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South Wales Argus
10-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Josh Navidi joins Bearhug Pontypool as £1m turnover smashed
Bearhug, based in Pontypool, passed the milestone for the first time and is now targeting further UK growth and expansion into Europe. The Welsh sports and fitness brand designs bamboo-based joint supports and muscle sleeves aimed at injury prevention, pain relief, and recovery. Rhys George, CEO and co-founder of Bearhug, said: "Seeing Bearhug double its turnover for the third year running, and welcoming incredible talent like Josh and John to our team, is proof that our community-driven approach is making a real difference. "With the support of our investors, customers, and partners, I'm excited to take Bearhug to even greater heights – helping more people move, recover, and live life to the fullest." The business has reported more than £1.2 million in turnover in 2025, doubling revenue for the third consecutive year. Bearhug's growth has been fuelled by a focused expansion strategy and the appointment of high-profile Welsh rugby ambassadors. ormer Wales International, Josh Navidi and WRU national squad physiotherapist, John Miles have joined Bearhug (Image: Hannah Miles Photography) Former Welsh international Josh Navidi has joined the company as head of athlete and brand partnerships. Mr Navidi will lead collaborations with sports figures and brands, drawing on his experience as a professional athlete and long-time Bearhug supporter. John Miles, WRU national squad physiotherapist, has also joined the team as chief medical officer. WRU national squad physiotherapist John Miles has been appointed as Chief Medical Officer (Image: Hannah Miles Photography) Mr Miles was introduced to Bearhug's products through his work with the Welsh Rugby Union's medical team and quickly became an advocate. The company has completed two successful community crowdfunding rounds in the past two years, raising £150,000 from 38 investors across the UK. Many of the investors are users and supporters of the brand, including Welsh rugby stars Dewi Lake, Rhys Patchell, and Mr Navidi. The funding has helped CEO Rhys George move into a full-time role, and in the six months following the investment, Bearhug's monthly turnover doubled. This growth enabled the company to expand its product range to include socks, hoodies, t-shirts, and lumbar supports. Founded in 2016, Bearhug was created by individuals with personal experience of long-term joint and muscle injuries. Mr George suffered a knee injury at 14 that ended his rugby ambitions, while a co-founder struggled with a chronic ankle injury. Both were dissatisfied with the limited and uncomfortable neoprene supports on the market. They discovered bamboo-based alternatives used in medical settings in North America and Asia, which offered greater comfort, breathability, and sustainability. However, the products lacked personality, featuring bland, clinical designs. The team saw an opportunity to reimagine joint supports with bold orange branding and a strong community ethos. Today, Bearhug counts among its supporters former Cardiff Blues player Nick Williams, who credits the products with extending his rugby career by two years. Other fans include ultramarathon world record holder Rhys Jenkins, Dirty Sanchez star Mathew Pritchard, and numerous current and former Wales rugby players. Looking ahead, Bearhug aims to double turnover again within 24 months by increasing brand visibility in Wales, expanding across the UK, and growing its export footprint. The company will attend the inaugural International Running Expo (IRX) in Amsterdam in November as part of its European launch plans.
Business News Wales
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Wellness Brand Breaks £1.2m Turnover and Expands Team
Former Wales International, Josh Navidi and WRU national squad physiotherapist, John Miles have joined Sports and fitness brand Bearhug has surpassed the £1 million turnover mark for the first time, doubling its revenue for the third consecutive year to exceed £1.2 million in 2025. The Pontypool-based company, which designs bamboo joint supports and muscle sleeves for injury prevention, pain relief, and recovery, has seen record-breaking growth which it says is driven by a focused expansion strategy and the appointment of high-profile Welsh rugby ambassadors. Over the last 12 months the business has welcomed ex Welsh international Josh Navidi and WRU national squad physiotherapist John Miles to the firm. Josh has joined as Head of Athlete and Brand partnerships, where he will lead collaborations with sports figures and brands. John has stepped into the role of Chief Medical Officer, advising on product development. Having been introduced to Bearhug products through his work with the Welsh Rugby Union's medical team, the firm said John was impressed by their performance and quickly became a strong advocate for the brand. In the last two years, the company has completed two successful community crowdfunding rounds, raising £150,000 from 38 investors across the UK. Each investor is a user and supporter of the brand, including several Welsh rugby stars such as Dewi Lake, Rhys Patchell and Josh Navidi, who chose to invest after experiencing the benefits of the products first hand. This funding has allowed CEO Rhys George to transition to a full-time position to focus on growing the company. In the six months that followed, the company's monthly turnover doubled and Bearhug was able to accelerate product innovation, expanding its product range to include new commercial offerings such as socks, hoodies, t-shirts and lumbar supports. As part of its plans to expand its presence across the UK, Bearhug has also recently secured a listing with Up & Running, the UK's largest independent running chain. Rhys George, CEO and co-Founder of Bearhug, said: 'Seeing Bearhug double its turnover for the third year running, and welcoming incredible talent like Josh and John to our team, is proof that our community-driven approach is making a real difference. 'With the support of our investors, customers, and partners, I'm excited to take Bearhug to even greater heights – helping more people move, recover, and live life to the fullest.' For Rhys, a knee injury at the age of 14 brought an early end to his rugby ambitions, while one of his co-founders had dealt with a chronic ankle injury. Both were left frustrated by the limited and uncomfortable neoprene supports available at the time. In search of better options, they discovered bamboo-based alternatives – already used in medical settings across North America and Asia – which offered improved breathability, comfort, and sustainability. However, they felt that the products they found lacked personality, with bland, clinical designs that did little to inspire. Recognising a gap in the market, the team set out to reimagine joint supports by combining proven functionality with bold orange branding and a strong community ethos. The firm said that former Cardiff Blues legend Nick Williams credits Bearhug's products with extending his rugby career by two years. It added that other notable supporters include ultramarathon world record holder Rhys Jenkins, Dirty Sanchez star Mathew Pritchard, and a host of current and former Wales rugby players. Rhys added: 'Our products are designed to be worn, not hidden. I wanted to create something that people are proud to use, something that signals movement and connection, not limitation.' Bearhug aims to further grow the business and double its turnover over the next 24 months by boosting brand visibility in Wales, expanding across the UK, and growing its export footprint. The company is due to attend the inaugural International Running Expo (IRX) in Amsterdam in November as part of its launch plan into Europe.
Wales Online
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Singer Sophie Evans and rugby star Ellis Jenkins reveal cute name for new baby
Singer Sophie Evans and rugby star Ellis Jenkins reveal cute name for new baby The couple shared a photo of their new offspring on Instagram, asleep and sporting a cute light brown jumper with his name on it Sophie shares a picture with her new baby, Louie, who is the younger brother to Jack West End singer Sophie Evans and rugby star Ellis James have revealed the cute baby name for their second son. The couple confirmed on Monday, April 28, that they had welcomed their second child after teasing fans on when the baby was due. Sophie and Ellis, who already share a son, Jack, born in December 2022, were eagerly awaiting the birth of their second child. The couple, who have been together for over a decade, have been sharing their excitement throughout the pregnancy, offering fans a glimpse into their journey. And now they have revealed the name of their second son on social media. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . On an Instagram post shared on Wednesday, April 30, the couple shared a photo of their new offspring, asleep and sporting a cute light brown jumper with the name 'Louie' sewn on it. The caption read: "This is our Louie Adam Jenkins. Welcome the family kid! Two days of pure love. 28.04.2025. 8lb4 of magic". Many shared their excitement at the news, with one fan saying: "Congrats to you all so lush!!! Enjoy your family bubble". While another fan said' "Gorgeous just like his big bro!" Another described little Louie as "cute as a button". Article continues below On April 18, Sophie posted an update on Instagram, revealing that the day marked her due date. However, there was no sign of "baby Jenks" — a nickname given to their unborn child by influencer Sophie Harris. Fans eagerly awaited the big announcement, but it seemed the baby had decided to keep everyone on their toes. As the days went on, Ellis couldn't contain his excitement and shared his own updates, showing just how eager the family was to meet the new addition. Taking to Instagram, the Wales International wrote: "Counting down the days until baby number 2 arrives. We can't wait to meet him and Jack is so excited to be a big brother!" Content cannot be displayed without consent Despite the anticipation, the days stretched on, and it wasn't until ten days after her due date that Sophie confirmed the arrival of their baby. On April 27, around 9pm, Sophie posted an amusing Instagram story where she snapped a selfie of herself smiling thoughtfully, cheekily captioning it: "Still pregnant." Following this, at nearly 12pm on April 28, Sophie shared another Instagram story. Article continues below This time, the frame showed a baby's arm peeking into the shot, offering a glimpse of the newborn. With a beaming smile, Sophie captioned it: "... Not pregnant." The Tonypandy singer, who shot to fame on BBC talent show, Over the Rainbow and has since found success in the West End production of Wicked and as part of the Wales of the West End singing group, promised her followers a 'full birth story' soon on her TikTok, but shared that she was "feeling good" following the labour this week.
Wales Online
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Sophie Evans and Ellis Jenkins announce birth second child with perfect post
Sophie Evans and Ellis Jenkins announce birth second child with perfect post Sophie Evans took to social media to announce the birth of her second child, ten days after their due date Sophie and Ellis pictured with their eldest son Jack in 2023, have now welcomed another addition to their family (Image: Sophie Evans/Instagram ) Welsh West End star Sophie Evans has excitingly announced the arrival of her second child with rugby player husband, Ellis Jenkins. Known for her standout performances in musicals like Wicked and The Wizard of Oz, Sophie shared the heart warming news with her followers on social media through a witty Instagram post. Sophie and Ellis, who already share a son, Jack, born in December 2022, were eagerly awaiting the birth of their second child. The couple, who have been together for over a decade, have been vocal about their excitement throughout the pregnancy, offering fans a glimpse into their journey. On April 18, Sophie posted an update on Instagram, revealing that the day marked her due date. However, there was no sign of "baby Jenks" — a nickname given to their unborn child by influencer Sophie Harris. Fans eagerly awaited the big announcement, but it seemed the baby had decided to keep everyone on their toes. Content cannot be displayed without consent As the days went on, Ellis couldn't contain his excitement and shared his own updates, showing just how eager the family was to meet the new addition. Taking to Instagram, the Wales International wrote: "Counting down the days until baby number 2 arrives. We can't wait to meet him and Jack is so excited to be a big brother!" Despite the anticipation, the days stretched on, and it wasn't until ten days after her due date that Sophie confirmed the arrival of their baby. On April 27, around 9pm, Sophie posted an amusing Instagram story where she snapped a selfie of herself smiling thoughtfully, cheekily captioning it: "Still pregnant." Article continues below Sophie Evans teased fans with this post on the evening of April 27, nearly ten days after her baby's due date (Image: Sophie Evans ) Following this, at nearly 12pm on April 28, Sophie shared another Instagram story. This time, the frame showed a baby's arm peeking into the shot, offering a glimpse of the newborn. With a beaming smile, Sophie captioned it: "... Not pregnant." Sophie delighted fans by confirming the arrival of her second child, with Ellis Jenkins (Image: Sophie Evans ) While Sophie and Ellis have yet to publicly confirm the gender of their new arrival, the baby was dressed in a blue onesie in the photo—leading some fans to wonder if this was a subtle hint. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter Sophie and Ellis' relationship is one that has evolved over the years. The couple first met when they were both just 18 years old, and their bond has only grown stronger since. Speaking to WalesOnline in the past, Sophie shared that despite their deep connection, they've faced their fair share of challenges. "When we were about 23 or 24, we went separate ways for just over a year and then realised, 'you are the love of my life' and we are meant to be together. The rest is history," she recalled. Their reunion only reaffirmed their commitment to one another, and they've been inseparable ever since. The couple chose to marry in Cardiff, opting for an intimate ceremony in their home country over a grand destination wedding. Sophie explained that while they initially considered getting married in Spain, they discovered that the legal requirements would make it too complicated. "I didn't realise that you can't really get officially legally married in Spain and you have to do a lot of things to be able to do that so I thought, let's just do the legal side here and go to the registry [sic] office and then we'll have the wedding in Ibiza," she said. What started as a simple plan turned into a much larger celebration, and Sophie reflected on how they made the most of their day: "It became a bit more of a thing and I thought, if we're having a day in Cardiff then we may as well make it a bit more of a celebration." Fans will no doubt continue to follow along as the couple embarks on this new chapter with their second child. Article continues below
