Latest news with #Neath
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales to host women's Test debutants Scotland
Wales will host international debutants Scotland in a women's rugby league encounter on Sunday, 3 August (13:00 BST) at The Lextan Gnoll in will host England at the same venue six days later (14:00 BST).The JES Group Rugby League Conference Grand final will be played at the ground the day before Wales take on head coach Tom Brindle will use the encounters as part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup in said: "These games are an important part of our long-term plan."Building on last year, it's crucial that we play games every year, not just as a team, to keep progressing and growing as a group, but also to continue to inspire and help grow the game over the next decade in Wales."Playing Scotland in their first international Test match is an honour that we're all incredibly proud of." Scotland women's head coach John Whalley said: "We have had a couple of months together now as a group and we are building nicely, we know it will be a tough fixture to go straight into but we want that challenge and we will embrace it."Wales are a top-10 nation with a quality squad and great coaching staff. It has the makings of a great fixture and the start of something very special."England boss Stuart Barrow said: "We're delighted to have an international fixture in Wales this summer. It was important to us to get back together with a short-term focus as well as continuing to prepare for next year's World Cup."
Wales Online
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
The carpenter with an edge out to put himself in Welsh rugby's shop window
The carpenter with an edge out to put himself in Welsh rugby's shop window The World Rugby U20 Championship is a shop window for players looking for contracts Wales U20s scrum-half Ellis Lewis in action for Neath The World Rugby U20 Championship will not only showcase international stars of the future but will also provide an opportunity for players to put themselves in the shop window in the hope of earning a professional contract. One player who is in this boat is Wales U20s scrum-half Ellis Lewis, who is one of only three uncapped players in Richard Whiffin's squad. The 19-year-old, who works as a carpenter for Swansea Council, was released by the Ospreys academy and has been playing his rugby for Neath in the Welsh Premiership. Lewis is hoping to use Wales' U20s World Cup campaign to put himself in the shop window for a professional contract. "I used to be with Ospreys but after U18s I unfortunately didn't get a contract so that's when I got a job with Swansea Council doing an apprenticeship in carpentry," he told WalesOnline. "I've been playing in the Premiership for Neath this season but I've signed for Swansea in the SRC. "The dream is to get a professional contract but we will see how it goes. Article continues below Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "It was a tough time when I got released by the Ospreys but my family helped me get through it. "I've used it as motivation and I've worked hard to get back into the Wales U20s squad after missing out on the Six Nations squad. "Hopefully I can impress and get my name out there during the World Cup and get on the market. "I want to pick up a contract somewhere and become a pro." If Lewis makes it to the top he will certainly have done it the hard way. Unlike the majority of the squad, the former Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera pupil has been playing his rugby for Neath RFC rather than Super Rygbi Cymru. He models his game on hard work and being an absolute nuisance to play against. "I'm more of an aggressive nine who likes the physical contact side of things," he said. "I've also got a good kicking game but my point of difference is the contact side of the game. "Growing up I used to look up to Rhys Webb and Faf de Klerk. "I've taken aspects of their game into mine and I've also taken some inspiration from Mike Phillips who was a lot bigger than other scrum-halves. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free "They all like the contact so I enjoyed watching them growing up. I want to get on top of players all the time and just be in their faces while also making tackles. "Playing in the Welsh Premiership for Neath has definitely helped my development because it is different. "In the Prem you can get away with a lot more and it's a bit rougher. It's a different type of game but it's still good. "The Premiership is a really tough league and very aggressive whereas the SRC is still physical but it's more of an open, less structured game." Lewis will be fortunate this summer to play behind the strongest Wales U20s pack in years with the likes of Harry Thomas, Sam Scott, Ioan Emanuel, Luke Evans and Nick Thomas, among others, all front-five forwards with the size and power to make a mark. "We have a big physical pack," he said. "They are good and I'm confident they can get us onto the front foot. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Article continues below "It's easier when you play on the front foot as a nine because you get better ball so hopefully we can play some good rugby. "We want to make the top four and if our forwards can give us a platform hopefully we can get the back line moving."
Sky News
25-06-2025
- Sky News
'It's just wrong': Pet owner's plea after 43-year-old tortoise 'taken'
A woman in South Wales, whose 43-year-old tortoise is thought to have been stolen, has issued an appeal to help locate him - more than a month since he was last seen. Ann Thatcher, whose tortoise Sesame went missing from his home in Neath, South Wales, is still hoping to be reunited with her beloved pet. The 76-year-old told Sky News Sesame had been part of her family since he was bought in a shop in Cardiff 43 years ago. "He's been through five cats, two dogs, two daughters, four grandchildren and various members of the family who've loved him and now gone, so he really is a family member," she said. "And I just can't believe somebody has taken him like that with no thought or regard for him or for us." Her young grandson is particularly upset at the thought of Sesame having been taken away. Sesame would spend most of his time out in the garden, before he would "toddle off to his little house" in the evening. While police have been informed, there was "very little they can do" without further evidence, Mrs Thatcher said. She is now offering a £500 reward to anyone who reunites her with her pet tortoise. Sesame, who Mrs Thatcher described as "quite a frisky male", damaged his shell last year and requires medication. "After having him, cared for him after all this time, now he's not going to be so well treated," Mrs Thatcher added. "He obviously isn't, because they don't know him. And that's what bothers me now is that, will he even survive?" A change in the law was introduced in England and Northern Ireland last year, meaning that anyone convicted of stealing a pet in those nations could face up to five years in prison - but it only extends to cat and dog abduction. Pet theft is a criminal offence in Wales but is not covered by the Pet Abduction Act introduced last year. "We're talking about a living thing here, not items," said Mrs Thatcher. "He's older than my youngest daughter. He's grown up with so many people, it's just wrong, it's cruel to take him away."
BBC News
24-06-2025
- BBC News
'Violent attacks' in south Wales lead to five swan deaths in Neath
An investigation has been launched into a series of "violent attacks" across south Wales led which have to multiple swan Wales Police said officers had been responding to "several incidents" involving swans along the Neath canal over the past three to four years, in various locations from Briton Ferry to Neath. While no suspects have been identified yet, the force said there was "nothing to suggest its the same person responsible" for all of the deaths. Volunteers from the Swan Rescue South Wales said they were "devastated" by the said one bird appeared to have been shot in the head by an air rifle, while another had a brick dropped on it. Warning: There are images in this story that some readers may find distressing The small animal welfare group - which offers "sticking plaster" support for what it believes has become a growing problem, by rescuing and re-releasing as many of the injured animals as possible - said it was aware of at least five swan deaths in the said one swan was found, believed to have been beaten to death, while another appeared to have been shot after a pellet was found lodged near its tongue. The group said it had received about 190 calls this year, with about 10% related to "violent attacks" on well as within its own patch, the volunteers have also been receiving calls from Somerset, Llandrindod Wells in Powys and even Penmaenmawr in Conwy county. Vanessa Price, a volunteer from the group, said they had seen a brick dropped onto a young cygnet, breaking its back and causing it to drown. "A female swan was also shot through the head with an air rifle and seven of her eggs stolen, which were two weeks away from hatching," she added."There have been dead ducks, and moorhens found. Lots of pigeons have been shot too."It's been awful."She said police had been patrolling the area since the investigation was launched, but added it was mainly the volunteers who kept the birds safe."We can't be there 24/7 and neither can the police because they have other cases to deal with," she Wales Police added it wanted to "remind the public that it is an offence to injure or kill a swan and we will prosecute if we find that someone has".
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
New Look to shut popular branch in WEEKS after already closing 32 branches – is your local going?
NEW Look will shut a popular branch in weeks after 32 stores have already closed across the UK and Ireland. The British clothing chain will close down a branch in Neath, Wales on August 6. 1 Locals shared a snap of the closing down sign on social media, prompting shoppers to share their heartbreak. One punter blamed online shopping for the closure, claiming it has "killed the high street". While another resident said they "couldn't believe it". And a third moaned there would be "nothing" in Neath soon. New Look previously warned it would shut nearly 100 stores ahead of National Insurance hikes which came into place in April. Approximately a quarter of the retailer's 364 stores are at risk when their leases expire. This equates to about 91 stores, with a significant impact on its 8,000-strong workforce. News of the closure comes just days after New Look pulled the shutters on its branch in Birmingham's Northfield shopping centre. The popular store closed on Sunday, June 8. Earlier this month, the fashion retailer closed its two-storey shop in the Willow Place shopping centre . Beloved high street chain with 24 Irish locations confirms Dublin city centre store closing down in 10 days in huge blow In May, it closed branches in St Austell and Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. The chain has previously closed locations in Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wickford, Essex. In February, New Look also exited the Republic of Ireland which resulted in the closure of 26 stores. At the time, the company said: "New Look's Irish operation has struggled for some years, impacted by a range of factors including supply-chain and in-market costs, and squeezed consumer spending". TROUBLE ON THE HIGH STREET New Look is not the only fashion brand facing a hard time. River Island revealed plans to shut 33 of its 230 stores, pending approval. A further 70 stores are also at risk, with its future depending on agreements being reached with landlords to cut rent agreements. Just weeks ago the British retailer drafted in advisers from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to come up with money saving solutions for the business. Poundland will close 68 stores following its £1 sale to US investmet firm Gordron Brothers. But even before this announcement, the bargain chain had already planned to close 18 stores, RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
