rugby league

RED Roses England rugby ace Ellie Kildunne is getting her own Barbie. 

The Sun can reveal that this week bosses at Mattel will announce the doll which is the first time they have ever released a rugby Barbie. 

2

It comes after the brand released a Barbie careers range which included a string of sporty dolls including a football Barbie, a gymnast Barbie and a Tennis player Barbie. 

The new doll will feature a brand new Barbie body with a more athletic torso, visibly defined arms, and legs and back muscles. 

A source said: “This is a massive moment for women’s sport.  

“The Red Roses are such powerful and positive role models and the new Barbies reflect this with their athletic builds and muscle definition – a far cry from the ridiculous hourglass figures of Barbies gone by.” 

Ellie said: “We are showing the next generation of girls that you can do anything, that being strong and fast is powerful, and that you can break boundaries. 

“I thought nothing could come close to the feeling of lifting that trophy but having my own one-of-a-kind Barbie doll is a very close second! 

“She looks just like me, down to her curls, her custom boots and her Red Roses Barbie ball.  

“Now I just need to teach her how to lasso and see if she can score a few tries!” 

The Red Roses turned their World Cup dream into reality as they blew away Canada 33-10.

In front of a world record crowd of nearly 82,000, John Mitchell’s side showed why they have now won 33 straight games since their heartbreak in Auckland four years ago.

2

GIRLS are aloud and making us proud!

OK, no more nostalgia about 1990s ‘Girl Power,’ but the times they are a-changing and then some.

3

3

The Red Roses blossomed last weekend as the England women’s rugby team won the World Cup in front of a record 82,000 Twickenham full-house.

That came hot on the heels of our Lionesses’ back-to-back European Championships successes and proves that women’s sport is here to stay.

Rewind two or three decades and women, when mentioned in the same breath as football, was something approaching a dirty word. Just look at the history books.

In 1921 there were over 150 women’s football clubs playing games in front of 40,000-plus gates.

So what did the FA do? They banned it, saying it was “unsuitable for females.”

It only took nearly five decades for the FA to change their minds and growth in the women’s game in the 70s and 80s was slow.

In fact, the national team had to wait until 1998 to have its first full time coach, Hope Powell.

The 2012 London Olympics handed the women’s game a massive boost. TeamGB were watched by over 70,000 at Wembley against Brazil and footie for females was finally freed.

SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN

Last year, an FA study revealed a 56 percent rise in the number of women and girls playing football in the previous four years.

The number of registered female football clubs has more than doubled in the last seven years and just look at crowds in the WSL.

Seven seasons ago the highest gate at any game was 2,648 for Chelsea against Manchester City. Last season it was nearly 57,000 for the North London derby.

A new sponsorship deal with Barclays is worth £15million a year and WSL clubs’ revenues soared 34 percent in 2023-24 alone. So from the grassroots all the way up, women’s football is on the up.

Thankfully, that kind of progress is being repeated in other sports and not just rugby, where there has been significant growth in recent years to the tune of a 60 percent rise in registered players since 2017.

What about cricket? Our girls took a pasting against the Aussies, but the World Cup is upon us with England aiming for a fifth title.

3

In other sports, women do us proud. From netball’s Jade Clarke to tennis star Emma Raducanu, to athlete Keely Hodgkinson and world champion boxer Lauren Price… the list is long and shows just how women are flourishing.

Having said that, I was stunned to read that middle-distance runner Georgia Hunter Bell still worked full-time in tech sales just a few months before winning a bronze at last year’s Paris Olympics.

I cannot imagine a male elite athlete doing the same.

Georgia won silver at the World Championships last month and hopefully being a 24-7 athlete will help her go one better next time.

I’m obviously aware of the lack of female representation in the corridors of power within football and other sports, but I hope that is slowly changing.

Both the FA and PL chairs are women — Debbie Hewitt and Alison Brittain — and are doing a fine job.

Right now, though, I’d rather concentrate on the progress that has been made in a relatively short time.

The WSL is in rude health and will get bigger and better, underlining the fact that we, as a nation, are leading the way in the men’s and women’s game.

We should celebrate that because ‘girls just wanna have fun’.

ST HELENS star Matty Lees left in the middle of Saturday’s crunch play-off clash against Leeds Rhinos.

Rugby league fans were left gobsmacked when they saw Lees, 27, making his way out of the AMT Headingley Stadium during half-time.

3

3

3

The prop left in his tracksuit while Saints were trailing 12-6 to the home side.

However, it was quickly reported by Sky Sports that the England international had received news that his wife Beth was going into labour.

Fans quickly took to social media to wish the happy couple all the best.

One rugby league enthusiast tweeted: “Good luck Matty, see you next week.”

Another commented: “Fair play to him.”

A third wrote: “Good luck.”

This fan said: “All the best!”

And that one wished: “Wishing you and Beth absolute happiness.”

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

St Helens managed to fight back in the second half and went on to turn things around with a 16-14 victory.

Lees has been a pivotal figure for Saints this season, missing only two Super League games.

St Helens coach Paul Wellens revealed the baby wasn’t due before Sunday but had an agreement with his player that if things changed he would be allowed to leave.

Wellens said after the game with the Rhinos: “His partner was due to be induced tomorrow but things transpired [differently].

“You can’t have a word with the baby inside and ask it just to hold off for a few hours, so things gathered pace quicker than thought.

“I spoke with Matty in the week and it was really important that he’s there for the birth of his child.

“It’s an important rugby game and yes we’d love him to be there, but he makes sacrifices to perform for us and the most important thing is he was there.

“We had a very clear plan during the week and we were comfortable that if he had to leave, he would leave. When that moment came, we made what I feel is the right decision.

“It’s difficult for him in that situation. You need to be there for your partner, but at the same time you think you’re letting the boys down.

“He needs to know he’s not letting the boys down, because he never does.”

SALFORD’S owners are today facing questions over trying to buy their stadium using a FAKE bank statement.

Isiosaia Kailahi and Curtiz Brown have dragged the club through the mire — and High Court — since taking charge in February.

6

6

Now SunSport can reveal how they tried to convince the city’s council they had the money to purchase the Salford Community Stadium  — valued at £14million —  by using contested documents.

The bank that received the statement as proof of funds has claimed the documents are not genuine.

Concerns were raised after the discovery that the transactions on it are dated months in the future.

Kailahi and Brown’s deal was originally meant to be one for the club and the ground combined — with a plan to develop the land around it later on.

Yet the financial state of the club — which would have gone under in February had this not happened — meant the club purchase had to  be brought forward.

An email from Kailahi to Salford City Council dated January 21, on which the statement was attached, raised questions as he criticised the authority for ‘going ghost’.

Kailahi wrote: “We understand there is  scepticism by members  about us and how this deal is being handled, which may not meet with council’s standards.

“I would remind those in doubt,  we started discussions about the potential acquisition of AJ Bell Stadium in early 2023 with the council going ghost on us without any correspondence after a few weeks.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

“I ask members to note the time I have spent in Manchester — which is months on end — working on this acquisition and the Red Devils deal, away from my family, this should at least give me some benefit towards our intentions.”

But a statement from Emirates NBD bank, in the name of Brown’s Built UAE company, raises more questions than answers.

Claims of a closing balance worth almost £22.3m could convince many they are the real deal.

Yet transactions dated December 2-11 2025 raised red flags — and, when SunSport contacted Emirates NBD, it confirmed our suspicions.

They said: “The Bank is prohibited by federal UAE law from disclosing any information about customers.

“But, the Bank can confirm none of the documents enclosed with your email, which purport to originate from the Bank, are genuine.”

When SunSport approached the businessmen for comment, Brown insisted: “Every document we have supplied has been true and accurate when provided, including any financial statement.

“If a statement you have been shown is false, we know nothing about this and have not been nor cannot be responsible for any document provided outside of our oversight.”

Salford City Council walked away from talks over the stadium in May —  three months after they requested names, addresses and bank details of all consortium members.

Seven months on, they are still waiting.

6

Brown told SunSport: “We have yet to reach this point in the negotiations.

“As soon as we reach the point involving the transaction that requires the supply of this information, it will be duly and fully provided in the usual way.”

When the takeover that ‘saved’ the club first went through, a statement quoting Swiss financier Dario Berta was issued on February 7.

It said: “The new owners have cleared all club debt and will deliver  significant investment for the club’s future growth. This is the start of a very bright future.”

Yet debts have grown, including the £626,000 that forced HMRC to bring the winding-up petition that is now adjourned until October 29.

A £5m bridging loan, first mentioned in June — believed to be coming from Ben Doweck and Eli Cohen — secured the second delay but it is understood there will be no more.

Some 18 players, the kitman and even the man under the mascot’s costume have all walked away.

So did the man meant to coach Salford next season, assistant Kurt Haggerty.

Wage issues, when they have come, have been largely sourced from  firm WeDo Finance, and concerns over pension payments forced their hand.

Chris Irwin, employed by them as chief exec, was sacked — after it was first claimed he resigned.

This casts even more doubt on the duo,  working under the Sydney-based Jacobsen Venture Group title.

Fans protested at their home match with Catalans last Thursday.

It followed marches to the stadium after they forfeited a Super League fixture against Wakefield, and to their game at Warrington, which many feared would be their last.

6

6

6

And the mess raises questions of the Rugby Football League, chiefly: how did they even get the club?

SunSport was handed a certified bank statement of an account at Australia’s Commonwealth Bank, checked and signed by an independent accountant.

Because of the need to save Salford, that was considered enough to get the club.

Yet their wider aims stalled after the production of the Emirates NBD statement.

And it is believed Salford City Council did not get as far as checking its validity as it had not received the information regarding the consortium it had asked for.

Kailahi, also known as Sire, and Brown faced controversy before.

In April, SunSport reported on a California court case in which Kailahi  was involved after ticket firm Eventbrite claimed it paid him £500,000 for a contract his Stadium Salford Group had not entered into properly.

In response, Brown fired a message.

It said: “You made everyone at the club unemployed with your  article. Sire is shutting the club down and will name you as the reason.”

According to documents, Kailahi lost the case but is appealing.
Brown spoke to SunSport again in February, as fathers sent their young children to hug him and thank him for saving the club.

He said, with words that may now appear hollow: “We just love rugby league and Salford fans are passionate about rugby league.

“We’ve seen the trouble they’ve been in, and we’ve always lightly followed Salford because of the connections we’ve had here.

“You’ve seen what we plan going forward. It’s not about rugby league, it’s about the community.

“It’s about getting the fans involved.

“It’s basically just for the fans of Salford. We’re in it to win it now.

“We’re coming here to include ourselves in what could be a better Salford.”

MARK Percival believes St Helens are proving talk is not always cheap, especially when it comes from within.

For a frank discussion is proving the moment their season turned a corner.

3

Just over three months ago, boss Paul Wellens was getting all kinds of stick as the former four-time Super League and World Club champions floundered.

Now after nine wins in 11 matches, Saints are firmly in the race for a top three finish and defeating rivals Wigan tonight would put them in contention for second.

And centre Percival can pinpoint the moment the tide started to turn – and the real St Helens started showing up.

He said: “About 12 weeks ago, we all had a good sit down – I think it was after the Warrington game – and a chat.

“I’ve been part of this club for 12 years and I’d not had a chat like that for a long time. It wasn’t nice at the time, a lot of honest things were said.

“But I think it really did turn the corner for us. Since then, everyone’s bought into what we want to do.

“Everyone knows St Helens as a club – we play tough but also play smart. We lost that a bit. We were trying to beat teams by going out there and expecting it to happen.

“We wanted it easy at the time but over the last 12 weeks, we’ve relearned how hard it is.

“We beat Wakefield by a few points but everyone said it was harder than it seems. That’s because we were putting in the effort we were supposed to.

“And you feel for the coach sometimes when they’re copping the stick. It was to do with us on the field if I’m honest. We had a good enough team out there, but we weren’t performing.”

3

St Helens and Wigan would be a fierce derby if they were playing tiddlywinks, never mind rugby league.

Throw in competition for England places against Australia and you have even more reason to perform, especially at centre.

As well as Percival, you have Saints’ Harry Robertson and Wigan’s Jake Warde battling it out as the 31-year-old admits one of those roles is taken if Herbie Farnworth is fit.

He added: “There are a lot of good players in my position. Harry, myself and Jake out there tonight.

“I know what I can do but I see the likes of Herbie and Jake as absolutely brilliant players. No-one’s getting in over Herbie, he’s probably the best centre in the world.

3

“And I hope he’s fit for England’s sake.

“Harry’s superb and it’s kept me on my toes as we’ve players coming up who are athletic, strong, brilliant.

“Every club has a transition period. A few years ago, we had all that success but you lose players who won all that.

“Now we’re trying to build that team again and over the next few years, with the young lads we’ve got, it can get back to that as they’ve the ability to do it.”

A TOP women’s rugby league player faces a ban after being sent off for apparently asking a referee which opponent he is having sex with.

Sinead Peach, of champions York Valkyrie, was given an instant red card by Oliver Salmon after supposedly posing the x-rated question during their side’s loss at St Helens on Saturday.

2

2

After seeing an 8-0 lead slip in the 18-8 loss, Peach – a former Woman of Steel – allowed her frustrations to boil over in the 79th minute.

When a decision went against her side, she allegedly asked the referee: “Which one are you shagging?”

Mr Salmon halted the match after the outburst and immediately told the 27-year-old what he thought.

“Sinead, come here,” he ordered to the York captain. “I’m not having any of that.

“I’m not having you saying, ‘Which one are you shagging?’ You’re off.”

The resulting penalty allowed Saints to add the final two points of their win.

Now the Rugby Football League’s match review panel will look into the incident and decide whether Peach will face any disciplinary charges.

If, as expected, she does, she will face a hefty ban if found guilty of questioning the integrity of a match official.

BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK

ARE you up for the Women’s Rugby World Cup?

It all kicked off at the weekend with a thumping 69 – 7 win for England over the USA.

7

Whether you fancy catching a match live, soaking up the atmosphere in a fan zone or simply clinking pints with pals, there are plenty of ways to cheer on the tournament without blowing your budget.

Here are some ideas . . . 

NAB A TICKET: Want to see a match live? There are still tickets this week.

You can currently get them for Australia v USA on Saturday, with adult seats from £15 and kids for a fiver.

See rwc2025.rugbyworldcup.com/events to bag yours.

PUB PERK: If you’d rather watch with a pint in hand, Young’s Pubs are showing the action on big screens.

And they are offering one free round of Asahi for dining bookings of four–ten people on match days.

The deal is only at selected pubs, so check youngs.co.uk to see where’s in.

FAN FUN: Head to the fan zone at Power Station Park in London for free screenings, DJs, T1 Rugby coaching sessions and activities from tournament partners.

In Bristol, the harbourside Amphitheatre will be buzzing as the city hosts the semi-finals and two quarter-finals, with lots of pre and post-match fun on offer.

PLAY ON: Want to play or join in with the World Cup spirit?

Use the ‘Find Rugby’ tool on englandrugby.com to track down local clubs hosting World Cup events, sign up for family friendly rugby activities and explore opportunities for girls to get into the game with free taster sessions at rugby clubs across the country.

GET OUT ON THE PITCH: You can also grab a ball and practise your passing skills with the whole family in the garden.

The official Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Supporter Ball is now available, for £25, online at store.world.rugby.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

Deal of the day

7

FOR easy, crease-free clothes, pick up the Philips PerfectCare 7000 Series pressurised steam generator iron, which has a recommeded retail price of £199.

It’s £95 for members at ao.com.

SAVE: £104

Cheap treat

7

TUCK into a Chicago Town tiger crust double pepperoni pizza, usually £3.50, now £1.75 at Iceland.

SAVE: £1.75

What’s new?

GET down to an Asda near you as the new autumn home edit has landed with toadstool duvet covers, pumpkin plates and more.

We love this pumpkin candle, £5.

Top swap

7

7

TRY Chanel Coco Mademoiselle eau de parfum spray 35ml, £66.30 from Boots, or head to Marks & Spencer for Soft Iris eau de toilette 100ml, £10.

SAVE: £56.30 and get 65ml more

Little helper

FORGET high cafe prices and whip up a trendy drink at home instead with Aldi’s Asia Green Garden matcha latte, £1.49, available in original and strawberry flavour.

Shop and save

7

FRESHEN up with Soft & Gentle Hyaluronic Care watermelon spritz deodorant – was £3.40, now £2.33, at Superdrug.

SAVE: £1.07

Hot right now

THE big Disney Store Summer Sale has started. Head to disneystore.co.uk/sale to get up to 50 per cent off selected products.

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

7

JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!

MICKY Higham sat down with his two sons and spelled it out after receiving the news he dreaded – this time will be different.

For years, the hooker rolled the blows in a career that saw him play for Leigh, Wigan, Warrington and St Helens.

4

He toughed it out against the very best for England and Great Britain. This battle, though, is off the field.

Noticing a lump on his right buttock turned out to be something much more serious – a 10cm cancerous tumour, with tests finding the disease had spread and the devastating diagnosis of stage four widespread metastasized cancer.

And the pain caused this time around is far more significant after it returned, three years after fighting off a metastatic malignant melanoma.

“Originally, I just kept it really low key,” said Higham, who has started immunotherapy treatment. “I said, ‘Lads, I’ve just found another lump. I’ll have to get it sorted next time.’

“Harry, my eldest, is 21 in January and they’re not stupid. He got wind.

“So I sat them down last Sunday and said, ‘Listen, it’s going to be a bit worse this time fellas. I just need to give your mum some help around the house.’

“I’m not missing them playing rugby, Harry at Swinton and Alex for Leigh Miners Rangers. I’m not missing that as they’re a big reason why I keep fighting and going.

“I found a small lump on my right bum cheek. I had an issue with my toe too and thought, ‘It’s a bit sore. I might just have a bit of a knock.’

“So I left it a week or two, then I thought, ‘The pain’s a bit more.’ It went down my leg a bit, so I felt the lump again and thought, ‘It doesn’t feel like a knock. That feels really hard.’

“I told my doctor and he said, ‘Let’s get it checked in after the last time.’ It was a cancerous tumour on my right glute, then I had some more scans.

“A PET scan really showed up the melanoma. It’s come to the shoulders, it’s in my arms, my hips. It’s come to my legs.

“It’s in my chest, my groins and in my lymph nodes. It was a pretty widespread and stage four, so it was a real kick in the teeth.

4

“I’m quite shocked how quick the pain’s come on. Each week, you’re like, ‘Wow, it’s coming on more there.’

“This one’s a tougher battle, but I’m ready to attack it. I’ve never had anything given to me in life and I’ve always had to work hard for things.

“I may be struggling a bit but I’m ready for it.”

Higham, 44, is keeping up the traits that saw him through his last cancer battle – his relaxation and his determination.

The pain means he has had to step back from the gym he owns and radio punditry duties for the time being – but if you think he is sat at home moping, think again.

He has already sorted the first event as he looks to raise funds – with a target of £50,000 just beaten after £25,000 then £40,000 was met.

A bucket collection was held outside and inside the ground at Friday’s match between two of his former clubs – the Leopards and Wolves – while Leigh owner Derek Beaumont has launched a special fundraising shirt.

4

Higham will also walk from his hometown of Leigh to the Monton area of Salford on Sunday, August 24 and typically, the thought of doing it for others is at the forefront of his mind.

“I want to give something back to the Christie and Macmillan because for the last three years they’ve been fantastic,” Higham added.

“My pain was quite severe last week but they just said, ‘Come in, we’ll check you out. We’ll change your medication and provide some relief, literally within days.

“I can’t really put into words the work they do. I’m not one for shouting but sometimes you’ve got to get on board, don’t you?”

Higham’s condition and treatment under Manchester’s Christie Hospital means he can see the toll it is taking on wife Kate.

After the last cancer fight, it is something he did nit want to see again – but just like him, she is doing her bit as he looks to get on a European drug trial after being turned down for a UK one.

4

He told SunSport: “I obviously had a big setback with that. To get on a clinical trial, I had to have my blood done.

“All the enzymes have got to be pretty level with everybody and mine are a lot higher than everybody else. I was told it could be down to being a sportsperson over the years.

“To give myself the best chance of getting it down, I did Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and didn’t move off the couch.

“Unfortunately, it was still too high but even though Kate’s doing it tougher than me, she and her friend have been having a good look around and there is something.

“Because I’ve got my immuno now, every three weeks for the next four months, it’s 12 weeks and they’ll re-scan me.

“The immuno might do the job but if not, we might look at the option if there’s something available there.”

*YOU can donate to the fundraising appeal for Micky Higham at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/emma-worrall-2.