Montpellier scored three tries in the final 15 minutes to claim a thrilling 33-31 victory over Connacht in Pool One in the Challenge Cup.
Connacht let a 17-point lead slip and Stuart Hogg converted Valentin Welsch’s 74th-minute try to book Montpellier’s place in the knockout stages.
Despite a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions, Connacht can still reach the last 16 if they overcome bottom side US Montauban in their final pool fixture on Saturday.
Thomas Darmon’s converted try gave the hosts an early lead at the Septeo Stadium but Connacht hit back through scrum-half Ben Murphy.
Montpellier regained the lead as hooker Lyam Akrab crossed from a rolling maul, but opposite number Dylan Tierney-Martin responded and Sam Gilbert’s second conversion levelled the game once again.
Finn Treacy’s try put the Irish province ahead for the first time, and a conversion and penalty from Gilbert handed Connacht a deserved 24-14 lead at the break.
Gilbert’s superb afternoon continued as he crossed and converted his own try, which secured the four-try bonus-point and Connacht looked to be in a strong position going into the final quarter of the game.
However, a late flurry from Montpellier meant the hosts would end the game in style. After earlier being denied by Gilbert’s try-saving tackle, wing Melvyn Rates’ try was converted by Hogg, but the former Scotland international missed from the tee after Alexis Bernadet touched down out wide with 11 minutes to play.
But there was late drama as replacement prop Welsch scored under the posts to level the game, and Hogg slotted the conversion for what would be the winning kick.
Montpellier: T Vincent; D Taofifenua; T Darmon, J Piccardo; M Rates; S Hogg, L Coly; B Erdorico, L Akrab, L Japaridze; F Verhaeghe, B Chalureau; M Tauleigne, A Becognee (capt), A Masibaka.
Replacements: R Riccitelli, V Welsch, C Tolofua, M Uhila, L Gleeson, A Bernadet, A Vincent, J Ducros.
Connacht: S Gilbert; S Jennings; H West, C Forde; F Treacy, B Murphy; B Bohan, D Tierney-Martin, S Illo; D Murray, J Murphy; C Prendergast (capt), P Boyle, S Jansen.
James Justin scored his first goal for Leeds United since joining from Leicester City in the summer, in a second-half comeback after Derby County took the lead thanks to a Ben Brereton Diaz strike.
The Traitors star Amanda Collier has shared how she is lucky to be alive after being involved in a freak bike accident while on holiday in France, which almost saw her break her neck
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Banished Traitors star Amanda Collier has revealed how she almost broke her neck after a freak bike accident on holiday.
The 57-year-old former Met Police detective was voted off the BBC show last week after failing to pick a box at the roundtable that contained a shield, which would have protected her from elimination.
It came shortly after Amanda, from Brighton, shared her secret identity with castle best friend and Traitor Rachel Duffy and made her the seventh player to leave the latest series of The Traitors, which kicked off on New Year’s Day and is set to conclude on January 23.
Now the show legend has spoken out about the horrific injury she sustained while on holiday with her wife, Caroline. She shared: “We were having a lovely time on a camper van holiday in the Loire Valley countryside and were on a bike ride on the last day.
“Out of the blue, Caroline accidentally clipped my wheel. The freak accident sent me headfirst into this flint wall. Even though I was wearing a helmet, I realised I had to turn my body, or I would break my neck.”
READ MORE: Banished Traitors star Amanda makes heartbreaking admission about late brother
Amanda continued to The Sun: “It all happened in a split second, but my shoulder smashed into the hard rock, and I couldn’t breathe, and I had badly winded myself. It was just awful. Thank God for this lovely French jogger who appeared. He was able to help direct the ambulance, as we didn’t know exactly where we were.”
The TV star explained how her collarbone was jutting out at an angle, narrowly avoiding breaking her skin. Though she was taken to a hospital in France following the freak accident in 2022, it was agreed that treatment would be better if it happened in the UK.
However, this meant she had to endure an agonising 15-hour journey home through the Channel Tunnel.
“I’ve never been in so much pain,” Amanda said as she detailed how every time their camper van went over a bump was “torture”. At one point she even asked her wife to pull over to side of the road and leave her as she felt she “couldn’t go on”.
Of course, Caroline ploughed on and got Amanda hone. Once they were back in the UK, Amanda had an operation to have a metal sheet inserted into her body to help fix her bones back into place. She then spent two months recovering at home.
Sharing how she’ll never take her health for granted again, she added: “I’m so grateful not to have any lasting effects from the accident. I was fine doing all the physical challenges on the Traitors, but sometimes I still get twinges in my collarbone from time to time.”
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While appearing on the hit BBC game show earlier this month, Amanda revealed more heartbreak as she told how it was painful for her be up against Reece Ward at the roundtable – because he reminded her so much of her late brother.
After her elimination, she said: “I was sadly up against Reece, who reminded me of my brother who sadly passed away in 2011 at the age of 32. He just looked like him, so it made it more difficult because I had a really good friendship with him. He was like a little brother.”
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Despite a third successive loss in their Champions Cup campaign, Scarlets remain in the hunt for a place in European knockout rugby.
Saturday’s 47-38 defeat by Pau saw them pick up a second losing bonus-point, which could prove crucial in Pool 4.
After the final round of fixtures next weekend, the top four teams qualify for the last 16 of the Champions Cup, while fifth-placed teams drop into the same stage of the Challenge Cup.
Mathematically, Scarlets can still get into the top four, but they would need to start with a bonus-point victory at Northampton Saints, who currently top of the English Premiership, and hope Pau slip up against Bulls.
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Plenty to play for
“It’s obviously disappointing from a loss perspective,” said Peel after the loss to Pau.
“But I did feel like there were elements of our game that were more positive than they were in the last two games, and we’re still in with a tangible opportunity of finishing in fifth place.
“The Bulls have to travel and we have to travel to Franklin’s Gardens, which is a brilliant place to play rugby – I’ve played there myself – against a team who are full of quality.
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Scarlets marked their return to Europe’s top competition with a single-point loss to Bristol Bears who, like Saints, are also flying high in the league.
A trip to French giants Bordeaux-Begles followed and, despite being outclassed, Scarlets gave a decent account against the reigning champions, who feature superstars such as Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
Pau sent a second-string side to Parc y Scarlets, but showed why they are currently second in the Top 14 in a clinical seven-try display.
Reflecting on the campaign, Peel added: “We’ve played three quality fixtures in this competition and it shows we can compete.
“Maybe a bounce of a ball might go our way one day or we might get a TMO decision that goes our way and that will change a bit of momentum, but until then, we work hard and keep moving forward.
“Saints are a really good attacking side and we conceded 40 odd points… so that’s going to be a big challenge for us to keep them at bay.
Katie Price has grand plans for the year ahead – including a trip to Las Vegas with her son, Harvey, where she hopes to take him clubbing, but he is unsure about knocking back beers
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Katie Price has joked about taking her son Harvey out clubbing and on a trip to Vegas as she makes plans for the year ahead. In a YouTube video shared yesterday amid reports she’s split from JJ Slater, the glamour model and mum-of-five – including 23-year-old Harvey – told her son about what the had planned for 2026.
Having celebrated Christmas with those closest to her – including her mother, Amy, who she brought to tears of joy when she gifted her a mobility scooter – Katie, 47, outlined her plans for the upcoming 12 months.
In the video with Harvey, Katie marvelled at the fact that her eldest child is set to turn 24 in May and suggested fun things they could do together. Katie brought up the idea of going to night clubs, heading to Las Vegas as well as drinking beer. Harvey, who has complex needs and is autistic, has ADHD, is blind and has Prader-Willi syndrome which causes a constant feeling of hunger, was far from enthusiastic about the suggestions. Katie quickly clarified that she was joking.
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While filming with her son, Katie asked him during her YouTube update: “Guess what? It’s New Year’s Eve. Do you know what that means? Tomorrow would be the first of January, the start to a new year, 2026.” As Harvey nodded along, Katie continued: “You’ll be 24. You are such a man. I think we need to take you to nightclubs this next year.”
Katie continued: “Do you know I could take you to Vegas? You’re old enough. I could take you anywhere now. You’re 24 you’ll be 24. Do you want to try your first beer?”
Harvey was quick to decline the offer – with Katie noting he prefers orange squash and water. Instead, the mother and son proposed a year of health ahead. Katie remarked: “Okay, what we’re gonna do this year is get very, very healthy. So you could get on that roller coasters for your birthday.”
As she continued with their chat, Katie revealed that Harvey is set to move closer to her in the coming months, and they discussed their shared hope that he will be able to reduce his weight over time. Noting that they will soon be living a mere 15 minutes from each other, Katie suggested she and Harvey – who currently lives at the National Star College – should join the same gym and work out together.
As they continued their chat, Katie candidly opened up about daily life with Harvey, revealing that it can sometimes be difficult to get him up, showered and dressed as he can be in a “bad mood” which can limit their success. They went on to discuss some of their favourite activities together include baking and holding hands.
Katie’s beer swilling plans in Las Vegas come amid reports that she and Married At First Sight star JJ Slater have broken up. Reports this week suggested the star and her 32-year-old lover split over disagreements about marriage and the strain of their 15 year age gap. However, the reality star did feature in footage from Katie’s latest YouTube update which was filmed late last year.
Later in the video, Katie rounded up her hopes for her eldest son – and reiterated her excitement over the fact he is moving closer to her. She said: “My hopes and dreams for Harvey this year, it’s not a hope and it’s not a dream, because it’s happening. He’s moving nearer home.”
She explained: “He’s got a brand new flat. I’m going to make it home from home. I can’t wait for Harvey to be nearer me. I can’t wait for Harvey to start the Monjaro, losing some of that weight, to give him a better quality of life. And for the fact of him being nearer home, I’ll be able to do lots more activities, get him out and about more independent skills.”
Elsewhere in her video update, Katie expressed her relief over the fact her mother Amy, 73, is still alive. Back in 2017, Amy was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) – a terminal lung disease which usually leaves those battling the condition with just three to five years to live.
Katie has since revealed that Amy underwent a transplant to help her, and last month they spent Christmas together. She gushed: “Mum has made it to 2026, so happy, another year. So let’s hope we got another year with my mum.”
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Updating her fans on how her life has changed since she gifted her a mobility scooter, Katie went on: “I bought her a scooter that would be a new lease of life for her. And as you can all see, she’s a lot more frail than she used to be. But don’t let that fool you, because her head’s still very much screwed on.”
The soap legend who played loveable cabbie Charlie Slater in EastEnders has sadly died aged 92, with his family by his side. He once opened up about his son’s struggle that shaped how he played his role on-screen
Ellie Fry Assistant Head of Features (Audience) and Daniel Bird
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Derek Martin captured the hearts of the nation as devoted patriarch Charlie Slater in EastEnders, and it turns out his personal family struggle inspired his protective role on screen.
The soap legend, who has sadly died aged 92, was best known for playing Charlie on the BBC soap opera, a role he held from 2000 to 2011, with occasional appearances in 2013 and 2016.
Derek’s heartbroken family described him as a “truly an amazing person who was very talented in the filming industry and many other thing” in a statement issued. It’s understood that he passed away in hospital on Saturday night, with his loved ones by his side.
The former East End butcher, born Derek William Rapp, started his TV career as a stuntman on Doctor Who. However, after breaking his collarbone while filming Elizabeth R, he made the decision to focus on acting. And after appearing in the likes of Law & Order, King and Castle and Eldorado, he soon found himself appearing in The Bill, Only Fools and Horses and Little Britain – as himself. But to millions, he was known as the loveable London cabbie, Charlie on EastEnders.
READ MORE: Derek Martin dead: EastEnders’ Charlie Slater legend dies aged 92
Derek celebrated his 90th birthday in 2023, ringing in the special milestone with his two lookalike sons, David and Jonathan. The soap star spoke candidly about his own son David’s struggle with depression in the past as his EastEnders character dealt with a similiar issue on screen.
Back in 2016 on Albert Square, Charlie’s great-niece Stacey Branning suffered from depression and postpartum psychosis. And her troubles felt close to home for Derek. He said at the time: “At work I had the Stacey storyline. Then, I got home and there was my son, who I’d been worried about during the day, suffering from severe depression.”
Charlie first appeared in the soap in September 2000. Derek, however, had originally auditioned for the roles of Den Watts and Frank Butcher in the 1980s and made the shortlist for both.
When he auditioned for Charlie, he was offered a contract with a minimum term of three years, with the potential to stay for a longer period of time. Of the role of Charlie, Derek said it was like putting on an “old coat, and he had hoped to remain on the show until he died.
His character was known for being the glue which held the Slater family together and was “positive as long as his family was around him.” Nine years after he first arrived in Walford, it was announced that Derek would be taking a break from the show.
In 2016, Charlie was killed off from EastEnders after the character suffered a heart attack, but the actor said it had been “wonderful.” Speaking of his departure, he commented: “I spoke to Dominic, the executive producer, and he explained [the storyline] and said he’d give me a good send-off. In a way, it’s closure, after 11 years, which for an actor is wonderful.”
