Gloucester’s Wade to join Wigan in cross-code switch

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Christian Wade, a former NFL winger and winger, has been signed by the Wigan Warriors on a short-term deal.

After Gloucester’s season is over, the 33-year-old former Wasps and Racing 92 star will team up with the Super League and world champions.

In 10 Premiership games for Gloucester, Wade scored seven tries, including two hat-tricks, to increase his try-scoring total to 89, which is fourth on the all-time list.

Before joining the Buffalo Bills as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program in 2018, Wade had previously scored 82 tries for the Wasps during his seven seasons there.

He made his pre-season touchdown run of 65 yards for the Bills, but he never made a regular-season appearance.

He joined Racing in 2022, and he then reconnected with Gloucester last summer.

Martin Offiah, a legend at Wigan who left rugby union in 1987 to join Widnes, praised Wade’s signing as significant for the sport.

Since Jonathan Davies joined me at Widnes in the 1980s, Wigan’s signing of Christian Wade was, he claimed, “the biggest coup for the sport of rugby league.”

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Paul to fight ex-world champion Chavez Jr in June

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On Saturday, June 28, boxer-turned-boxer Jake Paul will face former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in California.

In a much-anticipated but underwhelming contest in November, American Paul, 28, defeated 58-year-old Mike Tyson in a divisive match.

Chavez Jr., the 39-year-old son of legendary three-division world boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez, has only ever competed once since 2021.

After a single amateur fight, Paul said, “I made my professional debut five years ago, and every fight since has been a step toward becoming a world champion.”

Paul, who gained notoriety by making prank videos on YouTube, has won 11 games, most of them against former UFC competitors. In 2023, he only lost to British actor Tommy Fury.

Between 2011 and 2012, Mexican Chavez Jr. won 53 of his 61 fights and held the WBC middleweight title.

He and pound-for-pound sensation Saul ‘Canelo ‘Alvarez went the distance in 2017, but he lost to Anderson Silva, a former UFC champion, in a 2021 boxing match.

Fans booed Chavez Jr. after his poor point performance over former MMA fighter Uriah Hall in July.

Chavez Jr. said, “I will show what I can do now that everything is in the right place in my life, both mentally and physically.”

“I feel energized and ten years my senior.”

The boxers will use standard 10oz gloves for the cruiserweight fight, which will last for ten three-minute rounds.

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Russell Brand’s rotting 600-year-old abandoned pub – broken fences and taped up windows

As villagers complain about the “eyesore,” Russell Brand’s disused village pub, which he purchased for £850,000 in 2021, is abandoned and rotting.

Locals complain that the village pub, which Russell Brand purchased in 2021, has turned into an “eyesore” and is now overgrown and abandoned.

The Grade II-listed Crown Inn in Pishill, Oxfordshire, has fallen into a state of disrepair after being left to rot by the comedian turned conspiracy theorist, who is currently facing rape and sexual assault charges – which he denies.

The 600-year-old structure, which was first constructed in the 15th century as a coaching inn and served weary travelers with ale, food, and beds, is dotted around the grounds.

Its thatched roof and historical details have recently allowed it to host wedding receptions, but since Brand bought the plot in December 2021, it hasn’t yet opened its doors.

Russell Brand’s 15th-century pub stands in a state of disrepair after he abandoned it to the elements(Image: thisischriswhite.com)
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The building’s condition is in poor shape, with weeds occupying the pathways and tape holding some of the windows together.

A wooden shed appears to be erecting one side, some of its planks missing, while the log fires no longer burn.

The Crown was once Oxfordshire’s hottest nightclub, becoming the first place to serve drinks and music after midnight. Ringo Starr and George Harrison, as well as Dusty Springfield, were among the celebrities and fans who flocked to the venue.

A tree sags behind a crumbling stone wall outside the historic pub
A tree sags behind a crumbling stone wall outside the historic pub(Image: thisischriswhite.com)

Instead of loud revelers, the paint is now silence and decay, with crumbling brickwork and rusted iron railings stains the paint orange.

After avoiding meat and dairy since 2019, Brand, 49, and his wife Laura, who is the younger sister of TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher, originally intended to open the restaurant.

Locals, however, expressed outrage and one resident wrote: “We’ve heard he plans to turn the pub into a vegan restaurant.” Who would want that, anyway? He obviously had no intention of utilizing the pub as a bar. He doesn’t consume any alcohol. If you don’t like to drink, why buy a pub?

Tape can be seen inside the panes of glass holding the windows together
Tape can be seen inside the panes of glass holding the windows together(Image: thisischriswhite.com)

Brand also obtained planning permission to convert the pub to a recording studio and gathering place for his Rumble podcast and meet other alt-right commentators.

However, after receiving 53 objections from neighbors, South Oxfordshire District Council decided to reject the application.

The Campaign for Real Ale’s South Oxfordshire branch’s David Cooper, the pub preservation officer, claimed Brand’s suggestions were “ill-defined” and would “in no way” make up for the village’s final pub.

Jeremy Tweddle, a resident of Berrick Salome, added that he had “enjoyed numerous visits to the Crown.”

The walkways are being choked by weeds
The walkways are being choked by weeds(Image: thisischriswhite.com)

According to him, it appears that the current owners bought a public house, made no effort to maintain it, and now say they are no longer able to support it.

Some neighbors now worry Brand, who is currently residing in Florida and has established an alt-right media hub in Miami, may shut down the bar.

Any modifications to the property would need to be carefully planned, and it might be challenging to get a change of use.

The pub’s owner, Caroline Dempsey, told the Sun that Brand could wait until the building is completely destroyed before selling the land to developers and double his profit, according to Caroline Dempsey, who lives right next door to the Crown.

A tattered blue tarp and building materials can be seen abandoned on the site of the historic boozer
A tattered blue tarp and building materials can be seen abandoned on the site of the historic boozer(Image: thisischriswhite.com)

She said, “This may take years, while it all turns into a sad, neglected, overgrown eyesore in the interim.”

Brand will return to the UK on Friday, May 2, for his first hearing.

According to Brand, who claimed the incidents occurred between 1999 and 2005, when he was at the height of his fame, he has been charged with two counts of rape, indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault relating to four women.

The initial hearing will take place at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

A shabby wooden structure is missing some slats
A shabby wooden structure is missing some slats(Image: thisischriswhite.com)

The Metropolitan Police’s Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy stated, “The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers.

The Met’s investigation is still ongoing, and detectives want anyone with information to contact police who may be affected by this case to come forward.

Brand completely refuted all of the allegations in a video posted on X. I’ve always told you guys that I was a fool when I was young and single, and before I had my wife and family, “he said.

I had sex, drug, and impure tendencies. But I’ve never committed rape. I’ve never engaged in non-consensual behavior; I’m hoping you can spot it by looking in my eyes.

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FSU shooting: What we know about the victims and suspected attacker

According to investigators in the United States, a mass shooting at Florida State University (FSU) on Thursday resulted in the deaths of two people and the injuries of at least six others.

What we currently know about the suspect, the victims, and the incident investigation:

At Florida State University, what transpired?

A gunman opened fire on a student union at FSU near lunchtime on Thursday, at 11:50 am Eastern Time (15:50 GMT).

Students and parents fled as they heard gunshots and sought shelter in the student union’s bowling alley and freight elevator.

An active shooter alert was immediately issued by the university. Soon after, Florida State’s alert system announced that law enforcement had already neutralized the threat.

Where was the location of the FSU shooting?

The shooting occurred close to the state’s Capitol building, close to the main FSU campus, which is located in Tallahassee, Florida.

At FSU’s main campus, over 42, 000 students are enrolled.

About 350 kilometers (220 miles) northwest of Orlando is Tallahassee, the state’s capital.

What information is known about the alleged attacker’s weapons?

The gunman is identified as Phoenix Ikner, a Leon County sheriff’s deputy’s son, who is now 20 years old. According to McNeil, Jessica Ikner, his mother, has worked for the sheriff’s department for 18 years.

Phoenix Ikner is a student at FSU, according to Jason Trumbower, the university’s police chief, at a Thursday press conference.

He had access to his mother’s handgun, which was formerly a service weapon but is now a personal weapon. During the press conference, McNeil said, “Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons that was discovered at the scene.”

Authorities believe Ikner brought a shotgun to the campus in addition to the handgun. Whether or not this shotgun was used in the shooting is a mystery. No one has been shot with a shotgun, according to Trumbower.

According to The Associated Press news agency, FSU student Aidan Stickney, 21, reported that he witnessed a man shoot a shotgun at another man as he approached the driver. Stickney, who claimed he fled the scene and warned others, said the attacker returned with a handgun and opened fire on a woman as he fled the scene.

The alleged attacker was shot and taken into custody when he refused to turn himself in.

Authorities have not yet speculated on or revealed the attacker’s motivation.

What are the victims’ details known to us?

The victims’ identities are unknown.

Trumbower claimed that the two dead weren’t university students.

A sixth person was hurt while trying to flee, while five others were hurt by gunfire.

At Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, the injured victims are receiving care. The attacker is also receiving treatment in this area. It is unknown how many injuries the victims or the attacker suffered. Details are still being worked out, and we do not yet have specific information to share, according to a statement from the hospital.

What were people’s reactions to this incident?

While speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump claimed that he had been informed about the FSU incident. It’s a terrible thing, they say. He claimed that it’s horrible that such things happen.

He did, however, say he would not support any new gun-related legislation. Trump remarked, “The people do the shooting, not the gun.”

In response to the shooting, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded via a series of tweets and a video that was posted on X. State law enforcement is responding actively, he wrote, and our prayers are with our FSU family.

Thursday and Friday classes on the FSU main campus were all canceled.

How many shootings have occurred in the US this year so far?

According to the not-for-profit website Gun Violence Archive, there have been 81 mass shootings in the US so far in 2025. This includes the Thursday shooting at FSU.

A 17-year-old suspect shot and killed a female high school student in Nashville, Tennessee, before turning the gun on himself, according to law enforcement officials.

The FSU shooting occurred on Thursday, marking its second shooting in 11 years. Two students and an employee were hurt when a graduate opened fire on the main library in 2014. The police fatally shot the shooter, killing him.

What are the US’s gun laws?

The US Constitution guarantees the right to purchase and carry a gun.

The Second Amendment to the US Constitution states that “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be violated.”

Former US President Joe Biden signed the first significant federal gun reform bill into law in three decades, 2022. This bipartisan bill made background checks easier for those who purchase firearms, and it made it easier for states to pass laws allowing them to seize weapons from people who are perceived as dangerous.

However, state laws on gun ownership vary.

Florida, for instance, had strong gun laws up until 2018, when it passed them in response to the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Extreme risk protection orders, which were passed in response to the new laws, are in place to restrict access to firearms from those who are perceived to be dangerous. Additionally, they increased the age to which a gun can be purchased to 21.

Will US gun laws be stricter?

This subject is fraught with controversy. According to a Pew Research Center report released in July 2024, about 58% of American adults support stricter gun laws.

GIFFORDS, the organization that promotes gun violence prevention, said in a statement that “Florida Governor Ron DeSantis offered his prayers to the students and faculty at FSU, but prayers are insufficient. Real action is now necessary. Instead of reversing the bipartisan measures that Florida adopted after Parkland, it is time to close the loopholes and pass gun safety laws that are effective. Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords serves as the leader of GIFFORDS.

Legislators have resisted making significant changes, though. Additionally, on February 7, Trump signed an executive order “to end the federal government’s violation” of Americans’ right to protect themselves and their families.

This order seeks to “dismantle gun control,” removing restrictions placed by the Biden administration on gun use.

Biden introduced additional gun control measures in addition to the bipartisan bill he signed in 2022. In April of this year, Biden passed a law mandating background checks on customers of online gun dealers and dealers of weapons at gun shows. He signed an executive order setting up a task force to combat unserialized, 3D-printed weapons in September 2024.

A statement from Brady United, a nonprofit organization against gun violence, reads, “President Trump’s executive order could reopen the untraceable ghost gun market and undermine actions to protect Americans from gun trafficking and violent crime.”

While some groups support gun control legislation, others oppose it.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) was founded in 1871 as a recreational rifle shooting club, but it has since grown into a political campaign group. According to an NRA article, gun control places limitations on the freedoms guaranteed by the Second Amendment.

Prue Leith warns she ‘hasn’t got much longer’ as she soaks up time with TV star husband

Since 2016, fashion designer John Playfair has started bringing the limelight to her after they appeared in Cotswold Kitchen, the Great British Bake Off star.

Prue Leith has revealed her husband, John Playfair, is overshadowing her(Image: ITV)

After their cookery show, Prue Leith claims that her husband has become a bigger TV star than her. Great British Bake Off favorite Prue, 85, claims he is being stopped by fans and not her when she opens up about sharing the spotlight with John Playfair.

The pair’s home was opened for John, the subject of the ITV series Cotswold Kitchen, who became a household name overnight. Prue laughed, “People keep saying that we’re like Johnny Craddock and Fanny and Johnny Craddock in the 21st century.” I’m not sure if I’m entirely relieved that he has succeeded. I’m supposed to be the family’s “tv star”!

Prue recalled a recent encounter with a fan, saying, “The girl at the till recognized John. Oh you’re the man on Cotswold Kitchen, she said. That show is my favorite. You are wonderful! You are so funny! and blah, blah, and blah. And she doesn’t even know who I am as I’m standing there, packing the bags. “

In 2016, Prue and retired fashion designer John wed. After her 80th birthday, Prue’s first marriage ended in 2002 with her second husband, Rayne Kruger. Prue stated this week that she wanted to make the most of their time together and made the most of it.

On Holly Rubenstein’s episode of The Travel Diaries podcast, she said, “I want to spend as much time with him as I can because I’m 85.” The pair’s ideal collaboration on their series has been.

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Prue Leith has revealed her husband, John Playfair, is overshadowing her
The couple have been starring on ITV’s Cotswold Kitchen(Image: Channel 4)

He “is always willing to help out,” Prue exclaims. “I was very aware that filming takes place at our home, and how disruptive that is,” I said. “I was very aware that it typically takes longer than it should, and it occupies much more space than just the kitchen. Cables can be found everywhere! Why not involve him since I anticipated how much of a pain that would ensue? He seemed to be drawn in by it.

We have different activities, with John taking care of the outside. He frequently uses a tractor or something to cut the hedges, make the verges, or do other things. And he’s a lot more than himself. Giving him a script or anything of that kind is useless. He answers questions just like I do; he just asks.

Prue breaks down the existence of a particular clause in her contract, lifting the veil on life on set. She informed me that I should take an hour’s nap after lunch, according to my contract. I need some sleep in the afternoon while I’m working because I’m my age. Everyone enjoys it because it gives them an extra hour of rest each day even though “Madam” is upstairs and having a kip!

Prue Leith has revealed her husband, John Playfair, is overshadowing her
Prue is well loved as a judge on Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off(Image: PA)

Prue, 85, is not exhibiting any signs of slowing down. sharing the secrets to a happy, long life with her?

I sleep well, eat well, and “I guess I love well,” the saying goes. I’m delighted to see you. I believe that having more energy is what makes you happy. I believe that you just want to curl up and do nothing when you’re unhappy. Therefore, I believe that having a sincere sense of happiness and having every reason to be happy is a big part. Being widowed, I found joy in John. My grandchildren and I are content and healthy. I love my job, don’t worry about money, and own a lovely house because of everything else that really matters. I’ve experienced sadness throughout my life, of course. My younger brother was my best friend, and I’ve lost both of my brothers. However, “Death occurs.”

Missing the celebrity version of Great British Bake Off so she could take time off to travel and spend it with family, Prue is back for the regular series later this year and for the US version. So what is her future on the Channel 4 show?

She admits, “I honestly don’t know,” We rarely negotiate a new agreement until we start shooting a new series. Instead of being pushed, I want to jump when I stop doing it. I’ll have to slow down for a while, but I’m already very happy.

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Rodgers defends Idah after night out video

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St. Johnstone v. Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final

Location: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Sunday, April 20, 2019 12:00 BST

After a video of the striker appearing to throw up in a taxi, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has defended Adam Idah and criticised those who try to “expose” football players.

Rodgers revealed that the 24-year-old Republic of Ireland international had a phone conversation with him on Thursday during the team’s day off.

The Celtic boss claims he had no doubts about Idah’s reputation as a “great young professional” and that he had been filmed after a night out on Wednesday.

Rodgers remarked, “There’s a sadness to it.” He is aware of my position in terms of group focus and mentality, and he is aware of my position. On a day off, this.

A 24-year-old football player who can’t let his hair down in his free time can’t let his hair down without being tried on by a camera is what saddens me.

“I believe that this is a challenge for people in general, but especially if you’re a young football player,” she said.

He told me the whole truth. He’s a fantastic young professional, without a doubt.

Rodgers said Idah will be ready to play his part when Celtic face St. Johnstone on Sunday in the second Scottish Cup semi-final.

He added that players must be carefully guarded in whatever kind of environment they are exposed to.

The Celtic boss continued, “Sadly, it’s the way of the world.”

Some clown appears and says something else in the video before people go to sign autographs or record a video.

Then, “people start asking themselves, why won’t people watch a video?” Why won’t they ratify? What draws them to pass? because you make an effort to hide them.

Why do they take the risk, then? Do they simply pass by or do nothing at all? Which is sad because kids want their belongings signed and other things.

Rodgers anticipates intensity.

In the first 45 minutes of the league match, St Johnstone’s bottom team, bottom side St Johnstone, blew away Celtic 1-0 at McDiarmid Park. Rodgers then criticized their attitude in the opening 45 minutes.

However, they reacted last time out by beating Kilmarnock 5-1, and they are unbeaten in the Scottish Cup race for what would be their seventh straight defeat.

Rodgers says he does not anticipate a repeat of his team’s subpar performance in Perth despite being pleased with how his team handled a rare defeat.

If you think you can’t be aggressive and passive in the game, don’t give a lot, and expect to gain a lot, Rodgers said, “it doesn’t work.”

After that performance, we said, “That was our message. But you could tell from our performance last week that this Celtic team is all about.

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