Cardiff have signed former Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny on a short-term contract.
Halfpenny, 36, will initially take on a kicking coach role but aims to play for the Arms Park side again when he recovers from a calf injury.
The former British and Irish Lions Test star had been training with Cardiff after leaving Harlequins at the end of the 2024-25 season.
The deal had been agreed before the departure of former head coach Matt Sherratt who left to join Steve Tandy’s Wales backroom staff.
Combining playing and coaching
Halfpenny was given a kicking coach role by Wales during the summer tour of Japan where he worked in the backroom staff of Sherratt, who has since left Cardiff to become the permanent Wales attack coach.
“I have been fortunate to work as a kicking coach with Wales Under-20s a few years ago and more recently had the privilege of working with the senior team in Japan this summer,” said Halfpenny
“This is the next step in that journey and I’m really enjoying working with Cardiff’s kickers and their young back-three players.
“There is so much talent here and if I can help them in any way, passing on my experience then that is great.”
In an illustrious career Halfpenny won 101 Wales caps, appeared in four Lions Test matches and won the Heineken Cup during his time with Toulon.
He is not yet ready to hang up his boots.
Back to where it all began
Halfpenny played for Cardiff RFC and Cardiff Blues between 2007 and 2014 before moving to Toulon and later Scarlets.
During his previous seven years at Cardiff, Halfpenny made 87 appearances, scoring 568 points.
The 36-year-old won both the Amlin Challenge Cup and Anglo-Welsh Cup during that time.
“After coming through the academy and spending seven years here, I have always hoped to come back to the Arms Park one day,” said Halfpenny.
“To be able to play for this club again would mean so much to me, where it all started.
To combat and prevent sexual harassment at work, the Lagos State government has developed new guidelines.
During a symposium held at Victoria Island’s Civic Centre, the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) unveiled the framework.
The event focused on the effects of SGBV on organizational productivity and sexuality.
More than 130 professionals from the trade union, hospitality, FMCG, oil and gas, and banking joined together for the event.
Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, the executive secretary of DSVA, described SGBV as a significant economic challenge and a human rights violation.
Survey
According to the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, which predicted annual losses of $ 3.0 billion, or nearly 1% of output, she cited.
Additionally, she shared the findings of a recent survey of 549 professionals on workplace harassment.
Over 70% of respondents had direct experience, while 89.3% had a family member who was affected.
Read more about the rescue of six as a two-story building collapses in Lagos.
Only 4.5% of respondents said they had never experienced workplace harassment.
She said, “This reality underscores the urgent need for enforceable workplace policies that promote dignity, respect, and inclusivity.”
Princess Olumegbon, the head of the Lagos Assembly Committee on Women Affairs, stated that SGBV must be addressed both as a societal and economic challenge.
She assured the audience that the House would work to improve the legal frameworks for preventing gender-based violence.
Calls For Zero Tolerance
Goodwill messages were delivered during the symposium’s keynote address, which was delivered by Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) founder Kemi Ibru.
Ibru advocated for the use of zero-tolerance laws and survivor support systems and highlighted the impact of SGBV on productivity.
The official release of the Lagos State Guidelines for Preventing and Addressing Sexual Harassment at Work was a major highlight.
TOWIE cast member Lauren Goodger has been posting about a recent visit to hospital where she had a procedure, with her having shared updates on social media today
View 3 Images
Lauren Goodger has shared updates with fans about having been in hospital recently(Image: Hoda Davaine/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Reality TV star Lauren Goodger has shared a warning to fans after undergoing surgery this week. The Only Way is Essex cast member announced earlier today that she is now awaiting the results of a biopsy following the procedure.
Lauren, 39, has revealed that she had three moles removed at a hospital in Essex. She said that one of them was “deep rooted” and it has been sent off for analysis at a laboratory, with her now urging fans to check their own moles.
The former Celebrity Big Brother housemate posted the updates on Instagram. Lauren first shared a selfie of herself wearing a medical gown whilst she lay in a bed. She didn’t provide any details but tagged the hospital in the post.
READ MORE: William Shatner breaks silence with health update after ‘medical emergency’READ MORE: Gogglebox’s Amy Tapper issues weight loss jab warning despite plans to stay on it
Hours later, she teased that she’d had a procedure and issued a warning, suggesting that her next post would contain cuts, blood and stitches. She wrote: “WARNING Caution .. Next slide skip if you don’t like cuts or blood or stitches.”
Lauren then posted a photo that showed a blue sheet that appeared to have blood on it. A hole in the sheet showed stitches over an incision in her skin, with her writing about the surgery in the accompanying caption.
She told her followers that she had three moles removed in the procedure and suggested that the photo documented the removal of a “deep rooted” one. Lauren also said that her moles had changed when she was pregnant.
The caption began: “I’ve had 3 moles removed, this one was cut out and removed as was deep rooted being sent off to the lab.” She went on to encourage others to check their bodies, writing: “So important so check your moles.”
She continued: “I’ve always been a sun worshiper but these changed in pregnancy.” She concluded by telling her followers on the platform: “But all removed now maybe have a few more soon results and stitches out in 2 weeks.”
Lauren is the latest celebrity to encourage fans to monitor their moles. Last month, Love Island star Zara McDermott posted about a form of skin cancer screening and she told her followers: “Check your body as often as possible.”
According to the NHS, a new mole or the change in appearance of an existing one “may be signs of melanoma,” which is a type of skin cancer. It states that melanomas are “more common in areas that are often exposed to the sun”.
It adds: “It’s important to check your moles regularly for any changes.” It also says: “UV light from the sun can increase the chance of a mole becoming cancerous. If you have lots of moles, you need to be extra careful in the sun.”
Article continues below
The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.
In Ecuador, the second deadly prison brawl to hit the nation this week, at least 17 people have died.
The coastal city of Esmeraldas, close to the Colombian border, was the scene of the fighting on Thursday. According to reports, police discovered dead prisoners inside their cellblocks, and images of victims lying face-down on the ground with blood-stained torsos were shared on social media and verified by the AFP news agency. At least two of them were killed.
A local police chief reported that a prison riot in southern Ecuador earlier this week resulted in the death of 14 people and the injury of 14.
According to Police Chief William Calle, prisoners in the port town of Machala, south of Guayaquil, killed a guard and kidnapped officers on Monday, according to Ecuavisa.
Ecuador’s prison system has a long history of deadly violence.
In Guayaquil in 2021, the largest prison massacre in Ecuador, between rival rival gangs, led to the deaths of more than 100 prisoners and injured more than 50 others.
Since February 2021, there have been about 500 inmates killed, often in gruesome ways, with their bodies dismembered and burned in gang wars inside the country’s prisons.
After the release of narcotics boss Jose Adolfo Macias, also known as Fito, in 2013, gang members held a television presenter at gunpoint live on air while detonating bombs on the outside.
The military was given the order to take control of the prisons after President Daniel Noboa declared a “state of internal armed conflict.” Eight penitentiaries, including the Machala prison, were then returned to police control last month, though.
Colombia and Peru, the two biggest cocaine exporters in the world, have recently seen violence in Ecuador as rival gangs with ties to Colombia and Colombia fight for control.
Chichester City FC and former Arsenal academy striker Billy Vigar has died after sustaining a “significant brain injury”.
Vigar, 21 and born in Worthing, was injured during a game at Wingate and Finchley on Saturday in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
It is thought the injury was caused when he collided with a concrete wall, but the club has not confirmed this.
“After sustaining a significant brain injury last Saturday, Billy Vigar was put into an induced coma,” the family said.
“On Tuesday, he needed an operation to aid any chances of recovery. Although this helped, the injury proved too much for him and he passed away on Thursday morning.
Vigar was a graduate of the Arsenal academy, leaving the club in 2024, and also had spells at Derby County, Hastings United and Eastbourne Borough.
A statement from Arsenal said everyone at the club was “deeply sorry” to hear of his death.
“Billy joined our academy on schoolboy terms aged 14, after being scouted at his hometown club Hove Rivervale FC and excelled as a striker at Hale End, scoring 17 goals in his debut season,” the club said.
“In 2020, his performances earned him a scholarship and joined us full-time for the 2020-21 season, his intake including current players Charles Sagoe Jr, Remy Mitchell and others such as Omari Hutchinson, Charlie Patino and Brook Norton-Cuffy.
“Quick, powerful and fiercely determined, his first season as a scholar was blighted by a serious hamstring injury, but he made up for it in his second, scoring four goals in 18 under-18 appearances and signed professional terms for the club at the end of that 2021-22 season.
“Billy went on to appear for us in the PL2 and EFL Trophy and proved to be an asset across the forward positions and even deputised in defence – his versatility illustrating his commitment to the coaching staff and his team.
“As well as his significant talent, Billy will always be remembered for his love of the game, pride at representing our football club – he once called the day he was spotted by our scouts as ‘the most Important of his life’ – and a character beloved by team-mates and coaches alike.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the Vigar family and his many friends at this extremely difficult time.”
Derby County said in a statement: “All at Derby County are deeply saddened by the passing of Billy Vigar.
“Billy spent the second half of the 2022-23 season with the academy on loan from Arsenal, making several appearances for the Under-21s.
“The thoughts of everyone at the club are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
A spokesperson for Hastings said: “All of us at Hastings United are devastated to learn of the passing of Billy Vigar.
“We will always remember Billy’s time at Hastings United with fondness. Our thoughts are with Billy’s family [and] friends at this time.”
Vigar made 32 appearances for Eastbourne while on loan from Arsenal during the 2023-24 season.
Eastbourne said: “Both footballing and non-footballing club staff are shocked and deeply saddened at the news, and our thoughts are with Billy’s family at this terrible time.”
The FA said in a statement: “We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, loved ones and everyone at Chichester City FC at this incredibly difficult time.”
Marc Jacobs’ Daisy Ever So Fresh perfume has just received a huge 50% price cut, slashing it to under £50 as shoppers say it smells ‘bright and fresh’ and lasts ‘all day’
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
View 3 Images
The Marc Jacobs Daisy Ever So Fresh is one of the brand’s latest launches(Image: LookFantastic)
When it comes to perfumes, the criteria we’re always looking for is a great smell and a long-lasting scent. And really, what more could you need from a fragrance?
Luckily, it seems Marc Jacobs’ Daisy Ever So Fresh manages to tick off all those boxes and more. Not to mention it’s currently got a more than impressive discount applied to it, as LookFantastic has slashed the price by 50% for a limited time.
READ MORE: I found a way to get £930 worth of free makeup from brands like Rodial and Augustinus Bader
READ MORE: ‘LookFantastic’s 2025 beauty advent calendar got me £550 worth of free luxury beauty products’
Usually priced at £95 for a 75ml bottle, it’s currently reduced to just £47.50. The 50ml bottle is the only one with 50% discount applied, however the 30ml bottle is now £49.60 down from £62, and the 125ml bottle has been slashed to £93.60 from £117, so you can still make decent savings on the perfume.
The Daisy Ever So Fresh is one of the latest additions to Marc Jacobs’ Daisy perfume collection, and combines soft floral notes with fresh and zesty citrus scents. The top notes include mandarin, mango and pineapple, whilst the heart notes are rosewater and orange blossom essence.
Finishing off with base notes of cashmere woods, the perfume is perfect for transitioning from summer into autumn, bringing a fresh and fruity summer feel with warm and cosy undertones. If you love a fresh and zesty perfume, there are several other scents with similar notes to shop too.
Kayali’s Marrakesh Orange Blossom 24 Eau de Parfum is £79 for a 50ml bottle, and combines notes of orange blossom, pink pepper and bergamot with cedar, neroli and Turkish rose. Meanwhile The 7 Virtues Clementine Dream Eau De Parfum is £85 for a 50ml bottle, and combines mandarin oil and vibrant cassis with delicate florals, vanilla and upcycled black amber for a warm and zesty scent.
Finally we also love Phlur’s Tangerine Boy Eau De Parfum, which is slightly pricier at £99 for 50ml. However this is the one to go for if you want something super zesty and fresh, with top notes of lemon, ginger and black pepper, heart notes of apple, tangerine and jasmine, and base notes of amber and moss.
However if you want to pick up the Daisy Ever So Fresh, it’s also gotten rave reviews from shoppers, who loved its smell and longevity.
One said the perfume was “bright and fresh” and added: “Bought as a gift for a friend and she loved it. Could smell it on her all day.”
Whilst a second wrote: “Lighter weight perfume lovely for work or everyday not over powering but a lovely smell and a beautiful bottle!”
A third agreed: “Smells lovely and fresh always get compliments when I wear it.”
One reviewer did mention about the Daisy Ever So Fresh: “It’s a lovely fresh scent, perfect for everyday wear. However as it’s quite light I wouldn’t say it’s very long lasting.”
Whilst another agreed: “Great smell but unfortunately it doesn’t last that long.”
Article continues below
However others disagreed, writing: “This has a lovely scent to it, not too heavy. For me, the scent lasted a long time and wasn’t like some scents that disappear quickly.”
