Latest news with #SarahBern
BBC News
24-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: Red Roses announce squad
England have announced who will be representing the country at the Women's Rugby World Cup tournament is being held in England this year, so it's a huge moment for the members of the squad,.Scrum Half Natash 'Mo' Hunt has been included in the squad after controversially being left out of the line-up in 2022. There are many faces fans will recognise, like TikTok sensation and prop Sarah Bern, and powerhouse centre Tatyana centre Emily Scarratt is set to become the first English rugby union player to appear at five World will be eight squad members who will be making their World Cup debuts, such as Abi Burton who, during her first cap in the 2025 Six Nations, scored not one but two tries. Zoe Aldcroft, who took over from Marlie Packer as captain in January and lead the team to victory at the Six Nations earlier this year, will be the Red Roses' captain during the World narrowly lost the most recent World Cup final to New Zealand in Auckland in November 2022 but have won all 25 matches they have played since that last time England won the World Cup was in 2014 - can they do it again? England's full squad ForwardsLark Atkin-Davies Sarah BernHannah BottermanAbi BurtonMay CampbellMackenzie CarsonKelsey CliffordAmy CokayneMaddie FeaunatiRosie GalliganLilli Ives CampionSadia KabeyaAlex MatthewsMaud MuirMarlie PackerMorwenna TallingAbbie WardBacksHolly AitchisonJess BreachAbby DowZoe HarrisonTatyana HeardNatasha HuntMegan JonesEllie KildunneClaudia Moloney-MacDonaldLucy PackerHelena RowlandEmily Scarratt Jade ShekellsEmma Sing When can I watch the Rugby World Cup? The Rugby World Cup kicks off on 22 August in Sunderland's Stadium of Light, with England playing the opening match against tournament is taking place all over England, with matches in Brighton, Northampton, Exeter, Salford and final will take place on 27 September in London, at match will be live to watch on BBC iPlayer and to listen to on BBC Radio 5Live.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Nine-year-old fan teams up with England star for new rugby mural
With the Women's Rugby World Cup just around the corner, fans are starting to get if you're a big rugby fan, what would be better than getting to meet one of the sport's stars? Getting a picture? Or, maybe, getting something signed?Well one fan - and rugby player - nine-year-old Ava-Mai, got an opportunity that arguably beats all of those, as she got to be painted in a giant mural with one of her mural is painted on the wall of the Harbourside Amphitheatre building in Bristol - which is one of the tournament's host cities - and sees Ava-Mai standing alongside Bristol Bears and England prop Sarah Bern. It's all part of a campaign by the Rugby Football Union - who oversea the sport in England - to try and encourage more girls to pick up a ball and try the went along with her family to see the giant artwork get said it feels "very cool" to be next to Sarah Bern in the picture and it makes her "feel very famous".She said: "If I try very hard maybe I can be a professional player just like Sarah Bern." The Women's Rugby World Cup starts August 22 in Sunderland as England take on is one of the eight host cities across the country that will show three rounds of Teasdale, who is in charge of the women's game at England Rugby, said they initially bid to host the World Cup because they wanted to grow women's and girl's said thousands of people will pass the mural during the World Cup and she hopes "it really inspires people to take part or go and watch the matches".
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Giant world cup mural aims to encourage more girls into rugby
A giant mural has been unveiled to mark the 50-day countdown until the Women's Rugby World Cup is one of the tournament's host cities and the mural, which depicts England and Bristol Bears prop Sarah Bern and nine-year-old rugby player Ava-Mai, has been given pride of place at the Harbourside and her family attended the artwork's unveiling on Wednesday - which is part of a Rugby Football Union campaign to encourage more girls to try the sport."It feels very cool for me to be next to her [Bern] on that picture - it makes me feel very famous," said Ava-Mai. "If I try very hard maybe I can be a professional player just like Sarah Bern," she Corey said Ava-Mai "absolutely loves rugby and her confidence has skyrocketed"."She's made so many friends through it - I think this is just going to be so good for her," Corey said. Women's Rugby has seen a jump in popularity over recent years but some teams still struggle to encourage younger girls to Teasdale, executive director of the Women's Game at England Rugby, said: "We bid to host the world cup because we wanted to grow women's and girl's rugby in local communities."You look at the hundreds of thousands of people that are going to walk through here over the world cup and it just puts women's and girl's rugby on the map and hopefully it really inspires people to take part or go and watch the matches in Bristol."It's just really important that we're putting rugby where people can see it."Bristol's Ashton Gate stadium is one of eight host cities across the country and will show three rounds of games - including quarter and semi-final fixtures.
The Star
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-England pip brilliant France 43-42 to claim seventh straight Six Nations
Rugby Union - Women's Six Nations - England v France - Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Britain - April 26, 2025 England's Sarah Bern in action with France's Manae Feleu, Alexandra Chambon and Madoussou Fall Raclot Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra LONDON (Reuters) -England overcame an irrepressible France 43-42 at Twickenham on Saturday to clinch a Grand Slam and seventh successive Women's Six Nations title, that also extended their record winning streak in the tournament to 34 matches. The Red Roses were clinical in attack during a breathless first half that saw tries from Abby Dow, Emma Sing(2), Lark Atkin-Davies and Claudia MacDonald, but leaked three scores to their resilient and opportunistic visitors to squander a 31-7 lead and leave it 31-21 at halftime. England captain Zoe Aldcroft finished after Abby Dow cut through before French winger Kelly Arbey replied as the game sustained its breakneck, tit-for-tat pace in the second half. France were never out of the game and when Joanna Grisez scorched over down the left to make it 43-42 with a minute left to go, the upset for an England team that had not lost a Six Nations game since 2018 looked on before the hosts finally triumphed. It was a showcase of attacking rugby from both sides that left serious questions about England's defence, ahead of a home World Cup in August that they are desperate to win and exorcise the demons of their defeat in the 2021 final. (Reporting By Lawrence White, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
The Guardian
20-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Abuse I received for TikTok video after Women's Six Nations defeat was crazy
The abuse and hate messages I received for doing a TikTok dance live on the BBC after Wales's defeat by England was crazy. On Instagram I received a few DMs saying: 'You're an embarrassment, what do you think you're doing?' That doesn't affect me because we get criticism all the time for different things: losing a game, dropping a high ball. I am not hugely active on X and it was not until those of my friends who aren't big fans of rugby were checking in on me to see if I was OK that I realised the extent of the abuse on social media. It was bizarre – how did it get that far? I just did a TikTok video. After the game I might be smiling. I am happy and engaging with fans, but that does not mean I am happy inside. When people say: 'She shouldn't have acted like that', how should I have reacted? Should I be sad, crying and go straight in and be angry? This article includes content provided by TikTok. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. I understand we lost and the men wouldn't do it, but it's a different brand and ballgame to what the men do. I don't regret doing it at all. The support myself and Sarah Bern have had off the back of it has shown it is a different game. Receiving abuse isn't new to me, the other Wales girls or players across the sport. I even got shouted at while playing for my club, Bristol Bears, in the Premiership Women's Rugby semi-final against Gloucester-Hartpury last month. A supporter in the stand said: 'Go back to grassroots sport.' That's not acceptable. If you believe that then why have you come to watch? I don't experience it every game, but all of us do receive negative comments and for different reasons. We get comments like 'She can't tackle' or 'Oh God, she looks big' or'What has she done with her hair?' At the Rugby World Cup three years ago I was getting comments like: 'Jaz can't tackle.' I significantly reduced the time I spend on X at that point because didn't need to see it. The negatives were outweighing the positives. I spoke to my wife, Alisha, about coming off social media completely, but I get sponsors from it. If it wasn't helping my work I would come off it. I don't think it has any positive relevance to my life. The TikTok abuse has been a footnote to my Six Nations and I have been fully focused on the tournament, which Wales have been navigating with our new head coach, Sean Lynn. While we haven't recorded a win, performances have been improving and that is in part thanks to the culture and environment Lynny has created. It's an open and safe place to be and everyone is enjoying it. I have no bad words to say about Lynny – he is brilliant and well-respected among the group. He has done a lot for Gloucester-Hartpury, his rugby CV is really good. I was asked the other day to sum him up in one word and I said 'engaging'. When he is speaking people are listening. He is hilarious, but he also has a stern side that has come out sometimes in training, but only in understandable moments. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion We have seen a lot of change. Everyone is enjoying it a lot more. No one is anxious going into training or anxious because you're going to get pulled up over doing something silly. So off the pitch has been amazing. On the pitch it has been a bit tricky as Lynny's first full day came just before our first Six Nations game and there was not much he could put in place. He hasn't changed anything drastically, but he has started to drip bits and bobs in throughout the weeks and we are definitely getting better on pitch in defence and attack. The more Sean can be in and around training, the more he can change and adapt and tailor drills to suit each player, the better Wales are going to get. Ireland are next up on Sunday and we need to make sure we put them under stress and take them to dark places in their performance. They played well against England last time out and one key aspect for us will be nullifying the fly‑half, Dannah O'Brien. She is amazing. When I watch her play I'm puzzled by how she has so much time on the ball. She also kicks huge distances and as a full-back I keep thinking: 'How do I even defend that?' She definitely makes me nervous, especially in the backfield. She absolutely runs their game, is the soul of Ireland's attack and can put some shots in as well. We've also got great kickers and so hopefully we can isolate her. Lynny's message has been to be excited for the game against Ireland and our final game against Italy and he believes we can produce good performances. Wales are definitely capable of coming away with a win in this tournament. Jaz Joyce-Butchers has played 42 times for Wales and has competed in three Olympics in rugby sevens for Team GB
