Latest news with #WillCarling
Daily Mail
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
What happened to rugby bad boy Will Carling: 90s lothario had a 'fling' with Princess Diana - and was fined £1million and needed therapy to handle the fallout from his philandering with identikit blondes
The man who the late Princess Diana was alleged to have nicknamed 'captain' - while he affectionately referred to her as 'boss' - saw his life move from the back pages of newspapers to the front thanks to his very colourful love life. In 1994, Will Carling, then 29, had won three major Grand Slams as captain of the England men's rugby team, a position that meant his path would frequently cross with the royals, including Diana. Somewhere between the hallowed turf at Twickenham and the fancy Chelsea gym the royal, then 33, and the rugby player shared, a friendship blossomed that would see Carling's previously clean-cut image begin to flounder. At the time, the rugged former public school boy was married to glamorous blonde television presenter Julia Smith, then 30, with the couple having wed in the same year. Photos of Diana and Carling emerging from Chelsea Harbour Club separately were snapped - and the pair were said to have grown close after the witty princess told the professional sportsman that he was doing sit-ups incorrectly. Post-workout refreshments in the club's cafe followed, sparking a chain of events that would catapult Carling's penchant for beautiful blonde women into the spotlight, and see him dubbed the 'bad boy of English rugby'. When it was disclosed to Julia that her husband was also visiting the Princess at Kensington Palace, his tell-tale blue Range Rover spotted in the car park, she publicly fired a warning shot at her royal rival, declaring that she had 'picked the wrong couple'. However, according to Tina Brown's book The Palace Papers, Diana and Carling were close enough for him to be introduced to her sons. 'William hero-worshiped Carling and met him several times with Diana,' she said. 'When Carling visited Kensington Palace for a romantic rendezvous, he gave both the boys a rugby shirt.' While a romance was never confirmed and indeed were frequently dismissed by Kensington Palace as 'pure speculation', by September 1995, Carling had announced that he and Julia were set to divorce - and papers were inked the following year. When reports of the divorce broke, Julia seemingly made it clear who she blamed for the destruction of the couple's happy ever after, in a quote relayed to a newspaper by a friend, saying: 'It would be easy to say she's ruined my marriage, but it takes two to tango and I blame Will for getting involved in the first place.' However, Julia herself later told another reporter: 'This has happened [to Diana] before... you hope she won't do these things again, but obviously she does.' During a lunch in 1996 with Piers Morgan, at which a 13-year-old Prince Wililam was present, Diana made her feelings clear. 'She's milking it for all she's worth that woman,' she said. 'I haven't seen Will since June '95.' William added: 'I keep a photo of Julia Carling on my dartboard at Eton.' Meanwhile, Will had retreated to a rented flat in Covent Garden, which wasn't in his name, didn't have a phone and was accessed via an underground car park. 'My parents didn't even know where I lived,' he said. 'I lived there for a year and I never opened the curtains or blinds in case anyone looked in.' A decade later in 2004, Carling was still adamant no affair had taken place with the late 'Queen of People's Hearts', telling the Sunday Mirror: 'No, no, no – how many times do I have to say it? We were friends...' Of the end of his marriage with Julia, he said: 'I have to admit that I didn't handle things very well, not very well at all. But there are two sides to every story, and no one has heard mine. That's my choice, and I live with it.' However, just four years ago the ex England rugby star, who will celebrate his 60th birthday in December, was more candid about his bond with Diana, admitting he had been 'stupidly doing things you shouldn't do'. Speaking on a podcast, he confessed the whole period had been 'a bit of a mess.' Asked to explain, the sportsman said: 'Just making messes of relationships because you're sort of rudderless and you've lost your focus and you don't behave well, and I didn't. 'Never intentionally or vindictively, I just think that was me, I just was in a bit of a mess. You're sort of like a car that's lost a steering wheel and you're careering all over the place. It wasn't very pleasant; it was a fairly traumatic time.' His impending divorce from Julia might have abated interest in his personal life, had a new woman not breezed into the picture months before his marriage was officially over. Ali Cockayne, then in her early thirties, knew the sporting world well; her sister Michelle was married to footballer-turned-BBC presenter Gary Lineker at the time. When Ali and Carling were introduced at a testimonial dinner, their love affair quickly became serious and they went on to have a son, Henry, in 1997. However, when Henry was just 11 months old, Carling appeared to swerve serious commitment once again, exiting the relationship in the midst of planning for their upcoming wedding. Ali learned the rugby player had a new squeeze when she discovered a press release in the study of their luxury home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, which read: 'Will Carling is leaving his partner Ali Cockayne for a future with Lisa Cooke.' Lisa was the estranged wife of his friend and ex-England rugby player David Cooke, and their romance ignited again over another testimonial match, this time Carling's own, at Wembley. In the days after the break-up was revealed, Ali was seen clutching Henry to her chest, crying uncontrollably. In 2024, Ali experienced the devastating death of her son Jonty, who she shared with her new partner, Bob Parkinson. Ali's agony was captured poignantly at the time of her split with Carling in a photograph, showing her clutching their son Henry to her chest, and crying uncontrollably The 18-year-old died of a crush injury to his abdomen after a tree accident in Oxfordshire. Announcing he was leaving Ali in 1998, Carling released a statement at the time through his agent, saying: 'This has been a very sad and painful time for everyone concerned. 'It is even more difficult and emotional because of Henry, but I plan to fulfil my duties and responsibilities as a father.' The couple's dramatic split happened just a month after Will retired from rugby. After his new love affair with Lisa became public, the rugby player was reportedly fined £1 million for cancelling a test match due to the fall-out. A year later, Carling and Lisa married in Fiji in 1999 with her two children, Tom and Tali, from her earlier marriage the only guests. They went on to have two children, Jack and Mimi, together. Carling later said that it was Lisa who 'transformed his life' and that family 'is just it for me'. The ex-army officer, whose rugby career spanned nine years, previously opened up about undergoing therapy with John Cleese's ex-wife, Alyce Faye Eichelberger. He reflected later that he hadn't always behaved the way he should have done, saying: 'As a sportsman you lead a very selfish life. 'But now, for the first time, I'm willing to concede that I'm not always right and not to think that things should always be my way.' He added: 'I'd hate to think I'd ever get complacent or boast that ours was the best relationship anyone's ever had. I think you have to work hard to stay happy, which for me means always talking instead of bottling up your feelings as I used to do.' Last year, he reflected in The Telegraph in 2024 on how being linked to one of the most famous women in the world, Princess Diana, was a 'good story'. He said: 'Front page is very different from back page. Yeah, it was not nice. 'Hey, a lot of that is my own fault, you can't complain. You have to learn. Relationships that I got that's what they got fascinated by. You look back on it and you think it was all blown out of all proportion, but it made a good story.' Now, Carling lives a much more low-key life, concentrating on being the best dad and family man he can be. He told The Daily Mail in 2015 of his new hobbies: 'I'm obsessed with [cycling] and clock up about 250km a week. I analyse all kinds of stats and love talking about kit. 'I'm 49 and I've become a Middle-Aged Man In Lycra – it's sad, but I can't help it,' added the sportsman. He has worked as a TV pundit, a motivational speaker and in the hospitality industry, while also acting as leadership mentor to Eddie Jones' England rugby team.
Daily Mail
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gary Lineker's nephew is the son of a celebrity sports star - can you guess who it is?
Gary Lineker 's nephew is the son of a celebrity sports star. The broadcaster, 64, has four sons, George, 34, Harry, 31, Tobias, 29, and Angus, 27, with ex wife Michelle Cockayne who he tied the knot with in 1986. Through Michelle, he also has a nephew-in-law via her sister Ali Cockayne, to whom his sons are close. Sharing an update to Instagram this week Gary's son, George, uploaded a photo to his story with his cousin, Henry. But, can you guess who his dad is? From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Henry Carling is the son of rugby legend Will Carling. Will and Henry's mum Ali separated when he was just 11 months old in 1998. Tragically the family were left saddened in September last year by the death of his brother Jonty, who Ali shared with her new partner Bob Parkinson. Jonty died of a crush injury to his abdomen after the incident in Oxfordshire. The incident happened while the 18-year-old was working as a tree surgeon. A inquest opened in October 2024 at Oxford Coroner's Court heard Jonty, of Coln St. Aldwyns, Cirencester, died on Friday September 6. At the time, two of Gary's sons wrote moving social media messages about the death of their 'much-loved' cousin. George posted an Instagram story featuring a picture of himself with Jonty as a youngster. The caption read: 'One of the nicest boys you'll meet, taken far too soon. Fly high cousin, you'll be missed by all.' Meanwhile Tobias also posted a boyhood picture of Jonty smiling with a message, saying: 'Taken from us far too soon, rest in peace little cousin.' The relationship between Ali and Will reportedly began in early 1996, several months before his divorce from television presenter Julia Carling. His two-year marriage to Julia had ended after he was publicly linked with the late Diana, Princess of Wales, although he always denied having a relationship with the Royal. Ali and Carling were said to be preparing to marry in 1998 when he walked out on her to be with Lisa Cooke, the estranged wife of his friend and ex-England rugby player David Cooke. She was reportedly devastated to learn their relationship was over when she discovered a press release which Carling had written in the study of their luxury home in Sunningdale, Berkshire. It allegedly read: 'Will Carling is leaving his partner Ali Cockayne for a future with Lisa Cooke'. The couple's dramatic break-up happened just a month after Will retired from rugby, having won three Grand Slams. Lisa's relationship with Will is said to have begun while she was organising his testimonial match at Wembley. Will released a statement at the time through his agent, saying: 'This has been a very sad and painful time for everyone concerned. 'It is even more difficult and emotional because of Henry, but I plan to fulfil my duties and responsibilities as a father.' He and Lisa married in Fiji in 1999 with her two children from her earlier marriage being the only guests. The couple have since had two children together.
The Guardian
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
RFU makes radical bid to ditch ‘old farts' council in Sweeney shake-up
The Rugby Football Union plans to do away with its council - the decision-making body infamously dubbed '57 old farts' by Will Carling - in a radical governance shake-up following Bill Sweeney's survival as chief executive last month. In a move that would significantly strengthen Sweeney's position and represent the biggest change to the structure of the organisation in recent history, a proposal has been sent for public consultation featuring two options to overhaul the RFU's governance - both of which would do away with the council, which currently has 63 members. At last month's Special General Meeting, Sweeney survived a vote of no confidence – facing down a rebellion that was sparked by the RFU pay scandal – while a second vote was passed to expedite the union's governance review. As a result, the RFU has begun the consultation process which will run until the end of June. The proposal is expected to go down badly among the rebels given it is the council who provides oversight of the board on which Sweeny sits. Options set out by the governance and representation review group include replacing the council with a smaller national advisory group or replacing those members with game representatives who would be embedded within all the decision-making bodies. Ultimately, the review group will report back to the council with a final report and set of recommendations after the consultation period. 'This review represents an opportunity for real change,' said Malcolm Wharton, chair of the review group. 'We want to work with the game to identify a progressive, inclusive, agile and local approach to governance, where we can deliver greater transparency built on a culture of shared ownership so rugby can thrive across the country.' As well as providing oversight of the board, the RFU is responsible for setting regulations for the game in England such as competition structures and laws. The majority of council members are elected from geographic areas made up of a single county, or group of counties. The council has long since been opposed to doing away with relegation and promotion between the Premiership and the Championship but, amid plans for a franchised top tier, its removal would appear to remove that hurdle. An emergency council meeting called shortly before Christmas sought to stave off a vote of no confidence in the then chairman Tom Ilube from a group of disgruntled members. Instead he resigned shortly afterwards with pressure mounting on the board after it emerged Sweeney was paid £1.1m last year. Following that explosive council meeting, a group of members turned on their colleagues, accusing them of 'bullying, entitlement and elitism'. Ed Warner, the chair of GB wheelchair rugby, a former chair of UK Athletics and a member of the review group, said: 'The headline-grabbing corollary is our suggestion that the RFU Council be disbanded entirely, or alternatively be replaced by a smaller collection of selected [not elected] individuals who are available to be consulted as expert advisors when necessary. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion 'I've no doubt this will rankle with a number of existing council members, but am hopeful that the logic of this streamlined structure, empowering those within community rugby, will win the hearts and minds of the majority. None of this lets the RFU board and executive off the hook. 'In fact, it makes it near impossible for them to wriggle out of their responsibilities. Which is just as it should be. All, then, will rest on the effectiveness of the system established to identify appointees to the Board, and on the willingness of clubs to exercise their influence, as enshrined in their voting rights, to ensure that the directors and the executives they employ are held firmly to account.'
The Guardian
04-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Carling questions calibre of England coaching staff and ‘sensitive' players
The former England captain Will Carling has questioned the quality of the coaching within the national set-up and suggested it is holding the team back. Carling, who was part of England's backroom staff under Eddie Jones, has also rejected complaints from squad members such as Ellis Genge that ex-players are 'out of touch' after their criticism of last month's win over Scotland. Carling, who captained England from 1988 to 1996 and presided over one of the country's most successful periods, says the players look restricted by a gameplan that prevents them from replicating the ability they show at club level. 'You look at the calibre of the England coaching team and you have to question whether that's the best we can put out there,' Carling said on Radio 4's Today programme. 'Some of them are learning, some of them are very young and maybe lack the experience at Test level. Maybe that's what we're seeing impact on the players. Someone like Alex Mitchell has been outstanding [for Northampton] all season and yet we see him play in a very different way for England. We do have some talented players there's no doubt. And maybe we're seeing a slightly restricted version of them.' Carling, who led England to 44 wins in his 59 Tests in charge, suggested that Genge's dismissive reaction to concerns expressed by a number of former England internationals was wide of the mark. 'I wouldn't necessarily agree with him,' Carling said. 'A lot of ex-players are hugely experienced and have a lot of knowledge. 'But I understand that when you're a current player you're highly sensitive. You're trying as hard as you can to win games [and] they've had a tough run. Let's be honest, we're talking a tough run for three or four years now. That's where players have to understand people will have opinions. 'I remember all these times we had some very ugly wins and you watch the reaction of the media and the fans. It is a bit frustrating but you have to take a deep breath and accept that's part and parcel of it.' The 59-year-old former centre was first recruited by Jones to be a squad mentor in 2018 at a time when the current head coach, Steve Borthwick, was on the coaching staff. Along with other ex-England stalwarts such as Will Greenwood and Ben Youngs, however, he was unimpressed by the manner of the performance against Scotland, despite the team's 16-15 victory. Carling subsequently described it as 'very ugly' and believes supporters are entitled to ask questions about the side's development before Sunday's game against Italy. 'I still think we're way off the potential of this team and let's just hope we start seeing that. There are definitely frustrations and that's what the players probably sense from the fans and the media.' Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion With the Six Nations title still up for grabs, Carling backed France to upset the defending champions, Ireland, in Dublin on Saturday. 'The French were unbelievably impressive against Italy. When they're playing at their best they're extraordinary. The England defeat still hurts them so I would go along with them at the weekend.'
