Latest news with #NewZealandWomen
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Utilita bowl set to host six games in next year's Women's T20 World Cup
A general view of action between England Women and New Zealand Women during the first T20 (Image: PA) SOUTHAMPTON'S Utilita Bowl will host six games at the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2026. Utilita Bowl, which will be referred to as Hampshire Bowl for the duration of the tournament, will host its six games across four days of the tournament. Advertisement Two double-headers are set to be held at the venue, and the first game will be West Indies Women v New Zealand Women on Saturday, June 13. The home of cricket in Hampshire will then host a double header on Tuesday, June 16 when New Zealand face Sri Lanka, followed by England's face-off against a qualifying team. The venue's final three fixtures take place in quick succession, with a Friday night fixture on June 19, followed by a double header on Saturday, June 20. The three games will see New Zealand, Australia and Pakistan taking on three teams yet to qualify. The tournament opens with England taking on Sri Lanka under lights at Edgbaston on Friday, June 12. Advertisement England Women's captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, said: 'World Cups are always special, but this one already feels different — it has the potential to be truly game-changing. It's going to be a huge moment for our sport and a brilliant opportunity to inspire young people and captivate fans across the country. "Playing on home soil, for the biggest prize, against the best players in the world, it's going to be unmissable. I can't wait to be a part of it.' The newly expanded competition will see 12 teams descend on England and Wales in 2026. Eight countries are already sure of their place, with the final four participants to be decided through an ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier next year. England and Wales were awarded hosting rights for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in 2022, with the seven host venues selected subsequently following evaluation of various criteria.
RNZ News
24-05-2025
- RNZ News
Serial book vandal targeting biographies of NZ women
Photo: SUPPLIED A Hamilton book store owner is fed up with the "disrespectful" actions of a serial book vandal, who she says has wilfully targeted the biographies of high-profile New Zealand women. Nichola Carter, who owns Pennys' Bookstore in the Chartwell Shopping Centre, said the unnamed man has deliberately ripped the covers of stock during three separate visits to the store. The book-tearing campaign began six weeks ago when the man first visited the store, making a beeline for the sport section. "We noticed this gentleman... he picked up books and put them down and picked up books again and put them down again, and then he walked out," Carter said. A staff member then spotted a copy of Straight Up, the biography of Black Fern star Ruby Tui had been ripped, and put back on the shelf with the back facing. Two copies of rugby league commentator Honey Hireme-Smiler's biography were also damaged in the same way during a later visit. Photo: SUPPLIED "We knew then that someone was doing this on purpose and we did think 'OK does this person have an issue with women'," Carter said. On Friday, a copy of Full Circle by TV presenter Jenny May-Clarkson was also found "ripped and hidden, face down"on one of the store's display stands. "I was thinking why is this happening to these three particular women," she said. Carter then discovered that the same thing, involving the same three books, had also occurred at another book store 25 minutes out of Hamilton. "What got the disrespect. No respect for our store, no respect for these women, and just purposefully doing it," she said. "We're an independent book store, we've been here for 44 years and we've actually never had anything like this happen to us." Although the store had experienced theft, no one had deliberately vandalised stock until now, Carter said. "In 2025, as everyone knows retail is hard for anyone. We are against the big-wigs, we are very local and our customers support us and they're amazing," she said. "It's hard work in this retail environment, and then to see that, that's more money going out of my pocket." Photo: SUPPLIED The store owner had not engaged with police yet as she was unsure as to whether they could do anything. "I want this person to know that they're not welcome back and we will trespass. I don't want this kind of behaviour in the store." Because it had happened at multiple stores, Carter felt the man's actions were racially-motivated. "Someone's got an issue, a big issue," she said. Hireme-Smiler, a former cross-code international-turned commentator, hails from Putāruru, South Waikato and is of Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Ahuru descent. Meanwhile, May-Clarkson (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Kahu) is another former international sporting star who had successfully transitioned to a media career. Tui - a Black Ferns world champion and sevens Olympic gold medalist - has Samoan, Irish and Scottish heritage. "What really annoys me is that these three women who have written these books, and what they've gone through to get to where they are is unbelievable," Carter said. "And this person just comes along and just does this to their books, that really grates me. "It'll be really interesting to find out if this is happening anywhere else in the Waikato. What concerns me is that he's doing it another store." She estimated the culprit was aged "between 45 and 60". "We hope he feels like sh*t. It's just uncalled for. We're not going to tolerate this behaviour any more." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
