Archive December 11, 2025

Tierney will return to lead WRU in January

By in News, Sports News
Huw Evans Agency

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has confirmed chief executive Abi Tierney will return to fully resume her leadership position in the new year.

Tierney has been undergoing medical treatment following a cancer diagnosis and began a phased return in November.

Chair Richard Collier-Keywood and the rest of the WRU’s executive leadership team had stepped in on an interim basis but Tierney will be back in charge next month.

“This is a pivotal time for the game in Wales and, whilst I’ve been constantly kept informed and am across all developments, I’m looking forward to being able to contribute directly again,” said Tierney.

“My treatment is going well and I’ve received a positive prognosis which allows me to return in the new year.

    • 30 November

    • 30 November

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Returning to Welsh rugby crisis

Tierney will return on a full-time basis at a time where Welsh rugby finds itself in yet more crisis while the governing body has also announced a new chief commercial officer in Tomos Grace who will take up his role as Tierney returns.

Steve Tandy’s men’s national side have just suffered a record 73-0 home defeat against South Africa, while Wales captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake have been linked with a move from Ospreys to Gloucester.

The WRU announced in October that it planned to reduce the number of professional men’s sides in Wales from four to three.

Welsh rugby’s governing body confirmed it proposes to grant three licences for men’s clubs.

There will be one in Cardiff, one in the east and one in the west, which is expected to result in a straight survival fight between Ospreys and Scarlets in Llanelli.

Another option that has now emerged is Ospreys owners, Y11 Sport & Media, taking over WRU-owned Cardiff, which could produce the desired number of three professional sides.

“Of course, there are significant and major challenges presented to Welsh rugby at this time,” said Tierney, “but there is also a huge opportunity for us to forge a way ahead in our professional game which will safeguard its future.

“There is a lot more hard work ahead, but our strength in Welsh rugby is in our ability to unite and work together towards one collective aim.

“I am looking forward to contributing to this again.”

Collier-Keywood will revert back to his responsibilities as chair.

“I know I speak on behalf of the whole game in Wales when I welcome Abi back into her role,” said Collier-Keywood.

Tomos Grace at Principality StadiumHuw Evans agency

Grace to succeed Davies as commercial chief

Grace will replace Leighton Davies who has confirmed his retirement from his full-time executive role.

Cardiff-born Grace, who has previously worked at YouTube and Google,  will lead the WRU’s commercial strategy across all areas of the game and its wider business operations.

This includes responsibility for sponsorship, broadcast and digital rights, fan engagement, communications and maximising the potential of Principality Stadium.

“I’ve been lucky in my career to work at large organisations in different countries but the opportunity to come home to contribute to the revival of Welsh rugby makes this an irresistible challenge,” said Grace.

“Whether with the national teams or at Principality Stadium, huge commercial opportunities exist.

“These have one single, clear objective – investment in Welsh rugby. We’ll do this innovating, by learning from global best practice and by working in partnership with our commercial and rugby stakeholders across Wales. I can’t wait to get started.”

Who is Tomos Grace?

Grace has spent more than two decades in the sports media industry working in London, Paris and Berlin.

His career began in strategic roles at Canal+ in France before moving to Eurosport as head of business development, where he helped launch early digital services.

In 2011, Grace joined the YouTube Sport team and rose to become head of sport for Europe, Middle-East and Africa, later expanding his remit as head of media and port for the region.

In these roles, Grace delivered partnerships with Fifa, the International Olympic Committee and BT Sport, including free-to-air streaming of Uefa Champions League finals on YouTube, and helped rights holders navigate the shift from traditional broadcasting to digital platforms.

Most recently, Grace has overseen media strategy and operations at YouTube, across  sport, television, news and responsibility initiatives.

Related topics

  • Dragons
  • Welsh Rugby
  • Scarlets
  • Ospreys
  • Rugby Union

‘World’s heaviest woman’ who starred on My 600-Lb life dies months after horror accident

By in Entertainment News, News

My 600-Lb. Life star Pauline Potter has died age 62.

Pauline found fame on the US reality show after entering the Guinness Book of Records as the World’s Heaviest Living Woman.

Her son revealed the tragic news of her death in an emotional video where he said: “Unfortunately, my mom has passed away this past Thursday on Thanksgiving. I will try to make this as short as I can. Back in January of this year of 2025, we both got in a pretty bad car accident.”

He explained: “We were driving early in the morning. It was still dark outside. We were driving on a dark two lane highway, and there was a truck and trailer that was stopped in the middle of the road. And we did not see it … and we hit the trailer.






My 600-Lb. Life star Pauline Potter has died age 62 following a horrific car accident


My 600-Lb. Life star Pauline Potter has died age 62 following a horrific car accident
(
Facebook)

“Also, at the same time, um, there was an oncoming car in the other lane, so there was no way to go around it. My mom was driving, I was asleep in the passenger seat, with the seat reclined, and my mom tried to swerve to go around it.

“However, the passenger side of the car, hit the corner of the trailer and completely spun us around, and when we stopped, we were facing the opposite direction on the opposite side of the road. At the time of impact, we were going 50 miles per hour.”

He added: “However, at the time, we did not know that. I was completely out of it, of course, because I was asleep when it happened.”






Pauline, who once weighed 677lbs at her heaviest


Pauline, who once weighed 677lbs at her heaviest
(
TLC)

Pauline, who once weighed 677lbs at her heaviest, faced a series of health complications after the accident.

Doctors discovered a blockage in her oesophagus that prevented her from keeping any food down and she was later diagnosed with Covid.

Pauline was then placed in an Intensive Care Unit and told by she was showing signs of respiratory failure before she moved into hospice care in November. She them moved into her sisters home where she passes away.






Pauline was 50 years old when she appeared on My 600lb Life in 2015


Pauline was 50 years old when she appeared on My 600lb Life in 2015
(
Facebook)

Pauline was 50 years old when she appeared on My 600lb Life in 2015 before she started an impressive weight loss journey and lost more than 500lbs and qualified for skin-removal surgery.

Before losing the weight , she said: “I am absolutely trapped in this body. I let myself get way out of control. I feel like I am dying every day.”

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Venezuela’s Machado taunts Maduro government after dramatic exit to Oslo

By in News, World News

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace laureate Maria Corina Machado has declared that authorities in her home country would have attempted everything possible to prevent her journey to Norway, after she emerged publicly for the first time in nearly a year.

Machado greeted supporters from an Oslo hotel balcony in the early hours of Thursday following a high-risk exit from Venezuela, where she had been in hiding since January.

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The journey, which purportedly included navigating 10 military checkpoints and crossing the Caribbean by fishing vessel, brought her to the Norwegian capital to collect her Nobel Peace Prize.

During a news conference at Norway’s parliament, the 58-year-old right-wing opposition figure delivered sharp criticism of President Nicolas Maduro’s administration, asserting that the government deploys national resources to suppress its population.

When questioned about an oil tanker seized by Washington on Wednesday, she argued this demonstrated how the regime operates. Asked whether she would support a United States invasion, Machado claimed Venezuela had already been invaded by Russian and Iranian agents alongside drug cartels.

“This has turned Venezuela into the criminal hub of the Americas,” she said, standing alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere.

“What sustains the regime is a very powerful and strongly funded repression system. Where do those funds come from? Well, from drug trafficking, from the black market of oil, from arms trafficking and from human trafficking. We need to cut those flows.”

The trip reunited her with family members she had not seen in almost two years, including her daughter, who accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf at Wednesday’s ceremony.

Aligned with Trump 

The political leader has welcomed international sanctions and US military intervention in Venezuela, a move her critics say harkens back to a dark past.

The US has a long history of interference in the region, particularly in the 1980s, when it propped up repressive right-wing governments through coups, and funded paramilitary groups across Latin America that were responsible for mass killings, forced disappearances and other grave human rights abuses.

Venezuelan authorities cited Machado’s support for sanctions and US intervention when they barred her from running for office in last year’s presidential election, where she had intended to challenge Maduro. Machado has accused Venezuela’s president of stealing the July 2024 election, which was criticised by international observers.

Praising the Trump administration’s approach, Machado said the president’s actions had been “decisive to reach the point where we are right now, in which the regime is weaker than ever.”

She insisted she would return home but did not say when. “I’m going back to Venezuela regardless of when Maduro goes out. He’s going out, but the moment will be determined by when I’m finished doing the things that I came out to do,” she told reporters.

Her escape comes as tensions between Washington and Caracas have intensified sharply. The Trump administration has positioned major naval forces in the Caribbean and conducted strikes against alleged drug vessels since September. The US seized what Trump called a “very large” oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, on Wednesday.

Machado has aligned herself with right-wing hawks close to Trump who argue that Maduro has links to criminal gangs that pose a direct threat to US national security, despite doubts raised by the US intelligence community.

The Trump administration has ordered more than 20 military strikes in recent months against alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and off Latin America’s Pacific coast, killing more than 80 people.

Human rights groups, some US Democrats, and several Latin American countries have condemned the attacks as unlawful extrajudicial killings of civilians.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Machado’s two-month escape operation involved wearing a disguise and departing from a coastal fishing village on a wooden boat bound for Curacao before boarding a private aircraft to Norway.

US forces were alerted to avoid striking the vessel, the WSJ reported, as they had one with similar boats in recent months. Machado confirmed receiving assistance from Washington during her escape.

Maduro, in power since 2013 following the death of Hugo Chavez, says Trump is pushing for regime change in the country to access Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. He has pledged to resist such attempts.

A United Nations report released on Thursday accused Venezuela’s security forces of crimes against humanity over more than a decade.

‘Beautiful and long-lasting’ fragrance with nearly 5000 reviews gets mega 65% discount

By in Entertainment News, News

If you’re looking for the ideal feminine fragrance to gift a loved one this festive season, without blowing the bank, this on-sale scent could be just the ticket

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Amazon shoppers are going wild for this Ghost Sweetheart Eau de Toilette, a firm favourite on vanities for its feminine and long-lasting aroma that seamlessly transitions from day to night.

Normally selling for an already affordable price of £44, this perfume is currently available for a whopping 65% less, thanks to this limited-time deal. This means Amazon shoppers can pick one up for the wallet-friendly price of £15.35 while this offer lasts.

READ MORE: M&S shoppers race to buy heavily reduced luxury chocolate hampers for under £20

READ MORE: GMB’s Charlotte Hawkins wows in Christmas party-ready midi dress that’s under £50

Ghost Sweetheart Eau de Toilette is touted as a gentle and romantic fragrance that encapsulates the spirit of fresh, youthful love. This amber floral scent marries femininity with sensuality, opening with sweet notes of lemon, pineapple and spearmint before unveiling a dreamy heart of white flowers.

The perfume settles into a warm, woody base that adds depth, making it ideal for both everyday wear and special occasions. Launched in 2008, Ghost Sweetheart Eau de Toilette remains a timeless favourite for those who adore light, elegant fragrances that leave a lasting impression on the skin.

The Ghost Sweetheart Eau de Toilette has earned an impressive 4.7-star rating on Amazon from nearly 5000 customers. One shopper gushed: “Great offers available and good value for money. Beautiful sweet scent, without being overpowering. It is long-lasting and light. It is versatile and is suitable for both day and evening wear. It comes in a slender attractive bottle design, and would make a perfect gift!”

Another buyer beams: “My wife loves this perfume, great price from Amazon. Smells lovely.”

Further praise comes from this customer who writes: “Absolutely beautiful fragrance sweet fruity and floral on me and I love how I can wear day or evening. I usually go for a heavy perfume for nights out but this is able to stand it for a light evening scent if needed. I got the 50ml bottle when it on offer 50% off so super value for money.”

And a fourth gushes: “Love this perfume and it’s my favourite. Many years ago when this first came out, I was asked what I was wearing by a manager whilst I was working in a staff canteen (even though I was in a hot kitchen using a business type of dishwasher). He said “it smelt beautiful and that he wanted to buy this scent for his girlfriend”. The smell is not overpowering, lingers nicely for a good amount of time and when I wear this I know I smell good.”

Some reviewers knocked off a star or two for different reasons, with one explaining: “I bought this perfume for my Mum’s birthday present as it was the same fragrance that she used when she was younger. It is a very dainty perfume with a strong, but not overwhelming scent; it smells very feminine and fresh and is great for layering. My Mum even said she received many compliments whilst wearing the perfume. The only downside is that it runs out very quickly as the bottle size is quite small.”

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For those willing to splurge a bit more, consider the Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Parfum – 30ml, priced at £59 on Argos. This fragrance boasts top notes of tangerine, neroli and lavender, followed by heart notes of jasmine sambac and orange blossom, and base notes of white musks and vanilla extract.

Simon Cowell’s Netflix co-star lifts lid on his secret side including bizarre lunches

By in Entertainment News, News

Kamille, who has written for everyone from Dua Lipa to Little Mix, talks about working with Simon Cowell again in his new Netflix show and her excitement over ‘next One Direction’

Former stockbroker-turned-Grammy and Brit Award-winning singer-songwriter Kamille is helping her old mentor Simon Cowell find the next big boyband, in brand-new six-part Netflix series Simon Cowell: The Net Act.

The warm, talented mum of two, who has penned hits for everyone from Little Mix to Ed Sheeran, opens up exclusively to the Mirror about their rollercoaster journey to finding the next big stars.

She reveals how she feels about her friend Simon’s many quirks, confesses to moments she thought they might throw in the towel, and why she believes the final line-up – December 10 – could truly be ‘the next One Direction’.

READ MORE: M&S shoppers race to buy heavily reduced luxury chocolate hampers for under £20

Kamille, tell us about being involved in the new Netflix show…

I’m so honoured. It’s time for a resurgence of the boyband! I’ve worked with Simon for over a decade – from the X Factor to working with lots of his amazing artists, like Little Mix. I’ve written 32 songs for the girls and had two Number 1s! It was the perfect moment to work together again.

What was the audition process like?

We auditioned what felt like thousands of boys up and down the country to find this group! And sometimes we thought it just wasn’t going to happen. But it all worked out – the talent was incredible. I’m proud of Simon for not giving up, and proud of the boys. I think this group is going to be huge, they give me goosebumps when they perform. They could be the next One Direction.

And what was working alongside Simon again like?

He’s just an enigma! I’ve never known anyone like him. Obviously, he’s a mentor of mine with the best knowledge and advice. He’s so generous. But he’s such a troublesome person! I don’t know how I sat through all those auditions with a straight face, while he’s whispering stuff in your ear. He’s so funny.

He’s pretty quirky.. we see him eating half a crumpet for lunch and the other half for dinner, and ordering 200 of the same top….

Oh and I’ve seen it all. I think his wife Lauren said it perfectly, when she said, ‘Simon is a creature of habit’. He has his ways! But the half-crumpet thing is very odd, I will say that. I’ve seen him eat lunch, he’s so healthy. I’d love to be half that healthy. His wardrobe is insane, 100 of the same thing. I think it’s to allow his brain to come up with all these incredible ideas and not get side-tracked, you know!

Did you get to know Lauren more doing this show?

I’ve known Lauren since the X Factor, so a long time. She’s the sweetest person, she’s a queen. But here I got to know her more l I think, seeing into her relationship with Simon. Even the little arguments they had, the family moments – at the core of it they’re just a normal family, trying to mult-task. Lauren’s a wife trying to be there for her husband, I totally identify with that.

We see Simon break down on camera over Liam Payne’s death. Did he speak to you about how that affected him?

Not so much, at the time he took a break from filming because it was so devastating and he needed time to process it. We were all there for each other but it was such a sad time, I think part of you’s still shaken by it. But you know what, Simon’s very strong – and he really didn’t want to let these boys down, I think he carried on for that reason.

Some of the boys are as young as 15 – did you feel protective of them?

Oh, I already feel like the band’s big sister. I’ve been giving them advice, making sure they stay focused and don’t get caught up in the lights and the glamour, as has everyone. You’ve got to protect your mental health and I do remind them of that, and to always be kind. That’s sustained me in this business..I just want them to be happy and they are – they are buzzing. They’re like 7 puppies running about in a garden right now, they’re so cute.

As well as Little Mix you’ve worked with Dua Lipa, Raye, so many. it’s incredible…

I don’t know how I’ve managed to do it, to be honest. I have the worst imposter syndrome ever! That’s maybe what keeps me going. If I’m honest, it’s probably down to my ability to connect with people in the recording studio. I become people’s best friends, they share their little secrets with me.

Oh, give us an example of that….

There are so many, ha! An obvious one would be Shout Out To My Ex, with Little Mix. I mean, without even saying anything I knew that song had to be written because I was angry! Any friends that I have who are experiencing heartbreak – best believe, I’m gonna write them a revenge banger. You’re going to hear this song in Tesco and reflect on how you broke my girl’s heart. I’m a true empath, and very protective of people.

What have been some of your pinch-me moments?

One that will never leave me is probably going to number one with Clean Bandit, then the next week going to number one – knocking myself off the top spot – with Jess Glynne, I’ll Be There. For me – a young black girl from Streatham, that just feels unreal. I definitely want to leave behind a legacy for other young girls to be inspired by. If I can do that, job done. This never feels like work.

Simon Cowell: The Net Act is on Netflix now.

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Newcastle’s Wade set to resume chase for try record

By in News, Sports News
Getty Images
Adam LaniganBBC Sport, North East & Cumbria and Alasdair GillBBC Look North

Christian Wade is back in rugby union and has Chris Ashton’s record as the all-time leading try-scorer in Prem Rugby firmly in his sights.

Wade is the most eye-catching arrival at Newcastle Red Bulls since the takeover by the energy drinks giant after the winger enjoyed a brief stint in rugby league with Wigan Warriors.

He is expected to make his Newcastle debut in their European Challenge Cup game against South African side Lions on Saturday (17:30 GMT), in what would be a tune-up for the three Prem games that follow over Christmas and new year.

The 34-year-old winger has touched down 93 times in the Prem, eight behind Ashton’s tally of 101, and he is not hiding his ambition after linking up with his new team-mates at Kingston Park.

‘I back myself’

Wade’s eclectic career brings him to the north east where he can add a touch of stardust to the Red Bull revolution.

Winless in the Prem this season and indeed in the competition since November 2024, Newcastle could do with a jet-heeled contribution.

Wade worked with a personal trainer in his time off in between the conclusion of his spell with Wigan and his move north and he is still trying to find ways to get quicker.

After a previous three-year spell in American football with the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills and then more recently in the 13-player code, Wade has worked on footwork, spatial awareness and one-on-one contact to enhance his craft.

It is clearly working as he scored 11 tries in 14 Prem games for Gloucester last season, while he grabbed two tries in his only two Super League games for the Warriors, showing there are few better finishers with the oval ball than him.

And that confidence is a big factor in why he believes he can chase down former England winger Ashton’s mark.

“If you look at my career, my [season] average is higher than nine,” he added. “I am joining the league late and there is a limited number of games, so it will be a challenge.

Christian Wade, with the ball in his right hand, having dived over the line to score a try for Wigan WarriorsShutterstock

However, Wade is keen to state that the try record is not his only focus.

Newcastle have been marooned at the bottom of the league for the past three seasons during which the club faced a battle to keep going financially.

They now have the Red Bull name behind them but they still occupy that bottom spot once again this term after six matches.

So the future looks brighter even if there may be short-term pain while they try to build up the strength of the squad and Wade is keen to help Newcastle make the first steps.

And he draws comparisons with his early years at Wasps in how things can change as they went from avoiding relegation by a single point in 2012 to losing the Prem final five years later.

“We went through a similar sort of period at Wasps where we weren’t sure what was happening,” he said.

“We almost got relegated but we stayed up and it probably took us three, four years before we were at the top and teams were like ‘wow’.

‘My body’s in great condition’

Even though he is now in his mid-thirties, Wade, who played once for England, believes he could be part of a similar path with Newcastle, if they want him.

“I feel great, my body’s in great condition. I’ve invested a lot in my body over the years, hence why I’m still able to do what I do,” he added.

“I’ll do what I can to have an impact on the squad and to kick-start that for this year.

Related topics

  • Newcastle Red Bulls
  • Rugby Union
  • English Rugby