Hugh Nibloe and Charlotte McKenna, the Scottish duo, triumphed over South Korea to reach Sunday’s final of the World Wheelchair Curling Mixed Doubles Championships on home soil.
The 6-5 victory in Stevenston also guarantees Great Britain’s participation in the Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina, where it will debut.
Scotland’s performances over the previous three years made it clear that Britain was already qualified for the team event.
At the 2022 Games in Beijing, Nibloe and McKenna knew they needed to win a medal to earn one of the seven spots in the standings.
They finished second in their pool before beating Czechia 10-4 in the quarter-finals and coming from 4-1 down against the Koreans to score two in the final set. They were unbeaten in the group stages.
In the gold medal contest on Sunday, GB will take on Japan.
The weight that has come off our shoulders now is enormous, said Nibloe, “I guess it’s been at the back of our minds all week that Paralympic qualification was primarily what we were here for, but we didn’t think at any point that we would have had to make the final to guarantee that qualification.”
“We’re delighted to see that seven wheelchair curlers will compete in the Paralympics in the coming year.
In their 22-17 Six Nations victory over Italy, interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby felt his team were “trying to force things.”
The visitors won by a bonus-point in Rome after scoring a Dan Sheehan hat-trick, but they once more struggled to convert following their disappointing defeat by France last week.
Easterby said his side were “trying to force things” because they needed to get as much of a win as possible and hoped other results would help them retain their title.
Regardless of the outcome, England’s bonus-point victory over Wales in Cardiff later in the day put an end to Ireland’s chances of winning.
You can sometimes make passes stick or make one more pass at the line, Easterby said.
“Credit to Italy, they put pressure on us, and we didn’t handle it as well as we should have.”
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“I hope it will serve as a springboard,” the statement read.
Skipper Caelan Doris noted that while title scenarios weren’t particularly important during the week, they did have an impact as the game progressed.
Ireland trailed 12-10 at break thanks to scores from Hugo Keenan and Sheehan, who scored through Monty Ioane’s try in the 12th minute.
Ireland couldn’t press home their advantage, so Sheehan scored two second-half tries to bring the win home. The victory required a defensive stand, however.
Due to the respect we have for Italy and their attack, what their capable of, said Doris, who felt the need to rack up points.
Given how the first 20 to 30 minutes went, there was probably a sense that we wanted to convert when the opportunity came up, despite the fact that “it was very much ” result first.”
“There might have been some a little forced stuff out there.” There were a lot of last-minute passes that weren’t made. Why? I’m not sure if it’s forcing me to do something.
In Cardiff last month, Ireland won their first three games of the championship, earning the Triple Crown over Wales.
However, France’s crushing defeat in round four ended their hopes of a Grand Slam.
“I think there has been a lot of good stuff,” Doris of the campaign as a whole said.
“We won the Triple Crown within that, and our first three games were very positive,” he said.
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After splitting with Kristina Rihanoff, Ben Cohen’s ex-wife made a shocking comment.
When Ben revealed their divorce was over in 2014, Abby Cohen was heartbroken. Later, he met Rihanoff on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, and they started dating. However, after getting engaged in November 2022, their engagement ended earlier this year.
Prior to the breakdown of their relationship, it was revealed earlier this month that Ben, 46, and Kristina, 47, had been dealing with financial issues. In a twist on the Strictly curse, celebrities have reportedly broken up with their professional dancers and called their split “the curse in reverse.”
Abby said, “I’m sad for Ben,” in a recent interview. He has a second child, and our marriage ended, and he has a new one. In his late 40s, he must start fresh. He’s going from having won so many rugby matches to having people now read about his business failures. Abby continued, “Ben doesn’t want to make him look more stupid than he already is,” adding that.
When Ben left their marriage (Internet Unknown), Abby’s life abruptly came to a halt.
The mother said learning of his most recent breakup healed old wounds, and she is devastated that their daughters will also have to “relive the pain” along with the sister they share after Kristina and their father gave birth to a child together.
When Abby hears the soundtrack to Strictly, she claims to still have PTSD. However, she and Kristina live together in the same town, so it seems as though she has no plans to reconcile or even contact her. We are total opposites, they say. I provide for my family. I come from a family. She continued to tell The Mail on Sunday that she “makes stews and Sunday dinners”.
(Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) – Now that Ben and his Strictly star fiancee are divorced,
“I don’t know if Kristina does that, but I don’t think so,” said Abby. Kristina and I are two entirely different people. We appear completely different. We have different tastes. Put another way, she doesn’t have any wellies. She doesn’t pick dog muck off the floor like I do every day.
Kristina once called her “that f*g Russian,” but they have never gotten into each other, not even when Ben and Abby’s kids have been arguing between their homes. She thinks that the universe intentionally separated the two to safeguard her feelings.
According to Abby, Ben and Kristina met through “lust” and didn’t have any prerequisites for a fulfilling relationship (PA).
Abby said she no longer wanted to be here after their marriage broke down (Getty Images).
According to a source, they realized they couldn’t stay together after their financial difficulties. According to a source who spoke to The Sun, the couple’s relationship has “gone through hell” in the past six months due to their “torn love.” They have chosen to continue acting as separate individuals for the sake of their families, the source continued. They were hoping that they would be able to resolve their differences, but it’s already over and it seems like there isn’t any turning back, according to those close to them who know them as a couple.
Abby claimed in an interview with The Sun that Ben and Kristina’s relationship was unfavorable because of how they first met. Because it was all about lust and was a physical thing, she said, “How they met is not, in my opinion, a solid enough foundation.” There was no natural way to meet.
Abby heartbreakingly said, “I was in a mess, I didn’t want to be here any more,” after learning about the breakdown of her marriage. I had a terrible time. I needed assistance and support. I was deeply depressed for a long time. She blasted my husband, saying, “My husband, whom I was with for 23 years, unconditionally loved and was completely loyal to in every way, has left me for a f**king Russian dancer.” The most agonizing experience I’ve had in the last two years has been my own. He has treated me badly. I’d like to inform people.
The Samaritans have a free helpline that is available 24/7, accessible at 116 123, for those who are struggling and need to talk. You can also contact Jo at jo@samaritans.org or visit their website to find your local branch.
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Pope Francis is continuing his papacy as evidence of his recovery is still positive, just after entering his fifth week of hospitalization for double pneumonia.
The Vatican announced on Saturday that Francis is still in stable condition, “confirming the progress” the 88-year-old pontiff has made in the previous week.
According to a statement from Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital, the pope is also cutting down on his use of mechanical ventilation at night to facilitate his breathing.
Francis’ condition has continued to be complicated as a result of doctors’ statements this week that he is no longer in critical, life-threatening condition. He also hasn’t been able to move or breathe as a young man because of his age, lack of mobility, and the loss of a lung.
A roller-coaster of setbacks followed during his first three weeks of hospitalization, including severe coughing fits, mild kidney failure, and respiratory crises.
Francis has, however, carried on his work. A reform project that aims to improve the Roman Catholic Church’s hostility and responsiveness has been approved by him for a three-year implementation and evaluation process. The Synod of Bishops’ schedule was made available by the Vatican’s Office of the Synod of Bishops through 2028, according to Francis’ announcement last week.
The pope also participated in Lenten spiritual exercises at the hospital this week, which Vatican officials claimed suggested a lessening workload. On Thursday, the 12th anniversary of his papacy, he received a cake and hundreds of messages wishing him well.
The pope’s only public appearance since his hospitalization was a recorded audio message in which he thanked people for their prayers for his recovery in a labored, weak voice. The rosary was recited in St. Peter’s Square for the faithful who had gathered each night.
In the last 18 months, Welsh rugby has experienced some troubling circumstances. The lowest point will be allowing England to riot in their Cardiff home.
Ten tries later, the score was 68-14. It feigns belief.
Welsh rugby was left to reflect on the terrible state it is in as England temporarily kept their Six Nations hopes alive at the Principality Stadium and as “Swing Low Sweet Chariots” rang around.
Wales lost in Cardiff in a record-setting defeat, the most points conceded at the Principality, the heaviest Six Nations defeat, the tournament loss, and the most points conceded against England. The details were just the headlines, not the whole.
This once cherished nation is used to competing for Grand Slams and Six Nations titles on the tournament’s final weekend, known as “Super Saturday.”
By finishing at the bottom of the table once more in Cardiff, they became the first team in Wales to win a row in this way.
Unwanted history boys
Picture agency Huw Evans
Wales have lost 17 times in a row in the professional era, equaling Scotland’s losing streak between 1951 and 1955, making them the unwanted history boys.
With former Ireland full-back Rob Kearney already raising the issue, whether Wales should still be regarded as a tier-one nation given that it has fallen behind Georgia in the world rankings to 12th, will be up for debate.
Since their previous Test victory in October 2023 when they defeated Georgia in the Nantes World Cup, which they won 525 days.
With nine straight defeats coming, it has been 588 days since the last home win over England came in August 2023.
Since Scotland lost to Wales in February 2022, 127 days later, in a Six Nations game at the Principality Stadium. Following that, nine straight defeats have occurred.
From bad to worse
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Warren Gatland resigned as head coach after 14 straight Test defeats, including 43-0 loss to France and 22-15 defeat to Italy.
In an interim capacity, Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt returned for three games and improved his performance in the team’s 27-18 defeat to Ireland.
Due to the misery that has plagued the Welsh game over the past 18 months, the optimism was overstated.
Many people’s judgment was hampered by the fact that Welsh supporters have been denied any success after their recent under-20 victories against England and Ireland.
Before a late revival at Murrayfield, the visitors eventually lost 35-29, in which Wales were outclassed in Scotland.
Wales knew they needed two match points against England to avoid a second Wooden Spoon after losing to Italy 22-17 to Ireland, despite not having yet won a game.
The men in red were systematically defeated by those in white shirts as they overpowered and outmuscled their inferior hosts.
As English supporters celebrated, you witnessed the demoralizing sight of home fans leaving early.
It’s time to take action.
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Who will now take care of Welsh rugby’s broken system? With the addition of two Tests in Japan this summer, the Rugby Union (WRU) bosses continue to claim there is no magic bullet.
No director of rugby, no permanent head coach, and no specific plan for how Wales can at least once more compete in international rugby.
This month, they will nominate a director of rugby, and they will reveal the details of their new strategy, which they unveiled in June 2024.
Sherratt makes his day job at Cardiff his home, and there will be mentions of a head coach to lead Wales until the 2027 World Cup in Australia, along with South African Franco Smith, South Africa’s Franco Smith, and current interim Ireland boss Simon Easterby.
The WRU are supposed to be Wales’s game guardians, but they have fallen short in many ways in recent years.
The players’ commitment is unquestionable, but it is obvious that they are of poor quality in comparison to other world leaders.
Whatever is decided, they must remember the events of March 15, 2025.
The worst of Wales’ darkest days will still be topped by a 96-13 defeat to South Africa in 1998, but this one will challenge that record.
What they said about Wales
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Former Wales hooker Ken Owens: “It’s a difficult and dark day to watch. The players’ efforts are doing their best, and I can’t help but think about them.
We can’t physically match teams, giving defenses the chance Jarrod Evans and Ben Thomas.
“The strongest physical teams can absorb us,” said one coach. That’s the saddest aspect of our current state in Welsh rugby.
Sam Warburton, the former Wales captain, said, “There is nothing the other team can do if you win the power game so convincingly.”
“This is international rugby; it’s a brutal, physical sport where England completely destroyed Wales.”
They simply had a much higher physical advantage. Wales couldn’t do anything, and that was the most difficult watch for me because it only revealed the physicality of the country.
Former Wales fly-half Dan Biggar said on ITV, “Any Welsh fan, it was a really deflating day in Cardiff.”
There was a lot of hope in the beginning, but the game ultimately became too strong, which is how it is now.
They’ve got a big tour to Japan this summer, which will be crucial for World Cup seeding, “look further ahead.”
If you’re not going to make tough decisions when you’ve lost 17 on the spin, you’re probably never going to, according to the current WRU powers.
