Rob Baxter, the manager of Exeter, has stated that he will not repeat the team’s worst season to date.
In their final Premiership game of the year, the Chiefs defeated third-placed Sale 30-26.
Exeter ended up in the top flight with just four wins all season, which was an improvement on some games this year.
It marks the conclusion of an arduous campaign for Exeter, which saw the club sack three coaches and suffer a 79-17 defeat at Gloucester one month ago.
When asked about his plans for the upcoming campaign, Baxter replied, “I’m not going to refer to this season at all.”
“My expectations for them going forward are what I’m going to refer to.”
In the past three or four weeks, I’ve only mentioned that my expectations of them are higher than their expectations of themselves are.
Since retiring long-serving assistants Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher following the defeat at Gloucester, Baxter has taken on a more hands-on coaching position.
The end of a season saw Exeter lose all four of their European games and draw just four league games, two of which were played against Saracens and Northampton, who had lost many of their international stars.
Exeter have since improved and had a chance to win the game against a Sale side, who knew a win would set up a fourth play-off campaign in the last five years.
“A lot of teams need a dedicated starting point,” Baxter continued. “Gloversburg was a dedicated starting point for us.”
No one can enter my office while I’m talking to them and say, “Everything is fine, I don’t understand why we’re reacting.”
You don’t need anyone to have second opinions about whether what is on the field is good enough. You do.
Inter Miami warmed up for the Club World Cup in style with a 5-1 victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday in Major League Soccer with two goals and two more as a result.
On June 14, Miami will face Egyptian and African champion Al Ahly, and after a significant run of form, they have found their touch once more in their previous two MLS games.
The tensions between Javier Mascherano’s team and Montreal were eased by a 4-2 win over Montreal in midweek, which saw Messi and Luis Suarez each score two goals.
Miami were aided by some unusually loose defending from Columbus, who has been one of the league’s top three regulars over the past three seasons, but Messi and Company were quickly able to open up space for them.
In the 13th minute, Argentine Tadeo Allende opened the scoring by sending a long ball over the top to Messi, who had dropped deep into midfield. The forward confidently slotted home.
Read more about PSG’s first-ever Champions League victory over Inter Milan.
When Columbus’ Guatemalan goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen hesitated with the ball at his feet and passed it to Messi, the World Cup winner attempted to chip him before the Guatemalan’s Nicholas Hagen, who had been injured, then gave Miami the second goal.
Hagen scrambled to get an extended palm on the ball, but the shot veered into the net, leaving the visitors in severe trouble.
Sergio Busquets spotted the Crew defense were asleep and floated a pass over the top to Messi, who then ran onto the advancing Hagen in the 24th minute, to steal the lead.
In the 58th minute, Cesar Ruvalcaba gave Columbus a glimmer of hope with a thundering header, but Miami had already reclaimed their three-goal lead six minutes later.
Messi broke through the middle before feeding Telasco Segovia, who slipped the ball to Suarez, who buried it into the bottom corner.
When he fed substitute Fafa Picault, who had already broken away before a clinical finish, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was the creator once more.
Argentina, who have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, are currently away in Chile on Thursday and host Colombia on June 10, with Messi now taking them on international duty.
Pete Hegseth, the US’s defense secretary, has warned that Taiwan is in preparation for an invasion. At a global defense conference in Singapore, Hegseth made the remarks. The accusations were disproven by Chinese officials as being “defamatory.”
Top tennis players have been complaining for a while that their physical demands are becoming more and more unbearable.
The latest to express concerns about the calendar is Australian world no. 9, Alex de Minaur, who claimed that he “feels burned out” after exiting the French Open earlier than expected.
In his second-round encounter with Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan, the 26-year-old held a two-set lead before physically fading.
The “mental” schedule of the top players was raised by Britain’s Jack Draper at the end of last year, while Iga Swiatek, a five-time major champion, claims that the current demands are “pretty exhausting.”
After his Roland Garros exit, Casper Ruud criticized the rankings as “rat race,” while De Minaur argued that players’ careers would become shorter because they would “burn out mentally.”
“There is just too much tennis,” the statement read.
The WTA Tour has previously stated that players’ health and well-being is always our top priority, and the ATP Tour claims it does not take these concerns lightly.
What percentage of the leading players are playing?
The top players’ entire season spans 11 months.
Top-ranked women’s player Aryna Sabalenka contested 70 matches across 17 tournaments last year while top-ranked men’s world number one Jannik Sinner contested 79 matches.
Ruud and De Minaur finished third in the ATP year-end top 10 last year, ranking him second behind Ruud in that field.
What’s unusual about me is that for the past three or four years, I’ve had two days off, followed immediately by the pre-season, and then immediately following the start of the new year, De Minaur said on Thursday.
The ATP and WTA Tours resume at the end of December, with the ATP and WTA Tours beginning in December.
The Australian Open kicks off in mid-January, followed by Wimbledon in early July and the French Open in late May.
The US Open kicks off the Grand Slams in early September.
The ATP and WTA Tour finals, followed by the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Finals, where players compete against other teams in now-described “World Cup of Tennis,” are the final two games of the season.
The ATP Tour stated that it “knows” why its leading players are concerned about the season’s length and demands.
In a statement to BBC Sport, it was stated that “we’re focused on strengthening the sport by creating a more premium product, one that results in more prize money and opportunities for players.”
Calendar reform is a crucial component of that vision.
Does allowing pain to pass through cause the “rat race”?
Players who play tennis for a long period of time get used to experiencing pain and discomfort.
Naomi Osaka, a Japanese tennis player, claims she won two of her four Grand Slams while being injured.
However, I am aware that I can play almost as well if I’m injured as a result.
I’ll feel pressured to put all of my energy into each situation from time to time because I’m mentally better than ever.
Of course, accidents can be too painful and painful to manage.
Ruud and De Minaur believe that the current structure unfairly punishes players in this regard.
If you don’t show up and play, whether it be economically, points-wise, rankings-wise, or opportunity-wise, Ruud said, you feel like you lose a lot.
“I am aware that the remainder of the year and my career depend greatly on these weeks and months.
I won’t play, of course, if my leg breaks. But it’s challenging. “
According to the ATP, there are “protects in place” for injured players, citing its Baseline program, which aims to spread wealth further down the tour.
Because fans want to see that, “players ultimately have the freedom to choose where they compete,” it continued. For many years, we’ve had financial incentives in place to encourage participation at the top events.
Does the ranking system need to be altered?
The eight top players of the season receive points at the season-ending ATP Finals, while 19 events are included in the ATP rankings each year.
That includes:
De Minaur, who injured himself in 2013, missed three Masters competitions in Cincinnati, Montreal, and Shanghai last year, thinks this unfairly punishes players.
“That was something I had to handle.” He continued, “I’m still dealing with that right now.”
“My ranking now has three zeros because I was injured and unable to play,” I hear you say.
The top 20 players are expected to compete in at least 20 of the 18 tournaments that the WTA rankings are based on:
The WTA claimed that the structure’s introduction last year did not cause an increase in workload.
Data from the past ten years indicated that players competed in an average of 20 events annually, including the Grand Slams, according to the statement.
When I first learned that Charli XCX’s preferred London restaurant was right next to Highbury and Islington, I knew I had to stop in for a meal. As a north Londoner, I did.
I loved dining at Charli XCX’s favourite restaurant – but I had to ask for one pasta dish to be changed(Image: Lauren Gordon)
Charli XCX is easily one of the most influential figures for Gen Z and Millenials alike, thanks to the success of her 2024 album Brat, which birthed the iconic Brat Summer era and sent a slime green wave global as fans channelled their inner Brat.
A year on, the 365 singer is still having a cultural impact, from her DJ set with Cannes (alongside fiancéGeorge Daniel) to her song ‘I think about it all the time’climbing in virality on TikTok as the backing track for the new ‘propaganda I’m not falling for’ trend.
As the cultural icon she’s become, her recommendations are treated like gold dust and thankfully, she’s not gatekeeping them. In a video posted in November 2024, Charli engaged in a quick-fire Q&A with Top Jaw, sharing her top recommendations, from the best bar in London (she says it’s Trisha’s in Soho) to her favourite restaurant.
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Charli’s favourite London spot, Trullo, is based in Highbury and Islington. The quaint, unassuming restaurant is mere seconds from the tube station, and is nested on St Paul’s Road. It’s only noticeable by it’s royal blue exterior and doubles as the perfect spot for a mega star to grab a low-key bite.
A win is a win, even though I managed to reserve a table for 9 p.m. When my friend and I were seated at our table, the atmosphere became cozy and, dare I say it, romantic. It would be the ideal location for a date.
For starters we shared the Brushcetta of Westcombe ricotta and marinated Olasagasti anchovy(Image: Lauren Gordon)
Our waiter described a delectable squid starter option that wasn’t on the menu, but we chose the sparkling white wine, the Bruschetta of Westcombe ricotta, and the marinated Olasagasti anchovy (£14.50). We both preferred the sound of the Pici with white asparagus, prosciutto San Daniele, and egg yolk (£21), but we also requested a different pasta shape (sorry, but I adore tagliatelle)!
Our waiter obliged, and instead gave the meal a tagliatelle-style presentation. It’s no surprise Charli listed this as one of her favorite dishes in the entire city because of how large of a portion it is bursting with flavor.
We both dined on the pasta plate but swapped the pici for tagliatelle(Image: Lauren Gordon)
from superb customer service, delicious food, and cosy surroundings. Our meal, which included drinks and a service charge, cost £125.42 for two overall. You really can’t go wrong with a meal at Trullo, but be sure to reserve your seat because it’s filling up quickly.
Next month, you’ll be able to experience Charli’s very own music recommendations, as the singer has been busy curating her own ‘Party Girl Festival’ which she’ll headline along with personally chosen special guests, including 070 Shake, The Dare and The Japanese House, with many more still to come.
The “Party Girl Festival” will take place during the LIDO festival on June 6 through June 15, but Charli won’t be performing on June 14.
The singer shared the festival poster with the message “I’m throwing a festival in London in Victoria Park on June 14th and all these people are playing so get tickets xx” on Instagram.
What can fans expect from Sir Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood when they first performed together in 1969’s legendary band The Faces? They famously “had me a real good time,” and now they’re reuniting for Glastonbury.
For Glastonbury 2025, Ronnie Wood and Sir Rod Stewart will be reunited.
It’s been 55 years since Sir Rod Stewart first teamed up with Ronnie Wood as part of legendary band The Faces and famously ‘had me a real good time.. Now the rather more wrinkly rockers are to reunite on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage later this month, when they take the Legends slot.
The Faces’ faces have changed a lot in the past five decades or so since they played their distinctive fusion of rock ‘n ‘ roll, blues, and psychedelia. They have had hits like Stay With Me (1971), Ooh La La (1973), and Had Me a Real Good Time (1970). Wrecking hotel rooms dominated the band’s headlines as much as their music, making them as well known for their drinking, drug-taking, and debauchery as they were for their hit songs.
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Guitarist Ronnie Wood and singer Rod Stewart performing with English rock group Faces, circa 1972. (Image: Getty Images)
Back then, Rod Stewart was a fresh-faced 24-year-old singer with the five piece band, known as ‘Rod the Mod.’ Now 80, the Da Ya Think I’m Sexy star recently revealed, enthusiastically, of him and Ronnie on That Peter Crouch Podcast: “We’re going to do Glastonbury together.”
Playing together in The Faces from 1969 to 1975, when Rod left and the band split, the music he and Ronnie helped create was said to have influenced The Sex Pistols – although their concerts were either brilliant or shambolic, depending on how much alcohol they’d consumed.
In the biography of Ronnie, 77, Ronnie said, “We were the sponsors of Holiday Inn and Marriott, and anywhere we could get kicked. They were known as the Holiday Out, in our house. No hotel chain would have the Faces because of the damage and madness that occurred when we checked in as Fleetwood Mac. Half of the audience would return to the hotel. Whoever was present would be at the party with us, and everyone would stay.
Touring America, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the UK, the band played more than 500 concerts. DJ John Peel was an early champion of their music and said a 1973 Faces gig at Sunderland Locarno was his all time favourite live concert. While Rod and Ronnie were the band’s most famous faces, there were other notable musicians. These included other bassist Ronnie Lane, who died in 1997 after a battle with multiple sclerosis.
Tetsu Yamuchi took his bass position after he left in 1973. Additionally, drummer Kenney Jones replaced Keith Moon after his passing in the wake of his death in 2014 as keyboardist Ian McLagan, who passed away after a stroke. Along with Paul Rodgers and The Jones Gang, he also co-founded the band The Law and began a five-year tour of the United States. Ronnie joined the Rolling Stones in 1975, Rod’s departure year.
Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood celebrate Rod Stewart’s 80th birthday in 2025.
They have undergone numerous changes over the years, most recently for Rod Rod’s 1986 Wembley Stadium concert’s encore. Ronnie Lane and the band performed on stage that year, but by that time, he had multiple sclerosis and was unable to stand. Consequently, Bill Wyman played bass for him. The same lineup (minus Lane) reunited at the 1993 Brit Awards, and they reunited again in 2015 at Rod’s private 70th birthday party.
Rod said in a birthday speech that “Being in the Faces was a mad and brilliant time for all of us,” adding that this is our chance to remember them and say “Had a Real Good Time” despite the fact that we don’t have Ronnie and Mac with us anymore.
Then, for the first time in over 50 years, Jones, Stewart, and Wood made the announcement that they were working on a new album that was scheduled to be released in 2026. They have actually been working together a lot, Rod recently revealing that he was working on a new documentary with Ronnie and Kenney Jones, 76.
Rod, who has twice been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, has won a Grammy and a Brit Award and holds the World Record for staging the largest free rock concert in history. His New Year’s Eve concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1994 was attended by 3.5 million people – and he looks set for a busy 80th year, as he prepares to embark on a world tour.
At the age of 80, he said, “I enjoy going on tour now more than ever.” I’m in Vegas for seven concerts before traveling the world. I stay in shape thanks to it. You must be physically fit to do it. If I didn’t do it, I’d probably die. I’ve seen so many men who are forced to retire and have nothing to do but wake up in the morning.
Rod and Ronnie are obviously rocking it, no matter how shaky they may be.
Continue reading the article.
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