Archive August 10, 2025

Players ‘put their hands up’ for World Cup – Bemand

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Ireland head coach Scott Bemand says he has not yet finalised his squad for the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

After a comeback win over Scotland last week, Ireland were beaten by Canada in their final warm-up match before the tournament, which starts in England in two weeks’ time.

But after a strong second-half performance against the side ranked number two in the world, Bemand said he was “delighted” that players are still fighting for a place in the final 32-player squad that will be announced on Monday.

“There’s a lot of girls that put their hands up, which is really pleasing,” Bemand told BBC Sport NI.

“The girls are actually getting used to performing with that pressure. It’s the nature of what we do. In elite sport, there’s always a selection.

“You’re always competing, and I think over the last two years we’ve certainly got better in that space.”

Ireland have already lost influential forwards Erin King and Dorothy Wall to injury for the World Cup, while Aoife Wafer did not feature in either warm-up fixture.

Bemand, though, is pleased with the depth that has built in his panel.

“As that second half showed, we’ve got more than just a 15 – we’ve got a squad and people that can come on and make differences to a game,” he added.

‘We’re not peaking yet’

Ireland face Japan in their opening World Cup fixture in Northampton on Sunday, 24 August.

They will then have further Pool C games against Spain and reigning champions New Zealand as they look to progress to the knockout phase.

Despite having just two warm-up games in the lead-up to the tournament, Bemand refuted suggestions that Ireland will not be match-sharp for the Japan game.

“I don’t think we’re undercooked. I think we’re right. I think we’ve come out relatively well, physically,” said Bemand, who previously worked as an assistant coach with England.

“If you look at it, we’re about to go into a competition that’s six weeks long if we get to the end so we’re going to need our group, we’re going to need fit and fresh bodies that are ready and prepared to play, so the more you take out yourself now, you’ve got to use competition to build as well.

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Two Boxers Die From Brain Injuries At Same Tokyo Event

Two boxers in Japan have died from brain injuries they incurred in separate bouts during the same event in Tokyo, officials said.

Super featherweight Shigetoshi Kotari and lightweight Hiromasa Urakawa, both 28, fought on the same card in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall on August 2.

Both were later rushed to hospital where they had brain surgery.

READ ALSO: ‘Rested’ Pacquiao Relishing Boxing Comeback At 46

Kotari, who battled to a draw after 12 rounds against fellow Japanese fighter Yamato Hata lost consciousness soon after and “passed away at 10:59 pm on August 8,” his M.T boxing gym said on its website Saturday.

“He did his best to fight his way through the surgery and treatment he had been receiving at a Tokyo hospital due to acute subdural haematoma,” the gym’s post said.

Urakawa was stopped in the eighth and final round against Yoji Saito and “tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during his fight”, the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) said in an Instagram post on Sunday.

Urakawa died on Saturday night, according to local media reports.

“This heartbreaking news comes just days after the passing of Shigetoshi Kotari, who died from injuries suffered in his fight on the same card,” the WBO said, adding that it extends its “deepest condolences to the families, friends, and the Japanese boxing community”.

Secretary-General of the Japan Boxing Commission, Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, told local media after their hospitalisation that it was likely “the first time in Japan two fighters underwent skull-opening surgery for injuries stemming from the same event”.

Sunderland make Masuaku 10th signing of summer

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Sunderland have made former West Ham left-back Arthur Masuaku their 10th signing of the summer as they prepare for their return to the Premier League.

Free agent Masuaku has signed a two-year contract – subject to international clearance – after leaving Besiktas earlier this summer.

The DR Congo international follows the arrivals of Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Chemsdine Talbi, Simon Adingra, Granit Xhaka, Robin Roefs and Marc Guiu.

“I’m excited to be here and I’m also really happy to be back in the Premier League,” Masuaku said.

“I want to bring a winning mentality and joy to the fans, and I’m excited to get started.”

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Sunderland make Masuaku 10th signing of summer

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  • 117 Comments

Sunderland have made former West Ham left-back Arthur Masuaku their 10th signing of the summer as they prepare for their return to the Premier League.

Free agent Masuaku has signed a two-year contract – subject to international clearance – after leaving Besiktas earlier this summer.

The DR Congo international follows the arrivals of Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Chemsdine Talbi, Simon Adingra, Granit Xhaka, Robin Roefs and Marc Guiu.

“I’m excited to be here and I’m also really happy to be back in the Premier League,” Masuaku said.

“I want to bring a winning mentality and joy to the fans, and I’m excited to get started.”

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  • Premier League
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Noel Gallagher ‘tears up’ at latest Oasis gig as he gets emotional during one song

Oasis performed a sold-out show in Edinburgh on Saturday (August 9th), and during the gig Noel Gallagher was spotted getting emotional in the middle of an important song

Noel put on an emotionally charged performance during the latest Oasis show (file)(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Oasis concluded their second consecutive sold-out performance at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on Saturday (August 9th). With only one remaining gig on Tuesday (August 12th) before the band travels to Dublin to complete the UK and Ireland portion of their Live ’25 reunion tour, emotions are running high.

The series of packed concerts nationwide has represented the first occasion in 16 years that Noel Gallagher and his sibling Liam Gallagher have performed together as Oasis, after their dramatic split in 2009. Following their entrance onto the stage to greet the Murrayfield audience whilst holding hands, Noel was seen becoming tearful during one poignant song from their set.

A clip posted on TikTok by Oasis supporter Andrew Douglas captured tears visible in the 58-year-old musician’s eyes as he performed the 1995 B-side number Talk Tonight for the audience.

The supporter wrote alongside his footage: “The Noel Gallagher tearing up while playing at Murrayfield Stadium.”

Those responding to the clip were touched by Noel’s heartfelt moment, with several attendees commending his show and noting he “looked humbled the whole night”

One individual commented: “I just wanna give him a hug, he deserves all the love and appreciation.”

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Another contributed: “He did have a tear. He looked humbled the whole night, but the crowd were amazing.”

A third shared: “I noticed this too! Thought I was imagining it!”

Whilst a fourth expressed: “Aww, he is tearing up, eh – wee soul.”

Some fans quipped that it was “probably the wind” causing Noel Gallagher’s teary-eyed appearance, while others suggested that watery eyes can simply be a part of getting older and not necessarily a sign of tears.

Talk Tonight was released as a B-side to Wonderwall in 1995 and later featured on Oasis’ B-side compilation album, The Masterplan, in 1998. The song was penned following a tumultuous period for the band in 1994, which saw Noel briefly leave the group after a notably disastrous gig in Los Angeles, USA.

Noel made an impromptu trip from LA to San Francisco without telling his bandmates, where he stayed with a woman he’d met at an earlier show. The sleeve notes of The Masterplan reveal that this woman persuaded Noel not to abandon Oasis, effectively talking him “off the ledge”.

In the 2016 documentary Supersonic, Noel admitted he couldn’t recall the woman’s name or face, but Melissa Lim later stepped forward in an interview, claiming she was the one who convinced him to stay with the band.

She recounted: “San Francisco has a reputation of being a place where bands come to die, like The Band and the Sex Pistols. I wasn’t going to let it happen on my watch. I told him, ‘You can’t leave the band – you’re on the verge of something big.'”.

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Olly Murs reveals ‘great sadness’ as he breaks silence on twin brother feud

Olly Murs has opened up about his estrangement with twin brother Ben, who he hasn’t spoken to since 2009 when he chose to appear on the X Factor rather than attend his wedding

Olly Murs says he finally understands his mum’s upset now he’s a parent

Olly Murs has revealed he finally understands how devastated his mum has been over his decades long fallout with his twin brother as he opened up about the feud that has ripped his family apart.

The pop star hasn’t spoken to his brother since he chose to perform on the X Factor semi-final rather than attend his sibling’s wedding, where he was due to be best man.

Olly’s brother Ben branded him a ‘self obsessed sell-out’, cut off all contact and the pair have not spoken since.

“Now I’m a parent I can relate more to my mum’s sadness that my twin brother, Ben, and I have been estranged since 2009,” says Olly. Offering an olive branch he said: “I’ve got nothing but love and respect for him.”

Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, the singer added that in recent years megastar Robbie Williams has become like a brother to him, with the pair deepening their bond as Olly joined him on stage this year.

READ MORE: Olly Murs speaks out about X Factor experience as ex-stars slam ITV showREAD MORE: Olly Murs misses radio show after wild night out as Mark Wright says ‘no one can find him’

Olly with his twin brother Ben Murs before the fallout dressed in suits posing in their garden by a fence
Olly with his twin brother Ben Murs before the fallout(Image: Collect Unknown)

While Olly’s family is set to grow larger again this year as he and wife Amelia prepare to welcome their second child after tying the knot in 2023.

Olly said he will be doing things differently second time round after leaving Amelia and their newborn immediately after she gave birth due to work commitments.

“Two days after Madison was born I had to go on tour supporting Take That. Amelia had lots of support around her as her mum came to stay and my parents live near us in Essex, but it was hard and I felt guilty.

Olly and Amelia pose for a selfie with their heads side by side
Olly and wife Amelia are expecting baby number two this year

“We both understand that my work isn’t like a regular job — but second time round I’m not going anywhere,” he insists.”

Olly continued: “My aim in life is to be a great husband and father – that’s where my future lies. I’d love my career to continue as it is, but when you get married and become a dad, you just want to be the best for them.”

The Troublemaker singer said his fallout with brother Ben has impacted him hugely and he still ‘struggles with loneliness.’

He told The Times last year: “When you’ve been in the womb with someone, you struggle with loneliness. I had to deal with it when my twin and I went on our separate lives.

“I was desperate to be around people, could not sit in a room alone.”

As well as distancing himself from Olly, Ben also cut contact with their parents and his sister.

He told the Daily Mail in January 2017: “I was very close to my parents, but fame and greed changed everything.

“My parents wanted this bright, shiny Olly with the money who can give them the VIP lifestyle. They liked hanging around with Simon Cowell, or going to Bon Jovi concerts – they loved their VIP selfies.

Olly Murs appeared on the X Factor with Stacey Solomon and Joe McElderry
Olly Murs appeared on the X Factor with Stacey Solomon and Joe McElderry(Image: Ken McKay / Rex Features)

“I’m not interested in anything like that, I have a lovely life with my wife and kids.”

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Olly said despite the bad blood, he would still make friends with his brother if he’d allow it.

“I still want to make that change with my brother.” Asked by Lorraine Kelly in 2018 if he though the rift could ever heal, Olly said: ‘I hope so, of course, it’s mad because every year I think about it, (will it be) nine years, 10 years. I did text him for his birthday but he changed his number.