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Highlights of the Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Dundee United.
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Tag: City
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Scott McTominay seals the win for Manchester United
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Scott McTominay makes it 4-2 to Manchester United to send them through to fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
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St Helens to face Penrith Panthers in World Club Challenge in Australia
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The fixture will be held at the home of the Penrith Panthers, the BlueBet Stadium, on Saturday February 18, with kick-off at 7am (GMT)
Last Updated: 09/11/22 5:52pm
Super League champions St Helens will travel to Australia to take on NRL champions Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge
Super League champions St Helens will travel to Australia to face NRL champions Penrith Panthers for the World Club Challenge.
The fixture will be held at the home of the Penrith Panthers, the BlueBet Stadium, on Saturday February 18, with kick-off at 7am (GMT).
Relive how St Helens became the first Super League side to win a record four Grand Finals in a row Relive how St Helens became the first Super League side to win a record four Grand Finals in a row
It is the first time the World Club Challenge has taken place since 2020 and the eighth time St Helens have been involved in the fixture, with two wins to their name from 2001 and 2007, both against the Brisbane Broncos.
Penrith Panthers have previously appeared twice in the World Club Challenge and have been defeated on both occasions, once to Wigan Warriors in 1991 and Bradford Bulls in 2004.
With St Helens travelling to Australia in early February, their round one fixture against Huddersfield Giants has been postponed until a later date in the season.
The match-up will mark St Helens’ new head coach Paul Wellens’ first competitive fixture and he is “relishing the opportunity” to show his side’s talent down under.
Paul Wellens is immensely proud to replace Kristian Woolf as the new head coach of St Helens, and says ‘the club is very close to my heart’ after his promotion from assistant coach Paul Wellens is immensely proud to replace Kristian Woolf as the new head coach of St Helens, and says ‘the club is very close to my heart’ after his promotion from assistant coach
“Both ourselves and Penrith have had unrivalled success in recent years and we are relishing the opportunity to go over to Australia and test ourselves against what is undoubtably a great team,” said Wellens.
“It had been disappointing for us that we’ve been unable to have this contest in last couple of years, but it’s great news not just for both clubs, but for the game as a whole that the best teams in both competitions can once again compete in the World Club Challenge.
“We are obviously motivated by achieving further success and this gives us as a club an early opportunity to do exactly that in 2023, we aim to represent ourselves, the town of St Helens and the Super League competition in the best possible manner.”
St Helens lift their fourth Grand Final trophy in a row after a 24-12 victory over Leeds Rhinos St Helens lift their fourth Grand Final trophy in a row after a 24-12 victory over Leeds Rhinos
St Helens R.F.C. chairman Eamonn McManus added: “The 2023 season is the 150th anniversary of our club. The only attainable achievement which has eluded us during our history is to be crowned World Club Champions in Australia.
“Many consider this Penrith Panthers side to be one of, if not the, best side in the history of the NRL. Similarly, St Helens are experiencing an unparalleled period of success in Super League.
“The game in Sydney will represent one of the greatest challenges that St Helens has ever faced. We are really looking forward to meeting it head on.”
Excitement for the game is also felt in the Panthers camp, with their chief executive officer Matt Cameron expressing his excitement at seeing the fixture return to the calendar.
“On behalf of all at Panthers, we look forward to welcoming St Helens to BlueBet Stadium in February,” said Cameron.
“St Helens have been the benchmark team in the Super League for several years now, which will give the Panthers a great challenge to start the new season.
“The World Club Challenge is an important piece of the rugby league calendar and it’s great to see the fixture return for the first time since 2020.”
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A beloved New Orleans teacher died in Mexico City over the weekend. His family is desperate for answers.
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A New Orleans family is searching for answers after their loved one died under mysterious circumstances in Mexico over the weekend. Courtez Hall was a social studies teacher at KIPP Morial School. “My son was a joyous child,” said Ceola Hall, Courtez’s mother. “He loved me, he loved his family. He loved to make everyone laugh.” The students and teachers are heartbroken by the loss of their beloved teacher. Ceola said he was very close with her and his sisters. They say they last spoke to him on Saturday after he traveled to Mexico City with two friends. On Monday, Ceola received a call from the U.S. Embassy that all three were found dead inside an Airbnb. His two friends were identified by their families as Jordan Marshall, 28 and Kandace Florence, 28 of Virginia.According to Ceola, the U.S. Embassy did not give her information on how he died or what happened. “It’s been so hard,” said Ceola. “We tried calling back over there for the funeral homes. Because of the language barrier and stuff you cannot get anything through or really understand.”Ceola said she doesn’t want anyone to go through a similar situation. “I would hate to see any parents go through what I went through with my son, I didn’t expect to hear this about my son. No one expects that,” said Ceola. Hall’s family said the two other people with her son that also died were from Virginia. WDSU reached out to the U.S. Embassy about Courtez’s death and received this response: “We can confirm the death of three U.S. citizens in Mexico. We are closely monitoring local authorities’ investigation into the cause of death. We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. Out of respect for the privacy of the families, we have nothing further to add at this time.”Deanna Reddick, KIPP Morial Middle School’s Principal, released the following statement: “We are deeply saddened by the recent loss of our beloved 7th-grade history teacher, Courtez Hall. This was Mr. Hall’s first year teaching at KIPP Morial Middle School, and he quickly made a meaningful impact on our students. He was a bright light that helped our students shine in and out of the classroom. Our school community is heartbroken, and his family has our deepest sympathy, prayers, and condolences. School counselors are providing support to students and staff as they process this sad news, and we will cope with this grief together as a school family.”To donate to the Hall family for Courtez’s funeral expenses click here:Fundraiser by Parrish Williams : Courtez Hall funeral expenses (gofundme.com)
NEW ORLEANS —A New Orleans family is searching for answers after their loved one died under mysterious circumstances in Mexico over the weekend.
Courtez Hall was a social studies teacher at KIPP Morial School.
“My son was a joyous child,” said Ceola Hall, Courtez’s mother. “He loved me, he loved his family. He loved to make everyone laugh.”
The students and teachers are heartbroken by the loss of their beloved teacher.
Ceola said he was very close with her and his sisters. They say they last spoke to him on Saturday after he traveled to Mexico City with two friends.
On Monday, Ceola received a call from the U.S. Embassy that all three were found dead inside an Airbnb.
His two friends were identified by their families as Jordan Marshall, 28 and Kandace Florence, 28 of Virginia.
According to Ceola, the U.S. Embassy did not give her information on how he died or what happened.
“It’s been so hard,” said Ceola. “We tried calling back over there for the funeral homes. Because of the language barrier and stuff you cannot get anything through or really understand.”
Ceola said she doesn’t want anyone to go through a similar situation.
“I would hate to see any parents go through what I went through with my son, I didn’t expect to hear this about my son. No one expects that,” said Ceola.
Hall’s family said the two other people with her son that also died were from Virginia.
WDSU reached out to the U.S. Embassy about Courtez’s death and received this response:
“We can confirm the death of three U.S. citizens in Mexico. We are closely monitoring local authorities’ investigation into the cause of death. We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. Out of respect for the privacy of the families, we have nothing further to add at this time.”
Deanna Reddick, KIPP Morial Middle School’s Principal, released the following statement:
“We are deeply saddened by the recent loss of our beloved 7th-grade history teacher, Courtez Hall. This was Mr. Hall’s first year teaching at KIPP Morial Middle School, and he quickly made a meaningful impact on our students. He was a bright light that helped our students shine in and out of the classroom. Our school community is heartbroken, and his family has our deepest sympathy, prayers, and condolences. School counselors are providing support to students and staff as they process this sad news, and we will cope with this grief together as a school family.”
To donate to the Hall family for Courtez’s funeral expenses click here:
Fundraiser by Parrish Williams : Courtez Hall funeral expenses (gofundme.com)
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‘You plonker!’ | Frazer Clarke & Ricky Hatton share their love for Only Fools and Horses!
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Heavyweight prospect Frazer Clarke visits Ricky Hatton to discuss all things Only Fools and Horses, with the pair big fans of the comedy sitcom.
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Rangers: Michael Beale reflects on his time at Ibrox and the visit north for the Aberdeen match
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Former Rangers coach Michael Beale discusses his return to Ibrox for the win over Aberdeen, his memories of the club and the pressure Giovanni van Bronckhorst is under.
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Kirk Cousins celebrates Vikings win | ‘You like that?!’
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Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins enjoyed the win over his former side the Washington Commanders by delivering his now famous catchphrase.
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Kilmarnock 2-3 Livingston | Scottish Premiership highlights
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Highlights from the Scottish Premiership as Kilmarnock took on Livingston at Rugby Park.
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Austin Pets Alive! | Austin Animal Welfare Policy in 2023
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Nov 04, 2022
When I moved to Austin in the 90s, the city looked much different than it does today. The population stood under 600,000, what would become a booming tech culture was in its infancy, traffic was manageable, and the city’s weirdly famous motto wasn’t even a thing. Austin was also more than a decade away from being heralded as a leading No Kill city in the United States.
I can still feel the revulsion that jolted through me when I learned that 85% of pets—more than 25,000—were killed in the city shelter each year. Wriggly, energetic puppies and kittens. Healthy cats. Sweet dogs who were licking people’s faces as they were being injected with lethal doses of pentobarbital. The state of animal welfare in late 1990s Austin sat in stark contrast to the city’s identity as a burgeoning epicenter of innovation.
Austinites knew their city could do better, and the community fought and won a battle to become one of the nation’s leading No Kill cities. We went from 85% of pets being killed to more than 95% of pets leaving the shelter alive. Austin’s No Kill status—11 years running—is one of the gems that makes Austin, Austin. And it’s at risk.
Now the 11th largest city in the nation, Austin is at a pivotal moment in history. With rapid growth has come pain points such as affordability, housing limitations, and unintentional neglect of the things that make Austin stand out. The effects of these pain points extend to animal welfare.
From the bats under Congress Avenue bridge that have been dying off year after year, to Austin’s renowned status as the largest No Kill city in the U.S. being under fire, we know that now is the time to protect what so many people in Austin care deeply about.
With a new council coming in, there is tremendous potential for progress to be made or progress to be lost.
To keep Austin No Kill we must develop a comprehensive, citywide approach to animal welfare. There is no other city that has done this, and Austin can and should be the first.
If we lean into progress, it can mean an even larger economic impact than No Kill alone has realized, and it can be a crown jewel of Austin that ties many of the city’s major initiatives together.
On the surface, this challenge appears daunting. But if we look deeper we can see that animal welfare leaders do not have to work alone. Seven out of 10 Austin households have pets and almost all view their pets as family members. This is one of the largest and most passionate groups of people in Austin.
As a city, we need to do more to engage with pet owners and utilize animal welfare issues to secure support for Austin overall. If we band together as a community to implement community-wide solutions, we can ensure that all pets are given the chance to live.
The following steps will bring us closer to creating that approach and making No Kill permanent in Austin:
Conduct a comprehensive study of Austin pet owners.
To better support people with pets, there should be an Austin-wide study to really understand how major systemic societal problems affect pet owners and their companion animals.
We know that pet ownership transcends all demographics. We also know that many pet owners are struggling under the weight of significant financial burdens that have increased because of Austin’s dramatic and rapid growth. Now we need to know more about the specific struggles so we can support residents in ways that keep them with their pets.
When we help pets in crisis we are also helping humans in crisis. For example, over 70% of women in domestic violence shelters report that their abuser threatened, injured, or killed a pet as a means of control. Nearly half of domestic abuse survivors delayed leaving their abuser because they could not take their pets with them. People’s worries about pet care can lead them to put off medical treatment, or to leave the hospital early.
There are many more examples, involving people experiencing housing insecurity, at-risk older residents and youth, and groups facing numerous other challenges that demonstrate the interconnectedness between people’s and pets’ well-being. These clearly make the case for helping pets, while helping the people who love them.
Once we understand more, we can dive deep into solutions to support pet owners with the top problems that humans and pets face together.
Weave pet ownership through a wide range of city communications.
Pet ownership in Austin translates into lower crime rates, and greater mental and physical health of community members, leading to decreased healthcare costs, and a lot more money entering the local economy. Let’s look at the key drivers and obstacles for pet owners, and work on talking to and about them in many more of our citywide communications. More pet owners means a healthier city overall.
Form an economic development task force to make Austin the epicenter of the booming corporate pet industry.
The pet industry is poised to almost double to $240B by 2030. But no city is yet capitalizing on this enormous opportunity.
Austin is a natural fit to become the corporate headquarters for so many pet-related companies as progress is made in this relatively new industry. The city could provide incentives for green programming in areas such as pet food, which is a top contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and for for-profit companies to form partnerships with sheltering nonprofits to modernize the archaic dog pound industry to save more lives. Austin-based companies could be incentivized to develop fireworks that don’t kill native wildlife and create pet products that are earth-friendly and recyclable.
Making Austin the epicenter of the booming pet industry would put Austin on the map in yet another distinct way and contribute to the local economy through conferences, even more pet-friendly businesses, and local spending.
Create an innovation task force to make Austin the home of the first wraparound human + animal welfare system in the world.
Austin has been the largest No Kill city in the U.S. for 11 years. It is time for Austin to lead in a much more comprehensive and effective way. This city should be the home of the next social innovation in animal welfare, where the community, animal services, and human services operate as one.
Right now, animal services tend to be reacting to what has been historically viewed as an “irresponsible public.” When someone is struggling to care for their pets, due to job loss, housing insecurity, or for another reason, they may not know about or have access to options beyond giving up their pet to an overcrowded shelter.
With a comprehensive makeover focused on dignity and preservation of the human-animal bond, the city shelter could instead be the go-to place for support—including crisis boarding for owned pets whose owners are hospitalized or otherwise temporarily can’t care for them; support for fighting housing restrictions; pet sitting for people experiencing homelessness who need a safe place for their dog to stay while they attend a job interview or court date; full spectrum veterinary care for low-income pet owners; at-risk youth programs to introduce careers in animal welfare; other workforce development opportunities; and much more.
The city could also be the best in the world when it comes to how our hospitals, our police, our builders, and our fire/EMS services operate, by including pet specifics in training, metrics, and vision.
Tackling comprehensive citywide problems through the lens of pet ownership offers a manageable vein of solutions and can serve as an example for the next lens of comprehensive problem solving.
Bring civic engagement departments and organizations together to find common ground with pet owners.
Pet owners are passionate about their pets. Pets are linked to higher self confidence and increased civic engagement. Pet owners report stronger neighborhood social connections than non-pet owners, with greater degrees of trust between neighbors.
The trust inherent in these connections can be used to create mutual aid channels for pet owners in crisis and to increase civic engagement in areas that are tangentially related to animals, such as increasing participation and recruitment in Austin’s 100 boards and commissions. Every single one touches animals in some way and building excitement about topics that don’t generally drive the most participation leads to a stronger community led by community members.
Task the Austin Animal Advisory Commission with developing a plan for Austin Animal Center to sustainably operate as a No Kill facility, and also to lead, support, and mentor other jurisdictions on No Kill.
In 2010, the City Council approved a No Kill plan that they had tasked the Austin Animal Advisory Commission to create, using cities with an over 90% live release rate as their only resource. That single resolution has now resulted, conservatively, in over $200M in economic impact for the city of Austin and hundreds of thousands of lives saved.This figure is based on a 2017 report measuring the economic impact of the No Kill resolution from 2010 until 2016. At that time, the figure was over $157,000,000. In the six years since, it is fair to estimate that number has at least doubled.
Now the city council can have the same groundbreaking No Kill success by tasking the commission with a similar request—this time two-fold:
1. Create a plan to develop the most important standard operating procedures for saving the myriad lives that enter the Animal Center doors, using only cities/programs that have the same or higher live release rates as models for each type of at-risk animal population or program.
2. Create a plan to teach these standard operating procedures to shelters all over the country. This not only solves the chronic problems that are inevitably associated with saving lives instead of killing them by offering quality assurance and oversight internally, but also positions Austin as the city to watch as No Kill becomes stronger and even more successful.
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You’re no James Milner! | Jurgen Klopp x Joe Thomlinson FIFA rating
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Jurgen Klopp puts Joe Thomlinson through some physicality drills in order to give him a FIFA rating.
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Rugby League World Cup: England vs Papua New Guinea talking points and team news
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England face Group D runners-up Papua New Guinea in the quarter-finals of the Rugby League World Cup at the DW Stadium in Wigan on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm); Shaun Wane’s team qualified for the knock-out stages as Group A winners with three wins from three
Last Updated: 03/11/22 9:08pm
England winger Dom Young is the leading try-scorer so far in this year’s World Cup
We take a look at what is being said and team news as England’s men take on Papua New Guinea in the quarter-finals of the Rugby League World Cup on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm)…
Young seizing his England opportunity
Dom Young is aiming to carry on where he left off in the group stages as England take on Papua New Guinea in Saturday’s quarter-final.
A further four tries in the first half of the 94-4 win over Greece in Sheffield last Saturday made the 21-year-old the leading try-scorer in the men’s competition with eight so far.
Friday, November 4 – Australia vs Lebanon (Huddersfield, 7.30pm).
Saturday, November 5 – England vs Papua New Guinea (Wigan, 2.30pm), New Zealand vs Fiji (Hull, 7.30pm).
Sunday, November 6 – Tonga vs Samoa (Warrington, 2.30pm).
Young had not played Test rugby prior to the World Cup getting underway, but the Newcastle Knights winger is delighted with the start he has made to life in an England shirt.
“I’m ready to go every week,” Young said. “I didn’t want to be rested so I’m happy I got out there [against Greece].
“I tried leaving it all out on the pitch in each game. I probably couldn’t have expected it to go the way it has but I’m loving every minute of it.”
Young has made such an impression that he has managed to displace England’s record try-scorer Ryan Hall, who took his personal tally to 39 tries in 40 appearances for the national team with a double against the Greeks but was left out of the 19-man squad for the clash with PNG.
Tommy Makinson is set to fill the other wing berth and Young is aiming to ensure England carry on the form which saw them go through the group stage unbeaten. However, he acknowledges they face a step up in competition.
“We’ve played well each game in the group and it’s taking that into the bigger games, the knock-out games,” Young said. “If we keep doing that and keep building on what we’ve been doing, we can get to that final.
“It’s going to be a big step up…they’re a great team and they’re going to come out firing. We need the fans to come out in Wigan.”
‘PNG have learnt from 2017 defeat’
Saturday’s encounter at the DW Stadium is a repeat of the quarter-final from the 2017 World Cup in Australia, where England were comfortable 36-6 winners over Papua New Guinea.
England were victorious against Papua New Guinea in the 2017 World Cup quarter-finals
However, head coach Stanley Tepend is adamant the Kumuls are a much different proposition to that day in Melbourne.
A 36-0 win over Wales on Monday secured PNG’s passage to the knock-out stages as Group D runners-up and Tepend expects the lessons from five years ago to serve the team well.
“We had targets that we wanted to achieve in the pool stages, and we’ve done that, and the performance really showed how tight we all are off the field,” Tepend said.
“I think we’ve learned from what happened in 2017. The players are now a lot smarter and a lot younger. I think we relied on a few individuals but now it’s more of a team effort and we’ve got better players, I guess, as well.”
Six of the players in England’s 24-man squad for the tournament were part of the Great Britain and Ireland team which suffered a surprise 28-10 defeat to the Papua New Guineas in Port Moresby in 2019.
John Bateman was one of those and the Wigan Warriors second row is determined to banish the memories of that loss in Saturday’s clash at the stadium where he plays his club rugby.
“It was a hostile situation, in their backyard, but they are a good side,” Bateman said. “You know what you’re getting with them, they come straight and direct and they’re pretty physical.
“They hit pretty hard but there are lads in our team that hit just as hard. It will be a good contest and we’re looking forward to it.”
Team news
Kallum Watkins is back in England’s squad after missing the win over Greece
England welcome captain Sam Tomkins back after he was rested for the win over Greece and Kallum Watkins returns too after missing that match due to concussion protocols. Herbie Farnworth, Michael McIlorum and Elliott Whitehead are back too.
Watson Boas and Sylvester Namo return to Papua New Guinea’s squad from the win over Wales, while McKenzie Yei comes back into contention for the Kumuls too.
England (from): Sam Tomkins (captain), Tommy Makinson, Kallum Watkins, Herbie Farnworth, Jack Welsby, Tom Burgess, Michael McIlorum, Elliott Whitehead, John Bateman, Victor Radley, Dom Young, Morgan Knowles, Matty Lees, Mike Cooper, Chris Hill, Mike McMeeken, Marc Sneyd, Kai Pearce-Paul.
Papua New Guinea (from): Wellington Albert, Jacob Alick, Keven Appo, Watson Boas, Edwin Ipape, Zev John, Alex Johnston, Lachlan Lam, Kyle Laybutt, Nene MacDonald, Rhyse Martin (captain), Sylvester Namo, Jimmy Ngutlik, Justin Olam, Nixon Putt, Daniel Russell, Jeremiah Simbiken, Rodrick Tai, McKenzie Yei.
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Women’s Rugby League World Cup: Courtney Winfield-Hill ready to build something special with England | ‘We can grow momentum’
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“It was really special”: Courtney Winfield-Hill scored three tries as England secured a huge 72-4 victory over Brazil in their Rugby League World Cup opener; Next, they face Canada in a double-header with the men’s team at Wigan
By Megan Wellens
Last Updated: 01/11/22 5:44pm
Courtney Winfield-Hill was in fine form as England got their World Cup campaign under way
England half-back Courtney Winfield-Hill believes her side can build from a “really special” opening victory against Brazil, as they look to go all the way at the Rugby League World Cup.
In a player of the match performance, Winfield-Hill scored a hat-trick in England’s dominant win over Brazil and admitted it was a moment to remember as they walked out to the roaring crowd at Headingley as stands packed with local school children cheered for the home nation.
“It was really special and I think that is something that England rugby league fans do really well,” said Winfield-Hill.
“Especially here at Headingley, to hear that South Stand drum giving us a really big lift through moments in that game, that was incredibly special.
“It was a big occasion today with the number of people in the crowd and the volume going off.
“It all adds to it and now we have experienced, perhaps we can settle in a little more and just get minds on the game.”
Despite a resounding win, Winfield-Hill believes England have a lot of areas to improve if they are going to secure their goal of winning the World Cup on home soil.
“Patchy is the word I would use to describe it,” she added.
“We were really good in certain patches then we probably got a bit excited at times and just lost touch with a couple of basics.
“I am sure Craig (Richards) and the coaching staff will get us back on the straight and narrow over the next couple of days.
“Georgia (Roche) and I have only been together at Leeds for a year and it has been clunky at times, there is no denying that for us.
“But it was also really good today to have some time with Zoe Harris and just connecting a different partnership because we know that throughout this tournament, everybody is going to play a part and there is going to be different combinations at times.”
On Saturday, England will have another special moment as they play in front of a packed-out crowd in a double-header with the men’s team at Wigan, with the Princess of Wales Kate Middleton attending the occasion.
“We just need to learn to gain momentum through basics. I think we lost it at points there today and we know that comes through discipline,” Winfield-Hill said.
“So, solidifying a few basics will be on the agenda and I am really looking forward to the double-header with the men, who are building some terrific momentum themselves.
“That will be another really good moment to be a part of.”
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Kevin Proctor: Wakefield Trinity sign former New Zealand international for 2023 Super League season
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Back row Kevin Proctor was sacked by NRL club Gold Coast Titans in July for posting a video of himself on social media vaping in the CommBank Stadium toilets during a game in which he was not playing; the former New Zealand international has signed a 12-month contract with Wakefield
Last Updated: 31/10/22 10:52pm
Kevin Proctor is moving to Wakefield on a one-year contract
Former New Zealand Test forward Kevin Proctor has joined Wakefield Trinity for the 2023 Betfred Super League season.
The 33-year-old back row was considering retiring from the game after being sacked by NRL club Gold Coast Titans in July for posting a video of himself on social media vaping in the CommBank Stadium toilets during a game in which he was not playing.
But the ex-Melbourne Storm player, who won 22 caps for the Kiwis up to 2019, has signed a 12-month deal with Trinity and is looking forward to sampling Super League.
“I just can’t wait to get over and get going,” Proctor said. “The challenge is something I’m really looking forward to.
“I’m hoping my experience will complement the squad and the young fellas that are a part of it.
“I’m really hungry to succeed and can’t wait for the journey to start.”
Wakefield’s new head coach Mark Applegarth expects Proctor’s experience and ability to provie invaluable as Trinity aim to avoid another season of being involved in the relegation battle.
“I’m really happy to have Kevin on board for 2023,” Applegarth said.
“He’s a player that’s done it all in Australia and somebody I’m looking forward to working with. He will definitely drive the standards of the group up in training and games as he’s a real competitor.
“After chatting with Kevin on numerous occasions, it’s clear to see he’s coming over with plenty of ambition left to compete at the highest level. I can’t wait for him to get started.”
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Scores & Schedule
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Catch up on all the scores from the Paris Masters with Brits Cameron Norrie and Andy Murray in action from Bercy.
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Rugby League World Cup: England’s Kai Pearce-Paul out to forge own path after Sonny Bill Williams comparisons
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Marc Bazeley
From his junior days with Croydon Hurricanes to starring on the world stage for England, Kai Pearce-Paul has made impressive progress in his rugby league career; the 21-year-old has drawn comparisons from some quarters with one of the sport’s greats as well
Last Updated: 30/10/22 5:51pm
Kai Pearce-Paul earned his first Test cap for England as they defeated Greece at the Rugby League World Cup
With his deft offloading ability, strong ball carrying and tough tackling, it is perhaps no surprise Kai Pearce-Paul has drawn comparisons to one of the greats from some quarters.
The 21-year-old Wigan Warriors player has been tagged as ‘The English Sonny Bill Williams’, with the New Zealand cross-code icon being one of the players Pearce-Paul admired as a youngster.
It is a comparison he takes in his stride, although Pearce-Paul is more concerned with being his own man rather than measuring himself against Williams or anyone else.
“I hear that a bit from my friends as well because I like to offload and it’s something he did,” Pearce-Paul said. “He was the master of that, really, and I’ve had a few comparisons in my time.
“He’s a great guy, an unreal player, and he’s done it all, really. He was someone I looked up to as a kid.
“I don’t like to compare myself, and if people want to say it then it’s okay and they can do that. But I’m my own player and he’s a great player as well, and I’ve got a lot of respect for him.”
Pearce-Paul is now a fully-fledged international player too after making his England Test debut in the 94-4 win over Greece on Saturday which secured top spot in Group A of the Rugby League World Cup, capping a memorable day with a try and two assists.
It is the latest step on a journey which began for the Bromley-born second row or centre as a junior player with community club Croydon Hurricanes and continued with him joining the academy set-up at London Broncos.
Impressive displays in the U19s competition for the Broncos and for Lancashire in the Academy Origin series led to Wigan bringing him in on an initial four-year contract in 2019, and Pearce-Paul has become an established first-team regular since making his debut in September 2020.
His performances this year earned him a place in Shaun Wane’s 24-man England squad for the World Cup and after sitting out the opening win over Samoa and being 18th man for the match against France, he finally got the chance to fulfil a long-held ambition against the Greeks at Bramall Lane.
“It’s been a long journey, and this is something you can only dream of, playing as a young boy for Croydon Hurricanes and down in London,” Pearce-Paul said.
Kai Pearce-Paul’s stats vs Greece
Tries 1 Assists 2 Run metres 197 Post-contact metres 79 Tackle busts 7 Linebreaks 2 Linebreak assists 1 Offloads 2 Offloads to hand 2 “I was a young kid thinking one day I wanted to play for my country and now it’s something which has become a reality.
“It was something which took a while to hit me but running out on that pitch and having the crowd roaring, it all became so real and that was a great feeling.”
Pearce-Paul is not the only player from outside rugby league’s northern heartland in England’s squad, with Basingstoke-born former Broncos back row Mike McMeeken another one who has blazed a trail too.
But although he was in the minority among his friends in playing the 13-man code growing up, his progress has attracted plenty of attention from them.
Kai Pearce-Paul put the finishing touch on an outstanding Wigan Warriors play to score this try in the Betfred Super League. Kai Pearce-Paul put the finishing touch on an outstanding Wigan Warriors play to score this try in the Betfred Super League.
“As a kid, I was one of the only ones of my mates who played rugby league and they all really respected how good the game was,” Pearce-Paul said.
“Obviously it’s not as big down in London, but I’ve had a lot of messages from old friends and rugby union friends saying congratulations and watching.
“The support is there, which is nice, and it’s good having old friends, teachers and family watching me play.”
Pearce-Paul will now hope he has done enough to retain his place in Wane’s matchday 17 when England head to his second home of Wigan for the quarter-finals on Saturday, November 5, where Papua New Guinea are their most likely opponents.
Kai Pearce-Paul capped a memorable England debut against Greece with a try
He already knew Wane from the 58-year-old’s role as the Warriors’ leadership and management director and is enjoying his time being coached by the man who guided Wigan to three Super League Grand Final triumphs as part of the England squad.
“It’s been really good,” Pearce-Paul said. “He’s an honest man and very straightforward – he tells you how it is.
“The boys respect that about him and that brings the respect of wanting to play for him. That’s a way of paying him back, playing well and doing what he coaches us.
“It’s what you expect with Waney. Having him around Wigan, I always knew the kind of guy he was and he’s a great guy, and it’s the same at England.
“It translates onto the pitch in how we’re playing in these last few games, which is really good.”
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Mexico City Grand Prix | Race highlights
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Highlights of the Mexico City Grand Prix from the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
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Rugby League World Cup: Emily Rudge leads strong England Women’s side for opener against Brazil
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England head coach Craig Richards has named his 19-player squad as side kick-off the Women’s World Cup against debutants Brazil as part of a double-header at Headingley on Tuesday (2.30pm)
Last Updated: 30/10/22 12:33pm
England head coach Craig Richards and captain Emily Rudge are ready for the first game of the Women’s World Cup
Emily Rudge will lead England into the fourth Rugby League World Cup of her career when they open the women’s tournament against Brazil.
Head coach Craig Richards’ squad for the opening match of the tournament at Headingley on Tuesday sees all four previous winners of the Woman of Steel award included as well.
Leeds Rhinos’ half-back pairing Georgia Roche and Courtney Winfield-Hill, St Helens loose forward Jodie Cunningham and this year’s winner Tara-Jane Stanley are all in line to feature.
Rudge is the most experienced player in the squad and is set to win her 37th England cap when she leads the team out to face the World Cup debutants in the Group A opener.
Other notable selections include Leeds back Caitlin Beevers, who at 21 has already won two Women’s Super League titles and a Challenge Cup, England’s all-time leading try-scorer Amy Hardcastle of St Helens and Wigan Warriors’ Vicky Molyneux.
The latter is the sole member of the present squad who was part of England Women’s very first international outing against France in 2007.
The match against Brazil at 2.30pm is part of a double-header at Headingley to kick off the women’s tournament and is followed by Papua New Guinea taking on Canada at 5pm.
England 19-player squad vs Brazil
Emily Rudge (captain), Tara Stanley, Caitlin Beevers, Fran Goldthorp, Amy Hardcastle, Leah Burke, Georgia Roche, Courtney Winfield-Hill, Grace Field, Tara Jones, Hollie Dodd, Jodie Cunningham, Vicky Molyneux, Vicky Whitfield, Shona Hoyle, Olivia Wood, Keara Bennett, Zoe Harris, Zoe Hornby.
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Rugby League World Cup: 2025 hosts France eye more progress with quarter-finals in sight
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Marc Bazeley
France being awarded the hosting rights for the 2025 World Cup is a sign of how rugby league has progressed there in recent years; the current squad will reach the quarter-finals of this year’s tournament if they beat Samoa in Warrington on Sunday
Last Updated: 28/10/22 11:47am
France head coach Laurent Frayssinous believes the national team are making progress
Regardless of what happens in the final Group A match against Samoa on Sunday, French rugby league appears to be riding a wave of optimism as the nation prepares to host the next World Cup in three years’ time.
Of course, students of rugby league history will know there has been many a false dawn across the Channel when it comes to the 13-man code in the past. National team head coach and former player Laurent Frayssinous is probably just as aware of that as anyone else too.
Nevertheless, even in the wake of last Saturday’s 42-18 defeat to England, the 45-year-old chose to focus on the positives and is in no doubt France are showing signs of once again becoming a team capable of competing with the other big names on the international stage.
“We played England 12 months ago and I can see from last year to this year, there is a massive, massive improvement in how we play the game, the way we attack and the way we defend,” Frayssinous, whose side will reach the quarter-finals of this year’s World Cup with victory over Samoa, said.
“We keep on building, we keep on learning, and we learnt a few things against England. We go and play Samoa with confidence because I think we deserve some credit for the last two games.
“We started to build something so we could lay the platform. The players know our philosophy and what we expect them to do on the field.”
The decision to award France the hosting rights for the next global gathering, having hosted the inaugural edition in 1954 and again in 1972, is another sign of how the sport has somewhat come in from the margins in the country in recent years.
Catalans’ success has helped boost French rugby league
A large part of that has come on the back of the success of Catalans Dragons in the Betfred Super League, becoming the first overseas team to win the Challenge Cup in 2018 and then winning the League Leaders’ Shield and reaching the Grand Final for the first time in 2021.
The relegation of Toulouse Olympique back to the second tier of the British professional league system after just one year in Super League has dented those ambitions slightly, but that has not altered their long-term aim to establish themselves at the top level as well.
France’s domestic Elite One championship has benefitted from an influx of high-profile foreign players in recent seasons, too, with the latest big move seeing former NRL star Corey Norman link up with ex-Catalans man and former Australia international James Maloney at Lezignan after leaving Toulouse.
On the international front, Sydney Roosters’ NRL Grand Final-winning head coach Trent Robinson has linked up with the national team as coaching director, benefitting both Frayssinous and the squad with his experience along with growing his own links with the country after playing there for Toulouse and later coaching Catalans.
It would be massive for us [to reach the quarter-finals]. We have been working so hard the last few years, so I think we deserve this, but we need to work even harder.
France vice-captain Alrix Da Costa
Last Saturday’s match showed Les Chanticleers still have some catching up to do after their run without a win against England extended to 21 matches, yet hooker Alrix Da Costa – one of the Catalans contingent in the squad – believes they are making progress.
“International games are always different,” vice-captain Da Costa, one of those who plies his trade at club level for Catalans in Super League, said. “It’s massive and it’s some good experiences for all the players.
“You have some NRL players [to play against] so the level is higher and it’s good for us. We take everything and learn from that.”
France were finalists at the first World Cup 68 years ago when one of the greatest national teams the country has ever produced beat Australia and New Zealand, only to be edged out 16-12 by Great Britain in the final following a 13-13 draw between the two in the group stage.
France faced Great Britain in the 1954 World Cup final
They finished second in 1968, too, but in the modern era their best performances have been quarter-final appearances in 2000 and 2013 – something they could equal if they defeat Samoa in Warrington this weekend.
That, believes Da Costa, would be a just reward for the efforts France’s squad have put in and give them something to build on ahead of hosting the World Cup in 2025.
“It would be massive for us,” Da Costa said. “We have been working so hard the last few years, so I think we deserve this, but we need to work even harder.
“Against England, we needed to be a bit smarter and if we keep going like this then we’ve got a chance.”
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Why was Harry Kane’s goal disallowed by VAR?
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Sky Sports News presenter Pete Graves explains why Harry Kane’s stoppage-time winner against Sporting Lisbon was ruled out by VAR.
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