Tonight's rugby news as Welsh region hit by sudden tragedy and King honours legend
Tonight's rugby news as Welsh region hit by sudden tragedy and King honours legend
The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond
Billy Boston being Knighted by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace
Your evening headlines on Tuesday, June 10.
Dragons club doctor dies
The Dragons have paid tribute to their club doctor Graeme Yule after his sudden passing.
The well-known GP, who was a senior partner at St Julian's Medical Centre in Newport, died unexpectedly over the weekend.
He also worked with the Rodney Parade side and they have now paid their respects. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
In a statement, the club said: "Dragons RFC are deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of club doctor Graeme Yule.
"All at the club want to thank Graeme for his diligent hard work and care throughout the Gwent region.
Article continues below
"We pass on our deepest condolences to Graeme's family and friends at this sad time."
Dr Yule had dedicated more than 30 years of his working life to the care of patients in the city.
"This is a profound loss for our practice and we know many of you will also feel his absence deeply," a statement from St Julian's Medical Centre read. "Our thoughts are with his family."
Rugby legend's knighthood 'a little bit late'
By Ellie Crabbe, PA
'Trailblazing' rugby league star Sir Billy Boston's honour came 'a little bit late', his son said, as his father became a knight in a first for the sport.
Sir Billy, who scored 478 tries in 488 matches for Wigan after making the switch from rugby union in 1953, was knighted by the King in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
The 90-year-old, who was born in Cardiff, revealed in 2016 that he was living with vascular dementia.
Speaking after his father was knighted, Sir Billy's son Stephen said: 'It's a really great honour. I think it has come a little bit late. It could have come a little bit earlier.'
Sir Billy's knighthood was awarded before the latest round of honours has been publicly announced amid concerns for his health.
It comes after a campaign by local councillors, MPs and leading figures in the sport to get him honoured – and Sir Billy's family were supported by Josh Simons, the MP for Wakerfield, near Wigan, at the event.
'It should have been a lot, a lot sooner,' Sir Billy's son told the PA news agency.
'130 years before a rugby league player got knighted.
'We're all really appreciative and very appreciative of all the support we've got from Wigan the rugby league club, the local MP and all the fans.'
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it was a 'historic wrong' that no rugby league player had been knighted before.
He said: 'Billy Boston is a true trailblazer whose contributed hugely to rugby league. It is a historic wrong that a sport which is the backbone of so many communities has waited so long to receive this honour.
'Boston is a legend of the game who overcame prejudice to represent Great Britain and opened the door to a more diverse game.
'He's left a truly enduring legacy and the first knighthood in rugby league could not go to a more deserving player.'
It is understood the Prime Minister has written to Sir Billy to congratulate him on the honour.
In 1954, he made history as the first non-white player to be selected for a Great Britain rugby league Lions tour, scoring 36 tries in 18 appearances around Australia and New Zealand, including a then-record four in one match against the Kiwis.
He made two more Lions tours in 1958 and 1962 and ended with 24 tries in 31 Test appearances for Great Britain.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons and former president of the Rugby Football League, said: 'Billy is a rugby league legend and his name is synonymous with the sport, having played for Wigan, as well as representing Great Britain.
'Billy was one of the 'codebreakers' from the Cardiff Bay area, who took the brave decision to switch from rugby union to rugby league – and faced hostility and prejudice as a result. However, his courage not only inspired future rugby greats to switch codes but it also encouraged generations of youngsters to take up the sport.
'Billy's strong running style, pace and agility were feared and admired by supporters and opponents alike and he remains Wigan's top try scorer to this day.
'He was a pioneer in the 1950s when he switched codes and is a pioneer to this day by ensuring rugby league gets the recognition it deserves. His story shows there should be no barriers to achieving your potential and that is what makes the knighthood so fitting.'
Rebel league 'delusional'
Mike Tindall's rebel breakaway league has been branded "delusional" by top broadcasting company TNT Sports.
Tindall, who won the World Cup with England in 2003, has been revealed as one of the driving forces behind the league which has been charged with 'driving generational change in rugby' in the guise of a tournament called R360.
It is targeting the best talent on the planet to be involved, which would run in two windows - one from April to June and the other from August to September - in order to make players available for internationals.
The initial proposal is for 12 franchises, with eight male teams and four women's teams.
But Andrew Georgiou, president and managing director of Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, which owns TNT, has been scathing in his assessment of the concept.
'I'm going to take my TNT Sports hat off just for the moment,' said Georgiou in the Telegraph.
'I've been involved in sport for 25 years. I can't tell you how many of these PowerPoint presentations have come across my desk with people who were absolutely certain that what they had on that page was going to be the new thing. It was going to be absolutely the new thing.
'I don't know the details of what's happening, no one's come to us and made a presentation, no one's told us what the new format is, no one told us what the new schedule is. I mean, I actually don't know much about it. But the one question that I think you guys should be asking is, 'how are they going to grow the revenue by putting this event on?' Where's the money coming from? The media industry is going through a massive generational change. There's been more change in the media industry in the last five years than there has been since the invention of cable television in the late 70s and early 80s.
'So, if these folks believe that they are going to grow the revenue by putting this thing on, I think they're delusional. I really do. What it will do is further complicate what is already a well-functioning rugby ecosystem.
"And so I would just ask some pretty fundamental questions around whether this is a commercially sustainable model. The fact that it's being likened to LIV Golf, I think is a perfect analogy. It's a perfect comparator to what this is really going to be. Commercially unsustainable.'
England call up World Cup winner's son
By PA Sport Staff
England head coach Steve Borthwick has named 16 uncapped players in a 36-man training squad to prepare for the upcoming match against France and summer Tests against the United States and Argentina.
The group does not include players selected for the British and Irish Lions, or players from Bath and Leicester, who will contest the Gallagher Premiership final on Saturday.
Among the list of debutants is 21-year-old Saracens scrum-half Charlie Bracken, son of Kyran Bracken, who made 51 appearances for England and was part of the squad that won the 2003 World Cup.
The squad will converge on the England Rugby Performance Centre at Pennyhill Park for a four-day training camp, prior to the final summer touring squad being announced on June 23.
Article continues below
Regulars named in the group include the likes of George Ford and Henry Slade, while George Furbank continues his rehabilitation from injury and Joe Batley and George Martin are among a number of players who remain sidelined.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
36 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Aneurin Owen: I want to add X-factor to push on at Dragons
The Rodney Parade club had a nightmare season in which they won just two games and finished bottom of the United Rugby Championship. However, Owen battled until the very end and his wholehearted exploits, especially when senior teammates were dropping like flies, led to the centre being named as player of the season by the coaches. The 24-year-old from Newport played in 21 of 22 games, only sitting out the Challenge Cup defeat against Pau. He has grown into a leader for the Dragons and is one of the first names on the teamsheet, with his qualities meaning he has racked up 71 outings since his debut in 2020. Owen, who was called up by Wales four years ago, is developing nicely but wants to hit the next level in 2025/26. 'To play all those games was great and it helped me to work on my game,' said Owen. 'I worked really hard with Dan Lydiate on my defence, plus contact work on both sides of the ball. 'Probably the next bit of my game is to have more big moments – I feel I've got to a level of consistency but want to produce those key moments, maybe with a bit of X-factor.' TALENTED: Centre Aneurin Owen is a key figure for the Dragons (Image: Ben Brain/Huw Evans Agency) Owen's chances of pushing for a Wales cap have been hit by the Dragons' struggles, with a crippling injury list playing a part in their paltry win ratio. 'Results and where we finished in the table meant it was tough but I genuinely love it every time that I put the jersey on,' said the centre. 'I just hope that what we went through helps us next season because there were an unprecedented amount of injuries and we just had to get on with it. 'Those were the cards that we were dealt and the boys that were fit just had to dig deep. It was great to see how the young players went because they really stepped up in some difficult places against quality teams. 'We definitely need to have a focus on getting our best 23s on the pitch throughout the season because if we do that then I don't doubt we will be in more games, get more wins and finish higher up the league.' It was a tough season but it did provide Owen with the chance to play alongside a pair of Wales legends – blindside Dan Lydiate, who is staying on as a coach, and centre Scott Williams. 'To play with Scott and Lyds after what they have achieved in their careers was incredible,' he said. 'To train with them, be around them and watch them was invaluable. 'I was then buzzing to actually play with Scott and be 12 and 13. He is someone that I grew up watching and he was class. 'Scott is an unbelievable player but even more than that, he is a great guy and added loads to the group.' Owen will be a midfield option next season along with Joe Westwood, Harri Ackerman and Fetuli Paea, with wingers Jared Rosser and Fine Inisi able to slot in at 13 if needed.
Scottish Sun
42 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Defending my spot' – Oban Elliott driven by fear of return to life before Dana White issued UFC deal ahead of Baku bout
The Welshman has gone a perfect 3-0 inside the octagon GANGSTER'S PARADISE 'Defending my spot' – Oban Elliott driven by fear of return to life before Dana White issued UFC deal ahead of Baku bout Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OBAN ELLIOT may have established himself as a mainstay in the UFC, but the Welsh welterweight is refusing to rest on his laurels. 2024 was a year to remember for the pride of Wales, who fulfilled his lifelong dream of competing in the promised land of mixed martial arts. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Life has been plain sailing for Welshman Oban Elliott since he won a UFC contract on the Contenders Series Credit: GETTY 8 The 27-year-old made his octagon bow last February and has been on a tear Credit: GETTY 8 The Welshman went a perfect 3-0 in the space of nine busy months Credit: GETTY 8 But he's refusing to rest on his laurels as he fears returning to the life he lived before making it to the big show Credit: GETTY And he entered the promotion with a bang, going a perfect 3-0 in just under nine life-changing months. Elliott, who is poised to make an assault on the top 15 this year, has come a long way from working night shift on the railways in Merthyr Tydfil and cleaning the grill at Nando's to pay the bills and supplement his training. His feet may be firmly in the UFC door, but the fear of one day having to return to the life he worked so hard to escape is as much his driving force as winning a world title. In an exclusive interview with SunSport, 'The Welsh Gangster' said: "I'm just so glad it worked out, man. I'm so glad. "And just for me, it just meant that much more, you know? To get here and do it. I didn't care for anything else, I didn't. "There was nothing else that interested me in life. And that's probably dark when you look like that, but it worked out. "When I got that UFC contract is when I relaxed and when I could smile without something in the back of my head saying, 'Yeah, but you're not there yet.' "And now I'm like, 'No, I'm here. I'm home. And just the fact that it all worked out, thank f***ing God. It just meant that much to me." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 8 Oban Elliott scored the biggest win of his career against Bassil Hafez at UFC 309 last November Credit: GETTY 8 The stunning stoppage at MSG is one of the proudest moments of Elliott's life to date Credit: GETTY The memory of working on the railways and at Nando's is still fresh for Elliott, who believes he already has a belt adorned on him as a result of all the blood, sweat and tears he's shed trying to achieve his dream. "To be settled in and to be living this life now, it's a new challenge in itself," Elliott candidly admitted. "Because now I just think about defending it." Brit UFC star Oban Elliot explains how working nightshift on railway tracks fortified his mindset He continued: "I'm just thinking about defending my spot. There's a belt over my shoulder and I'm defending my belt every fight. "Every training session, I'm defending my belt and that is it. "And maybe somewhere along the line, Dana is gonna wrap another one around me. But I will always have my one. "That's the way I see all of this. So it's just a case of defending this spot and defending this life that I now live." The highlight of Elliott's UFC career came at Madison Square Garden last November in the form of a beautifully set-up third-round knockout of Bassil Hafez. And that moment, which earned the 27-year-old a life-changing $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, will likely only be topped when he becomes the undisputed king of the welterweights. "To get that knockout was just the best moment ever," Elliot said. "For me, everything that I wanted in life happened in that third round. "That little fake with my feet going outside of his right leg, throwing the shot and there he was, right in the middle of the Monster can. it's just a case of defending this spot and defending this life that I now live." Oban Elliot "And I look up. The cry was going nuts, the pose. 'Who's the man in New York City, brother?' "How lucky am I? That's how I feel. That is just unreal. Like, look at that. Jesus Christ, that happened to me. "I've heard people say, 'You work hard for this?' People work hard for things and they fall short of their dreams and it happens to people. "But in that moment, in the cage that night, all my hard work paid off. And I got that for the rest of my life. So I'm the proudest guy ever." Elliott's latest outing will take place this evening in a land far, far away from Merthyr Tydfil - Baku. Fellow Dana White's Contenders Series contract winner Seok-hyeon Ko stands between Elliott and a four-fight win streak. And if he notches it in similarly spectacular fashion as he did his last victory, it will put him on the precipice of tangling with the elite of the talent-rich 170lbs division. "This guy is a tough, tough man," Elliot said of the South Korean. " And he's coming to win. 8 Oban Elliott returns to the octagon on Saturday night for a showdown with South Korea's Seok-Hyeon Ko Credit: Getty 8 A win in the Baku bust-up will see Elliott move to a perfect 4-0 inside the octagon Credit: GETTY "And he is going to come to fight. Take the UFC out and take the nonsense out of all of it, this is a man versus a man who are going to fight to the death in the cage. "He has all my respect, all my attention and it's going to be a tough fight for both of us. "May we get out of their cage healthy, and the better man will win. "I think the better guy is me, so we'll see if I'm wrong." He added: "After this fight, [I want to get] two more [fights in] hopefully and keep my imaginary belt over my shoulder. "The belt that I had before I even put the gloves on - in my mind. "In my mind, I've been a champion long before any of this came to light in my life. "So I'm just [going to] keep defending my spot, keep making my family proud and keep doing my best. And if I'm doing that, I'm winning." Catch Oban Elliott this weekend at UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: HILL vs. ROUNTREE JR on TNT Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Pinc List 2025: Wales' most influential LGBTQ+ people
It's been another brilliant year of progress for the LGBTQ+ community in Wales with more inclusive groups across the nation than ever before, while events celebrating pride continue to pop up even in Cymru's most remote villages. As with every year, with the support of Pride Cymru, we have worked hard to whittle down the many nominations for our annual Pinc List. The list, now in its tenth year, recognises the most influential LGBTQ+ people in Wales. This year, it includes our ones to watch - those newer to Wales or public life - as well as national treasures - the people who have, and continue, to make a huge difference often on a national or international stage. In sporting life, it recognises those who have worked tirelessly in the last year to bring the EuroGames, an international LGBTQ+ multi-sport event held annually, to Cardiff in 2027 as well as Cardiff's abundance of LGBTQ+ sports teams. More LGBTQ+ people than ever hold top positions in Wales, making a significant difference to the lives of Welsh people - including politicians, healthcare professionals and those who lobby in front - and behind - the scenes to make a difference. While celebrating all that has been done and the barriers which have stood in the way of LGBTQ+ people for so long coming down, we also acknowledge there is still so much work to do. This weekend the LGBTQ+ community, and their freedom to live their lives authentically, will be celebrated at Pride Cymru as thousands march through the capital. It is the 40th anniversary of the first Pride march in Wales and some of those there 40 years ago will lead the parade this year. It will be followed by a huge celebration of inclusivity in Bute Park, open to all. You can see all the details of the acts, tickets and the parade here. Congratulations to all those nominated and who made the final list, and thank you, for everything you do. You are making a huge difference to people's lives. Scroll through the list below to see the Pinc List 2025:
