Ronnie O’Sullivan will be competing in the 2026 Seniors Snooker Championship and the World Snooker Championship within just weeks of each other; the 50-year-old won his first world title 25 years ago and looks to add another accolade to his name
Last Updated: 23/02/26 3:44pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan will be going for his eighth world title and first Seniors world title this spring
After a record-equalling seven world titles, Ronnie O’Sullivan will be making his debut on the senior world stage in May at the 2026 World Seniors Snooker Championship.
However, the 50-year-old is still expected to play in the main World Championship, which finishes just two days before the seniors starts, with both events taking place at the Crucible.
Ronnie O’Sullivan tried to defend his first Masters title against Steven Hendry in 1996 as the youngest winner of the title at 19-years and 69 days
He joins an impressive seniors line-up that includes 2015 world champion Stuart Bingham, 12-time women’s world champion Reanne Evans and former Masters and UK champion Matthew Stevens.
Chairman Jason Francis branded O’Sullivan the “most commercially valuable player the sport has ever seen” and that he expects The Rocket’s participation to drive ticket sales even higher.
The seniors tournament will take place May 6-10, being prefaced by World Championship from April 18-May 4.
O’Sullivan relocated to Dubai last year but will spend April and May in Sheffield as he also attempts to win an eighth world title when he appears in his 34th consecutive World Snooker Championship.
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Changes to the seniors tournaments rules have meant players ranked in the world top 64 are eligible to take part with several having taken the opportunity.
With four title wins, the most successful player in the seniors is Jimmy White, with the 10-time ranking event winner also slated to take part.
This comes 25 years after O’Sullivan won his first World Snooker Championship which he won in his 10th year of being a professional at the age of 25, as he seeks to add yet another record to his CV.
Pumpkin flower arrangements are a fun and chic way to set the table for fall festivities, including Thanksgiving and Halloween. Grab some warm-toned flowers from the garden or the grocery store, and pick a pumpkin that calls your name!
I keep seeing these gorgeous pumpkin flower arrangements at florists, farmers’ markets, and online. A collection of blooms tightly packed into a bright orange pumpkin just screams “fall.”
It’s an elegant take on fall decorating: setting the table for Thanksgiving dinner, adorning the mantle for the season change, or even to give as gifts.
I know I would love to receive one of these gorgeous pumpkins, and they will be just as rewarding to give! Here’s how you can make your own.
Use pumpkins of all sizes and shapes to really make it your own.
How to Make Pumpkin Flower Arrangements
With flower arranging, the artistry is in the design, and it’s not as easy as it looks. But if you want to take a stab at creating your own pumpkin flower arrangement, then here is how to do it.
Keep pumpkins cool and shaded to help them last longer.
Make It!
Cut the top off your pumpkin so that you have a fairly wide opening near the center of your pumpkin. Scoop out the guts and make these addictive Roasted Rosemary Pumpkin Seeds.
Line the inside of the pumpkin with a sheet of plastic. This will hold some of the moisture in when you water the floral foam.
Cut a piece of floral foam with the knife to a size that will fit inside the pumpkin. Soak the foam in water while you prepare your flowers (soak it, don’t dunk it!).
Make sure to use wet flower foam, not dry flower foam.
Choose flowers with strong, straight stems that are freshly cut, either from the garden or a purchased bouquet.
Insert the floral foam into the inside of the pumpkin and create your arrangement. Start with flowers, then add leaves, berries, and other embellishments to create a full and interesting arrangement.
Use garden clippings to make it extra seasonal.
Items collected from the garden will shine in a new way when displayed in a pumpkin vase like this one I spotted at Vancouver florist Flowerz.
Save the top of the pumpkin for an extra unique arrangement.
You can even pop the top of the pumpkin like on this other creative arrangement. Hold it on with a piece of floral wire inserted into the floral foam (also from Flowerz).
Save the succulents once the pumpkin begins to decompose.
I even made up one with some tender succulents for my garden. As the weather starts to get cooler, the succulents won’t survive outdoors, so why not bring them in, plant them in a pumpkin, and enjoy them for as long as you can?
I didn’t use floral foam for the succulents, but instead filled the inside of the pumpkin with indoor potting soil. I do this for my outdoor pumpkins every year. You can see a whole bunch of them here.
Pumpkins don’t have to have all of the fun; this works well with gourds, too!
Pumpkin Flower Arrangements FAQ
How long do the pumpkins stay fresh?
It depends on a few factors, like how fresh it was to begin with and what the conditions are. But I would say a good estimate would be 1-2 weeks. Keep the pumpkins cool and away from sunlight to help them last longer.
How far in advance can I make these pumpkins?
Like all fresh flowers, they look best when freshly made, so I would try to make them no more than 1-2 days in advance. The arrangement should then look pretty for another 1-2 weeks, depending on the flowers and the temperature they are stored at.
More Ways to Use Pumpkins
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
Vladimir Putin is on a roll the past few weeks. First President Trump invited him to Anchorage. Then he got a three-way hug with China’s President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a summit in China. And an invitation to a grand military parade in Beijing.
Since the 2014 annexation of Crimea, Putin had been shunted to the fringes of summit group photos. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he had been treated as a pariah by the United States and Europe. Indicted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide, he could travel only to countries that wouldn’t arrest him. In short, Moscow was not being treated with the respect it believed it deserved.
Trump thought that by literally rolling out the red carpet for Putin in Alaska — and clapping as the Russian loped down the red carpet — he could reset the bilateral relationship. And it did. But not the way Trump intended.
The Alaskan summit convinced the Russians that the current administration is willing to throw the sources of American global power out the window.
Trade partners, geopolitical allies and alliances — everything is on the table for Trump. The U.S. president believes this shows his power; the Russians see this as a low-cost opportunity to degrade American influence. Putin was trained by the KGB to recognize weakness and exploit it.
There is no evidence that being friendly to Putin and agreeing with Russian positions are going to make Moscow more willing to stop fighting in Ukraine. Overlooking Russia’s intensifying hybrid attacks on Europe, in February, Vice President JD Vance warned Europe that it should be focusing instead on the threat to democracy “from within.” This followed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth‘s assurances that Ukraine would never join NATO. Trump has suggested that U.S. support for NATO and Europe is contingent on those countries paying up. In an event that sent Moscow pundits to pop the Champagne, Trump told Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office that he just didn’t “have the cards” and should stop trying to beat Russia.
Did any of this bring Putin to the negotiating table? No.
In fact, the Kremlin indicated a readiness to talk with Trump about the war only when Trump threatened “very, very powerful” sanctions in mid-July. This time, he seemed serious about it. The Alaska summit happened a month later. The tougher Trump is with Russia, the more likely he is to get any kind of traction in negotiations. It’s unfortunate that the president has now gone back to vague two-weekdeadlines for imposing sanctions that never materialize.
Russia believes it will win the war. China has been a steady friend, willing to sell Russia cars and dual-use technology that ends up in drones that are attacking Ukrainian cities. It has also become Russia’s largest buyer of crude oil and coal. Western sanctions have not been biting the Russian economy, though they have nibbled away at state revenues. Europe and the United States have not been willing to apply the kind of economic pressure that would seriously dent Russia’s ability to carry on the war.
Putin keeps saying that a resolution to the war requires that the West address the “root causes” of the war. These causes, for Russia, relate to the way it was treated after losing the Cold War. The three Baltic nations joined Europe as fast as they could. Central and Eastern European countries decided that they would rather be part of NATO than the Warsaw Pact. When Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine started asking for membership in the European Union and NATO, Russia realized it wouldn’t be able to convince them to stay with economic appeal or soft power. It had to use force. Unable to demonstrate the attraction of its suffocating embrace, or the value of its Eurasian Economic Union, Russia believed it had to use force to keep Ukraine by its side. It reminds one of a grotesque Russian expression: “If he beats you, it means he loves you.”
The real “root cause” of the war in Ukraine is Russia’s inability to accept that centuries of empire do not confer the right to dominate former colonies forever. Mongolia learned this. As did the British. And the French. And the Ottomans. The Austro-Hungarians.
Eventually this war will end. But not soon. Russia is insisting on maximalist demands that Ukraine cannot agree to, which include control over territory it hasn’t managed to occupy. Ukraine will not stop fighting until it is sure that Russia will not attack again. Achieving that degree of certainty with flimsy security guarantees is impossible.
In the meantime, Ukrainian cities on the frontline will continue being wiped out, citizens in Kherson will continue being subjects of “human safari” for Russian drone operators, people across Ukraine will continue experiencing daily air raids that send them scurrying into shelters. Soldiers, volunteers, civilians and children will continue dying. Trump appears to care about the thousands of daily casualties. Most of these are Russian soldiers who have been sent to their death by a Russian state that doesn’t see their lives as worth preserving.
Trump is understandably frustrated with his inability to “stop the killing” because he has assumed that satisfying Russian demands is the answer. The opposite is true: Only by showing — proving — to Russia that its demands are unattainable will the U.S. persuade the Kremlin to consider meaningful negotiations. Countries at war come to the negotiating table not because they are convinced to abandon their objectives. They sit down when they realize their goals are unattainable.
Alexandra Vacroux is the vice president for strategic engagement at the Kyiv School of Economics.
Insights
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The following AI-generated content is powered by Perplexity. The Los Angeles Times editorial staff does not create or edit the content.
Ideas expressed in the piece
Putin has successfully leveraged recent diplomatic engagements to break out of international isolation, using meetings with Xi Jinping and Modi, along with Trump’s invitation to Alaska, to demonstrate that Western attempts to sideline Russia have failed. These high-profile gatherings signal to the world that Russia remains a significant player on the global stage despite sanctions and international legal proceedings.
Trump’s accommodating approach toward Putin represents a fundamental misreading of Russian psychology and strategic thinking, as Putin was trained to recognize and exploit weakness rather than respond to friendship with reciprocal gestures. The president’s willingness to question support for NATO and suggest contingent relationships with allies signals to Moscow that American global influence can be degraded at low cost.
Russia only demonstrates willingness to engage in meaningful negotiations when faced with credible threats of severe consequences, as evidenced by the Kremlin’s indication of readiness to talk only after Trump threatened “very, very powerful” sanctions in July. Conversely, accommodating gestures and vague deadlines for sanctions that never materialize encourage Russian intransigence.
The fundamental driver of the conflict stems from Russia’s inability to accept the end of its imperial dominance over former territories, not the grievances about post-Cold War treatment that Moscow frequently cites. Russia’s resort to force against Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova reflects its failure to maintain influence through economic appeal or soft power, revealing an outdated imperial mindset that refuses to acknowledge former colonies’ right to self-determination.
Meaningful negotiations will only occur when Russia recognizes that its maximalist territorial and political demands are unattainable through military means, requiring sustained pressure rather than premature concessions. Current Russian demands for control over territory it hasn’t occupied and Ukraine’s complete capitulation demonstrate that Moscow still believes it can achieve total victory.
Different views on the topic
The Russia-China partnership faces significant structural limitations that constrain the depth of their cooperation, despite public declarations of “no limits” friendship. While both nations conduct joint military exercises and maintain substantial trade relationships, their military collaboration remains “carefully managed and circumscribed by each nation’s broader strategic interests,” with no mutual defense agreements or deep operational integration between their armed forces[1].
India’s apparent warming toward China and Russia reflects strategic autonomy principles rather than genuine alignment toward an anti-Western axis, as fundamental tensions between New Delhi and Beijing persist over unresolved border disputes and strategic competition in the Indian Ocean region[2]. Recent diplomatic gestures may be tactical responses to trade tensions rather than indicators of a permanent realignment away from partnerships with Australia, Japan, the European Union, and other democratic allies[2].
The potential for wedging strategies between Russia and China remains viable due to underlying structural tensions and competing interests, particularly in Central Asia where both powers seek influence. American policymakers increasingly recognize that the “reverse Nixon” approach of driving wedges between Moscow and Beijing could exploit inherent limitations in their partnership, as their relationship represents neither unlimited friendship nor a completely stable alliance[4][5].
China’s military cooperation with Russia serves Beijing’s interests in testing tactics and equipment while maintaining careful distance from direct involvement in conflicts that could jeopardize its broader strategic goals[1]. Chinese support for Russian drone production and dual-use technology transfers reflects calculated assistance that stops short of full military alliance, suggesting Beijing prioritizes its own strategic flexibility over unconditional support for Russian objectives[3].
Ronnie O’Sullivan has pulled out of the Northern Ireland Open, having already withdrawn from the British Open and Wuhan Open in recent weeks; Seven-time world champion last featured at the English Open in September
Last Updated: 20/10/24 11:00pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan withdrew from the Northern Ireland Open ahead of his first round match
Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open due to medical reasons, the World Snooker Tour (WST) has announced.
O’Sullivan was due to face Long Zehuang in the last 64 in Belfast on Monday afternoon, but announcement from WST on their website confirmed he had pulled out of the event.
China’s Long receives a bye to the last 32, with the tournament at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast running until October 27th.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has now withdrawn from three consecutive events due to medical reasons
O’Sullivan hasn’t featured since being knocked out of the first round of the English Open last month after a shock defeat to He Guoqiang, where he describing his performance as “awful” and “embarrassing”.
It is the third consecutive tournament that O’Sullivan has withdrawn from, having also skipped the British Open and Wuhan Open in recent weeks. He is next due to feature at the International Champions event in China from November 3-10.
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Ronnie O’Sullivan says if the World Snooker Championship was relocated to Saudi Arabia then he would find the tournament more convenient as a player
Ronnie O’Sullivan says if the World Snooker Championship was relocated to Saudi Arabia then he would find the tournament more convenient as a player
Trump makes winning start in Belfast
World No 1 Judd Trump began his title defence with a 4-0 win over Ishpreet Singh Chadha needing just 49 minutes to whitewash his opponent with the aid of breaks of 72, 65 and 112.
“It was easy to get up for this event,” said Trump, who has won the event four times in the last six years. “Certain venues seem to be made for snooker. Anyone who has played in the semis or final at the Waterfront [Hall] knows how special it is.
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“It’s similar to Alexandra Palace or the Tempodrom in terms of the size of the crowd and the way people react. I thrive on that atmosphere with people enjoying themselves. It helps me show off and play my best shots.”
Trump will face Matthew Selt in the last 32 after Selt defeated Lyu Haotian 4-1, while World Championship runner-up Jak Jones beat Alexander Ursenbacher 4-0 and Zhou Yuelong recovered from 3-1 down to oust Dominic Dale 4-3.
Northern Ireland’s Jordan Brown suffered a 4-2 defeat to Robert Milkins, while 18-year-old Stan Moody made breaks of 108 and 105 before beating Ryan Day in a decider.
Louis Heathcote also came through in a decider in a scrappy contest against former world champion Mark Selby, whose 81 in the first frame was the only break over 50 by either player.
Stuart Bingham beat Scott Donaldson 4-1 in a similarly low-scoring contest, while China’s Pang Jungxu made a break of 98 in the decider as he beat compatriot Yuan Sijun 4-3.
John Higgins reaches 1,000 career centuries but is knocked out of the English Open; Ronnie O’Sullivan is the only other player to have reached the four-figure century milestone
Last Updated: 19/09/24 11:36pm
John Higgins became only the second snooker player to reach 1,000 career centuries
John Higgins became only the second snooker player to reach 1,000 career centuries despite crashing out of the English Open in Brentwood.
The 49-year-old Scot achieved the milestone with breaks of 108 and 105 in the third and fifth frames of his quarter-final clash against Mark Allen.
But it was not enough to seal a win that would have boosted his hopes of staying in the top 16 as Allen – who hit a century of his own in the opening frame – held firm in a gruelling decider to edge a 4-3 win.
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Ronnie O’Sullivan is the only other player to have reached the four-figure century milestone, having done so in the final frame of his 2019 Players Championship final win over Neil Robertson.
Earlier, Judd Trump set up a quarter-final clash with China’s Wu Yize after hitting back from behind to claim a 4-2 win over Fan Zhengyi.
The world No 1 nudged one closer to joining O’Sullivan and Higgins in the thousand-century club as he reeled off a break of 101 in the course of winning three frames in a row to extend his winning run.
Mark Selby held his nerve to carve out a 4-3 win over Si Jiahui and book a last-eight meeting with India’s Ishpreet Singh Chadha, who also overcame a final frame decider against China’s He Guoqiang.
Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight showdown with Daniel Dubois takes place on Saturday September 21 live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book Joshua v Dubois now!
Three-time world champion Mark Williams beaten 10-9 by 2023 semi-finalist Si Jiahui at the Crucible; Welshman’s exit means six seeds have now fallen in the first round so far; Ronnie O’Sullivan begins bid for eighth title against Jackson Page on Wednesday afternoon
Last Updated: 23/04/24 6:23pm
Mark Williams lost 10-9 to Si Jiahui in the first round of the World Snooker Championship
Mark Williams’ quest for a fourth World Snooker Championship title ended in the first round as he lost a last-frame thriller to 2023 semi-finalist Si Jiahui.
Sixth seed Williams – world champion in 2000, 2003 and 2018 – led 5-4 after Monday’s opening session but then found himself 8-5 down as Si reeled off four frames in a row on Tuesday afternoon.
The 49-year-old then recovered from 9-7 down to force a decider but his Chinese opponent, 21, knocked in a nerveless break of 77 in the 19th frame to secure a second-round meeting with fellow qualifier Jak Jones.
Si lost to Luca Brecel in the 2023 semi-finals in Sheffield
Williams’ exit takes the number of seeds eliminated in the first round to six, with defending champion Luca Brecel, four-time winner Mark Selby, Ali Carter, Gary Wilson and Zhang Anda also dispatched.
O’Sullivan plays first match on Wednesday afternoon
Williams was hoping to become the oldest champion in the tournament’s history, a record held by Ronnie O’Sullivan, who was 46 years and 148 days when he won the most recent of his seven Crucible trophies in 2022.
O’Sullivan begins his bid for an outright record eighth world title against Jackson Page at 2.30pm on Wednesday, with that match then concluding from 1pm the following day.
Jak Jones is Si’s second-round opponent this year after he beat 11th seed Zhang Anda at the weekend
Si led Luca Brecel 14-5 in last year’s semi-final, only to lose the match 17-15 as Brecel won 12 of the next 13 frames in a Crucible-record comeback.
Si’s clash with Williams was viewed as one of the ties of the first round, with Williams winning the previous tournament on the calendar, the Tour Championship in Manchester.
Williams, 49, defeated Judd Trump, Mark Allen and O’Sullivan – the top three players in the world rankings – in successive matches to claim his second ranking title of the season, after the British Open in Cheltenham in October.
Dominic Dale is playing at The Crucible for the first time in 10 years
What else happened on Tuesday?
Elsewhere, 2020 finalist Kyren Wilson surged into an 8-1 lead over Dominic Dale.
Dale, who is the oldest player at this year’s competition at the age of 52 and playing at the Crucible for the first time in 10 years, had one moment to cheer against Wilson – a sublime 120 clearance.
World No 17 Jack Liswoski leads seventh seed and 2016 finalist Ding Junhui 5-4, while Mark Allen romped into a 7-2 advantage over Robbie Williams.
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Sam Skinner’s late try was controversially ruled out by the TMO as Scotland suffered a 20-16 defeat by France at Murrayfield in the second round of the Six Nations.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s sensational individual effort after 70 minutes gave France the lead for the first time with just under 10 minutes remaining but Scotland regained territory and fought back to get Skinner over the line.
The decision was deliberated for a long time before it was ruled that there was not enough evidence to award the try, giving the visitors a narrow victory.
More to follow…
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Ireland produced a magnificent display in Marseille as they registered a first Six Nations win in France since 2018
Ireland began life in the post-Johnny Sexton era in ideal fashion, as a terrific Six Nations performance saw them to a bonus-point 38-17 victory over France in Marseille.
Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, lock Tadhg Beirne, wing Calvin Nash, hooker Dan Sheehan and replacement hooker Ronan Kelleher scored tries at the Stade Velodrome against a French side who saw lock Paul Willemse shown a red card during the first half for two yellows – both high tackles.
Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley, 24, started nervously but grew in confidence and into the contest, kicking one penalty and five exquisite conversions, while also producing a gorgeous try assist for Beirne in a record points total and winning margin for Ireland in France.
Damian Penaud and lock Paul Gabrillagues scored France’s tries, who continued to fight hard and never appeared truly out of it – Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony was sin-binned in the second half with the gap seven points – but they ultimately had to swallow a home defeat.
Jack Crowley, Johnny Sexton’s Ireland replacement in the No 10 jersey, pulled the strings to victory in the Stade Velodrome
For many in the sport, France vs Ireland was the Rugby World Cup final that never was back in October’s Paris showpiece, and although the hosts carved out the first threatening attack, Ireland were far the quicker to settle into their groove.
Crowley edged Ireland into an early lead with a close-range penalty, and after Willemse collected his first yellow for a high hit to the head of Andrew Porter, the visitors notched the opening try.
Centre Bundee Aki did magnificently for it, charging forward and freeing his hands to offload for Gibson-Park to sprint in.
Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park scored the first try after great work from Bundee Aki
A huge try chance was spurned by Ireland after Beirne charged down Antoine Dupont’s replacement Maxime Lucu to win a turnover just after a France maul – Crowley and Aki playing narrow when a wide ball would have resulted in a certain try down the left.
Within moments, Crowley missed poorly off the tee for the chance to go 13-0, with Thomas Ramos then striking at the other end after a scrum penalty.
Perhaps illustrating a measure of his mentality, Crowley brushed off a tough few minutes to play Beirne in for Ireland’s second try via an exquisitely disguised short-ball.
Tadhg Beirne scored Ireland’s second try after being brilliantly played in by Crowley
Crowley then converted for 17-3, with Willemse – only recently back on – then shown his second yellow, which was upgraded to a straight red following a bunker review, after connecting with the head of Caelan Doris in Ireland’s first carry following the restart.
France lock forward Paul Willemse was red carded for committing two yellow card offences – a very rare occurrence
Back-to-back penalties at the ruck against Ireland invited France forward, however, and though Beirne stole a lineout, a costly scrum penalty against the head eventually resulted in Penaud diving over as French persistence in kicking to the corner was rewarded seconds before the break.
Damian Penaud hit back for France with a try seconds before half-time
After Ramos uncharacteristically dragged a penalty wide, Ireland scored through Nash after they sprung the play wide and Robbie Henshaw had stepped, accelerated and offloaded brilliantly for Doris to find the championship debutant.
Calvin Nash scored Ireland’s third try on the occasion of his Six Nations debut
Crowley produced a sensational conversion off the touchline for 24-10, but France were back within a score seven minutes later, after a long TMO review saw Gabrillagues awarded a try and O’Mahony sin-binned for a cynical act in attempting to deny him.
Ireland composed themselves to get back up the other end, though, and after the brave decision to kick to the corner instead of for points, Sheehan flew over the try-line from a maul for their fourth.
Dan Sheehan’s try wrapped up the bonus-point and put Ireland on firm course for victory
There remained time for one last try, and it was almost identical to Sheehan’s as Kelleher controlled possession at the back of a maul which romped over.
Fittingly, the boot of Crowley was the final scoring act via the extras.
Farrell: A special Irish victory | O’Mahony: I’m proud – the young players a big part
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell to ITV Sport…
“Any victory here, on a Friday night to start the Six Nations off is always going to be a hard task but I think coming away with a bonus-point win is special.
“I was proud of the performance because we kept on playing for the full 80 minutes and we got what we deserved in the end.
“When you play against 14 men, the tendency is sometimes to shut up shop but we kept on playing.
“These are guys that have been in around the squad for the past couple of years so we had no doubt they are ready to play.
“Some of them, their form guarantees they are going to be in. But it is a 23-man game.”
Ireland captain O’Mahony to ITV Sport…
“It is hard to sum up. It was a serious Test match.
“I am very proud of the lads for the control of the game. We were cool, composed, might have been a bit frantic in the last 10 minutes down to 14, but we stayed to the plan the whole time.
“We didn’t get carried away with positive and negative moments and I thought it was a good start.
“I think a big chunk of the performance was the young fellas, Calvin Nash, Jack Crowley, big Joe [McCarthy]. Some big, big performances from guys getting an opportunity.”
What’s next?
Ireland are in action next Sunday, February 11 for the second round of the championship, hosting Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (3pm kick-off GMT).
Ireland’s Six Nations 2024 fixtures
Friday, February 2
France 17-38 Ireland
8pm
Sunday, February 11
Ireland vs Italy
3pm
Saturday, February 24
Ireland vs Wales
2.15pm
Saturday, March 9
England vs Ireland
4.45pm
Saturday, March 16
Ireland vs Scotland
4.45pm
France travel to face Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh next Saturday, February 10 (2.15pm kick-off GMT), in Round 2 of the Six Nations.
France’s Six Nations 2024 fixtures
Friday, February 2
France 17-38 Ireland
8pm
Saturday, February 10
Scotland vs France
2.15pm
Sunday, February 25
France vs Italy
3pm
Sunday, March 10
Wales vs France
3pm
Saturday, March 16
France vs England
8pm
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Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall hopes Owen Farrell’s decision to take a break from international rugby to prioritise his mental well-being will prove to be a wake-up call for the sport; the England captain announced on Wednesday he will not play in next year’s Six Nations
Last Updated: 30/11/23 4:29pm
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Owen Farrell will miss the Six Nations after deciding to take a break from international rugby to prioritise his and his family’s mental well-being
Owen Farrell will miss the Six Nations after deciding to take a break from international rugby to prioritise his and his family’s mental well-being
Mark McCall has criticised the treatment of Owen Farrell in what he believes should be a wake-up call for rugby union.
Farrell will miss the Six Nations after deciding to take a break from international rugby in order to prioritise his and his family’s mental well-being, although he will continue to play for club Saracens.
The unexpected decision comes after the 32-year-old fly-half led England to a third-place finish in the recent World Cup after losing to champions South Africa by a point in the semi-final.
Mark McCall called the treatment of Farrell ‘shameful’
Farrell has long been a lightening-rod figure in the sport, but the condemnation peaked in August when he was sent off for a dangerous tackle against Wales, a decision which was overturned by a disciplinary hearing only to then incur a ban on appeal.
England’s captain was frequently booed in France, sometimes with his family present in the stadium, and Saracens director of rugby McCall is impressed that he delivered a series of strong performances despite shouldering a heavy burden.
“It’s remarkable that he played the way he played during the World Cup, if we take into account how he was feeling,” McCall said.
“He is a person who is right on top of his game at the moment, yet he and his family have been made to feel the way they feel. It is shameful – it’s not right.
“I’ve worked with Owen for 15 years, every day, and the person that has been portrayed in the media bears no resemblance to the person I know. He’s a family man, they’ve always come first.
He is a person who is right on top of his game at the moment, yet he and his family have been made to feel the way they feel. It is shameful – it’s not right.
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall on Owen Farrell
“There was a narrative created and started and that’s been there for quite some time. There’s only so much that someone can take. On top of that, he’s a brilliant, caring, supportive team-mate and a loyal friend to many, and a very good, decent human being. That’s the person I know.
“It was courageous and brave of him to open up. I admire Owen for many reasons anyway, but even more for doing this. I’m not worried about Europe or the club at all. I’m worried about Owen. We want him to be OK and happy. Clearly he hasn’t been.”
Woodward: Farrell criticism ‘unjust and uncalled for’
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Former England international Heather Fisher said it should get to a point where athletes taking a break from their sport, to look after their mental health, isn’t newsworthy
Former England international Heather Fisher said it should get to a point where athletes taking a break from their sport, to look after their mental health, isn’t newsworthy
Sir Clive Woodward hopes Farrell’s decision to step away from England duty to focus on his and his family’s mental well-being inspires more players within rugby union to take sabbaticals.
Woodward – who coached England to World Cup glory in 2003 – also said the criticism Farrell has received is “unjust” while former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio called it “sickening”.
Writing forMail Online, Woodward said of Farrell: “The first and most important thing is to acknowledge the brave and correct decision Farrell has made to step away from England duty to protect his and his family’s mental health and that we wish them all the best.
“Farrell’s move comes as no great surprise considering the extraordinary weight his shoulders have been forced to bear and the unjust criticism he has had to face. Only he will know how much influence this had over his decision.
“Rugby, sport and society have all come a long way in understanding mental health, but there is still so much more that can be done. Athletes and coaches ask a great deal of themselves.
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Luther Burrell supports Farrell’s decision to miss the Six Nations to prioritise his own mental well-being as well as that of his family
Luther Burrell supports Farrell’s decision to miss the Six Nations to prioritise his own mental well-being as well as that of his family
“They put themselves into situations that are, while an utter privilege and filled with joy at times, can also leave you wondering how you will get out of bed some days. This is not a burden they carry alone. Their families face the same trials and pressures.
“I hope Farrell sets the tone and inspires new thinking in this area. Why is taking a sabbatical not more common?
“No doubt they [the Rugby Football Union] will blame others – especially the media – and create another nameless committee to investigate and put forward their thoughts with zero accountability. Farrell will probably be left to work it out for himself. That is so wrong.
“The RFU and other international sides should look at Farrell’s situation with real concern but as an opportunity to better support players. The world’s best businesses build sabbaticals into their HR processes as paid leave. Why not rugby?”
Carlisle: I applaud Farrell for stepping away to focus on mental health
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Former Burnley and Leeds defender Clarke Carlisle has praised England rugby union captain Owen Farrell, for taking time away to prioritise his mental health.
Former Burnley and Leeds defender Clarke Carlisle has praised England rugby union captain Owen Farrell, for taking time away to prioritise his mental health.
Former Burnley and Leeds defender Clarke Carlisle has praised Farrell for taking time away to prioritise his mental health.
“There are so many thoughts and considerations that go around that decision but I’m absolutely delighted that Owen, his family and all the people around him have decided to put the man and his wellbeing first over any work duties,” Carlisle said to Sky Sports.
“I massively applaud him and I really would advocate other people who are experiencing tough mental health to take action early but there is an important point to be made, and an important distinction.
“There’s often a fear, especially with guys who are my generation or older, that the perception that people are going to judge you for taking care of your wellbeing.
“When we see a case like Farrell and think if I take a step back, the world has to know, it doesn’t have to be like that. You don’t have to be like myself or Farrell, you don’t have to tell the world that you’re addressing your wellbeing status but it is imperative that you tell someone and the right someone and the right time.”
Carlisle added: “We’ve gotten to a point now in our society where we understand that we all live on this spectrum of mental health and being able to have that foresight to intervene when you are getting to a 3/10 instead of making yourself get to 1/10 and then have to provide for disaster recovery, it doesn’t happen anymore.
“Those perceptions of your professional identity, we’re now able to separate them from actually supporting the human being. This is a fantastic example of that.”
Wales’ Warren Gatland makes six changes to side for Saturday’s Six Nations Test vs Italy (2.15pm); Liam Williams, Rio Dyer, Rhys Webb, Wyn Jones, Dafydd Jenkins, Jac Morgan come in for Leigh Halfpenny, Louis Rees-Zammit, Tomos Williams, Gareth Thomas, Alun Wyn Jones, Christ Tshiunza
By Michael Cantillon
Last Updated: 09/03/23 12:28pm
Liam Williams has been recalled to start for Wales vs Italy in Rome as one of six changes
Warren Gatland has rung the changes for Wales in the Six Nations again, making six alterations to the side vs Italy as Alun Wyn Jones, Leigh Halfpenny and Louis Rees-Zammit are among those dropped.
The other changes see scrum-half Rhys Webb start over Tomos Williams – his first Test start for three years and first Six Nations start for six years – with loosehead Wyn Jones and flanker Jac Morgan also recalled.
Owen Williams starts again at fly-half over Dan Biggar – the latter missing out on the squad having lost his place in the starting side for the 20-10 Round 3 defeat to England in Cardiff – while Liam Williams and Rio Dyer are restored at full-back and left wing respectively in place of Halfpenny and Rees-Zammit.
Exeter’s 20-year-old lock Dafydd Jenkins starts over 37-year-old Jones in the second row, while back-row Christ Tshiunza and prop Gareth Thomas make way for prop Jones and Morgan.
Alun Wyn Jones is again dropped from the squad – the second time he has been this championship
With both sides still seeking their first victory of the championship, Saturday’s clash in Rome is effectively a Wooden Spoon decider, and comes a year after Italy secured victory over Wales in Cardiff.
Having made five changes after a 34-10 Round 1 defeat to Ireland, and then nine changes to the side which suffered a 35-7 Round 2 defeat to Scotland in Murrayfield for the visit of England to Cardiff, Gatland has again tinkered with the side in search of a change in fortunes.
Louis Rees-Zammit scored a try in defeat for Wales vs England last time out, but has been dropped to the bench
“We feel that having watched Italy and how they’ll tend to play from everywhere, including their own 22, getting guys on the ball is going to be pretty important,” Gatland said on Thursday.
“Rhys Webb gets an opportunity at nine having been training well. He’s been great in the squad, he brings that experience and a voice to that nine position.
“Liam Williams comes in at full-back. We did discuss whether we put Louis Rees-Zammit to full-back and how that would have looked. But he still hasn’t played a lot of rugby in terms of coming back from a relatively long injury with his ankle and we just felt with the way the game’s going to be and the pace of the game that him coming off the bench and the impact he can have could be pretty important.
“We’ve been disappointed with the results so far and for me, it’s hard to take as it’s the first time I’ve lost three games in the Six Nations with Wales. We’ve had a lot of things going on off the field as well but there are no excuses.
Dan Biggar misses out on the squad, with Owen Williams retained at fly-half
“The message to the players has been that we have to be smart in terms of the way we play but we’ve also got to be brave and make sure that when the opportunities are on we shift the ball. We have to keep scanning and looking at options and if there’s a chance to move the ball then be brave and do that.”
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Mason Grady, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Rhys Webb; 1 Wyn Jones, 2 Ken Owens (c), 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 5 Adam Beard, 6 Jac Morgan, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Rhys Davies, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 George North, 23 Louis Rees-Zammit.
Allan starts at full-back for Italy in absence of Capuozzo
Harlequins fly-half Tommy Allan will start at full-back for Italy in Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Wales.
Allan, who filled the fly-half role against France and England, replaces Ange Capuozzo.
Capuozzo memorably created Italy’s winning try in Cardiff last season, but he is sidelined by a shoulder injury that has meant Italy head coach Kieran Crowley makes one enforced change.
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It is otherwise the same team that pushed Six Nations leaders and title favourites Ireland close last time out.
Italy are chasing a first Six Nations win in Rome since 2013, but they will fancy their chances against a Wales side reeling from successive losses to Ireland, Scotland and England.
Italy: 15 Tommaso Allan, 14 Edoardo Padovani, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Pierre Bruno, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney; 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 3 Simone Ferrari, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 5 Federico Ruzza, 6 Sebastian Negri, 7 Michele Lamaro, 8 Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Edoardo Iachizzi, 20 Giovanni Pettinelli, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Alessandro Fusco, 23 Luca Morisi.
