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Before the birth of 10 of his World Cup semi-final starting XV, England women’s head coach John Mitchell was instructing elite rugby.

The New Zealander is in his 16th year of coaching after taking over as Ireland’s forward coach in 1996.

Mitchell, 61, has a stellar resume that includes stints with the England men’s team and World Cup coaching of the All Blacks.

His most notable tenure, at Western Force Super Rugby side, occurred between 2006 and 2010, in South Africa, Australia, the United States, and Japan.

As he leads the Red Roses in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final against Canada, Victory on Saturday at a sold-out Twickenham match might be his greatest success to date.

Mitchell, a skilled back-rower, had a playing career that was completely different from his coaching career. He played for the provincial team Waikato in more than 100 games for the country for ten years, but he never made a Test appearance.

Mitchell also played for Limerick-based Garryowen in the All-Ireland League during his time at Waikato.

His coaching career began when he returned to Ireland in 1996 to work for fellow New Zealander Murray Kidd, who had previously coached at Garryowen.

The following season, Sale Sharks appointed him as manager, and he made his first official move to England.

Under Sir Clive Woodward’s leadership, Mitchell was working in the England camp for the next two years, concentrating in defense.

He has a reputation for putting things into action. Former England full-back Matt Perry recalled that if you are committed to the team and him as a coach, he will give you everything.

The drills were difficult and brutal, and you had to have the right mindset, according to a proud Kiwi who coached England.

The infamous 1998 “Tour of Hell” in England is best remembered for Australia’s record 76-0 defeat.

Jonny Wilkinson, who had started at fly-half for the first time, started at outside center that day.

A lackluster squad lost four Tests in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa because several key players were injured or unavailable.

However, it turned out to be a crucial turning point, as many members of that group won the 2003 World Championship.

Mitchell accepted the England setup in 2000, which he did not support.

Perry, who won his final international cap in 2006, said that “Johnny Mitchell was a significant part of why England won the World Cup without a doubt.”

Before the All Blacks appointed a 37-year-old Mitchell as head coach in 2001, the Chiefs made a second move to New Zealand to take over the Super Rugby side.

With center Tana Umaga and scrum-half Justin Marshall the only players with more than 50 caps, he won back-to-back Tri Nations titles (now known as The Rugby Championship).

Mitchell, who was later replaced as head coach, was put under more pressure due to their disappointing semi-final defeat against Australia.

However, greats of New Zealand rugby, like Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, adapted their lessons from his time there and won the World Cup.

Mitchell recalled that he took a chance with a younger squad that would later serve the All Blacks for nine more years.

I made all those changes and opted to join a spirited squad that was playing excellent rugby, even though I wasn’t the bearer of my fruit.

Mitchell spent time in New Zealand before moving on to coach clubs in Australia and South Africa after leaving his former side Waikato.

He was stabbed by intruders in his home in Johannesburg in 2010, tied up, and then interrogated.

The New Zealander’s struggle for survival gave her a chance to reveal a more tender, emotional side.

Mitchell told the Good, the Bad, and the Rugby podcast, “I was a little bit lost in my career when it happened.”

My coaching and leadership were both poor. At that point, I was stuck and unresponsive. I discovered a way as a result of that.

“It sent me the message that I needed to alter my mindset, stop chasing after results, change my process, and start doing things that matter to me,” it said.

Eddie Jones turned his career into a full circle when he was appointed as England’s defense coach following brief stints as head coach of the United States national team and South African side the Bulls between 2016 and 2018.

Daryl moved back to New Zealand in 2011 and later became a Test cricket player, while Mitchell put his family first and remained living there to ensure his daughter passed high school.

In the epic World Cup semi-final victory over New Zealand in 2019, he helped to mastermind a defense that only conceded seven points.

“I believe I’ve gotten a little sluggish.” We do mistakes, but we also have the right to grow. Mitchell told Radio 5 Live in 2018 that “I coach much differently than maybe I did 20 years ago.”

Mitchell never gave in to the desire to play top-notch international rugby again as head coach.

After Simon Middleton failed to win his second successive World Cup final against New Zealand, he was appointed head coach of the Red Roses in 2023.

Mitchell accepted the England job with a clear message after working with the Japan men’s team at the 2023 World Cup. He desired that his side “become a truly champion side.”

He always wanted his team to win the home World Cup this year, but he also wanted them to enjoy the journey.

Mitchell frequently appears dancing in his team’s TikToks, and he made it clear that there would be no social media restrictions during the World Cup, preventing what he called a “high-performance jail.”

Although professionalism and high standards are unavoidable, his assistants, Lou Meadows, Louis Deacon, and Sarah Hunter, who are still young coaches in their early stages of their coaching careers, share a lot of that responsibility.

The Red Roses have won back-to-back WXV1 titles and six Six Nations Grand Slams in succession, setting a new record for 32 straight wins.

Under Mitchell’s leadership, England is unbeaten, but Canada is likely to be his most difficult opponent to date.

He stated before the tournament, “I told myself that whatever happens, happens.” Winning the World Cup won’t define me if it doesn’t happen.

When I was younger, I fought against letting outcome get to me like I did it.

There is more to winning than just putting all your eggs in one basket, according to the author. Yes, getting it done, but you also need to have some truly amazing experience.

With his contract up until June 30, 2026, that “phenomenal experience” may have been absent from some of his earlier roles, but it has now become a core component of his coaching philosophy.

You might ask if his own time has come since he helped to form two World Cup-winning teams.

When England won the Six Nations Grand Slam, they had already won it seven years in a row. Mitchell cried.

Harry Brook will succeed Ollie Pope as vice-captain, making it a surprise recall for England to play as Will Jacks’ backup spinner for the Ashes.

Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, and Jack Leach leapfrog Jack Leach to provide cover for Shoaib Bashir during his two Test appearances in 2022.

Importantly, Brook’s elevation will once more stoke the debate over Pope’s security at number three.

Although Pope has led England five times and has previously served as vice-captain, Brook has impressed since taking over as white ball captain at the start of the summer.

With Brook now taking over as Stokes’ deputy, Pope might face more of Jacob Bethell’s challenges.

Mark Wood is named in a 16-man party’s stacked pace-bowling division despite having been sidelined from a Test since August 2024 due to elbow and knee issues.

With Matthew Potts taking the final specialist pace-bowling position, England must look to a team that can produce the pace and bounce they demand in Australia. Wood also takes the spot with Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Josh Tongue.

On the last day of their home Test against India, Chris Woakes bravely batted with a dislocated shoulder. He was not ruled out due to physical limitations.

England vs. Canada rugby world cup final

Allianz Stadium, Twickenham Date: Saturday, September Kick-off: 16:00 BST

Although it may seem obvious that England will win the Women’s Rugby World Cup final on Saturday, it is not certain what will happen.

The Maple Leafs are just ahead of them at world number two and unbeaten this year, while the Red Roses are the world’s top-ranked team with 32 victories.

England must take caution after Canada outclassed defending champions New Zealand 34-19 in the semi-finals after leading 24-7 at half-time.

And they had more of the ball, more territory, and were arguably the better team when they faced the Red Roses in 2024, despite ultimately losing 21-12.

This tournament, Kevin Rouet’s team haven’t really put a foot wrong.

They won all of their group games, going on to score 40 points each, beat Australia 46-5 in the quarter-finals, and then blazed past New Zealand in the semi-finals thanks to a quick start that gave them a 17-0 lead after 24 minutes.

When asked to explain why the Maple Leafs are so good, former England flanker Maggie Alphonsi claimed, “Canada has one of the fastest ruck speeds.”

“When you watch how Canada plays, you take the hit and then the ball comes out again in less than two seconds.” It almost resembles a pit stop in Formula 1.

If sides want to maintain their attacking momentum and create chaos in opposition defenses, quick ruck speeds, or the time it takes for the ball to be recycled after a tackle, are crucial.

Canada produced the second-most clean breaks, the second-most offloads, and overwhelmingly made the most runs at this World Cup.

They enjoy quick, fluid rugby, with an emphasis on keeping the ball from the ground. In contrast, England has run 253 fewer runs and 48 offloads in a clean break.

Lesley McKenzie, a former hooker and head coach of Japan, claims that Canada has the ability to “scorch England.”

She stated on the BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast, “Canada will go after England.”

They engage in chaos and unorganized play.

Canada lost to England in Paris for the first time since 2014 in their first World Cup final, which was a 21-9 loss.

Canada has won the Pacific Four Series twice in 2024, narrowly missing out on defending their title on points difference, and won silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Since the last World Cup in 2022, which ended in a narrow semi-final defeat to England, they have now won twice in the top three of the WXV1.

The Maple Leafs are vying for airtime against ice hockey, basketball, and football, but they are making a name for themselves this World Cup, with Canadian pop star Shania Twain wishing the team good luck on social media before their semi-final.

The Maple Leafs, who are not a fully professional side, have had to work hard to pay for their financial woes despite their wealth on the pitch.

The team also raised $ 530,000 through a Mission: Win Rugby World Cup fundraising drive in addition to the financial support they receive from Rugby Canada and World Rugby.

When McKenzie made her debut in 2004, she was forced to pay to play for Canada because it came too late to really fully benefit any World Cup build-up.

Therefore, everything that went into this has already been done. It has been anticipated for the previous years.

“They don’t have any money, but they have a ridiculous IQ,” they said.

“Head coach Rouet] has a very friendly manner toward the group. Additionally, the program is complex. There are many different languages used for negotiation. Different time zones and countries exist.

Because of how large the nation is, having a large central camp repeatedly unfeasible economically.

Numerous members of Canada’s squad still reside in North America and work from home. For instance, the Halifax fire department’s Prop Olivia DeMerchant works as a firefighter.

However, only about half of the squad, which includes former World Cup winner Sophie de Goede, captain Alex Tessier, and fly-half Taylor Perry, has signed with English Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) clubs.

Even if the strength of PWR may come back to haunt England on Saturday, according to Rugby Football Union (RFU) CEO Bill Sweeney, it is a good thing that the strength of PWR is supporting Canada’s players.

He claimed that “they’re getting the exposure to top-notch women’s rugby.” We all want the women’s game to get better and their composure to get better.

If other international players play there and that makes their union performance better, that’s great for the game.

McKenzie is confident that the final “will have an impact” and that Canada will have a significant chance to win the world title for the first time in terms of inspiring the next generation back home.

Callum Grigor, a British superbike rider, was placed in a coma for 17 days after suffering a head injury and fractures in a collision at Donington Park.

On the first lap of the Pirelli National Superstock Championship race in Goddards Corner on September 6th, the Scot exited his bike.

Team Grigor claimed on Facebook that the 26-year-old “has now opened his eyes and is only able to communicate briefly but is still very sleepy” and that he is smiling at all the nurses who have come to see him finally awake.

A ventilator had improved Grigor’s respiratory function, but the breathing tube has now been taken out.

His team confirmed that he had a head injury as a result of his initial collision, spinal fractures, a shoulder socket and elbow joint damage, as well as a severe puncture wound to the arm.

However, according to them, his chest and lungs suffered the most serious injuries, including multiple rib fractures.

“Callum has been able to get this far,” they continued, citing the prompt care provided by Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham and all the medical staff at BSB [British Superbikes].

“It has undoubtedly saved his life,” they said. We can’t thank everyone enough.

More than £23,000 has reportedly been raised to support the family of the Wishaw rider.

Nathan Harrison, 27, who also traveled with the Isle of Man, sustained a limb injury in the collision.

World number one Scottie Scheffler is among several US Ryder Cup players who say they will donate to charity the money they are being paid to play at this week’s event following criticism over the payments.

All 12 of the American players – plus captain Keegan Bradley – are being given $500,000 (£370,000), with $300,000 (£220,000) of that already put aside as a charitable donation.

It is up to each player to decide what to do with the extra cash. Some of the American players have not yet been asked what they are planning to do. But if all 12, plus Bradley, donate the money, then charities will benefit to the tune of $6.5m (£4.8m).

Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele said on Tuesday they would be donating their earnings.

The $300,000 is the first rise in the charity donation since it was introduced at $200,000 in 1999.

Their European counterparts do not receive any money. When asked if a fast start by Europe this week could result in home fans’ resentment over the extra payments, captain Luke Donald replied: “That could happen.”

Bradley, who said he would be giving all his money to charity, defended the extra payment to players when he spoke to the media on Monday.

“The charity dollars hadn’t changed since 1999 and they asked me to shepherd their way into making it into 2025,” he said.

“We wanted to bring the Ryder Cup into today’s age and we felt like this was the best way to do it.

“The players are going to do a lot of good with this money.”

Former US Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson is among critics of the payment.

“I don’t agree with it,” eight-time major winner Watson said on the Golf Channel. “[In the past] they gave us some money for favoured charities. That was the right thing to do for the players.

“I just don’t think they should be paid. They should be playing for their country and their team-mates.”

Scheffler – the first of the US players to speak to the media on Tuesday – told BBC Sport that he had plans for the money, but would not share the detail.

“My wife and I like to do a lot of stuff in our local community and I’ve never been one to announce what we do,” said the four-time major winner.

“I don’t like to give charitable dollars for some kind of recognition. We have something planned for the money that we’ll be receiving.

“I think it’s a really cool thing that the PGA of America has empowered us to do.

“I have a deep passion for the city of Dallas, I have a deep passion for the organisations that we support at home, and I’m excited to be able to take this money and be able to do some good in our local community.”

Scheffler’s view was echoed by Cantlay, who works with a number of charitable foundations.

“One of the great things about these team events for me is there’s always such a big charitable component to it, so I’m going to donate the money,” he said.

“Hopefully someone growing up in southern California gets that opportunity and can follow their dreams as well.”

Cantlay was at the centre of a row at the last Ryder Cup in Rome in 2023, when he did not wear a team cap – reportedly in protest at the lack of a personal payment.

The PGA of America said in December that “no player asked to be compensated” to play at the Ryder Cup, and on Tuesday Cantlay reiterated his stance that “the hat didn’t fit, and this year we worked to make sure we had one, so we’re good”.

Bradley said the new payments mirrored what happens in the Presidents Cup – the Ryder Cup-style match between the US and a non-European International team.

And he defended Cantlay’s decision not to wear a cap in Rome, telling BBC Sport: “We blew this way out of proportion. We got him a hat that fits, he wore it, no big deal.”

Schauffele accused the media of “trying to make it a negative thing” before adding that he will also donate his extra $200,000 to charity.

“It’s something that selfishly will make me feel good about what I do,” he said.

Fifteen-time major winner Tiger Woods was influential in the US players getting paid before the 1999 contest at Brookline.

That charitable donation of $200,000 remained the same until the PGA of America announced last December it had raised the payment to $500,000, with $300,000 going direct to charity.

The extra $200,000 ‘stipend’ is $50,000 less than the players on both teams receive at the Presidents Cup, which is run by the PGA Tour.

Europe’s stance has always been to not financially reward their Ryder Cup players, with Rory McIlroy previously saying he would pay for the privilege of playing in the biannual event.

Donald said: “We all know how high the ticket prices are, averaging out at around $750 each. So it’s going to be an expensive trip out for a family of four.

“If the US players are getting paid, and they aren’t performing, the New Yorkers could make them know about it.”

Speaking to Sky Sports, Donald added: “This [payment] came up and I wanted to get ahead of it and talk to the 12 guys in Rome when it looked like the US were going to do something different with payments.

Although Dickie Bird, who passed away in 1992, did not play cricket for England, there is no denying his legacy as a legendary player.

This was the son of a miner, a young Yorkshireman from Barnsley, and a proud Yorkshireman whose heroics as umpires transcended cricket and earned him a reputation as a treasure.

On April 19, 1933, Harold Bird was born. His real passion was cricket, not football, but it was the youth team at Barnsley that made him a good footballer.

Prior to the dawn of fame and knighthoods, Sir Geoffrey Boycott and Sir Michael Parkinson were his contemporaries at Barnsley Cricket Club. Boycott and Parkinson were the opening batting partners, some years older. In their respective fields, the three lifelong friends would become famous.

When Yorkshire won the County Championship in 1959, Bird recorded its highest first-class score of 181 not out, which marked the start of a domineering era in which the White Rose county won the title six times throughout the 1960s.

However, Bird moved to Leicestershire the following year after only five matches in the summer of 1959.

Although Bird has a close relationship with Yorkshire, his main professional sports career was at Grace Road, where he played 79 first-class matches for Leicestershire and 14 for Yorkshire. His top-level playing career ended in 1964 with a modest return rate of just under 20 for Leicestershire, with one hundred.

In 1970, a remarkable life in umpiring began, and in 1973, Bird’s first test took place at Headingley, New Zealand hosting England.

Bird frequently slits a nervous figure in the middle, perhaps as a result of the incident’s tendency to follow him.

Bird’s presence in the middle, sitting on the covers, and surrounded by spectators, both foreshadowed some of the events that would come his way, and it also showed his closeness to the cricketing faithful, who appreciated his good humor.

When England faced the West Indies at Headingley in 1988, Bird had to deal with water that had oozing from under the outfield that had prevented play. Bird left the field, telling them, “I can’t help it if there’s a burst pipe,” as the Yorkshire crowd aimed to express their frustration. Water is coming up. That’s not my fault, either.

In 1995, Bird led the players out of Old Trafford because the bright sunlight was reflected off the middle, causing a distraction for the players. Once more, it was England’s opponents. Bird once more slammed the posh seats as he once more drew the crowd’s attention. “There’s something shining inside your box.

The respect Bird commanded as an official was not diminished by the chaotic circumstances. They, in fact, improved his reputation. In 1975, 1979, and 1983, he was chosen to represent England in the first three World Cup finals, which were held at Lord’s. One of Bird’s most well-known tales was won by Clive Lloyd’s West Indians in the 1975 final.

Bird’s famous white hat, which was made by a company in Luton, was removed from his head when fans erupted after the Windies won by 17 runs.

In June of this year, Bird claimed on the Test Match Special podcast that “I was on a London bus some years later.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing on a London bus, but I did notice a bus conductor wearing a white cap that resembled mine.”

“I told you, man, please explain to me where I got that white cap,” I replied, “Sorry, man, I forgot.” ‘. In the 1975 World Cup final, he said, “Have you heard of Mr. Dickie Bird? I pinched it off his head? ” ‘. “

Bird was the target of numerous pranks, and he was loved by players, even those who were irritated by his refusal to make decisions.

Allan Lamb, a former England batter, once jumped out of the middle when Bird was standing. Bird might have persuaded the umpire to take care of his cell phone by claiming that Lamb had forgotten to leave it in the dressing room with some artistic license. This was back in the days when cell phones were not that small and difficult to ignore.

Bird claimed in a frequently repeated story that he was at square leg when the phone rang. A well-known voice rang out as he answered.

In the dressing room, there is Ian Botham. Tell that lamb to take some shots or leave.

His 66 Tests, which he had won in 1996, set a world record for the time Bird retired from his position as an international umpire. The players from England and India stepped on to the Lord’s outfield for his final Test and received a guard of honor from there as well.

In the first over of the match, the famous not-outer Bird, who was tears in his eyes, gave a marginal lbw to England captain Michael Atherton.

Bird’s celebrity status endured even after his retirement. He won numerous awards for his books and gained acclaim for his speaking abilities.

He received an OBE in 2012 after receiving an MBE in 1986. Bird revealed that he and Queen Elizabeth II had met on 29 occasions in an interview with the Telegraph in 2023.

Bird was once invited to a lunchtime lunch at Buckingham Palace and arrived at the gates at 8.45am, always worried about arriving late.

A statue in Barnsley made bird famous in 2009, but the statue had to be raised above ground level four years later because his raised umpiring finger was frequently decorated with crude objects.

Bird claimed to be married to cricket, but he never got married. He said, “I’ve missed having a family, which is one thing.” I believe I would have made a good father. However, I’ve witnessed so many divorces in cricket, and as a result, my marriage would have been in jeopardized. I never got married because of this.

He remained a constant presence at Headingley, paying for a balcony outside the dressing room for the players to watch the action. His name appears on both the balcony and the ground clock.