Maro Itoje left humbled after being named British and Irish Lions captain
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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Goth basketballer wears full face of makeup for games
She's the black sheep of the game and she knows it. With a full face of make-up every time she takes to the basketball court, Goth athlete Caitlin Cunningham makes no apologies for being the standout. In fact, she relishes in the spotlight and hopes she is a role model for other aspiring athletes – or anyone too afraid to be their authentic selves. 'I've always had heavy eye shadow and a very black goth aesthetic every single game I've played in my life, that's just me, some people get it, some don't,' Cunningham told 'I've always just messed around with makeup. Then last season I did a bit of a crow, extended the eye lines out. I always thought it would be cool to have full clown makeup, but I guess this is the next level down. I have quietly extended it,' she said. How does she keep her artwork intact for the full two hours of play? 'I guess I'm lucky I have never been much of a sweater,' she said. Cunningham said being the odd one out wasn't always easy. 'I was definitely the black sheep of the sport. Basketball in Australia is very political. I was always the odd one out, misunderstood, the one the coaches didn't get. 'I wouldn't be selected, wouldn't be a favourite. It got to the point where I stopped playing WNBL for a while.' Drafted to the Canberra Capitals at 19 after three years at the Australian Institute of Sport, Cunningham moved to Adelaide then Dandenong in Victoria, gradually became 'sick and tired' of people not believing in her. 'I thought 'f**k this' and started going out and hanging out with music friends and friends in fashion, other creative people and I just stepped away from the game, I was 25,' she said. Once the pandemic hit, and imports couldn't enter the country, Cunningham had several coaches asking her to reconsider her retirement. She took a contract on the Gold Coast and is now signed to Rockhampton in central Queensland. 'My style of game? I'm quite tall and skinny and these days a lot of players are heavy and strong girls,' Cunningham said. 'I'm like a little rat that runs and jumps, my game is pure athleticism. 'I don't have the physical brute but I am very tricky, agile and I can shoot.' Cunningham has the balance just right – living in Melbourne where she is continuing her music career and is soon to release her first song, personal training clients and working with youth at the YMCA, then flies to Rockhampton for matches and training. 'I'm really lucky I am doing it all, following all my dreams,' she said. 'I want people to know they should follow their dreams, do what they love, be their authentic self,' she said. As her online fan base increases exponentially, Cunningham takes her job as a role model extremely seriously. 'I have so many fans and people reaching out to me as a player, but also as a musician and as a person,' she said. 'I'm a queer Goth and if I had that person on the internet to look up to when I was young I would have felt so seen. 'It's empowerment, that's what life is about, having people that inspire you to be you, and live the best life you can, that's priceless.'
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
All Blacks hang on to win thriller against France
A French team lacking most of the leading players from their recent Six Nations victory has fully stretched New Zealand before succumbing 31-27 in the first match of a three-Test series. The visitors scored the first 10 points of the match in Dunedin, including the opening try through Mickael Guillard, and stuck with the All Blacks throughout, counter-punching every time New Zealand scored. "We showed a lot of spirit tonight. We knew we'd come out with a lot of intensity and come out all together and what we lack in experience we can bring out with some spirit," France's Canada-born lock Tyler Duguid said. The All Blacks, who lost winger Sevu Reece to a head knock in the first minute of the match, looked best when they were able to lift the tempo, as they did to score tries through fullback Will Jordan and back-rower Tupuo Vaa'i to take a 14-10 lead. Jordan scored a second try and centre Jordie Barrett also touched down for Scott Robertson's side. But the three-time world champions had tries disallowed to Barrett, Jordan and centre Billy Proctor for a 21-13 halftime lead. France scored through Gabin Villiere to start the second half and when Jordan put the All Blacks ahead 28-20, Les Bleus responded again through Cameron Woki. At that point New Zealand were forced into having to shoot for goal to establish a safe four-point lead to avoid being vulnerable to a late penalty. "It was quite tight towards the end," All Blacks captain Scott Barrett said. "We certainly created enough opportunities to hang into the game and it went right down to the wire." Earlier on Saturday in Whangarei, Scotland conceded a try after only 40 seconds but rallied to score four tries including a double to scrumhalf George Horne to hold out the New Zealand Maori 29-26. It was the Scot's first win over the New Zealand Maori in their first match in New Zealand in 25 years. And in Kitakyushu, the longest losing streak by a major Test rugby team in the professional era was extended to 18 matches when Wales lost 24-19 to hosts Japan. Wales held their 19-7 halftime lead until the start of the last quarter when Japan hatched tries by uncapped backs Ichigo Hakasusu and Halatoa Vailea — both converted from wide out by Seungsin Lee — and led for the first time from the 70th minute. Japan deliberately picked a 2pm kick-off in the day's worst heat and humidity and the tourists waned in the second half. The Brave Blossoms beat Wales for only the second time and will climb above them in the next Test rankings for the first time since they were introduced two decades ago.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Michael Hickmott weighs in with a double at Gawler
The Michael Hickmott stable had a day out at Gawler with two winners carrying big weights. Both Motorace (race five) and Wine Barron (race seven) carried 60kg or more to victory and the latter did it in dominant fashion. Wine Barron had only won the two races from 20 starts leading into Saturday's four-length romp but he's now taken out two of his last three. Gemma Stapleton, stable representative of the Hickmott stable, was rapt with the way Wine Barron relaxed under jockey Todd Pannell given he can be a horse that does a bit wrong in his races. 'It's just great to see him put himself into the race and relax under Todd (Pannell),' Stapleton said. 'He ran his own race today so it's good to see him back in form. 'He seems to run into bad luck or things don't go his own way so it was good to see Todd take that out of the equation and lead. 'I'd say he's not the easiest horse to handle but he's really starting to put it together.' Speaking of Pannell, he too left Gawler with a double after taking out the final leg of the quaddie with Nurys. Wine Barron kicks clear in a dominant front-running ride to bounce back emphatically into the winner's circle 😤 @mhbloodstock pick up a double at Gawler ✌ï¸� â€' (@Racing) July 5, 2025 Pannell had rode Wine Barron on seven occasions without a win leading into Saturday and was glad to get the monkey off the back and reward connections. 'I was just trying to keep him on a long rein because he can be quite strong sometimes as well so I let him get comfortable and he responded well,' Pannell said. 'It's been a while since he's put it all together but it's good to see him handle the conditions and he just didn't make a mistake throughout the race. 'They're fantastic staff at Hickmott Racing so a big credit to them.' Jockey Jacob Opperman also booted home a double across the nine race card with winning rides aboard Koratora (race one) and Bancoora (race eight). Bancoora was rated as the longer priced runner of the two, getting sent out at double figures but he won like an odds on favourite. 'I was really confident coming to the corner,' Opperman said. 'He's still quite green but that was really good for his confidence. 'When I gave him the gap he worked through it nicely and I think this will be great for him going forward.'
