Coverage: Live on BBC iPlayer and website with live text commentary on the website and app
Ireland head coach Scott Bemand says their final warm-up game against Canada presents an “ideal opportunity” for his side to test themselves against a “World Cup contender”.
Canada are ranked second in the world and are in Pool B for the World Cup in England where they will face Scotland, Wales and Fiji.
Ireland will take on Japan, Spain and reigning champions New Zealand in Pool C and Bemand believes the Canada game will be good preparation for what is to come at the tournament.
“Them being number two in the world I think is well deserved. They have really taken their game up levels in the last four years and it is going to be a challenge, but we need that and we want a battle before we head into the World Cup,” he told BBC Sport NI.
‘We want to get rugby into people’
Bemand has opted to make 10 changes from the side that fought back to beat Scotland in Cork last week as he assesses his players for a final time before naming his squad for the World Cup on Monday.
Wing Beibhinn Parsons, fly-half Dannagh O’Brien and the back row of Grace Moore, Ivana Kiripati and Brittany Hogan are the only players to retain their places from the victory.
Despite the numerous alterations, Bemand hopes his side are competitive against Canada, whom they lost 21-8 against in the WXV 1 series last year.
“We want to get rugby into people and it’s a good chance for them to stake a claim,” he added.
“Canada have got a physical threat, they are incredibly athletic as a team, but we want to be really hard to play against and we want to get set-piece and defensive pressure on them and fire shots in attack.
Russell Martin will not “overly stress” about his Rangers team being leaked before Tuesday’s Champions League qualifying win over Viktoria Plzen.
Unhappy at last Saturday’s 1-1 draw away to Motherwell, the Rangers head coach dropped four players, including captain James Tavernier and last season’s star performer, midfielder Nicolas Raskin, for the first leg at Ibrox against the Czech side.
His team selection for what turned out to be a commanding 3-0 victory was widely known on social media hours before kick-off.
Martin reckons “it has become more common in the modern game” that leaks happen.
“I was told when I turned up to the stadium because I’m not on any social media,” he revealed.
“People are left out, they tell their agents, friends and family – then somehow it gets to the media quickly. I can’t really control any of that.
“I don’t think anyone would do it from inside this building to intentionally hurt us.
“I’m not sure it changes the opposition’s plan eight hours before a game as they’ll have done pretty much all of their work by then I presume.”
Despite the leak, Martin still prefers to name his team “really early” before a match.
“It means people don’t waste time or energy wondering if they’re in the team and we can work on certain things,” he added.
“There’s enough stuff in this job to be concerned about and to focus on all the time, so I’m not going to overly stress about the team being leaked.”
Martin will again be without new signings Mikey Moore and Thelo Aasgaard, plus fellow forward Hamza Igamane, for Saturday’s Scottish Premiership visit by Dundee.
Moore is still waiting on international clearance as he is deemed a minor by world governing body Fifa, but the Tottenham Hotspur loanee will be available once he turns 18 on Monday.
Russell Martin will not “overly stress” about his Rangers team being leaked before Tuesday’s Champions League qualifying win over Viktoria Plzen.
Unhappy at last Saturday’s 1-1 draw away to Motherwell, the Rangers head coach dropped four players, including captain James Tavernier and last season’s star performer, midfielder Nicolas Raskin, for the first leg at Ibrox against the Czech side.
His team selection for what turned out to be a commanding 3-0 victory was widely known on social media hours before kick-off.
Martin reckons “it has become more common in the modern game” that leaks happen.
“I was told when I turned up to the stadium because I’m not on any social media,” he revealed.
“People are left out, they tell their agents, friends and family – then somehow it gets to the media quickly. I can’t really control any of that.
“I don’t think anyone would do it from inside this building to intentionally hurt us.
“I’m not sure it changes the opposition’s plan eight hours before a game as they’ll have done pretty much all of their work by then I presume.”
Despite the leak, Martin still prefers to name his team “really early” before a match.
“It means people don’t waste time or energy wondering if they’re in the team and we can work on certain things,” he added.
“There’s enough stuff in this job to be concerned about and to focus on all the time, so I’m not going to overly stress about the team being leaked.”
Martin will again be without new signings Mikey Moore and Thelo Aasgaard, plus fellow forward Hamza Igamane, for Saturday’s Scottish Premiership visit by Dundee.
Moore is still waiting on international clearance as he is deemed a minor by world governing body Fifa, but the Tottenham Hotspur loanee will be available once he turns 18 on Monday.
Andi Oliver has revealed she is still fuming with comments made by radio DJ Chris Moyles about her daughter, Miquita Oliver, 25 years ago on Radio 1
Miquita Oliver and Andi Oliver(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Rogan Productions)
Andi Oliver has admitted she is yet to forgive Chris Moyles – and has no intention of doing so – following his treatment of her daughter 25 years ago. The TV chef, 62, recalled the vile segment of a past show ran by the DJ, 51.
In it, he asked his Radio 1 listeners if they would “s**g” her T4 host daughter, Miquita Oliver. Miquita was only 16 at the time, while Chris was 26.
While Andi said she never confronted the DJ about the behaviour, she admitted she “loathed” him and believes he would have just tried to “back peddle”.
READ MORE: Jesse J rushed back to hospital months after mastectomyREAD MORE: Nineties popstar with catchiest song is unrecognisable 26 years later
Andi criticised Chris’ comments about her daughter, Miquita(Image: BBC/Somethin’ Else/Errol Ettienne)
Speaking to The iPaper, Andi said: “Miquita [who is now 41]was 16 and he had a phone-in on his show of: ‘Would you s**g her?’ On Radio One. I wanted to kill him.”
She admitted she still “kind of” wants to kill him, confessing there aren’t many people she loathes despite never meeting them, but Chris is one.
When she was asked about confronting him, Adni claimed she believed any interaction would see him try to play down the incident.
And she admitted any excuse that it was over two decades ago doesn’t sit right with her, either. “So I don’t care if it was the Noughties, when there was that awful lad culture where it was acceptable to talk about women like that’.”
Chris Moyles was also branded ‘gross’ by Charlotte Church for his treatment of her when she shot to fame as a young opera singer. Talking on the Sink The Pink Pop Tart podcast in 2021, the mother-of-three, now aged 38, said: There was a countdown to me losing my virginity.’She claimed: ‘[There was] a countdown then Chris Moyles talked about it on Radio one. It was all a bit gross really.’
Chris’ past comments were criticised(Image: ITV)
Last year, Andi also opened up about treatment within the business. The Great British Menu host called out the ‘fake outrage’ over Gregg Wallace’s scandal last year and said “everyone knew” and there are ‘tonnes of others who behave badly’.
She told the Guardian last year she was “not surprised” by the allegations being made about Wallace, which included making “inappropriate sexual jokes.”
Andi said: “There’s a certain culture that allows it to happen. Somebody should have nipped that s**t in the bud a long time ago. It’s not like nobody knew it was happening. I heard stuff. Everyone did. And there are tonnes of others who go around behaving badly.”
Months later, BBC broke its silence on the findings in the investigation against Wallace. In July, following the release of Banijay’s report into the presenter’s behaviour on the set of MasterChef, the organisation released a statement.
The 60-year-old TV presenter parted ways with the BBC show after 50 more people came forward to make allegations of misconduct, which he strongly denied. The BBC said: “The investigation details a substantial number of allegations of inappropriate conduct spanning 19 years. This behaviour falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us.
“Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour – both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner.”
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs onTikTok,Snapchat,Instagram,Twitter,Facebook,YouTubeandThreads.
Andi Oliver has revealed she is still fuming with comments made by radio DJ Chris Moyles about her daughter, Miquita Oliver, 25 years ago on Radio 1
Miquita Oliver and Andi Oliver(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Rogan Productions)
Andi Oliver has admitted she is yet to forgive Chris Moyles – and has no intention of doing so – following his treatment of her daughter 25 years ago. The TV chef, 62, recalled the vile segment of a past show ran by the DJ, 51.
In it, he asked his Radio 1 listeners if they would “s**g” her T4 host daughter, Miquita Oliver. Miquita was only 16 at the time, while Chris was 26.
While Andi said she never confronted the DJ about the behaviour, she admitted she “loathed” him and believes he would have just tried to “back peddle”.
READ MORE: Jesse J rushed back to hospital months after mastectomyREAD MORE: Nineties popstar with catchiest song is unrecognisable 26 years later
Andi criticised Chris’ comments about her daughter, Miquita(Image: BBC/Somethin’ Else/Errol Ettienne)
Speaking to The iPaper, Andi said: “Miquita [who is now 41]was 16 and he had a phone-in on his show of: ‘Would you s**g her?’ On Radio One. I wanted to kill him.”
She admitted she still “kind of” wants to kill him, confessing there aren’t many people she loathes despite never meeting them, but Chris is one.
When she was asked about confronting him, Adni claimed she believed any interaction would see him try to play down the incident.
And she admitted any excuse that it was over two decades ago doesn’t sit right with her, either. “So I don’t care if it was the Noughties, when there was that awful lad culture where it was acceptable to talk about women like that’.”
Chris Moyles was also branded ‘gross’ by Charlotte Church for his treatment of her when she shot to fame as a young opera singer. Talking on the Sink The Pink Pop Tart podcast in 2021, the mother-of-three, now aged 38, said: There was a countdown to me losing my virginity.’She claimed: ‘[There was] a countdown then Chris Moyles talked about it on Radio one. It was all a bit gross really.’
Chris’ past comments were criticised(Image: ITV)
Last year, Andi also opened up about treatment within the business. The Great British Menu host called out the ‘fake outrage’ over Gregg Wallace’s scandal last year and said “everyone knew” and there are ‘tonnes of others who behave badly’.
She told the Guardian last year she was “not surprised” by the allegations being made about Wallace, which included making “inappropriate sexual jokes.”
Andi said: “There’s a certain culture that allows it to happen. Somebody should have nipped that s**t in the bud a long time ago. It’s not like nobody knew it was happening. I heard stuff. Everyone did. And there are tonnes of others who go around behaving badly.”
Months later, BBC broke its silence on the findings in the investigation against Wallace. In July, following the release of Banijay’s report into the presenter’s behaviour on the set of MasterChef, the organisation released a statement.
The 60-year-old TV presenter parted ways with the BBC show after 50 more people came forward to make allegations of misconduct, which he strongly denied. The BBC said: “The investigation details a substantial number of allegations of inappropriate conduct spanning 19 years. This behaviour falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us.
“Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour – both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner.”
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs onTikTok,Snapchat,Instagram,Twitter,Facebook,YouTubeandThreads.
A number of celebrity chefs have been hit by Harrods’ latest plan to make the department store a go-to destination in London for eating out as customers leave scathing reviews on high-end restaurants
Gordon Ramsay has been hit by the latest cull(Image: Getty Images North America)
Luxury department store Harrods has long been a home not only to designer fashion and high-end cosmetics but also to some of the world’s most prestigious and celebrity-led eateries. But now, the iconic Knightsbridge institution is making big changes to its culinary offering – and not everyone is surviving the cut.
In a move that’s sent shockwaves through the fine-dining world, Harrods has reportedly axed several big-name chefs and their signature menus from its food halls and restaurant spaces, as part of a major reshuffle aimed at elevating the in-store dining experience.
Harrods have said the shake-up comes amid customer experiences and reviews, adding that they are investing in a number of new developments across their luxury department store.
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Over the years, Harrods has housed an enviable lineup of culinary heavyweights – from Michelin-starred chefs to household celebrity names. Here’s a look at some of the biggest names who’ve previously had a presence at Harrods, and whose partnerships may no longer feature.
Masayoshi Takayama
Sushi by Masa will close its doors on Saturday(Image: Getty Images North America)
The clear-out begins this Saturday with the closure of Sushi by Masa, from New York-based Masayoshi Takayama.
Masa is a Japanese chef and the owner of Masa, a three-Michelin-starred Japanese and sushi restaurant in Manhattan, New York City.
The Harrods restaurant has a star rating of just 3.7 out of 5, with one diner writing: “The sushi isn’t much better than what you get in the supermarket, for 10 times the price.”
Another said: “My wife ordered 7 pieces of sushi, an avocado salad, and a small cocktail – £100.”
Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay’s burger restaurant is closing its doors in 2026(Image: Getty Images for Great Canadian)
The iconic British celebrity chef has a restaurant in Harrods simply called Gordon Ramsay Burger, serving up a range of cheeseburgers, tasty veggie burgers and spicy chicken burgers all crafted by the Michelin-star chef.
But according to reports, the restaurant will be the last to go, with a closing date of January 11 2026 in place.
And if Google reviews are anything to go by, the restaurant doesn’t appear highly rated. With a total of 3.7 out of 5 stars, one diner wrote: “We tried the Hell’s Kitchen Burger – they didn’t even ask how we wanted it cooked. It came well-done, dry and rubbery. The Oklahoma Smash? No caramelisation, no flavour, just chewy meat pretending to be premium.”
Another said: “While the prices are quite high, the quality of the burger and lobster roll fell far short of Gordon’s usual standard.”
Tom Kerridge
Tom Kerridge has a fish and chips shop in the luxury department store(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
The Michelin-starred chef known for his modern British cooking had an outlet called Kerridge’s Fish & Chips inside Harrods’ Dining Hall.
The posh fish and chips shop is set to vanish by the end of the month, with more bad ratings on Google dubbing it 3 stars out of 5.
One diner wrote: “It felt a bit over-priced, even though it’s in a fancy department store.. The atmosphere of the restaurant didn’t really impress me either.”
Another said: “Very underwhelming to be honest… the fish itself was the skinniest flattest bit of fish I’d seen, the batter was very thin also, not much crisp to it, was like the frozen batter you get from a Youngs frozen fish.”
Jason Atherton
Jason Atherton’s Harrods restaurant closed its doors in 2024(Image: BBC/Expectation Entertainment Limited/James Wicks)
Known for his refined approach to global cuisine, the chef had a restaurant called Harrods Social by Jason Atherton, focusing on “hearty, locally-sourced food”.
Jason is a Michelin star and multiple award-winning Chef with 16 restaurants around the world.
But his collaboration with Harrods ultimately closed down last year, being transformed into the Harrods Cafe instead.
Björn Frantzén
The Swedish chef also ended his tenure with Harrods last year(Image: South China Morning Post via Getty Images)
Superstar Swedish chef Björn Frantzén ended his tenure at Harrods at the end of last year.
An Instagram post confirmed the closure. “We are in the process of closing our Harrods location and relocating to a new venue, with the grand opening scheduled for the summer of 2025.”
The Grill on Fifth replaced the restaurant, which was called Studio Frantzén London and focused on gastronomy with Asian influences.
Harrods statement
Harrods issued a statement saying it was in the process of “rebalancing its F&B offering in store to be led by Harrods-owned restaurant concepts offering all-day dining options for customers”, following a strategic review and reflecting the current trend toward dining earlier in the evening.
Harrods’ managing director Michael Ward said: “As part of Harrods’ considered customer approach, we took the decision a number of months ago to review feedback and data to ensure our in-store experience is delivering against customers’ evolving preferences.
“Harrods has a rich history of serving the finest food and drink and we are constantly progressing our dining offerings. We’d like to thank all the fantastic chefs that we have been very privileged to work with over the last few years for their partnership.
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“Together we have served many thousands of diners from shoppers to families and friends celebrating special moments in our restaurants. We are currently investing in a number of new developments across both our retail and F&B offerings within store and look forward to welcoming our customers into these in the near future.”
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