Latest news with #AndyBull
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Men's Six Nations starts midweek and is cut shorter for 2026
Next year's Six Nations will kick-off on a Thursday night for the first time in the competition's history, with the defending champions France hosting Ireland, and take place across just six weeks after organisers removed one of fallow weeks for the championship. Related: France deserve Six Nations coronation but fall short of royal performance | Andy Bull Advertisement It is understood that the unprecedented move to begin the championship on Thursday 5 February next year has been made following input from broadcasters with the 2026 Winter Olympics ceremony taking place in Milan the following day. It has also been made with the agreement of all six unions. The Championship has also been truncated to six weeks with one of the traditional fallow weeks removed due to the inaugural Nations Cup, which is due to take place later in the year. That competition will feature four rounds of fixtures next autumn – the traditional Test window only accounts for three – so in exchange, the Six Nations will take place over six weeks. With just one fallow week, there will be three consecutive weeks of fixtures, followed by a week off, then two more to conclude the championship. Round 1 [all times GMT] Thurs 5 Feb: France v Ireland, 8.10pm; Sat 7 Feb: Italy v Scotland, 2.10pm; England v Wales, 4.40pm. Advertisement Round 2 Sat 14 Feb: Ireland v Italy, 2.10pm; Scotland v England, 4.40pm; Sun 15 Feb: Wales v France, 3.10pm. Round 3 Sat 21 Feb: England v Ireland, 2.10pm; Wales v Scotland 4.40pm; Sun 22 Feb: France v Italy, 3.10pm. Round 4 Fri 6 Mar: Ireland v Wales, 8.10pm; Sat 7 Mar: Scotland v France, 2.10pm; Italy v England, 4.40pm. Round 5 Sat 14 Mar: Ireland v Scotland, 2.10pm; Wales v Italy, 4.40pm; France v England, 8.10pm. The move to six weeks is unlikely to go down well with player welfare groups given a host of players have spoken of the need for two rest weeks in the past. Early this season, England players said they had voiced 'extensive concerns' about their workload with the Rugby Football Union when their contracts were announced for the coming year. Advertisement England will begin their campaign by hosting Wales on Saturday 7 February before travelling to Murrayfield to face Scotland and then welcoming Ireland to Twickenham. After the fallow week Steve Borthwick's side face consecutive away matches against Italy in Rome before taking on France in the final match on Super Saturday. Ireland, who will have the British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell back at the helm, host the only Friday night match of the championship, against Wales in round four of the competition.
Powys County Times
03-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Funding for renewable energy projects in Montgomeryshire
A grant scheme is offering funding for renewable energy projects in Montgomeryshire. The Windfall scheme, which is run by the Mid Wales Community Energy Trust, is now open for applications. The scheme is primarily focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects within the county. Community groups are being encouraged to apply for the second round of funding, which will provide up to £30,000 in grant funding to not-for-profit organisations in the Carno, Caersws, Trefeglwys, Dwyriw, Llanbrynmair, and Llanerfyl community council areas. For community groups outside these areas but still within Montgomeryshire, up to £10,000 in grant funding is available per project. The scheme is also open to low-carbon, shared, community, and active travel initiatives, as well as educational activities aimed at sustainable development. Past beneficiaries have included village halls, football clubs, energy cooperatives, training organisations, and climate action groups. The chair of Windfall, Andy Bull, said: "We're delighted to announce this second round of funding under our new arrangements. "I'd like to encourage community groups to pitch in and apply for grants that could make a tangible difference to local people, especially those around the Carno wind farm and those that operate at least partially in Welsh. "Perhaps it's about installing renewable energy measures or maybe a project that will lower a community's carbon footprint - we're open to considering a wide range of proposals." The grant scheme is managed by the sustainability charity Severn Wye Energy Agency, which will distribute funds to successful applicants. Severn Wye's director for Wales, Dave Gittins, said: "This funding will give an important boost to sustainability projects across Montgomeryshire. "We're excited to see what ideas come forward and to help local communities progress on their low-carbon journeys." The scheme is particularly interested in projects involving renewable energy generation, energy efficiency or demand-reduction measures, low-carbon, shared, community and active travel initiatives, and educational activities around sustainable development. The current round of funding is supplied by Amegni Ltd, the owner of the Carno Wind Farm. Interested applicants can find full guidance and application forms on the Windfall website. Queries about the scheme or the application process can be sent to grants@ The deadline for applications to this round is June 16, 2025, with a further round of funding expected to open in August 2025.
