in the opening Pool C win over Japan last week.

“Being vulnerable doesn’t mean that you’re weaker than others,” she added.

“Just because I’ve gone through stuff doesn’t mean I don’t deserve the same opportunities as other people and don’t deserve to play for my country.

“If I hadn’t gone through that stuff, I don’t even know if I would have played for my country. My character is built now. I should be good to go now.”

Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade has been signed for a six-year contract by Newcastle United, breaking club records.

The 23-year-old Germany international, who stands at 6′ 6″, has signed for Newcastle in a £69 million deal.

This surpasses the $63 million investment that Newcastle made three years ago, making Alexander Isak the club’s most expensive player.

Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Isak’s future, who is determined to join Liverpool, Woltemade will have a significant role to play going forward.

He expressed his delight at this incredible club, “absolutely.” I initially got the impression that the club was interested in and had big plans for me.

Everyone has welcomed me so warmly and it already feels like family, but it’s a big step in my life to leave Germany. Talking with the head coach gave me the impression that this is where I should be at my absolute best.

“I have seen games on television and have seen the stadium, and I know the atmosphere is crazy. I’m very excited to begin scoring goals here.

Eddie Howe, the head coach of Newcastle United, stated: “We’re delighted to have Nick’s signing over the line so quickly. He provides exactly what we were looking to add to our attacking options.

Woltemade appears to be a battering ram from a center forward at first glance, but that is completely untrue.

The powerful striker, who has been nicknamed “Woltemessi” by Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, is technically gifted and adept at pulling his body out of tight spaces and linking play.

To cap a remarkable 12-month contract with Woltemade, Newcastle were persuaded to break their transfer record thanks to this distinctive profile.

Woltemade wasn’t even a household name in Germany until a year ago. When he joined Stuttgart as a free agent from Werder Bremen, he was not even guaranteed a starting position.

However, he has made some remarkable progress since then.

Woltemade won the first significant trophy of his career by winning 17 goals in 33 games for Stuttgart last year, including the German Cup final.

He then led Germany to the Under-21 World Cup final, where they lost to England in extra time, last month, and he led the group in scoring with six goals.

Woltemade won’t have much time to settle at Newcastle, incidentally, just like Isak did when he first joined the club three years ago and at a similar age and in the same window of opportunity. However, Under Howe and his staff, this is unmistakable.

Given the circumstances surrounding Isak and the short window of time, the black-and-whites will undoubtedly have felt they must make the move this summer.

After another impressive season in the Bundesliga, there is a very real chance that Woltemade, who also attracted bids from Bayern Munich, would have been unattainable.

However, it seems like Newcastle are not yet complete.

They are still active in the market and are interested in Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen.

There isn’t much time left for Wolves or Brentford to find a replacement before Monday’s 19:00 BST deadline, so neither deal would be simple to close. However, things can change quickly.