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Most capped England rugby stars reunite at school

Dan Cole and Ben Youngs standing next to each other on a pitch. They are both dressed in green rugby kit and are both clapping.
Dan Cole and Ben Youngs (right) have gone from playing rugby together, to hosting a podcast together, and will now be teaching alongside one another [PA Media]

The two most capped England men's rugby union players will be working together again as they teach a school's aspiring stars of the future.

After retiring from the sport last year, Dan Cole will be joining Gresham's School, in Norfolk, in September, to teach alongside Ben Youngs.

The duo were team-mates for England and Leicester Tigers, with scrum-half Youngs retiring on 127 international caps and Cole on 118.

The former prop said: "The opportunity to work alongside Ben and help young athletes develop their skills, confidence and mindset, and ultimately achieve their full potential, is something I'm very passionate about."

Announcing his retirement last year, Cole said his decision was influenced by Youngs' decision to hang up his boots a month before.

During his career, Cole helped England secure three Six Nations Championship titles, competed in four Rugby World Cups and represented the British and Irish Lions on two tours.

Dan Cole wears a green Leicester Tigers jersey, looking and pointing to the left of the frame. Behind him is a sporting stand.
Dan Cole retired at the end of last season [PA Media]

Norfolk-born Youngs, 36, who attended the private school near Holt, was appointed its head of performance sport in 2024.

He and Cole have hosted a podcast, For The Love of Rugby, since January 2024.

The 39-year-old will now support Youngs as part of the school's Talented Athlete Development Programme, which aims to support pupils with technical coaching, strength and conditioning, and workshops in nutrition and psychology.

As well as Ben, his brother Tom Youngs and their father Nick, the school also counts Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman and billionaire businessman Sir James Dyson among its alumni.

James Knight, director of sport at Gresham's and former director of rugby at local club North Walsham RFC, added: "It is incredibly exciting to welcome Dan to Gresham's.

"His outstanding achievement in rugby, combined with his dedication and expertise, will make a significant contribution to our sporting programmes."

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Young city footballers reach national final

A girls' football team selected from Leeds schools has reached a national final two years after forming.

The Leeds Schools Girls U14s is made up of players selected from across the city after more than 70 youngsters took part in trials for one of the 18 places.

The girls, who compete at elite national level, will face Knowsley in the English Schools Football Association Champions Cup Plate national final on Sunday.

One of the girls said: "I think we can do it because we're a really good team and we all work together and we're all really close."

While the Leeds Schools boys' programme has long produced top talent including the likes of Kalvin Phillips and David Batty, the female side was only formed recently to meet growing demand and create a similar pathway for young players.

It is the girls' second final of the season after losing to Rotherham in the county-level tournament, the Yorkshire Schools Cup.

Head coach Matt Wainwright said the girls had a "real chance" of winning this time.

"When we played Rotherham we lost to a really late goal and the devastation was there across the players, parents and coaches.

"But we've had an extra spring in our step since then and they're ready to compete and I'm really optimistic."

The final will be played at the Sixways Stadium in Worcester and streamed live on YouTube with commentary.

The girls' team is made of youngsters from 11 schools across Leeds and nearly all of them play in the West Riding Girls Football - one of the largest female grassroots football leagues in the country.

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'I feel torn' Italian football fan turning his affections to England

Football mad Luca Vettese is having a conflicted World Cup.

The Lancashire-born businessman of Italian heritage, who is the fourth generation to run his family's ice cream parlour, is still stunned that the Italian team has not made it to the World Cup - for the third time running.

The Azzurri are four times winners of the trophy with the last time coming 20 years ago in Germany when they won a penalty shoot 5-3 against the French in the Olympiastadion, Berlin.

Yet they last qualified for the competition in 2014 when Brazil were the hosts meaning this is the third World Cup the team has missed.

"It is unbelievable we've won it so many times but to be missing three in a row is incredible," he said.

Vettese added: "I have cousins and relatives back in Italy who still can't come to terms with this."

However the keen supporter of Blackpool FC said: "Because I was born and brought up in Blackpool, I also think I can support England but I do feel torn."

He consoles himself with the fact he saw Italy win their first trophy since 2006 when they beat England on penalties in the delayed European Championships final.

World Cup rebrand

"I was lucky to be at Wembley in 2021 for the final when Italy beat England in the Euros - either way I couldn't lose."

He added: "Now I've seen Italy win a trophy, I really want England to win this year"

The managing director of Notarianni Ice Cream, his family's business which has been running in Blackpool since 1928, has turned the Italian World Cup blues into a tongue-in-cheek social media video.

It opens with sepia images of Vettese and his dad lamenting in Italian the team's demise and turns into a fun rebrand.

"We had a brainstorm with our team and decided on promoting ourselves as Not-Italliani ice cream branding a Panzotta as a barm cake and selling 66s instead of 99s - the customers have loved it."

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Factory workers' flight to England match remembered

A little over 70 years before the current World Cup kicked off, a group of excited factory workers from Coventry were preparing to fly to watch an England side take on Scotland in Glasgow.

A photo of 30-odd men waiting to board the plane in April, 1956, has been shared as people reflect on Coventry Airport's 90-year history, following its closure.

Among the aircraft engineers from the city's Rolls-Royce factory travelling to Hampden Park, was Stan Aldenton, an England fan, and his best friend Bob Howat, a Scotsman and rival supporter.

Stan's son Rob Aldenton, 83, remembers his dad's trip well. "We were waiting for him to come back and tell us about it," he said. "It was quite a big family event."

The match, which ended 1-1, was part of the British Home Championship, a tournament between the home nations that began in the 1880s, ending a century later.

Aldenton said the aircraft was a Dakota Douglas DC-3 and the flight took a couple of hours.

He took a similar trip himself in 1962 to be among more than 130,000 spectators at Hampden, this time travelling from Birmingham.

"It was amazing," he said, recalling the large crowds and atmosphere.

The photo from 1956 is among possessions he and sister Mary have of their late father, who worked at Rolls-Royce for most of his career, including helping make parts for Concorde.

Aldenton owns a gold watch his father was given to mark his 25th anniversary with the firm, having started during World War Two helping to make aircraft parts.

Coventry's airport, which opened as Baginton Aerodrome in 1936, closed earlier this month with pop group Take That the last passengers to fly in.

It will make way for the GreenPowerPark, a Β£2.5bn battery and clean energy project, expected to create thousands of jobs.

Aldenton, who grew up in the city's Radford area, believes the engineers would have funded their own trip and it would have been a very special day for them.

It was the first time his dad, who was then about 47, had flown.

"We were all excited as children that he was going to be flying," he said.

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City aims to build on Rugby World Cup legacy

Two girls in bibs run between poles, with one carrying a rugby ball. A woman in a tracksuit watches over them.
Hundreds of women and girls in Brighton & Hove are now playing rugby on a weekly basis [Bx Webb/Brighton & Hove City Council]

A city is aiming to build on the legacy of the Women's Rugby World Cup, after hosting games during the 2025 competition.

Brighton & Hove City Council has held rugby-themed activities, with hundreds of local women and girls now playing the sport on a weekly basis.

The authority says it wants to build on the legacy created and increase female participation in the sport.

The city's Brighton & Hove Stadium hosted two sold out games in the World Cup, including the would-be champions England versus Australia, with crowds also watching on screens erected around the city centre.

The authority said more than 2,600 women and girls aged 16 or over engaged with rugby activities throughout the duration of the legacy project, with support from more than 20 different clubs, community groups and local organisations.

It says more than 300 women and girls are playing the sport on a regular basis.

Sessions included games of tag rugby for schools at Hove Rugby Club and a series of walking rugby events is also planned

Bella Sankey, leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said: "Bringing events like the Women's Rugby World Cup to the city has a huge economic benefit and advertises Brighton & Hove to a worldwide audience.

"The legacy is not just about finding the next Jess Breach or Ellie Kildunne, it is about showing women and girls here in Brighton & Hove that sport is for them and introducing them to the huge benefits being active and part of a team or sporting community brings."

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Would you travel to the World Cup if your country hasn't made it?

Would you travel thousands of miles to go to the Fifa World Cup, even if your country wasn't playing?

Neither Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland qualified for the tournament.

But that hasn't stopped some football fans making the journey to North America to see some of the world's best teams.

BBC News NI has been chatting to some fans about just how far they would go for the love of the game.

'It's great to see people from all over the world'

Originally from Coleraine, Roger Woodend now lives in Philadelphia.

His journey is perhaps shorter than some others, but still involves travelling to a different country - in this instance, Canada - to catch a game.

It has become something of a tradition for him and his friend Alex Logan, who is from Ballymoney, but lives in Scotland.

Both previously visited Brazil for the 2014 World Cup, a tournament that also didn't feature Northern Ireland, but nevertheless the country has still been represented thanks to the pair's matching green and white jerseys.

"It is amazing. It's fantastic. It's great to see people from all over the world here supporting their team. It's great to see the Americans embracing it," Woodend said.

"It's a really good atmosphere, there's a real massive energy around the whole place."

Logan agreed that, while football - or soccer to people in the US - may not be the biggest sport in America, "people are getting into it".

"It just feels like a proper World Cup atmosphere. I know there's been a lot of concerns about all sorts of different things, but to me, it's just a real normal World Cup."

The first match they went to was Canada v Bosnia-Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium, which would have been one of Northern Ireland's games.

Woodend said they even bumped into a group of fans who had travelled from Bangor, County Down.

"It's a shame we didn't make it. I'm hoping that we'll make it to the next one."

'A good buzz around the place'

Richard Kehoe, a primary school teacher and junior football coach from Newry, is a Republic of Ireland fan.

He travelled to the United States with his dad and met up with his brother who now lives in North Carolina.

They watched South Africa take on Czech Republic - a fixture that would have been one of Ireland's, had they qualified.

"We were talking about the possibility of Ireland getting through to the World Cup and travelling over to meet him and one of the games would be in Atlanta, which was only a three or four hour drive away from him.

"We decided to go ahead and take the chance and book flights," he said.

He added that it was "heartbreaking" when Ireland did not qualify.

"As the weeks have gone on I'm back excited again just to get over, there'll be a good buzz around the place."

Ronan Quinn from Omagh will be visiting Toronto to visit friends who have moved out there.

As a "big football fan" he sees it as a "good excuse to go and see the World Cup" as it is "probably a once in a lifetime thing".

He has paid about Β£200 for tickets to see Senegal take on Iraq.

Money has been a topic of conversation at this World Cup with several fans telling BBC News that, for some, the cost of attending the tournament has stretched into the thousands.

But they said their love of football and the memories they hoped to create eased the sting.

And Quinn agrees.

"I think, you know, for a sporting event. It's not too bad."

Jonny Blair is also travelling to Canada, he's hoping the World Cup "buzz" will provide just as much entertainment.

"We're going to do the fan zone." he said.

"I've already been to the World Cup twice. I've been to like four World Cup games. I've been to the Euros to watch Northern Ireland men's, Northern Ireland women.

"So, I've done a lot of major tournament matches and I'm quite happy to sort of catch the buzz and the vibe of people in and around the stadium without having to pay a few hundred quid to get in.

"I'm not going to miss anything by not being inside the stadium.

"I don't want to deprive the right for someone from Ghana or Canada of their ticket."

He said part of the joy is that tournaments "bring people together in a positive way".

"When the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were together at the Euros, we would bump into each other and have a right laugh. It brings countries together."

Historical cricket club celebrates bicentenary

People sat on benches outside Oundle Town Cricket Club's clubhouse
A series of events are being held from 17-21 June [Tom Williams/BBC]

A county's oldest cricket club has marked its 200th anniversary with a programme of celebrations.

Northamptonshire's Oundle Town Cricket Club was founded in 1826 and plays its home fixtures at a ground on Milton Road.

Its bicentenary commemorations will feature a series of matches, including a T20 against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), and a range of community events.

The club, which is the oldest in Northamptonshire, has more than 200 members, and nine senior and junior sides, including its first XI, which competes in the Northamptonshire Cricket League's premier division.

The club's celebrations began on Wednesday when Northamptonshire County Cricket head coach, Darren Lehmann, visited the club for a question and answer session.

On Friday, the club played a three-match series with games played according to the laws and dress of 1826, 1926 and 2026.

Oundle Town's early days

A wide view of people playing cricket on a field on a bright and sunny day. There is a row of houses at the back of the field.
Friday's matches took inspiration from how cricket was played in years gone by [Tom Williams/BBC]

When the club was founded, Lord Liverpool was prime minister and Beethoven was still alive.

An edition of the former Huntingdon, Northampton, Bedford and Cambridge Weekly Journal detailed the club's earliest days with a story about a "well-contested match that was played for a rump and a dozen" - steak and eggs.

After the victors claimed their prize, the paper said they headed to the Dolphin Inn, now known as the Old Dryden, for glasses of wine that was "briskly circulated".

Detailed scorecards from the club's formative years are few and far between - the earliest dates from 24 July, 1837 - a month into Queen Victoria's long reign, when Oundle lost heavily to Bourn's village team in a match played near Stamford.

Familiar names

Despite its modest size, the club has produced its fair share of notable names.

The Rt Hon John Powys turned out regularly around 1890 and later, as Lord Lilford, served as president and generous benefactor of the Northamptonshire county club either side of the First World War.

When Oundle tackled Lilford Park in 1901 a master at neighbouring Oundle School, Bertie Grace, flayed the bowling to all parts in a memorable knock of 141.

Nine days earlier, his illustrious father - WG Grace had made exactly the same score against the Oundle schoolboys – his 200th century in all cricket.

International players including Dawid Malan, Tshepo Moreki, Denesh Ramdin and Huntingdon-born Josh Hull have all worn Oundle Town colours in recent years.

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What is inclusive rugby and why is it thriving?

A man - Sam Biscoe - in a purple rugby top smiling at the camera. He is standing in front of a rugby pitch.
Sam Biscoe says he founded the Colchester Kings as he wanted a club that was representative of the LGBTQ+ community [Colchester Kings]

When Sam Biscoe started a rugby team for players from the LGBTQ+ community in 2022, he braced himself for a modest turnout.

Instead, about 30 people turned up for day one of training at Colchester Rugby Club in Essex, and the Colchester Kings became the first inclusive club in the East of England.

Four years later, about 120 people are now associated with the club, including players, coaches and regular supporters, and it is a member of International Gay Rugby (IGR).

The Colchester Kings are now not alone in embracing inclusive rugby, with new teams forming in Essex and Norfolk, and on Saturday, the region's latest side is meeting for the first time in Cambridge.

So what is inclusive rugby, and how do LGBTQ+ players feel about finding their spot on the pitch in the East?

What is inclusive rugby?

A man smiling directly at the camera. He is wearing a red patterned rugby top. There are trees in the background.
Ross Barr-Hoyland is a trustee of International Gay Rugby [Ross Barr-Hoyland]

According to IGR, its teams "provide opportunities for members of the LGBTQ+ community to enjoy competitive rugby whilst improving respect and tolerance for people of all gender identities and sexualities worldwide".

Ross Barr-Hoyland, a trustee of the organisation which was set up in 2000, says there are now about 150 inclusive clubs registered with IGR.

The 37-year-old says it is important LGBTQ+ people are visible in sport, especially as there are currently no openly gay players in the top flight of English rugby union.

"For now, we have to serve as those role models," he says. "I think that's what's beautiful about IGR clubs in general."

Barr-Hoyland says many allies of the LGBTQ+ community also choose to join IGR teams because they prefer the culture compared to traditional rugby clubs.

The IGR says it has clubs across the UK and on six continents, but until 2022, there were no inclusive rugby teams in the East of England.

That was until Biscoe, who previously played for the inclusive club Northampton Outlaws, moved to Colchester and found no club to join in the Essex city, so he started the journey of setting up his own.

"On that first day, I was just very worried that maybe it would just be four of us handing a ball around to each other," the 39-year-old says.

"But on our very first training session, we had 30 people that turned up and it's just grown and grown from there."

He says many players travel far to join the Kings, with other teams springing up across the region.

"The more there is in the region then the better it is for all the teams," says Biscoe.

"There will be less travelling; we won't have to go halfway across the country to get a match in.

"If people find their place with those teams, then we're really happy about that. And to be able to have played a part of their history really means a lot to us," he says.

A man looking straight at the camera. He is standing on a rugby pitch and wearing a red rugby top.
Stuart Kimber is the captain of the Essex-based Rochford Hundred Hawks [Rochford Hundred Hawks]

Iceni RFC launched in Wymondham, Norfolk, a few months after the Kings, and similar teams have since launched elsewhere in Essex and are currently in the process of joining IGR officially.

Stuart Kimber, the captain of the Rochford Hundred Hawks, has played Rugby since he was in school and has previously been a member of traditional rugby clubs without any issues, but says he understands why some players may feel intimidated by them.

"We're constantly getting new people asking to join or if they can just come along and watch or how they can support the team without necessarily playing," the 32-year-old says.

The Hawks currently have 17 players and about 20 people have joined the nearby Southend Sea Lions.

Team manager Matt Driffill, 46, says the Sea Lions have attracted players ranging from 18 years old to men in their 50s.

"It's like a family," he adds. "People make really good friends when they come down and they start playing rugby."

A group of men playing rugby on an artificial pitch. There is a green wire fence behind them. Three men on the left are practising tackles and a man in the centre is being passed a rugby ball. They are all wearing red, white and purple kits.
Simon Law (centre) joined the Northampton Outlaws in 2012 [Northampton Outlaws]

The Northampton Outlaws, Biscoe's former inclusive rugby team, launched in 2012 and now has about 90 players, according to club president Simon Law.

Law says there were well-known teams in big cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham when the Outlaws were formed, and since then he has enjoyed seeing clubs launch in smaller towns and cities.

He thinks inclusive rugby has grown in popularity "because it's very intimidating as a gay man to walk into a non-inclusive rugby club where most people already know each other".

"When you look to set up an inclusive club, the whole ethos is that you're looking to get people in that may never have played rugby before," the 46-year-old says.

Since joining the team, Law has qualified as a referee and coach and enjoys welcoming new players every season.

In Cambridge, founding members of the region's newest team have been promoting the club at the city's Pride festival and say they expect about 30 people to turn up to the Yales' first session on Saturday at the Cambridge Rugby Club.

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Quiz: What type of World Cup fan are you?

The 2026 men's World Cup is under way with excited football fans cheering on their teams.

But what type of fan are you - a die-hard enthusiast analysing all the tactics, a bag of nerves who watches from behind the sofa or an eternal optimist happy to go with the flow? Take our personality quiz to find out.

Before yesterdayMain stream

Thumping win cements Canada's place as a 'soccer nation'

An image showing a Canada fan expressively celebrating a Canada goal against Qatar in the stands with a friend. He is wearing a red Canada jersey. Around him are dozens of people wearing red and white, waving Canadian flags and smiling.
Canada delivered a decisive win against Qatar before a sold-out crowd at Vancouver's stadium on Thursday. [Reuters]

Canada fans would have been happy with a modest win over Qatar on Thursday. Instead, they got a historic 6-0 rout - a victory they say has cemented Canada's place as a "soccer nation".

The match will go down in Canadian sports history as their first-ever World Cup win - even though it was tinged with heartbreak after midfielder IsmaΓ«l KonΓ© suffered a tournament-ending leg break.

"As a Canadian, to sit there and watch it all, I will live in that forever," said TSN reporter Matthew Scianitti as he walked through celebratory crowds in Vancouver.

Thursday's match against Qatar was Canada's first of this tournament in Vancouver. It was played before a sold-out crowd of 52,000 people, almost all of whom were wearing a mix of red and white.

Before the match, thousands of Canada fans marched along the "last mile" to the stadium blanketed by red smoke flares. Thousands of others gathered at watch parties across the country, from Vancouver's Granville Street to small neighbourhood bars in Toronto.

That is where Dave Di Cola, a longtime fan of Canadian football, watched the men's team dominate Qatar with dozens of other supporters.

Di Cola told the BBC that he felt "reserved optimism" heading into the game, noting that anything could happen in football.

The match quickly unfolded in Canada's favour, however, with three goals before half-time. By the end, it was a blowout - albeit one aided by Qatar having two players sent off.

An image showing hundreds of fans jumping for joy after Canada scored a goal at the Fifa Fan Festival in Vancouver. Most are wearing read and white. They are gathered behind a metal railing.
Watch parties were held across the country and attended by thousands, from Vancouver to Toronto. [Reuters]
Fans marching and holding up a big banner that reads 'Voyaguers' in large white letters. They are waving Canadian flags and holding up red scarves that say CANADA in red. Red smoke flairs are blanketing fans in the left half of the photo.
Canadian fans marched the "last mile" to Vancouver's stadium to show support ahead of Canada's first match in the west coast on Thursday. [Reuters]

For fans like Di Cola, the win was a validation that Les Rouges (the nickname for the Canadian squad) are a serious competitor in this tournament. It was also a moment that brought the nation together.

"Canada soccer has always been kind of a joke. It's always secondary," he said. But seeing the support the team has received at the Vancouver match and beyond, Di Cola added, "nearly brought a tear to my eye."

Celebratory scenes flooded social media after the win. One photo showed a fan wearing an ice hockey jersey for Connor McDavid, with the "Mc" covered by a makeshift "J" in honour of Jonathan David, who scored three of Canada's six goals - a fitting symbol of a hockey nation embracing its national football team.

But the joy was also muted due to KonΓ©'s injury, Di Cola said. "If that didn't happen, I would have been running up and down the avenue yesterday," he said.

An image showing Carney smiling in the locker room. Behind him are four players standing in front of their lockers, two of whom are shirtless and two are wearing black Canada football jerseys. Carney is wearing the same black jersey with a casual, navy blue collared sports coat on top.
In a locker room pep-talk after the match, Prime Minister Carney hailed the Canadian squad for their "character". [Getty Images]

Losing KonΓ© is a setback for the Canadian squad, who had relied on the Ottawa-native as an integral part of its midfield power. Coach Jesse Marsch called him "a big part of the heart of our team."

On the field, KonΓ©'s teammates rushed to his defence as medics attended to him. Nathan Saliba, who subbed in for him, scored Canada's fourth goal shortly after and held KonΓ©'s jersey up in tribute.

"What you guys did yesterday will stay with me forever," KonΓ© shared on Friday morning on Instagram after undergoing surgery.

In a post-match locker room pep talk to the team, Prime Minister Mark Carney hailed the team for showing "a level of character that some people never achieve" in their response to the shocking injury.

"You showed it when the entire country and a good part of the world is watching," Carney said. "And if they didn't watch they would have watched the highlights tomorrow."

Canada's sports history is filled with iconic moments - Sidney Crosby's gold medal-winning goal in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, the Toronto Raptors' basketball championship win against the Golden State Warriors in 2019, and the women's football gold-medal win in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Di Cola contends that what was achieved in Thursday's game is much smaller in comparison, and that Canada's football team still has "a long way to go."

But the momentum has certainly built as they gear up to take on Switzerland next.

James Coppinger film a chance for 'proper goodbye'

A documentary about the career of a Doncaster Rovers football legend has been released five years after he hung up his boots.

James Coppinger played his last match in May 2021 in an empty stadium due to lockdown restrictions, 17 years after starting his journey at the club in 2004.

Lewis Reeves, director of "Copps", said the sold-out premiere at CAST in Doncaster on Thursday was a "real celebration" for fans and a chance for a belated "proper goodbye".

He said the film, which has been in production since 2021, shows Coppinger's "remarkable phoenix-from-the-ashes" journey.

A photo of people speaking on stage with a movie poster behind them. It is taken from above, showing the crowd looking on.
Director Lewis Reeves said the event at CAST was sold out for the premiere [Lewis Reeves]

Coppinger, from Darlington, was scouted by Newcastle United at the relatively late age of 17 and went on to play his first Premier League game at 19 alongside Alan Shearer.

"For a lad from the North East, it's a dream, it doesn't really get bigger than that," Reeves said.

However, he struggled to make a long-term impact at the club and joined Exeter City when his Newcastle contract expired in 2002.

They were relegated at the end of the season and the experience led him to consider quitting football.

After meeting with resilience coach Terry Gormley at Doncaster Rovers, he was given a chance by the club and went on to play nearly 700 games for them.

Reeves said Coppinger, now 45, had an "inspirational story" and was glad the premiere had seen an "amazing turnout".

"He's the most humble man I've ever met," he added.

"He doesn't like to make a bit fuss, so I'm taking it upon myself to make a big fuss on his behalf."

Coppinger now works full-time as a first team coach for the club and is involved in charity work with causes including mental health and cancer research.

"I took my grandma to the show last night, she hates football, but she was really moved by James's story," he added.

"It's for football fans in one sense, but it's also got a really great heart for the non-football fan."

Reeves added he "could not speak highly enough" of former One Direction star and Rovers fan Louis Tomlinson, who was one of the executive producers on the film and supported its funding.

Some footage and material for the documentary had been submitted by fans over social media which he said made for a "really collaborative process".

Copps is due to be available to stream on the Doncaster Rovers website from July.

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Funeral held for rugby league legend John Kear

Men in long-sleeved white shirts carry a coffin dressed in rugby shirts and white roses.
Former England and Wales rugby league coach John Kear died on 1 June [Paul Ogden/BBC]

The funeral of former England and Wales rugby league coach and renowned broadcaster John Kear has taken place.

Friends, relatives and former players gathered in Penistone, South Yorkshire, earlier for the service at St John's Church.

Castleford-born Kear, who died on 1 June, earned widespread recognition during his career, including masterminding Sheffield Eagles' shock 1998 Challenge Cup final victory over Wigan.

Former Eagles player Mark Aston, who was part of the title-winning side, said: "Everything about John was just perfect, his smile, his knowledge of rugby league, you can see that by the tributes put out there for John."

He described Kear as a father figure to his players.

"We talk about what he did on the field, but there were things off the field that he did, and how close everybody was to him," he said.

"When times were tough he was still positive, that's how he was as a coach... he made people believe in the game, he made people believe in what they were doing."

He described him as a "top man" who would be "well and truly missed".

Tim Adams, former chairman of Sheffield Eagles, said Kear was an "inspiration for us all".

"We were good friends. He was an extraordinary bloke, very meticulous, his planning was unbelievable.

"He was a wonderful motivator of people, he didn't only motivate the players... but he also motivated the people in the club, the staff, the board of directors."

A man with square black glasses wearing a rugby jersey and gilet. He is bald and has a focused expression on his face.
John Kear was one of the most respected figures in the sport [PA]

Adams said he thought Kear was "bonkers" when he told him he would win them the cup, "but he did it".

He said Kear was a "really genuinely nice guy" who was a "great advocate for rugby league".

"He'll be remembered forever," he added.

Paul Broadbent, former captain of the club, said: "John were the one that had faith in me, he made me the guy who was going to lead the guys out, it was an outstanding day for us."

He said the cup win had been a "real moment of triumph" for the coach.

The Eagles said in a statement earlier this month that Kear would "always be remembered as the coach who delivered out finest hour".

During his playing career, Kear made 133 appearances for hometown club Castleford between 1978 and 1988 before he subsequently moved into coaching.

A man with short grey hair wearing black sunglasses looks at the lens. Behind him is a church and other people dressed in black. He has a black suit jacket on.
Aston was part of the Challenge Cup-winning squad in 1998 [Paul Ogden/BBC]

He was one of the sport's most respected figures, with a coaching career lasting more than 700 matches with clubs including Bradford Bulls, Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity.

He led Hull FC to their own surprise Challenge Cup win in 2005, beating Leeds Rhinos in the final at Cardiff.

Kear went on to take England to the semi-finals in the 2000 World Cup, and had 11 years in charge of Wales, leading them at the 2017 and 2021 World Cups.

In a statement earlier this month, the Rugby Football League said he "was loved and admired throughout the sport and well beyond".

Kear had been part of the BBC Sport commentary team for the match between Wigan and Hull KR at Wembley Stadium the day before his death.

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Racer's visit brings boost to patients

Four male race car drivers and one female nurse. The men are wearing mostly black apart from the one in the centre who has a green, blue and orange long sleeve top on. They are all smiling for a photo.
Nicolas Hamilton (centre) and other BTCC drivers spent time walking round the hospital speaking to as many patients and staff as possible [BBC]

British Touring Car Champion Nicolas Hamilton returned to his roots and has visited patients and staff at a hospital in the town where his family is from.

The brother of Formula One star Lewis Hamilton has previously visited Leighton hospital, Cheshire, to spend time with those there and this time brought other competitors from the British Touring Car Championship along with him.

"It's the second year in a row, I think it's really important to have days like this, for us to give back and show appreciation for the NHS", Hamilton said.

The day saw the team of racers spending time talking and taking photos with staff and patients.

Nic Hamilton looking at his brother Lewis smiling and laughing together.
Lewis and Nic Hamilton are often seen at races together. [Getty Images]

Born with cerebral palsy, Hamilton is no stranger to hospitals, spending a lot of his early life in them and even being told by doctors he wouldn't be able to walk.

In 2015, he became the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) first disabled driver, and he recently became the first disabled athlete to ever podium at the BTCC.

The racer has links to the area with his mother side of the family originating from Crewe.

"She was actually born in this hospital", he said.

"Crewe is very close to my heart, [as] I used to come here every month and see my mum's side of the family."

When asked why he did these visits, Hamilton said: "It can get a bit lonely and you don't really have people to talk to".

"I think sometimes the NHS can be undervalued in a lot of areas, so I feel like I have done my bit in showing my appreciation", he added.

A women with short blonde hair with a black and pink top on. she is looking at the camera smiling. She is sat on a chair with a support pillow behind her.
One of the patients visited by the racers was Christine Ward who was very appreciative of the visit. [BBC]

The visit saw Hamilton taking time to walk round the wards and spend time with patients.

One of those he stopped by was Christine Ward who was in hospital with a broken leg, due to an accident involving a car.

"We have had such a laugh I didn't think I would feel this good again after what's happened to me".

"They don't have to do this, they are so busy but they don't realise how it builds people up," she added.

She joked: "It's been worth a knock down in a car to achieve this".

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Scotland fans hope for equaliser against Morocco at World Cup

scotland fan
Scotland fans at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow despaired at Morocco's early goal [PA Media]

Scotland fans at home and in the US are watching a crucial World Cup match as Steve Clarke's team take on Morocco in Boston.

After defeating Haiti 1-0 last Saturday, another victory would guarantee qualification from the group stages for the first time - and a draw would almost certainly secure a place in the last 32.

The match is being shown in pubs and fan zones across the county - with the largest crowd gathered at the TRNSMT festival in Glasgow.

There was stunned silence at the fan zone as Morocco scored after little more than a minute into the match.

But a couple of opportunities before the half-time whistle injected some hope back into the fans at Glasgow Green.

Tens of thousands of members of the Tartan Army are also watching the action in Boston.

At 76 minutes on the clock, an image of Donny Strathie, a Scotland fan who passed away in Boston on Sunday, flashed up on the screen.

Fans around the ground rose to applaud the Tartan Army man, as did the Scotland manager.

festival fans by a barrier hold scotland flags and scarves
Scores of people arrived at TRNSMT draped in Scotland gear [Getty Images]

TRNSMT's organisers DF Concerts secured a late licence to broadcast the match into the early hours of Saturday, despite concerns from local residents.

Indie rock band Wolf Alice, who had second top billing on the Main Stage, threw out a dedication to Scott McTominay before demanding the crowd jump up and down to old favourite Bros.

While Galway indie band NewDad declared they were backing Scotland to win the World Cup.

The rain cleared for fans ahead of the match which began at 23:00 BST.

Pre-match entertainment at the fan zone saw them singing along to comedian Rosco McClelland's World Cup song.

George Bowie and Rose Reilly were welcomed onto the main stage and requested a Hampden roar - which the crowd delivered.

The singer and piper Cammy Barnes - who opened the festival just after midday - returned to play Flower of Scotland on the pipes just before the match kicked off.

"When you cut the pipes off and the audience keeps singing, that moment can never be touched," he told BBC Scotland News earlier.

"It's a proper hair up on your arms moment."

ceilidh
An impromptu ceilidh broke out at the Inverness fan zone [BBC]
Scotland fans despair
Fans were dejected after Morocco scored within two minutes [PA Media]

Other fan zones have welcomed revellers across the length and breadth of the country.

In Glasgow large music venues like the OVO Hydro, Saint Luke's and the O2 Academy are all screening the match, though they required tickets for entry, as are Dundee's LiveHouse and the Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy.

In Aberdeen, fans have flocked to places like the city's Beach Ballroom while the Gyle Shopping Centre in Edinburgh is showing the fixture on a large screen.

Scores of smaller venues - like rugby and tennis clubs - are also hosting watch parties.

An impromptu ceilidh broke out at the Inverness fan zone ahead of the match.

Revellers spun their partners for a Gay Gordon's to the dance tune Bits N Pieces, performed by Jarad Rowan, a favourite with the Tartan Army.

Thousands of Scotland and Morocco fans flocked to Boston Stadium throughout Friday.

Before the match, members of the Tartan Army said they were quietly confident - but were buzzing to be there regardless of the result.

Mike Noble travelled from Aberdeen to support Scotland.

He watched the opening match in Boston's fan zone in the city centre, and said Scotland's win persuaded him to splash out on tickets for tonight.

"It's cost me a new kidney, but it's once in a lifetime so it's worth it," he added.

Pubs to benefit from Scotland games

Pubs are welcoming bumper crowds, after a hugely successful Saturday for the Haiti game.

Earlier this week Louise MacLean of the Signature Pub Group told BBC Scotland it had been an incredible night.

She said: "My lord, did those tills ring. We had record breaking sales. That is a gift to a trade that has been so damaged over the past few years."

The Scottish Beer and Pub Association estimated earlier this week that Scotland's group games could generate an additional Β£7m for pubs and bars, with an estimated 520,000 extra pints expected to be poured out during the game.

Almost all of Scotland's councils, who approve extensions to licensing rules, have allowed pubs and clubs to stay open to show the games despite them often continuing beyond normal closing times.

Can Scotland qualify for the next round against Morocco?

A win for Scotland against Morocco - who drew 1-1 with Brazil last Saturday in their opening game - will guarantee progression into the next round with a game to spare.

It will also mean Scotland have a great chance of going through as one of the top two sides in the group.

With the eight best third placed sides, out of 12 groups, also going through, a draw is likely to be enough too. That would leave Scotland sitting on four points.

A loss would leave Scotland possibly needing a result against five times world champions Brazil in their final group game next Wednesday in Miami to progress, or else face an anxious wait on results from other groups.

His parents were frightened about his future - now he is an Ironman winner

A photo of man wearing sunglasses crossing the finish line of a competition
In 2023, Jeremy Maclean moved to the United States to take up a sports scholarship at a University [Shot by Pierson]

When Jeremy Maclean was 14, he was suspended from school, an event which he admitted left his parents feeling "frightened" for his future.

As a teenager, he had a lot of energy but lacked any outlet for it.

The turning point came, Maclean said, when he went on a cycling trip with his dad and found a passion for triathlons, which changed his life.

"From that point, I couldn't tell you why, but I have been completely hyper-focused," the now 21-year-old said.

"The work that goes into it, is undeniable, it's been six-and-a-half years of complete tunnel vision."

Success came with time - in 2024, he won his first half Ironman race and then, this year, was victorious in his first professional triathlon, Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga.

Normal triathlons see competitors swim, cycle, and run, all in one race but the Ironman events, given their name, take the challenges further - a 2.4 mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112 mile (180 km) bike ride and a full 26.2 mile (42 km) marathon run, all within a 17-hour time limit.

Maclean, from Moseley, has since qualified for his first half Ironman World Championships, where he will be one of the youngest competing.

"There will be the best middle-distance athletes in the world on that start line. I'm not actually feeling a lot of pressure, there are only things to be gained and lessons to be learned," he said.

A photo of a man sitting on a bench smiling into the camera. He has got short orange bleached hair and it is very short. You can only see his head and shoulders. He has got a gray top on which has stitching on it with BRONCO written.
The athlete has just won his first professional triathlon, the Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga [BBC]

Maclean credits local grassroots sports clubs including Solihull Cycling Club and Birmingham Running Athletics and Triathlon Club for setting him up on the path to success.

"Athletics clubs are a great place to start in the UK, there's so many running clubs which incorporate triathlon types," he said.

"It's also super low stakes and people in those organisations are only there to help you."

In 2023, he moved to the United States to take up a sports scholarship at Queens University of Charlotte.

While studying, he also works at a bike repair shop and trains 25 hours a week.

"The demand is pretty high. I take one week off every year, and the odd rest day, but I generally spend every single day training," he said.

Maclean, who has dual citizenship as his mum is from the USA, came fourth in the US College Triathlon Championships in 2024, a shorter Olympic-distance event, which he said gained him a professional licence.

Since then he has faced some challenges with injuries, but said his latest win had put him back on track.

His parents, Adam and Amy Maclean, said they are "very proud" of everything their son has achieved.

"We're obviously very proud. But we're proud of the commitment that he makes, the continuous effort," his dad said.

"The results will come, or they won't come. He can't control the results. He can only control the effort, and what we admire is the effort."

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How is 'Little Scotland' feeling about the World Cup?

A woman holds out a blue flag that reads Corby Tartan Army in a pub garden. She is smiling at the camera. She wears a green T-shirt, dark trousers and has short brown hair.
Cheryl Gollogly from Corby is hopeful Scotland can go far in this World Cup [Kate Bradbrook/BBC]

More than 200 miles south of the Scottish border, hundreds of Scots living in an English town are proudly cheering on the Tartan Army in the FIFA World Cup.

Corby in Northamptonshire is often referred to as "Little Scotland" due to the large number of Scottish steelworkers who settled there in the 1930s.

Fans were ecstatic in the early hours of Sunday morning when Scotland celebrated their first World Cup victory in 36 years, beating Haiti 1-0, and they take on Morocco later from 23:00 BST.

But how are the Scots in Corby, who are surrounded by the English, feeling for the rest of the tournament - and just how far do they think the team can go?

The exterior of a pub that has Scottish flags and bunting put up all around it. Tables have been placed outside the pub. The windows have also been painted on in celebration of the FIFA World Cup.
Pubs across Corby including the Cardigan Arms are decked out in Scottish flags [Kate Bradbrook/BBC]

Cheryl Gollogly, 52, has lived in Corby all her life, but had Scottish grandparents.

She explained that she would be watching all of the Scotland games at The Evs pub on Cottingham Road.

"It's been brilliant because it took years for them to get back," she said of the Tartan Army.

"About time - and I think they can go further than England. They deserve to."

Gollogly stated she was supportive of England, but felt the Scots had more to prove.

A man sits at an outdoor pub table and smiles at the camera. He is largely bald and is wearing a navy polo shirt. He is leaning against a yellow brick wall.
Steve Miller, originally from Scotland, said he expected the team to get past the knockout stages [Kate Bradbrook/BBC]

Steve Miller, 67, moved to Corby from Wick in the north of Scotland, not far from John O'Groats, when he was seven.

He proudly stated he was Scottish "through and through", but was "apprehensive, excited, all at the same time" for the rest of the World Cup.

"It'd be nice if we go further than we've ever gone before and because we got a good result in the first game, I think we will qualify for the knockout stages," he added.

"After that, it's a lottery, isn't it?"

A woman stands inside a hair salon. She is looking away from the camera as she smiles. She has long brown hair, glasses resting atop her head, and she wears a black apron with a white vest underneath.
Lorraine McQuade expects Scotland to do "fantastic" in the tournament [Kate Bradbrook/BBC]

Lorraine McQuade, 51, is a hairdresser at the salon Reveal and was born in Glasgow before she moved to Corby when she was about two.

"I think they're doing amazing so far," she said of the Scottish team.

"I'm really happy they're going to be there.

"Fingers crossed for [Friday] night that they're going to do well. We're very hopeful.

"No Scotland, no party, so they say."

She admitted she was not expecting a win, but said it would be "the best thing ever" if that did happen.

A man smiles at the camera as he sits in a beer garden. Behind him is a yellow brick wall. He has grey hair, a blue and white flag wrapped around his shoulders and he is wearing a navy polo shirt underneath.
Joe Kennedy said he had fond memories of Scotland in their last World Cup back in 1998 [Kate Bradbrook/BBC]

Joe Kennedy, 71, was born in Corby, but has Scottish and Irish heritage.

He said the last time Scotland was in the World Cup back in 1998 had been "brilliant".

"Hopefully we can go as far as we can go," he explained.

"If we qualify out of the qualifiers now at the moment, that's further than we've ever gone before in the World Cup, and I just hope we can just get better and better.

"Whether we'll win it, my heart says yes, my brain says perhaps not."

Scottish fans in a large crowd celebrate during a football game. One fan is standing high above the others wearing a kilt.
Scottish fans were elated when the team took their first victory of the tournament against Haiti [PA Media]

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