Author: The Guardian

wattWhen Steve Borthwick was newly appointed England manager, his two sons Hunter and Chase urged him to choose Tommy Reffell ) – their favorite Leicester City player – plays for the national team. The two youngsters may not have quite caught up to international selection standards yet – Reiffel is set to make his Wales debut in the summer of 2022 – but it’s clear they know a player when they see one.For the second week in a row, Reiffel put on Wales’ number 7 jersey and put in a stunning performance. This is only his 15th Test match but…

An infant in Missouri died when her mother mistakenly put her down for a nap in an oven, a prosecutor said Saturday.Mariah Thomas of Kansas City was charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Court records do not yet show whether Thomas has an attorney, and no phone listing for her could immediately be found.Police responded Friday afternoon to a report of an infant not breathing. A probable cause statement said responders found the child with apparent burns. The child was pronounced dead at the scene.The statement said responders were told by a witness that the mother “put the…

England captain Jamie George says his unbeaten side can become genuine Six Nations title contenders despite tougher challenges still awaiting them. After beating Wales and Italy by two and three points respectively, England must now travel to Scotland and France and face an in-form Ireland at Twickenham, but George believes his side can still face the challenge.”I don’t think it’s a huge leap,” said George, whose team had won just three of its previous 10 home games. “Obviously we have three tough games coming up, but I don’t think we can say we need to make a huge leap to…

Dax and I met at a work Christmas party shortly after I lost my first love to a sudden heart attack. I’d been spending a good amount of time under the covers on my futon (it was the 90s). Even when I emerged, the fog of grief followed me every day.After that party – and after too many bottles of red – I kissed Dax. But that drunken get-together was the beginning.We had been dating for a year when he told me: “I’m thinking of moving to Australia.” It was 1999, a Sunday morning in London, and we were eating…

Englandfreddie stewart The early violent break was the last of the full-backs’ role as an attacking force, but as safe as ever with the high ball. 5Tommy Freeman Josh Adams’ saving tackle was a highlight but denied the chance to repeat the attacking threat shown by Roma. 5Henry Slade His performance is stable and his defense is strong, but he rarely has the opportunity to show his offensive ability. 6Fraser Dingwall The Northampton centre-back’s first senior try brought England back into the game and he played a major role in the comeback. 6Elliot Daly Shots were rejected in the second…

Travis Kelce’s star power has long been known to sports fans. But the rest of the world has caught up since the start of his relationship with the pop icon Taylor Swift.And this pairing actually makes perfect sense – so much so that the Guardian has broken down a couple of big reasons why.It’s not just that Kelce’s play at the tight end position for the Kansas City Chiefs has earned him four coveted First-Team Associated Press All-Pro selections and positioned him to pursue a third NFL championship in Sunday’s Super Bowl.Those laurels established Kelce as a superstar in his…

Finn Russell was one of tens of thousands of Scots at Murrayfield who felt Scotland had done enough to secure a last-minute victory over France.Scotland led from the seventh minute until the 70th minute, but when Sam Skinner sprinted to the line as time expired, the referee’s on-the-spot ruling was that the ball had been blocked. This places the onus on TV match officials to seek evidence to the contrary.The shot was inconclusive, so what would have been a winning attempt could not be awarded. “For me, this is a last ditch effort,” Russell said. “That’s not for me to…

Go on holiday without your best friend? For growing numbers of dog owners, it’s unthinkable.Holiday operators have seen a big jump in guests booking accommodation that accepts dogs in recent months, and the trend is set to accelerate this year.Haven, which runs 38 holiday parks in the UK, saw bookings for pet-friendly breaks rise by nearly 15% last year, from 74,000 to 85,000, and expects a larger increase in 2024. Smaller operators have reported similar rises.Campsites and holiday parks are popular options for dog owners looking for long walks, new friends and a relaxed atmosphere, but plenty of B&Bs and…

key eventsShow only key eventsPlease enable JavaScript to use this featurePrefaceThe last time Steve Borthwick stood up from the manager’s chair at Twickenham, there were harsh boos in his footsteps following the pre-World Cup defeat to Fiji. After that difficult afternoon, England reached the semi-finals of the tournament, including beating the Islanders in their second game in France. Borthwick might point out that his team is still developing and winning (mostly) when it matters. They needed to win today.Although Wales are on the verge of a comeback from just 26 points last week, they are still a team with problems.…

In a steamy room in a high-end London gym, I roll on to my right side and open my eyes. A soothing Aussie drawl emerges from the darkness, telling me to sit up, bring my hands together and remember the universe is fundamentally supporting my soul. Everyone here has taken a lunch break from our media, PR or marketing jobs to take this class. Our bearded guru, A, speaks as an Eddie Vedder song plays in the background and I feel a deep sense of relief. For a minute there is peace. In two more, we’ll be ripping off Lycra…