The Raeburn and Utrecht Shields: The newest, oldest trophies in rugby? November 25, 2021 It’s the one thing clubs strive for. Silverware. A piece of, usually, silver metal or varnished wood shaped into something teams grow to idealise. The trophies of note tend to be the ones which have been around for the longest, and adopting new ones doesn’t always have a lasting effect. So just what happens if [...]
Ed Warner: Select committees are ultimately toothless November 25, 2021 The political pile-on has been swift. But although they secured detailed testimony on cricket racism under the cloak of parliamentary privilege, MPs show no signs of learning from the futility of their past hearings into sporting crises. It needn’t be so. I’ve had the dubious honour of appearing before three Westminster select committees down the [...]
Diversity levels on boards still unsatisfactory – Ignoring this is ‘at everyone’s peril’ November 24, 2021 | Sponsored DiverCity® Podcast · Building Better Boards: Finding your place in the boardroom The economic case for diversity at a board level is clear, but too many firms still fall short Despite the increased focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, too many boards remain stuck in the past and are failing to meet equality targets. Fiona [...]
Collectivino: The ethical wine company making it easy to drink good wine November 24, 2021 Sustainability is the current watch word in wine. As bottle weights and recyclability are increasingly discussed, companies must at least nod in an environmentally friendly direction or risk falling behind competitors. People are increasingly aware of the impact their choices make on the planet but buying ethical wine sustainably can be a tricky thing to [...]
Why it’s time to end the scourge of the service charge November 24, 2021 Ask five people about service charge – that innocent looking ‘discretionary’ or ‘optional’ 12.5 per cent right at the bottom of your bill – and you’ll get five different answers. It’s an archaic, often clandestine system and I’m glad to have scraped it at our restaurant Oklava. Here’s why. Service charge never sat right with [...]
William Wolfe’s Guide to Living Excellently in London – an extract from this amazing new book November 24, 2021 This new book by the fictional William Wolfe is a who’s who of the London luxury scene – here are some of his top tips: In the 1960s a gentleman couldn’t possibly exist without Sir Francis Chichester’s Guide to Good Living in London. It was a pocket-sized map of the West End and the City, [...]
International rugby players will soon be allowed to switch allegiances, World Rugby says November 24, 2021 From the beginning of next year, rugby players will be allowed to adopt a second international side – assuming they’ve given up playing for the first. Players will only be able to make the transfer once, and will need to stand-down from their first country for three years before they become available for the second [...]
Victory for Roman Abramovich as judge rules claim he bought Chelsea FC after order from Putin is defamatory November 24, 2021 The High Court has ruled that claims that Roman Abramovich acquired Chelsea FC on Vladimir Putin’s orders in order to gain influence in the West are defamatory. The 55-year-old billionaire is suing journalist Catherine Belton over her best-selling book Putin’s People: How The KGB Took Back Russia And Then Took On The West, which was [...]
Peng Shuai: What we know, the IOC and the Olympic Games November 24, 2021 The curious case of Peng Shuai gets curiouser and curiouser as the days roll by. From initial allegations, to a prolonged period away from public view, to a court-side appearance, to a video call with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach. It’s almost unbelievable. The timeline began on 2 November, when Peng accused a [...]
Retired professional rugby players more likely to be depressed, anxious and irritable November 24, 2021 A new study has found that retired professional rugby players were more likely to be depressed, anxious and irritable compared to amateur players or non-contact athletes. The former top players who took part in the study had suffered more concussions on the pitch than those in the other groups, and the researchers believe this could [...]