Latest news with #Wales-born
Toronto Star
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Troubled Wales rugby team names Steve Tandy new coach
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Wales' troubled men's rugby team finally has a new coach, with Steve Tandy hired through the 2027 World Cup. The appointment was announced on Monday, with the Wales-born Tandy having just completed a southern hemisphere tour with Scotland as part of its coaching staff. He'll start on Sept. 1.
Winnipeg Free Press
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Troubled Wales rugby team names Steve Tandy new coach
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Wales' troubled men's rugby team finally has a new coach, with Steve Tandy hired through the 2027 World Cup. The appointment was announced on Monday, with the Wales-born Tandy having just completed a southern hemisphere tour with Scotland as part of its coaching staff. He'll start on Sept. 1. Tandy is the full-time replacement for Warren Gatland, who left his second spell as Wales coach midway through the Six Nations in February. Gatland's departure came during a national-record 18-test losing run by Wales, the worst ever streak by a top-tier rugby nation. That losing run came to an end this month with a win in Japan. Last weekend, the British and Irish Lions — touring Down Under — played a test against one of the southern hemisphere giants Australia, New Zealand and South Africa without a Welshman in the squad for the first time since 1896. Tandy has coached Welsh team Ospreys for six years and at Australian Super Rugby team NSW Waratahs. Abi Tierney, chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, believes Tandy can bring the good times back to a once-proud rugby nation. 'This is a keystone appointment for us and an integral part of our five-year strategy as we look to achieve sustainable success for our senior men's side,' Tierney said. 'Steve fits the bill in terms of the affinity he will be able to create with a young group of players with huge potential, but also the galvanizing effect we know he can have on the whole rugby ecosystem as a proud Welshman.' __ AP rugby:
Powys County Times
22-04-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
The Vivienne's sister questions if drug use ‘stigma' stopped them seeking help
The sister of The Vivienne has questioned whether the 'stigma' around drug use stopped the drag queen from seeking help. James Lee Williams, who won the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, died at home in Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire, on January 5 after taking ketamine at the age of 32. Chanel Williams told BBC Two current affairs programme Newsnight that The Vivienne did not discuss their relapse, including a hospital stay, 'to protect them', following 'a really long period of sobriety'. 'It's hard for me because I think, if that stigma wasn't there, would my brother have sought the help he needed?' she said. 'To think that, if we'd known, or if he'd have felt able to talk and really reach out for the help that was needed, the outcome could've been different. 'That's why we've shared James's story.' The family revealed in March that the drag queen died 'from the effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest', to raise awareness. They also said they would work with the drug charity Adferiad on future campaigns. 'He'd spoken openly on Drag Race about the battles he'd had with addiction, and he'd come through the other side of that,' Ms Williams said. 'He was at the height of everything he was doing and I think, because he'd said it in such an open platform, it's really difficult to come back and say you're struggling again.' She also said the classification of ketamine should be moved from Class B to Class A, because people 'think it's less harmful than other drugs', among other measures to tackle addiction. She added: 'But it's not just about reclassification… it needs to include education, police, health, to really raise awareness. We need a strategy around drug usage and drug deaths in the UK.' The Government is seeking expert advice after the illegal use of ketamine surged to record levels. While on the BBC show, Wales-born The Vivienne admitted having been a drug addict for four years, saying the addiction was a 'habit that caught on a bit too quick and a bit too hard'. Reflecting on sobriety, the musical theatre and Dancing On Ice star said: 'I had to be kicked out of my house and told that I would be dead by the time I was 30. 'It was the loneliest part of my life. I was killing myself… and my family don't even know. I was pissing my life up the wall and I could've been dead now if I didn't do anything about it.' An inquest into their death was opened and adjourned at Cheshire Coroner's Court in Warrington, with a full inquest listed to take place on June 30. According to the Home Office, in the year ending March 2023 an estimated 299,000 people aged 16 to 59 had reported use of ketamine, which is controlled as Class B. The UK national anti-drug advisory service Frank says the substance is a general anaesthetic that reduces sensations in the body which can make users feel dream-like and detached, chilled, relaxed and happy, but also confused and nauseated. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson wrote to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) in January to express the Government's concern over young people's ketamine use and call for the classification to be reassessed. A Home Office spokesman said: 'Our thoughts are with James's family and friends, and all those affected by this tragic death, which has sadly reinforced once again the serious dangers of taking ketamine. 'In January this year, the minister for policing and crime prevention wrote to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs expressing the Government's concern about the growth in the use of ketamine, and asking them to consider whether to reclassify it as a Class A drug. 'We will not hesitate to act when the ACMD reports back, and, in the meantime, we will continue to work across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use and stop those who profit from its supply.'
Wales Online
22-04-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
The Vivienne's sister questions if drug use ‘stigma' stopped them seeking help
The Vivienne's sister questions if drug use 'stigma' stopped them seeking help The Drag Race star died at home earlier this year The sister of The Vivienne has questioned whether the 'stigma' around drug use stopped the drag queen from seeking help (Image: PA Wire/PA Images ) The sister of The Vivienne has questioned whether the "stigma" around drug use stopped the drag queen from seeking help. James Lee Williams, who won the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, died at home in Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire, on January 5 after taking ketamine at the age of 32. Chanel Williams told BBC Two current affairs programme Newsnight that The Vivienne did not discuss their relapse, including a hospital stay, "to protect them", following "a really long period of sobriety". "It's hard for me because I think, if that stigma wasn't there, would my brother have sought the help he needed?" she said. "To think that, if we'd known, or if he'd have felt able to talk and really reach out for the help that was needed, the outcome could've been different. Article continues below "That's why we've shared James's story." The family revealed in March that the drag queen died "from the effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest", to raise awareness. They also said they would work with the drug charity Adferiad on future campaigns. "He'd spoken openly on Drag Race about the battles he'd had with addiction, and he'd come through the other side of that," Ms Williams said. "He was at the height of everything he was doing and I think, because he'd said it in such an open platform, it's really difficult to come back and say you're struggling again." She also said the classification of ketamine should be moved from Class B to Class A, because people "think it's less harmful than other drugs", among other measures to tackle addiction. She added: "But it's not just about reclassification... it needs to include education, police, health, to really raise awareness. We need a strategy around drug usage and drug deaths in the UK." The Government is seeking expert advice after the illegal use of ketamine surged to record levels. While on the BBC show, Wales-born The Vivienne admitted having been a drug addict for four years, saying the addiction was a "habit that caught on a bit too quick and a bit too hard". Reflecting on sobriety, the musical theatre and Dancing On Ice star said: "I had to be kicked out of my house and told that I would be dead by the time I was 30. "It was the loneliest part of my life. I was killing myself... and my family don't even know. I was pissing my life up the wall and I could've been dead now if I didn't do anything about it." An inquest into their death was opened and adjourned at Cheshire Coroner's Court in Warrington, with a full inquest listed to take place on June 30. According to the Home Office, in the year ending March 2023 an estimated 299,000 people aged 16 to 59 had reported use of ketamine, which is controlled as Class B. The UK national anti-drug advisory service Frank says the substance is a general anaesthetic that reduces sensations in the body which can make users feel dream-like and detached, chilled, relaxed and happy, but also confused and nauseated. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson wrote to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) in January to express the Government's concern over young people's ketamine use and call for the classification to be reassessed. Article continues below A Home Office spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with James's family and friends, and all those affected by this tragic death, which has sadly reinforced once again the serious dangers of taking ketamine. "In January this year, the minister for policing and crime prevention wrote to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs expressing the Government's concern about the growth in the use of ketamine, and asking them to consider whether to reclassify it as a Class A drug. "We will not hesitate to act when the ACMD reports back, and, in the meantime, we will continue to work across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use and stop those who profit from its supply."
Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
The Vivienne hid ketamine use to protect family after years of sobriety
The sister of The Vivienne has questioned whether the "stigma" around drug use stopped the drag queen from seeking help. The sister of The Vivienne has questioned whether the "stigma" around drug use stopped the drag queen from seeking help. James Lee Williams, who won the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, died at home i n Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire, on January 5 after taking ketamine at the age of 32. Chanel Williams told BBC Two current affairs programme Newsnight that The Vivienne did not discuss their relapse, including a hospital stay, "to protect them", following "a really long period of sobriety". "It's hard for me because I think, if that stigma wasn't there, would my brother have sought the help he needed?" she said. "To think that, if we'd known, or if he'd have felt able to talk and really reach out for the help that was needed, the outcome could've been different. That's why we've shared James's story." The family revealed in March that the drag queen died "from the effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest", to raise awareness. They also said they would work with the drug charity Adferiad on future campaigns. "He'd spoken openly on Drag Race about the battles he'd had with addiction, and he'd come through the other side of that," Ms Williams said. "He was at the height of everything he was doing and I think, because he'd said it in such an open platform, it's really difficult to come back and say you're struggling again." She also said the classification of ketamine should be moved from Class B to Class A, because people "think it's less harmful than other drugs", among other measures to tackle addiction. She added: "But it's not just about reclassification... it needs to include education, police, health, to really raise awareness. We need a strategy around drug usage and drug deaths in the UK." The Government is seeking expert advice after the illegal use of ketamine surged to record levels. While on the BBC show, Wales-born The Vivienne admitted having been a drug addict for four years, saying the addiction was a "habit that caught on a bit too quick and a bit too hard". Reflecting on sobriety, the musical theatre and Dancing On Ice star said: "I had to be kicked out of my house and told that I would be dead by the time I was 30." "It was the loneliest part of my life. I was killing myself... and my family don't even know. I was pissing my life up the wall and I could've been dead now if I didn't do anything about it." An inquest into their death was opened and adjourned at Cheshire Coroner's Court in Warrington, with a full inquest listed to take place on June 30. According to the Home Office, in the year ending March 2023 an estimated 299,000 people aged 16 to 59 had reported use of ketamine, which is controlled as Class B. The UK national anti-drug advisory service Frank says the substance is a general anaesthetic that reduces sensations in the body which can make users feel dream-like and detached, chilled, relaxed and happy, but also confused and nauseated. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson wrote to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) in January to express the Government's concern over young people's ketamine use and call for the classification to be reassessed. A Home Office spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with James's family and friends, and all those affected by this tragic death, which has sadly reinforced once again the serious dangers of taking ketamine." "In January this year, the minister for policing and crime prevention wrote to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs expressing the Government's concern about the growth in the use of ketamine, and asking them to consider whether to reclassify it as a Class A drug." "We will not hesitate to act when the ACMD reports back, and, in the meantime, we will continue to work across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use and stop those who profit from its supply."
