The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has hit back at claims the women's programme is a financial drain on the men's game.
WRU women's rugby director Nadine Griffiths said allegations she had read on social media that a region is to be cut because of investment in the women's game were "embarrassing".
And she added the women's game had in fact made money for the governing body.
The Union has had a professional women's programme since the start of 2022 and there are now more than 40 contracted players.
But plans to axe one of the four men's professional regions - most likely Scarlets or Ospreys - has stirred hostility.

#union #nadine #griffiths #scarlets

A new book about the Princess of Wales is coming out at the end of the month, but ***** O! readers will have the chance to see it in person first at an exclusive event we are hosting on Wednesday 23 September in central London.
Author Ingrid Seward's new book, Catherine & Diana, explores the two most famous Princesses of Wales – the current holder of the ***** le, Catherine, and the late mother-in-law she never met, Princess Diana. Both royal women, who are often compared, have shaped the monarchy in their own unique way and their relationship to the Crown is the subject of Ingrid's book.
To celebrate these two iconic Princesses of Wales, ***** O! is hosting an intimate event – a live recording of A Right Royal Podcast – on Wednesday 23 September at Quaglino's – and you're invited! You'll have early access to Ingrid's book and be the first to hear an extract from it, plus have the chance to buy a signed copy, before it officially hits shelves later that week.
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Our hosts of A Right Royal Podcast, Emily Nash, Andrea Caamano, and Emmy Griffiths, will be quizzing Ingrid on the real Diana and Catherine. Step beyond the headlines as our royal experts share their anecdotes about meeting the two Princesses, their take on how these royal women have influenced the monarchy, what Catherine's supporting role during her husband William's reign will look like, and much more.

#princesses #princess #hello #wednesday

Crocs, Pokemon cards and kendamas never go out of style in Hawaii. And neither does the Warriors' four-wide offense, In video sessions with offensive newcomers, receivers coach Jared Ursua shows old footage of the Warriors' passing game. "We've been doing this since January," Ursua said of clips of former UH QBs Dan Robinson, Nick Rolovich, Timmy Chang, Colt Brennan, Bryant Moniz and Cole McDonald. "We are who we are, we do what we do, and this system has always worked." QB1 Micah Alejado has been starring in recent remakes, deciphering defenses ahead of the snap, releasing passes within 2.2 seconds, and throwing to targeted areas on the receivers' routes. "Micah's a special quarterback," said Chang, the UH head coach who calls the offensive plays. "He understands our offense, and he understands what teams are trying to do against us." Ursua has implored the receivers to read the coverages correctly "so Micah can throw at a high level based on our indicators, which is what the run-and-shoot is based off." Alejado has shown toughness, playing through injuries to his right ankle last season. He did not participate in contact drills ahead of the Hawaii Bowl, during which he completed 69.6% of his throws for 274 yards and three TDs. Last season, the Warriors scored on 46.1% of Alejado's full drives. Slotbacks Blaze Kamoku, Tama Uiliata, Audric Harris, Kainoa "Kaikai" Carvalho, ******* an Lacaden and Koa Eldredge are reliable inside receivers. Devin Alves, Tre' Griffiths and Carson Brown are tall and fast wideouts. With running back Landon Sims' graduation, Cam Barfield will get the bulk of the reps. Barfield did not fumble while averaging 9.1 touches as a running back, receiver and returner. Left tackle Boogie Henderson's emergence enabled Dean Briski to move to the right side. At 6-6 and 345 pounds, Oregon transfer Lipe Moala is mobile on pulls.
Three years ago, in his first season as UH's defensive coordinator, Dennis Thurman kept intact the 4-2-5 scheme the Warriors ran under Corey Batoon in 2019 and Jacob Yoro in 2023. In 2024, Thurman incorporated some of the attacking schemes he used when he was an ******* istant coach with the Baltimore Ravens and DC with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills. "Once we clicked his second year, he let it all loose," mike linebacker Wynden Ho'ohuli said of Thurman. Kona Moore, who has overcome a variety of injuries, and Matagi Thompson are succeeding safeties Peter Manuma and Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen. "Main focus is staying healthy," said Moore, who relies on stretching as part of his prehab. Ho'ohuli and Jamih Otis have switched linebacker jobs. Ho'ohuli is now the middle, often working in tandem with nickelback Elijah Palmer. As the renamed dime linebacker, Otis often has isolation ******* ignments, which enable him to use his speed in the flats and to break off for direct aim at running backs. Ho'ohuli and Otis will take turns as play-callers. The Warriors will miss Jackie Johnson III's pass rushing, but Leste

Meet the Mets pitcher making MLB fans mad over 'cocky' jumping strikeout celebration originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Much like famed reggae artist Marcia Griffiths, Mets reliever Jefry Yan feels like jumping.
New York has had plenty of eye-catching athletes bear its colors in recent years, from Juan Soto to Edwin Diaz. Few have displayed the plyometrics quite like Yan, a gymnastic of sorts from the mound — who happens to be armed with one of the hardest fastballs in the league.
Yan made his big-league debut in the Mets' 6-5 win over the Guardians on Aug. 5. He shined from his post atop the hill, striking out two while getting out of a bases-loaded jam in one inning of work. Suffice to say, Yan's outing — and the depth-defying stunts that accompanied it — had the baseball world talking.
With that, here's what you need to know about Yan, the latest showman to take hold of the spotlight in the Big Apple.

#preferred #marcia

He earned the nickname "Tre'" for being the third Edley William Griffiths in his family.
At Keller High School in Texas, Griffiths excelled in the triple-jump.
It is little wonder Tre' Griffiths is a three-tool wideout for the University of Hawaii football team. After the first two practices of training camp, 6-foot-3, 205-pound Griffiths has shown speed, hops on 50-50 **** , and Hoy-Hoy grip.
"I'm loving it here," said Griffiths, who transferred from Oklahoma State in January. "Coach (Jared) Ursua and Coach (William) Overstreet have done a really good job getting me acclimated and adjusted to the program. I've been loving it so far."
Griffiths is helping to fill a void in the Warriors' four-receiver offense. Wideouts Jackson Harris and Brandon White transferred, and Karsyn Pupunu's petition for an extra season was denied. Margin Hooks, who is Griffiths' personal trainer, called Ursua. Hooks, a former BYU receiver, and the UH receivers coach are close friends.

#coach #ursua

OTTUMWA — It may be the last time an Ottumwa High School softball team competes on the field that bares his name.
Frank Huston made sure to get the final ball thrown in a game on what has been, for the past 52 years, the home diamond of the 28-time state qualifiers and two-time state champions. Huston came very close this season to achieving one last milestone on the field he has helped oversee and take care of for the past five decades, reaching 1,899 career wins on Monday with Ottumwa's doubleheader sweep of Cedar Rapids Jefferson.
The Bulldogs made short work of the final scheduled high school varsity softball doubleheader to be played at Huston Field, winning each game in four innings with a 12-1 win in game one and a 13-3 win in game two. Breanna Griffiths and Caysen Thompson, two of Ottumwa's four seniors to play in their final scheduled home game for the program, each hit their very first home runs at Huston Field as part of the opening-game victory for the Bulldogs while Lily Garrison connected on her second career Huston Field homer in game two helping OHS erase an early three-run deficit.
"There have been a lot of good memories here. It's hard to leave," Huston said. "If everything goes according to plan, this field will be used next season as the junior high's home field."
That would be because Ottumwa is scheduled to have a new home softball complex to call home next season. As part of the Greater Ottumwa Park renovation plan that was approved three years ago, the quadrant of the park where John Hart Stadium and the Ottumwa Babe Ruth baseball complex is located is set to have 16 new fields in place including what would be the new diamond for the Bulldog high school softball team.