Archive June 14, 2025

England knocked out of World Cup of Darts by Germany

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England’s Luke Humphries and Luke Littler are out of the World Cup of Darts after suffering a shock defeat by hosts Germany in the last 16.

The German pair of Martin Schindler and tournament debutant Ricardo Pietreczko took advantage of a string of missed doubles and some sloppy play by the top two players in the world to win 8-4 in Frankfurt.

Humphries and Littler, who both became MBEs on Saturday in the King’s Birthday Honours, were aiming to lead England to a record-extending sixth World Cup crown – with Humphries partnering Michael Smith to victory last year.

But playing together for the first time, the tournament favourites looked far from comfortable from the start as Germany broke throw in the opening leg, cheered on by a home crowd.

The English pair recovered to level the match at 2-2, but it was then Germany who rose to the occasion with some brilliant play, winning the next five legs to leave them on the brink of a famous victory.

“We believed in ourselves and we put in a solid performance, and the double 16s that Ricardo threw were so important,” said Schindler, the world number 18, praising his 28th-ranked partner.

“We are delighted to go through. German darts is in good shape right now and we will continue to push forward.”

Schindler and Pietreczko will next meet Australia’s Simon Whitlock and Damon Heta, the 2022 winners, after they defeated debutants Argentina 8-1.

Former World Championship finalist Whitlock said afterwards that England’s defeat had not been a surprise to him.

Heta added: “They probably relied on each other, thinking ‘Oh, he’ll do the business’.

“But the conditions weren’t great. The crowd was all for Germany so it was probably brutal out there for them, but they will take it as another learning curve and probably get stronger – unfortunately for the rest of us.

“Fair play to Germany, they played good darts, but we are just worried about us and what we have got to do.”

The Netherlands, represented by Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen, advanced with an 8-0 whitewash of Scotland’s Gary Anderson and Peter Wright, while Wales’ two-time winners Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton were 8-2 victors over the Philippines.

Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney, the fourth seeds, defeated South Africa 8-2 to set up a last-eight tie against 2019 runners-up Republic of Ireland, who are represented by William O’Connor and Keane Barry.

Quarter-final draw

Germany v Australia

Northern Ireland v Republic of Ireland

Wales v Hong Kong

Related topics

  • Darts

Stutchbury, 19, makes British fencing history

BizziTeam

Teenager Carolina Stutchbury has become Great Britain’s first woman fencer to win a European Championship silver medal.

The 19-year-old reached the individual women’s foil final in Genoa after strong performances throughout the day, but suffered a 15-13 loss to France’s world number nine Eva Lacheray.

It meant United States-based Stutchbury went one better than last year when she took European bronze.

That had made her the only British female fencer to have claimed a place on the podium since the event was re-established in 1981.

“To medal twice in a row gives me confidence in my ability to perform consistently at major events and I am looking forward to the World Champs in Tbilisi in July.”

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  • Fencing

Jesy Nelson’s baby twins go home for the first time as she celebrates birthday

Jesy Nelson celebrated her latest birthday on Saturday by taking the baby twin daughters that she shares with boyfriend Zion Foster home for the first time

Jesy Nelson has taken her baby twins home for the first time(Image: @jesynelson/Instagram)

Jesy Nelson announced her baby twins, who she welcomed with boyfriend, Zion Foster, have arrived at her home for the first time. The 34-year-old former Little Mix star welcomed daughters Ocean Jade Nelson-Foster and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster on 18 May.

The babies arrived two months early, being born at 31 weeks and five days, following a high-risk pregnancy complicated by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. The Mine singer had been in hospital for months after undergoing emergency surgery to save her children while they were still in the womb.

Now Jesy has revealed that Jesy and her girls are back home almost a full month since they arrived. And they were able to make it home in time for her birthday.

Taking to Instagram on Saturday, the singer shared a photograph showing her doting over her daughters in her home. She wrote in an accompanying caption: “My babies made it home for my birthday.”

Fans were charmed by the photo, with one commenting: “They are both so beautiful! Happy birthday Jesy.” While another added: “So happy you guys are all home together.”

Jesy Nelson with daughters Ocean Jade Nelson-Foster and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster
Jesy shared an endearing snap of herself at home with her twins(Image: instagram.com/jesynelson/)
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And a further fan wrote: “I knew they would make it home to be with you, precious miracle girls they did it for you.

Last month, Jesy delighted fans when she reveled her children had arrived “healthy and fighting strong” after arriving prematurely.

She also recently shared her experience with the girls in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). She wrote in an online post: “Nothing or no one will ever be able to prepare you as a parent for NICU.

“It’s the most scary overwhelming feeling of emotions not being able to feel like you can protect your babies.

“Naturally as a mother you just want to hold them and comfort them when they cry but you can’t because there are what feels like a million wires coming out of them. Tubes and masks in the way with people poking and prodding them, it breaks your heart into a million pieces.

“But slowly as the days go by and they get stronger and wires start to come away, moments like this feel like a dream.” The Black Magic singer expressed her joy over the fact her children were brought back together following treatment.

She explained: “Having them reunited for the first time ever today was the most magical feeling I will never be able to describe. The strongest little girls I’ve ever known who really do have the most inspiring story to tell.”

Jesy and 25-year-old musician Zion first started dating in January 2022and have had an on-off romance over the years. Zion has been at Jesy’s side throughout her pregnancy and hospital stay.

In early May the couple hinted they may have tied the knot as Zion shared a trio of black and white photos of himself with Jesy in a bed smiling and laughing together. Jesy reacted to the images to write “My husband” in the comments – sparking a flurry of comments from fans.

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Mollie King reveals realities of ‘less glamorous life’ of being mother of two

Former The Saturdays singer Mollie King opened up about what it’s really like juggling fame while being a mother of two

Mollie King reveals realities of ‘less glamorous life’ of being mother of two(Image: Getty Images)

Mollie King has swapped the red ­carpet for sleeping on the nursery ­carpet now she is a mum of two. The former The Saturdays singer gave birth to second daughter Liliana in December – and returned last month to her afternoon Radio 1 presenting slot.

Mollie, 38 – engaged to ex-England cricketer Stuart Broad – revealed: “Life’s a lot less glamorous when you’re a mum of two. “I was laughing with Stuart after [last month’s] Baftas. I went from walking the red carpet, to sleeping on my daughter’s carpet. I missed the afterparty and came home. She couldn’t sleep so I was sleeping on the floor in her bedroom while she was in her cot.

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Mollie King
Mollie recently welcomed her second baby(Image: mollieking/Instagram)

“I’d managed to get out of my dress but my hair and make-up was still glammed up. You don’t realise how much your parents did for you until you’re a parent yourself.”

Mollie and Stuart, 38, had Liliana just before Christmas, giving a sister to Annabella, two.

Mollie, who has hosted Radio 1’s Monday to Thursday early afternoon slot with Matt Edmondson for the past year, said of her return to work: “It’s such a tough one because I adore being at home with the girls.

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Mollie King
She shared the realities of being a mother of two(Image: Getty Images)

“But I also love being on the radio doing a job I love with Matt, who’s one of my best friends. The hardest thing is missing the girls and coping being away from them.

“But Stuart and I juggle it between us. We’re a bit of a tag team – he works most weekends and I work Monday to Thursday, so it’s a bit ‘one in, one out’.”

Mollie added: “But Annabella is brilliant, which makes things easier. I was worried she’d feel pushed aside but she’s been amazing. She’s very affectionate and protective over her already.”

Mollie had 13 top 10 hits with girl group The Saturdays, who went on hiatus in 2014 after a seven-year run.

Last year she raised more than £1.3million for Red Nose Day with her 310-mile Pedal Power bike ride.

She cycled in memory of her dad Stephen, who died of a brain tumour 10 days after Annabella was born.

Mollie said of working through her grief: “I don’t think you ever get over it. It’s been hard knowing he’s missed out on another granddaughter.

“When I had my little one, I felt such mixed feelings. I wish he’d known her. But I also know he’s still with me.”

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‘Hurt but proud’ – retiring Youngs on final defeat

Rex Features

“Proud. Emotional. Gutted.”

In three words, Leicester Tigers icon Ben Youngs summed up what it meant to finish his illustrious rugby union career with a narrow Premiership Grand Final defeat by Bath.

England’s most capped male player of all time came off the bench to replace his Tigers and international successor Jack van Poortvliet with 26 minutes remaining.

The ingenuity and influence that has been the hallmark of nearly two decades of Youngs at scrum-half for Tigers was instrumental in getting them so close to glory.

But ultimately, they were overcome 23-21 by a Bath side that lifted the trophy for the first time in 29 years.

“It hurts, but I’m proud,” Youngs told BBC Radio Leicester.

For fellow retiree and Tigers icon Dan Cole, who is second only to Youngs for England caps, his last game will live in infamy.

Less than six minutes after the prop was brought on, he was sin-binned for clattering into Finn Russell when attempting to charge down a kick in the 69th minute.

It allowed Russell to tee up the kick that sealed Bath’s victory, even though a converted Emeka Ilione try soon after set up a tense finish.

In a gruelling match on a draining, sun-soaked day, the late yellow card had Tigers down a man for a second time.

Before the break, it was another departing player in captain Julian Montoya who spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin for a high tackle on Ted Hill.

Leicester boss Michael CheikaRex Features

And while it was a loss that also marked the end of Michael Cheika’s one-year reign at the helm of the East Midlands club, the decorated head coach could only reflect on what the loss meant to those Tigers greats on their way out.

“I just feel disappointed and sorry that I didn’t prepare the guys in a good enough way to get them what they deserved today,” the Australian said.

“I love this group of guys, and love the club and I’m so proud of the players for the way they stayed in it right to the end.

“We gave ourselves a chance to win it right at the end, but unfortunately it didn’t go our way.”

With two-time World Cup winning South African fly-half Handre Pollard also moving on in the summer, the decider was seen as the “last dance” for an all-star ensemble of players.

Pollard’s high-profile three years at Mattioli Woods Welford Road ended empty-handed but he said that lack of silverware paled in comparison to what Tigers failed to accomplish for two of the club’s finest-ever servants.

“It’s very disappointing, and not so much about losing the game and the trophy but it’s more about sending Ben Youngs and Dan Cole and those guys off with a loss in the final,” Pollard said.

“That’s the one that gets you.

“We’ll have great memories with this team and I’ve enjoyed every minute.”

As for Youngs, who spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live after the match with his children and other family crowded around him, missing out on a sixth Premiership title will not stop him cherishing one of English rugby’s greatest careers.

“The ink is dry, I’m proud of my contribution and I’ll miss it,” he said.

Related topics

  • Rugby Union
  • Leicester Tigers

Real Housewives boss dies in childbirth and leaves behind baby boy and 3-year-old girl

Real Housewives executive Lauren Miller has died just moments after giving birth to her son Jackson as she also leaves behind her husband and three-year-old daughter Emma

Lauren Miller has tragically died while giving birth to her second child(Image: Shed Media/INSTAGRAM)

A boss of the Real Housewives TV franchises has tragically died during childbirth. Lauren Miller died just minutes after giving birth to her son Jackson on June 9.

She had worked on both the Real Housewives of New York City and Salt Lake City series of the hit reality show. Lauren’s death was announced by production company Shed Media in an emotional statement.

They said: “It is with devastated hearts that we share that our beloved colleague, Lauren, died unexpectedly just moments after giving birth to her baby boy. Lauren leaves behind her husband, Kevin, three-year-old daughter Emma and newborn son Jackson.”

Lauren Miller and family
Lauren died after giving birth to their son Jackson(Image: Shed Media/INSTAGRAM)

Her husband Kevin left a heartbreaking comment that read: “Lauren is the love of my life and I was blessed by God that she chose to spend her life with me and give me two beautiful children to remember her every minute of everyday.”

He added: “Please pray for our family and thank you all for the prayers, kind words and thoughts. God bless.” Real Housewives stars have also shared their own tributes to Lauren.

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Orange County’s Tamra Judge wrote: “Prayers for her family & friends. This is absolutely heartbreaking.” Salt Lake City star Heather Gay added a broken heart emoji and New York City’s Sai de Silva posted several crying emojis.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Lauren’s family by her co-workers, which has already raised over $131,000. The fundraising page said: “This unimaginable loss is impossible to comprehend and the hole that Lauren has left in this world and in her own family, is an impossible one to ever fill.

“We are devastated for her beloved husband, Kevin, who must now unexpectedly take on the sole role of parenting their two children … Emma (3) and newborn Jackson, who is still in the NICU. That the day Lauren was so eagerly awaiting should end in tragedy is truly unfathomable.”

They added: “Anyone that knew Lauren was affected by her warm smile, kind heart and thoughtful, intuitive nature. She was the kind of person who could comfort you with a just a few words, because she always spoke from the heart.

“She was sincere, intentional and compassionate, but among her greatest qualities was the love she had for her family. It was no secret how close she was to her entire family or how excited she was when she got to start her own.

“From getting engaged to Kevin and then getting married to becoming a mother with Emma and next with Jackson, Lauren beamed whenever she talked about all that she had with her beautiful family.”

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The post concluded: “The devastating loss of Lauren is far-reaching and we all feel helpless in the wake of the grief. But we can come together now to help take care of the thing Lauren cherish beyond all else: her family.”

In an update on Friday, Lauren’s co-workers revealed baby Jackson has left the NICU and is at home with his dad Kevin and sister Emma.