
Hepher leaves Exeter by mutual consent after 16 years

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North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
‘Another day at the office' as George Ford brings up England century
Having been once again overlooked for a place in the British and Irish Lions squad this summer, Ford has the consolation of becoming the eighth man to bring up a century of England caps. Ford, who made his international debut in the 2014 Six Nations, is set to co-captain the side against Argentina at La Plata on Saturday alongside Jamie George, another member of the England 100 club. It's 💯 caps for George Ford! The fly-half is named as co-captain with Jamie George in the 23-player squad to face Argentina – live this Saturday on Sky Sports.@O2 | #WearTheRose — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 3, 2025 But while the Sale fly-half will appreciate the milestone, he has not lost sight of his over-riding aim of getting England's summer off to a winning start in the first of two Tests against the Pumas. 'I've been fortunate enough to play a few times for England, I haven't lost the desire or how honoured or privileged I am to do it,' the 32-year-old told several national newspapers. 'But what experience tells you is that, even though it's a milestone, it's just the next England game in terms of trying to perform well. It's another day at the office. 'It's an unbelievably proud moment for me and, more importantly, my family. But the most important thing is the team and getting a good result. The whole bigger picture doesn't change. 'It's England-Argentina and we want to win and perform really well. I've not felt much different, it's just trying to do the right thing for the team, even though there is a bit more noise about it.' England have won 21 of their 27 meetings against Argentina, including in the group stages of the 2023 World Cup and then later on in the tournament's bronze final. However, Argentina prevailed the last time the two teams met at Twickenham in 2022 and Felipe Contepomi's side warmed up for this clash by beating the Lions in Dublin last month.

Rhyl Journal
2 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
‘Another day at the office' as George Ford brings up England century
Having been once again overlooked for a place in the British and Irish Lions squad this summer, Ford has the consolation of becoming the eighth man to bring up a century of England caps. Ford, who made his international debut in the 2014 Six Nations, is set to co-captain the side against Argentina at La Plata on Saturday alongside Jamie George, another member of the England 100 club. It's 💯 caps for George Ford! The fly-half is named as co-captain with Jamie George in the 23-player squad to face Argentina – live this Saturday on Sky Sports.@O2 | #WearTheRose — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 3, 2025 But while the Sale fly-half will appreciate the milestone, he has not lost sight of his over-riding aim of getting England's summer off to a winning start in the first of two Tests against the Pumas. 'I've been fortunate enough to play a few times for England, I haven't lost the desire or how honoured or privileged I am to do it,' the 32-year-old told several national newspapers. 'But what experience tells you is that, even though it's a milestone, it's just the next England game in terms of trying to perform well. It's another day at the office. 'It's an unbelievably proud moment for me and, more importantly, my family. But the most important thing is the team and getting a good result. The whole bigger picture doesn't change. 'It's England-Argentina and we want to win and perform really well. I've not felt much different, it's just trying to do the right thing for the team, even though there is a bit more noise about it.' England have won 21 of their 27 meetings against Argentina, including in the group stages of the 2023 World Cup and then later on in the tournament's bronze final. However, Argentina prevailed the last time the two teams met at Twickenham in 2022 and Felipe Contepomi's side warmed up for this clash by beating the Lions in Dublin last month.


Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Blistering Jamie Smith century not enough to stop India taking control
England were in dire straits at 84 for five, Joe Root and Ben Stokes dismissed by successive deliveries in the second over of the third day at Edgbaston, before Smith and Brook put on a magnificent stand of 303 to breathe life into a fading cause. Smith's unbeaten 184 was a jaw-dropper, loaded with 21 fours and four sixes, and included an 80-ball century before lunch. Stumps on Day 3. An incredible partnership between Harry Brook and Jamie Smith lit up the day, but India have extended their lead to 2️⃣4️⃣4️⃣ runs. — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 4, 2025 In passing 173 he broke his Surrey mentor Alec Stewart's record score by an England wicketkeeper and also set a new high score for a number seven, the previous mark of 175 dating back to 1897. For 60 overs, he and Brook transformed a perilous position into a walk in the park. But when the Yorkshireman was brilliantly bowled for 158 by Akash Deep with the second new ball, the precariousness of England's situation was exposed. They lost their last five wickets for just 20 runs, India's hasty wrap-up leaving the hosts 407 all-out and 180 adrift. England's scorecard made for bizarre reading, the outlandish efforts of Smith and Brook undercut by six ducks as the cavalry failed to arrive. Mohammed Siraj dismantled the tail to finish with figures of six for 70, with Deep picking up the other four. Harry Brook scored an eighth Test ton (Martin Rickett/PA) India boosted their lead to 244 by reaching 64 for one at stumps and are now heavy favourites to square the series 1-1. England's next best effort after their twin centurions was 22 from Root, who would have been kicking himself for missing out on a big score of his own. Following a loosener from Siraj, he nicked down leg and into the gloves of Rishabh Pant. Stokes could have no such regrets about the first golden duck of his career, beaten all ends up by a brutal lifter from Siraj and only able to glove behind. India had landed a hammer blow but neither Brook nor Smith allowed themselves to feel the heat. Starting his innings against Siraj's hat-trick ball, Smith presented the full face of the bat and stroked it down the ground for four. That was the start of a fearless assault as he cut and pulled his way into the driving seat. Mohammed Siraj claimed six for 70 (Jacob King/PA) Prasidh Krishna thought he could unsettle Smith with the short ball but lost the duel to a knockout blow, Smith hammering a single over for 23 including four fours and a six. Gilbert Jessop's fabled 123-year-old record for England's fastest Test hundred was in Smith's sights as he hit Washington Sundar's first two balls wide of mid-off for four and lifted Ravindra Jadeja for six on the charge. He missed that slice of history by five balls but made sure to pass three figures in the final seconds before the lunch break, thrashing Jadeja for consecutive boundaries. Jamie Smith hit three sixes in his impressive stay at the crease (Martin Rickett/PA) Brook had a 31-run head start on Smith but accepted a rare back-seat role, bringing up his ninth Test hundred in a less hasty 137 balls and banishing memories of last week's dismissal for 99 at Headingley. Having leaked 172 runs in the first session, India made a tactical retreat, bowling well wide of off stump for long passages and spreading the field. They reduced the damage to 106 in the afternoon, a late flurry of those coming from Brook's barrage of reverse sweeps against the spinners. There was only one real chance, Smith edging Nitish Kumar Reddy low past Pant's outstretched glove on 121. India's lead, which had stood at 503 when Stokes fell, was down to 200 when the new ball worked its magic. Brook was bested by a beauty from Deep, a dash of extra pace and some sharp movement off the pitch knocking back his off stump. The stadium serenaded him off the field but there was little to celebrate as the next four tumbled with alarming ease. Chris Woakes nicked a drive to slip, Brydon Carse and Tongue were both pinned lbw and Shoaib Bashir shouldered arms to a straight one. The capitulation meant it was back to business for a fatigued bowling attack who got through 151 overs in the first two days. India's openers put on 51 in less than eight overs, Carse clearly struggling with foot pain, before Tongue had Yashasvi Jaiswal leg before in fading light.