The 12 current Super League clubs have approved expanding the competition to 14 teams starting in the new year.
The league stated in a statement that the club grading system and an independent panel would be used as part of the expansion.
Both the strategic review subcommittee and Lord Jonathan Caine, who recently took the board seat, will serve as the panel’s chair.
Two of the panel’s recommended clubs will join the top 12 clubs under the grading system at the end of 2025 “provided there are two applications with sufficient merit against the set criteria.”
The league will have 14 teams as it will be its first season since 2014, after dropping to 12 for the 2015 campaign.
Following a meeting of the member clubs in Headingley on Monday, the expansion was decided.
In the past two seasons, rugby league clubs have been graded according to media outlet IMG and Rugby League Commercial’s “Reimagining Rugby League,” but only the league structure for 2025 has been determined based on the criteria, which saw Wakefield take over as the top flight for this term.
Super League used a loop fixture system, which allowed teams to fill the gap between fixtures by playing additional games against four teams after the league was reduced to 12 teams ten years ago.
These games are currently decided based on previous year’s league placements.
The league has implemented a number of organizational structures since 2015, including a late-season split structure that saw clubs play 23 games before being divided into three eight-team teams that included the 24 Super League and Championship opponents.
The top “Super 8s” team then played seven more games, with the top four of the group competing for Super League Grand Final spots at the time.
However, that format was ended prior to the 2019 campaign, when top-flight teams each played a total of 29 regular-season games, including six more loop games.
On a recent Miss Me episode, Lily Allen and her pal Miquita Oliver discussed personal hygiene. co-hosting a podcast that was released by BBC Sounds last week.
An ex-boyfriend would tell Lily Allen she smelled bad, Lily Allen reveals.
Podcast host Lily Allen has said that she was accused of having poor hygiene by one of her exes. She has suggested that it was “a form of bullying and abuse,” and questioned the “gall” of the ex, whose identity she did not disclose.
Lily, 40, made the remarks on an episode of the Miss Me? podcast, which she co-hosts with her pal Miquita Oliver, 41. They took questions from listeners about personal hygiene in an episode that was released by BBC Sounds last week.
Has anyone ever told you that you smell bad, asks one fan, “My question for you on personal hygiene?” And if they have, have they graciously delivered it to you, or has it been more of a judgment-and-attack situation?
Lily, who recently split from her second husband, Stranger Things actor David Harbour, went on to say that one of her exes had accused her of smelling bad during the relationship. She however recalled asking other people in her life if they felt the same way.
Lily responded, “Yeah, I have, actually. But I don’t believe so. I questioned people about their opinions. I was in a relationship with someone who would harm me. And I don’t believe it was authentic.
Lily Allen has said that one of her exes, whose identity she did not disclose, accused her of smelling bad whilst they were together(Image: Miss Me?/BBC Sounds)
On the podcast, Lily continued, “I think it was like some form of bullying and abuse.” Her ex-colleague said, “It’s a horrible one.” In the episode, Miquita stated, “As far as bullying forms of abuse go, it’s a really horrible one.”
In response to the suggestion made by her co-host, Lily continued to express her thoughts on Miquita, saying, “Yeah, it was done on purpose to make me feel self-conscious and s**t about myself.” And make them feel powerful, she continued.
In response to the listener’s question, Miquita then went over her own experiences. The presenter claimed that some relatives had informed her that she “had to start wearing deodorant” and that she was a “stinky teenager.” She recalled that when I was younger, I really didn’t want to either.
She shared her thoughts whilst in a discussion about personal hygiene with her pal Miquita Oliver on a recent episode of their Miss Me? podcast(Image: Miss Me?/BBC Sounds)
As Lily continued to reflect, she was overheard again moments later, returning the conversation to her own perspective. She remarked, “Thinking about it, the gall of this person who had the audacity to tell me that I had a problem with my personal hygiene.”
Lily once said, “When I first met them, I went over to their house and their bed had actual skid marks.” She later stated on the podcast that she was audacious enough to tell me I needed to brush my teeth without honey.
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Miss Me ? is accessible through YouTube, other podcasting platforms, and BBC Sounds.
Call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid for confidential assistance. AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can provide specialist and expert support and advocacy if you or your family has lost a friend or family member as a result of fatal domestic abuse. Visit www. for more details. aafda . org. uk.
In an attack on a bar, gunmen in Ecuador have killed at least 17 people, including a child, which highlights the country’s struggles with rising violent crime.
More than 40 pieces of ballistic evidence were recovered from the bar in El Empalme, which is located about 160 kilometers [100 miles] north of Guayaquil in the coastal province of Guayas, according to the country’s attorney general on Monday.
Body pools and pools of blood are visible in images shared by Ecuadorian media.
Over the past few years, violent crime in Ecuador has risen dramatically, according to experts, due to conflicting interests over territory and lucrative drug routes.
In an attack that left at least 11 people injured, according to police, with reports claiming that groups of gunmen in two trucks opened fire on the bar with pistols and rifles on Sunday night.
Before collapsing in the street and dying from his injuries, the attack’s only minor hit extended more than a kilometer.
According to the AFP news agency, the trucks reportedly shot and killed two more people at a different location while the men chanted “Active Wolves”! during the bar attack.
El Empalme police chief Oscar Valencia speculated that the term might refer to the criminal organization Los Lobos, which fights for control of extortion, kidnapping, and illegal mining operations against Los Choneros, a rival group.
In order to combat crime, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa has advocated for more executive and security roles, policies that have mostly received public support despite concerns about potential abuses.
Jessy from Love Island has revealed details of her time spent in the villa and how she felt like she was a shadow of someone, but she would go back for another attempt at love.
When Jessy arrived at the villa as a bombshell, she and Joey bonded.
She may have entered the Love Island villa as a bombshell, but Jessy Potts has proven she’s got staying power beyond Casa Amor and coupling ceremonies. The 25-year-old former fintech worker swapped spreadsheets for sunsets in the summer of 2024 and has been living the dream ever since her smooth-sailing stint on the show — even if she was somewhat overshadowed by her villa beau.
Jessy freely admits to being in the villa with Joey Essex, “but I felt like I was in someone else’s shadow.” People didn’t see me for what Joey said when I was duo with him.
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At the beginning of her upcoming relationships, Jessy is now introducing boundaries.
She doesn’t harbor any regrets. I don’t regret joining Joey when I first first move in. It made that experience simple for me. However, with a little reassurance (and a few red flags whizzing in the wind), Jessy’s perspective on love has significantly changed.
“The show altered how I feel about love right now. My partner needs to be a nice person, and I’m setting boundaries right away. Because they are nice, you can forget everything else. Since I love people, I need my partner to be just like that.
It’s clear she’s done the inner work since leaving the villa, and she’s not entertaining any emotional immaturity in 2025. “When I notice red flags now, I am gone. Red flags mean danger.”
Since her exit, Jessy’s been “living the dream”, appearing on campaigns, jetting off on glamorous trips, and soaking in the lifestyle shake-up after leaving behind her 9–5 in fintech. “There’s no other show like Love Island that can change your life overnight,” she says. “I’m finally doing what I’m meant to.”
But fame didn’t come without its early challenges. Arriving as a bombshell, Jessy was initially met with cold shoulders and admits, “It was a lonely experience at first.” Still, she found her groove — and her girls — bonding deeply with fellow Islanders Matilda (Draper) and Jess Leigh-Anne, who she calls “like sisters.”
Shortly after leaving the villa, Joey and Jessy.
The bubbly blonde is now gearing up for round two. She makes fun of “Yeah, I actually think I would do All Stars.” “I’d love the opportunity to reveal who I really am and get to know people in a real way.” Over to Joey, Jessy is stepping into her own spotlight and stepping out of the shadows.
Jessy also described how the gender disparity in this year’s series is more obvious than it has been previously. Through the screen, you can figuratively feel it. Because I was a bombshell and had to speak to all the guys when I first arrived, I was so lonely because I didn’t want the girls to like me.
The ITV2 dating show is just days away from this year’s grand finale and the part-time player has caught the eye of both Shakira Khan and Helena Ford amongst others during his time in the villa. But, Jessy is not impressed.
Continue reading the article.
She said, “I’m done with it.” “Harry’s a 30-year-old man — come on. Helena and the boys have been playing along, but it has backfired. I predict Shakira and Harry’s relationship will last roughly 1.5 days.
On ITV2 and ITVX, Love Island 2025 airs every night at 9 PM.
Actress Jane is celebrating her 10th wedding anniversary with wife Isobel Middleton as the couple anticipated a second wedding on the Cobbles the following week as Bernie Winter knots with corner shop owner Dev Alahan.
In the most recent Corrie wedding, Bernie Winter and Dev Alahan propose in front of Bernie.
Even after meeting the love of her life, Coronation Street actress Jane Hazlegrove never imagined she’d ever tie the knot.
Jane and fellow actress Isobel Middleton fell in love after a chance meeting 30 years ago. But with same-sex weddings outlawed in Britain, their own big day seemed an impossible dream. Now the couple are preparing to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary and Jane admits it’s a day she could never have hoped for when she was younger.
“I love a wedding, but I never thought that I’d actually get to have my own big party, full of all the people that I love and lots of laughter”, she says.
It was both beautiful and unexpected. I’m still in shock and proud of how we did it, and I’m also proud of my love for Isobel. It’s my greatest achievement, regardless of the career.
“I just can’t believe that I can love this woman and lead a life without persecution and oppression,” she said. Yes, homophobia still occurs every day, but I just make an effort to educate and lead from the front.
Jane and fellow actress Isobel Middleton had their wedding in 2015
In 2019, Jane, the mother of twins Gemma and Paul, made her debut on Coronation Street.
And as she gets ready to celebrate her own wedding anniversary, Dev Alahan, the owner of Corner Shop, and Bernie are getting married on the big screen.
In the world of soap however, weddings rarely go according to plan. And with Bernie and Dev’s big day no exception, it remains to be seen whether the happy couple actually get to say ‘I do’.
First of all, Bernie’s quadrilateral grandchildren are unable to watch the wedding with their brother Joseph live on a stream. Then Bernie forgets her lucky charm locket, but when she runs home from the bistro to get it, she disturbs a burglar.
READ MORE: Watch moment Coronation Street star performs at Jack P Shepherd’s wedding
Everything at Bernie’s wedding is in true soap fashion.
” Everything goes wrong, “Jane laughs”. When she arrives at the wedding, she develops an allergy and collapses. At first, the quads become ill and are unable to attend. It is a pretty serious matter. She can’t breathe and she’s taken away to hospital in an ambulance. “
Jane can reveal what her character wears for her big day, which is not traditionally done in Bernie’s style, but she can’t reveal whether she will end up having a happy ending.
Elkie Brookes is a singer, and Jane explains, “I’m mad about her.” I adore her and have done since I was a nipper.
“I was watching a lot of stuff on the Old Grey Whistle Test about Elkie just before we started filming my screen wedding.” I thought, “That’s got to be Bernie’s wedding dress,” as she was sporting a rather stunning kaftan.
” So, I went down to our brilliant costume department and said: ‘ Can I please look like Elkie Brookes on acid? ‘ and that is what we have created!
Anyone who remembers the 1970s will want to watch it and say, “Oh my good Lord! The dress is white and it’s a bit Demis Roussos!” It’s exactly what I wanted and it looks brilliant. The costume department did a fantastic job, and I’m really pleased with what they came up with.
Jane, who grew up in Manchester, began acting at a young age and made her TV debut at 13 in the Yorkshire TV series The Book Tower.
Bernie and Dev’s wedding will be a huge Coronation Street event
Then, when she was 16 years old, she signed up for Coronation Street as Sue Clayton, where she spent a year. She has since worked on a number of other TV shows, most notably Casualty, where she spent eight years as the paramedic Kathleen Dixon.
She was thrilled to return to the cobbles 34 years as off-the-wall café worker Bernie, a character who has divided viewers, with many shocked over her poor mothering skills to Gemma, Paul and long-lost son Kit.
However, Jane claims that she has changed as a result of Bernie’s relationship with Dev. Dev and Bernie are “cheese and cheese,” she says, “but he’s just incredibly kind to her and I don’t believe Bernie has ever received much kindness from men.”
“Their relationship is not without problems, because she acts so impulsively through her heart and eventually it gets up to her brain, and he’s the opposite. It shouldn’t work on paper because he’s a huge deep thinker, but it does because of that.
In Derbyshire, Jane, 56, and Isobel, 58, spend time walking through the hills and savoring classic car passions. “I’ve got a 1969 MGC. She is lovely, and she makes me happy when I drive her.
She has been with me for 18 years. I called her Lulu because Lulu was No 1 when she came off the conveyor belt”.
Jane and wife Isobel met in 1995(Image: jane_hazlegrove/instagram)
The couple first met in 1995 when Jane appeared in the sold-out play Boom Bang-a-Bang at the London Bush Theatre. “It was directed by Kathy Burke and loads of big television people came to see it”, she recalls. One night, Isobel and Isobel saw it, and we exchanged words.
In 2010, the couple rekindled their relationship. Jane recalls: “Same-sex marriage wasn’t allowed for many years because we were two women, so we had a civil partnership.
It was amazing because I was all dressed up and wore a really nice frock to the ceremony in Bristol.
Because Isobel had been ill, we made the decision. She was in London and I was in Bristol working on Casualty, and I wasn’t allowed to know anything about what was going on with her operations and hospital treatment. Despite having been in a relationship for ten years, we were only seen as her friend. They couldn’t tell me, either. So, we did the civil partnership because we thought, ‘ no-one can touch us then’.
Five years later, the wedding took place at a Bristol register office. I initially opposed doing it. I didn’t want to do it just because the government now said we could. I’ve never been a gang member; instead, I see myself as a person who doesn’t fit in.
“So we simply went and did it ourselves, without telling anyone. All we had to do was take a gas bill and upgrade! Really romantic Then, we made a curry with six of our friends.
Jane feels strongly that gay men and women around the world should enjoy the same rights and happiness as she does, and she is a passionate member of All Out, a global political campaign group fighting for LGBT+ rights around the world.
Soap stars Jane and Isobel have been married for 10 years(Image: @barnaclebelle/Twitter)
She claims that Gay Pride has been outlawed in Hungary this year. “Visibility is key. Because someone has decided it’s unacceptable, there are many men and women like me who are unable to spend time with their loved ones. That is simply disgusting.
While Jane has made her name at Coronation Street, wife Isobel works on the other side of the Pennines in Emmerdale, where she plays village detective DI Roberts.
She also appeared on the cobbles in a cameo as feminist author Persephone Braxton, who published a book in Roy’s Rolls in 2022.
She was having none of it, Jane laughs back as she enters to serve as her chaperone for the day. “She was in the café chatting with Ken Barlow and there was a fight when Tracy comes in and catches him with his mistress.
“I regret not working that day.” I don’t believe her character would have liked Bernie very much, which is probably true.
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*For further information on All Out’s work and campaigns go to: allout.org
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