133-cap Ireland and Lions scrum-half Murray retires

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Former Ireland and British and Irish Lions scrum-half Conor Murray has confirmed his retirement from rugby after opting against a move abroad.

Murray, 36, ended his Test career alongside Peter O’Mahony and Cian Healy at the conclusion of this year’s Six Nations.

While initially indicating that he would “pursue a playing opportunity abroad”, five-time Six Nations winner Murray has decided to hang up his boots.

“I had left it open-ended,” he told The 42.

“My body felt really good and in a good place. But it was more for a life experience for my wife Joanna and our little boy Alfie, who’s 10 months now, and just if we wanted to go somewhere nice and experience a nice place to live, for them as much as me wanting to play on.”

Murray added that he received a “couple of offers” to extend his career.

“There was one in Japan but dragging them [his family] there, putting them in an apartment in Tokyo or something like that just didn’t appeal to where we’re at at the minute,” he added.

“So long story short, nothing of appeal came up and I’m very happy to hang up the boots properly and move into the next chapter.”

During his 125-cap Ireland career, Murray won five Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams.

He also made eight Test appearances for the British and Irish Lions across the 2013, 2017 and 2021 tours.

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‘Going to Memphis’: Trump to deploy troops to another Democratic-led city

United States President Donald Trump says he will send National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, to combat crime, following his administration’s unprecedented police takeover in the capital, Washington, last month.

Trump has sought to make crime a central issue even as violent crime rates have fallen in many cities. His crackdown on Democratic-led municipalities has spurred protests, including a demonstration by several thousand people in Washington last weekend.

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“We’re going to Memphis. Memphis is deeply troubled. The mayor is happy … We’re going to fix that just like we did Washington,” Trump told Fox News on Friday.

The office of Memphis Mayor Paul Young did not immediately respond to a request by Reuters news agency for comment.

Memphis, a city of 611,000 people along the Mississippi River, has one of the highest violent crime rates in the US, according to FBI statistics. Some 24 percent of residents live in poverty, more than double the national average, according to the US Census Bureau.

The US Justice Department sent federal agents to help fight violent crime in the city in 2020, during Trump’s first term in office.

‘Would have preferred Chicago’

Trump said he might also send federal personnel to New Orleans, like Memphis, a Democratic-leaning city in a Republican-controlled state. He has threatened to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, but so far has not done so.

Trump argues that crime is blighting American cities like Washington, and in recent weeks placed the US capital city’s police department under direct federal control and sent federal law enforcement personnel to patrol the city’s streets.

Justice Department data showed violent crime in 2024 hit a 30-year low in Washington.

Trump said he “would have preferred going to Chicago,” where local politicians have fiercely resisted his plans, but he suggested it was a “hostile” place with “professional agitators”.

Trump first deployed troops to Los Angeles in early June over Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections by putting the California National Guard under federal jurisdiction, known as Title 10, to protect federal property from protests over immigration raids.

Full-back Lewis extends Man City deal until 2030

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Manchester City full-back Rico Lewis has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2030.

Lewis, 20, who has won five caps for England, extends his stay at City by two years after previously penning a deal until June 2028.

The academy graduate, who can also operate in midfield, has made 97 appearances for City since making his debut in August 2022.

In that time Lewis has helped City win two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the Champions League and the Fifa Club World Cup.

“I have spent so much of my life at this club. City means everything to me, so to be able to stay longer makes me incredibly happy,” said Lewis, who joined City’s academy when he was eight.

“I am still improving and developing as a player, and I know that the opportunity to carry on working with Pep [Guardiola], his coaching team and our amazing squad will only help me to keep getting better.

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Celebrity Big Brother star sobs as he becomes a dad for the fourth time

Celebrity Big Brother star Dapper Laughs has revealed he has become a dad for the fourth time. The comedian, whose real name is Dan O’Reilly, and his wife Shelly Rae have welcomed their baby boy to the world.

The star, took to social media to share the sweet news with his overjoyed followers. Dan was overwhelmed after his wife gave birth to a baby boy, sharing the news in an Instagram upload.

The clip showed his wife having a water birth while the comic was on hand to support her. He then broke down after the birth, admitting it was “hard”. For the clip, he was dressed in blue hospital scrubs.






Dapper Laughs


The comedian was beaming with pride
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@dappersinstagram/Instagram)






The couple already had three daughters


The couple already had three daughters
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@dappersinstagram/Instagram)

He captioned his upload: “Our beautiful little story continues, yesterday my absolute machine of a wife @shelleyraerae gave us our 4th child, thank you Shelley, what you have gone through to give us this amazing little family I will always appreciate, I love you..

“Family is everything to me, my children are my world. Im on cloud 9 today… Very emotional. Thank you Shelley, life complete!”

He also took the time to thanks the midwives for their support, labelling them “amazing”.

The clip showed the journey from turning up at the hospital. Dan called his wife an “absolute trooper” as he said “what you women go through is no joke”.

He confessed he “nearly missed it” as he shared an emotional embrace with his wife as he wiped away the tears. He added: “I can’t believe it”

“That’s my dad, going to have to slip Patrick in for my dad,” he said.

The clip then showed Dan holding his son with his top off before introducing his three daughters to their baby brother.

The clip ended with the sweet news of the baby’s name. After Dan wrote “I have a son..” the name Jax Patrick Ian O’Reilly popped up on the screen. It added his birth weight too, which was 7lb 2.

Michael Ianotti’s Tears In Heaven played over the top of the footage. And fans rushed to the comments section to congratulate the happy couple.

Among them was Jayne Sharp who wrote: “Tears streaming down my face here! Congratulations!!! So happy for you all. Massive props to Superwoman Shell!”

Another used wrote: “Mate I’m so happy for you right now! You got the boy #familycomplete”. And a third said: “I told you he would be a boy! Absolutely over the moon for you… the family is complete xx.

“Congratulations to you all… this is the best news I’ve heard in ages!!!! Sending love, light and huge hugs to you all.”

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