Archive May 12, 2025

Landmark win, unwanted history & play-off hopes hit

By in News, Sports News
Huw Evans Picture Agency
Matt Lloyd
BBC Sport
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History was made for right and wrong reasons while play-off hopes took a blow in the penultimate round of the United Rugby Championship.

Scarlets claimed a first away win over one of South Africa’s big four but Dragons’ worst season was confirmed in Durban.

Further losses also saw Cardiff plummet from fifth to ninth – one place outside the play-offs – and ended Ospreys’ hopes of reaching the knock-out matches.

Scarlets backed-up league wins over Ospreys, Dragons and Leinster with victory in Johannesburg over the Lions.

They are now sixth but are still not guaranteed a play-off place.

They face fourth-placed Sharks in Durban and have not won four league games in a row since winning the title in 2017.

But they have the league’s top scorer in Ioan Lloyd while Blair Murray’s double means only Munster’s Tom Farrell has scored more tries this season.

Head coach Dwayne Peel said: “I’m massively proud of the lads after that result [at Lions].

“The big thing for us this season is we wanted to compete and we are doing it right up until the last game.

“It’s not done yet. Next week will be a massive challenge but we’ll make sure we are ready to go and see how many points we can get.”

URC places from five to tenBBC Sport

Could Cardiff’s hopes of reaching the play-offs for the first time come down to a missed pass between Gabriel Hamer-Webb and Cam Winnett?

Cardiff knew their best hope of claiming a crucial point at Bulls that could prove enough to secure a top-eight finish was likely from scoring tries.

But they fell agonisingly short of a bonus, despite second-half tries from Alex Mann, Teddy Williams and Hamer-Webb in the 45-21 loss.

Earlier Hamer-Webb had beaten three defenders but failed to find Winnett with what looked like a scoring pass.

“We’re not going to review that game in huge detail,” said head coach Matt Sherratt.

“We’ve got a six-day turnaround so the boys have had two days off to rest and recover because if we’re not emotionally and physically right [for Stormers] then the technical and tactical stuff won’t matter.”

Ospreys out

Ospreys pulled off a minor miracle to scrape into the play-offs last season but a poor start to the campaign and recent defeats in Welsh derbies meant they were struggling to qualify even before a 29-10 loss at Sharks.

They end their season at Lions in a game with nothing to play for other than building for next season when head coach Mark Jones starts his first campaign in charge.

“We’ve got the main ingredients to do well,” said Jones.

“The scoreboard [against Sharks] feels painful when you look at the effort we put in but we didn’t execute those big moments.

Table of the worst URC campaignsBBC Sport

Dragons head to the “toughest away fixture in the league”, according to Sherratt, at the Bulls needing a point to avoid equalling the worst URC league season.

It is already the lowest tally for Dragons – or Newport – in a one-division version of the competition’s varied 24-year history.

But they are still equal with the Zebre team of 2021-22 who claimed just nine points after losing 17 of 18 games.

“We have a lot of young guys getting opportunities who are not quite ready yet, but that is where we are at,” said Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia.

Quote of the week

Jac Morgan image behind Ieuan Evans during the naming of the 2025 British and Irish Lions squadGetty Images

“With the last couple of years Wales have been going through, he is a true warrior and really deserves his spot.”

Related topics

  • Dragons
  • Welsh Rugby
  • Cardiff
  • Scarlets
  • Ospreys
  • Wales Sport
  • Rugby Union

Women’s Championship renamed WSL2 from next season

By in News, Sports News
Getty Images
Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

The Women’s Championship will become the Women’s Super League 2 from the start of the 2025-26 season as part of a major rebrand of women’s professional football in England.

On Thursday Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) – the company that oversees the top two divisions in women’s football – unveiled new names, emblems and a new visual identity.

WPLL also announced a company name change to Women’s Super League Football (WSL Football) with immediate affect.

New WSL and WSL2 logosWSL Football

It is the first major change WSL Football has made since it assumed control of the top two tiers from the Football Association in August 2024.

WSL Football said its new brand identity is “born from the movement of female footballers”, with the new visual identity including “living emblems, colour systems and league and company word marks which have been inspired by on-pitch movement”.

WSL Football chief marketing officer Ruth Hooper said: “There is a lot more in store over the coming months as we continue to grow the women’s game for the future.”

The WSL drew to a conclusion on Saturday with Chelsea crowned champions for a sixth consecutive season and Crystal Palace relegated to the second tier.

A graphic that reads 'Follow our women's football TikTok' with a picture of a mobile phone

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  • Football
  • Women’s Football

Israel committed to ‘intensified’ Gaza operation despite US captive release

By in News, World News

Israel has not agreed to any ceasefire or prisoner swap with Hamas ahead of the expected release of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander, but is continuing to prepare to intensify its military operations in Gaza, its prime minister has stated.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement released on Monday that ceasefire negotiations “will continue under fire, during preparations for an intensification of the fighting”. The Israeli leader insisted that military pressure had forced Hamas to make the release.

“Israel has not committed to a ceasefire of any kind” or the release of Palestinian prisoners, but has only agreed to allow safe passage for the release of Alexander, the last surviving United States captive held in Gaza, the statement said.

A Hamas source told the AFP news agency later on Monday that mediators had informed the Palestinian group that Israel would pause military operations in Gaza for the handover.

‘Final deal?’

Hamas said on Monday that Alexander’s release was imminent. The armed group agreed to release him as a goodwill gesture to US President Donald Trump, who is due to arrive in the Middle East later.

The previous day, the Palestinian group had revealed that it had agreed to the release in talks with the US. Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt called it an encouraging step towards a return to ceasefire talks for war-torn Gaza.

Khalil al-Hayyah, a Hamas leader in Gaza, said the group was ready to “immediately start intensive negotiations” to reach a final deal for a long-term truce, including an end to the war, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners and remaining Israeli captives in Gaza, and the handing over of power in the enclave to an independent body of technocrats.

Alexander’s family said they hoped the decision would open the way for the release of the 59 other captives, only 21 of whom are believed to be alive.

Families of the captives and their supporters in Israel have pressed the government to reach a deal to secure the release of those still held in Gaza, but Netanyahu has faced heavy pressure from hardliners in his cabinet not to end the war.

Last week, Netanyahu announced that Israel plans a total conquest of Gaza in an intensive military operation. Israeli officials have said that the step-up in military action would not start until Trump wraps up his Middle East visit.

Israel continues to bombard the enclave.

Gaza’s Civil Defence agency reported on Monday that several people were killed and many more injured in an overnight air attack on a school housing displaced people.

“At least 10 [dead], including several women and children, as well as dozens of wounded, were transported following an Israeli air strike on the Fatima Bint Asad school, which is home to more than 2,000 displaced people in the city of Jabalia,” Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal said.

GB to face Japan in BJK Cup quarter-finals

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Great Britain will play Japan in the quarter-finals of September’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, China.

The winners will face either the USA or Kazakhstan in the semi-finals, with the other quarter-finals being played between Italy and China and Spain v Ukraine.

The finals feature eight teams competing in a knockout format and will take place between 16-21 September.

Britain qualified by beating the Netherlands and Germany in The Hague last month, with Jodie Burrage and Katie Boulter’s superb doubles performance sealing their place.

Related topics

  • Tennis

Jeremy Clarkson’s new glam farmhand labelled ‘fake’ in bitter family feud

By in Entertainment News, News

Jeremy Clarkson’s new farmhand Harriet Cowan has been branded ‘fake’ by her bitter step-sisters, who have exposed a family feud ahead of her debut in series four of Clarkson’s Farm

(Image: (Image: Harriet Cowan Instagram))

Clarkson’s Farm is ready to drop its fourth season on Prime Video in just a fortnight, and Jeremy Clarkson has enlisted a new, glamorous farmhand to cover for his usual right-hand man, Kaleb Cooper. With Kaleb off on tour with his show The World According to Kaleb, 24-year-old Harriet Cowan steps into the limelight at Diddly Squat Farm, charming audiences early on in the season as she deftly takes on everything from livestock feed to farm fencing.

But it’s not just her farming prowess turning heads; as a nurse and part-time farmer, Harriet’s casting has also sparked drama closer to home. Elina Clifford, who shares a complicated family connection with Harriet, spoke candidly about the behind-the-scenes tension. Talking in a new interview, Elina, a professional chiropodist, didn’t mince words about her estranged step-sister.

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Jeremy Clarkson's new farmhand labelled 'fake' as bitter family feud is exposed
Jeremy Clarkson’s new farmhand labelled ‘fake’ as bitter family feud is exposed(Image: (Image: Prime Video))

She said to MailOnline: “She loves to be the centre of attention, often at others’ expense,” branding Harriet as “self-absorbed” and “fake,” and sending out a stark warning to Jeremy: “She is fake in the way she behaves, so Jeremy Clarkson, beware!”.

The reported tensions are rooted in Harriet’s tense ties with Elina’s mum, Vicky – a trauma nurse wedded to Harriet’s dad, farming bloke Eddy Cowan. Elina alleged that Harriet was “horrible” to her stepmum, stirring up family strife.

She added: “Not many people we know like her and our family has never liked her. My mum finds her behaviour unnecessary”, reports the Express.

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Harriet has impressed Jeremy with her skills
Harriet has impressed Jeremy with her skills(Image: (Image: Harriet Cowan Instagram))

Maddie, Elina’s older sister and a teacher by profession, shared the same view: “We don’t have a good relationship with her. Our mum is with her dad now, and there was a lot of drama a couple of years ago. There is a family feud, and Harriet was not being very nice to mum, and it was very upsetting.”

Moreover, Maddie claimed that although Harriet appears to hold strong connections with her biological sister Izzy and their mother Jacqui’s side, she’s pretty much alienated from theirs.

Both sisters accused Harriet of exploiting her stint on Clarkson’s Farm to swell her social media influence, alleging she joined just for the fame because she’s “obsessed with herself”.

Harriet and James selfie Clarkson's Farm
She is dating fellow farmer James(Image: (Image: Harriet Cowan Instagram))

The irony of the siblings slating their step-sister’s self-preoccupation while chatting to the media seemingly escapes them.

Elina threw shade at Harriet’s intentions, questioning her authenticity in the local farming scene of Belper, Derbyshire, and hinting that her newfound fame might not sit well with the locals.

“And the farming community in Derbyshire, where she lives, won’t like what she is doing. She is only doing a farming show to boost her social media profile. It is really sad and desperate,” Elina remarked.

Despite the digs at her character and doubts about her reputation among Belper’s farmers, Harriet has managed to amass a significant online following, boasting 35,000 TikTok fans and an expanding Instagram audience. Her bio invites followers to “come and watch the craziness,” and she’s even snagged a brand deal with cow-themed sock brand Country Moos.

Family drama aside, early footage shows Harriet flourishing on the farm, earning accolades from none other than Clarkson himself, who complimented her on-screen: “She’s brilliant.”

The teaser also welcomed back Kaleb Cooper, who seemed to hit it off with his new colleague.

The Mirror have reached out to Prime Video for comment.

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Home Bargains’ ‘perfect’ £20 garden lounger is ideal ‘for summer days’

By in Entertainment News, News

The sun lounger was praised by Home Bargains shoppers, who said they “want” and “need” it

Home Bargains shoppers love the new item(Image: Getty)

Home Bargains shoppers are heaping praise on a new sun lounger they’ve spotted online – just in time for the warmer weather. The retailer is well known for it’s budget homeware items and now a new favourite may have arrived.

The Outdoor Living Collection Nevada Folding Sun Lounger was shared on social media by Facebook page Money Saver By Dansway. The post featured a photo of the product alongside it’s price tag of £19.99.

The post proved popular, racking up likes and comments from interested shoppers. Among them, one person tagged a friend and said: “perfect for you”, while the other person replied: “aww fab thanks babe.”

Tagging a friend, a third shopper wrote: “U wanna treat me.” A different person said: “Get 2.”

The praise continued, with one shopper writing: “On my way I’m buying 20.” A second said: “I want this” and a third commented: “For summer days!”

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A fourth impressed shopper wrote: “That’s the cheapest I’ve ever seen it! Have to go get 2 before they sell out!!”

A fifth said: “Oooh love this.” Another shopper keen on picking up the lounger wrote: “I need to go.”

Online, the Home Bargains product description reads: “Relax in comfort with The Outdoor Living Collection Nevada Folding Sun Lounger. This lightweight, multi-position lounger is easy to store in winter and features a convenient carry handle.”

The retailer added: “Multi-Position lounger to find ultimate comfort and relaxation. Easy to fold and store away for the winter with carry handle and lightweight.”

The Outdoor Living Collection Nevada Folding Sun Lounger is not currently in stock on the Home Bargains website. However, shoppers can sign up to be notified when it returns.

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