Welsh

The Hundred women’s competition, Edgbaston

Welsh Fire 144-3 (100 balls): Voll 78 (55); Capsey 2-24

Birmingham Phoenix 145-3 (99 balls): Perry 68 (46), Capsey 51 (29); Voll 1-9

Birmingham Phoenix won by seven wickets

Scorecard. Table

Ellyse Perry and Alice Capsey starred as Birmingham Phoenix picked up their first win of the women’s Hundred with a nail-biting seven-wicket victory over Welsh Fire.

Chasing 145 in front of minority shareholder and England midfielder Jude Bellingham at Edgbaston, Capsey, who had earlier picked up two wickets, hit 51 (29) and Perry an unbeaten 68 (46) to help Phoenix home with one ball to spare.

Opener Davina Perrin fell just five balls into Phoenix’s chase while Tammy Beaumont couldn’t capitalise on being dropped on 10, picking out Heather Graham for 14, before Capsey and Perry came together for a match-changing 86-run third-wicket stand.

Capsey’s dismissal, caught cheaply at deep mid-wicket by Graham off the 82nd delivery, nearly proved the turning point, with Phoenix faltering from 24 runs required from 19 balls to needing 12 runs off the final set.

But captain Perry held her nerve, trading singles with Annerie Dercksen before dispatching Graham for a six and a four to see her side over the line.

The victory – only their third in 12 matches since the beginning of the 2025 edition – moves Phoenix off the foot of the table and into fifth place after four matches. Welsh Fire slip down to seventh, with one win and three defeats.

Earlier, the tournament’s leading run-scorer Georgia Voll struck a half-century for Fire against her former side, hitting nine fours and two sixes as she top-scored with 78 (55).

The Australian put on 58 for the first wicket with Ella McCaughan and a further 35 with Sophie Devine, who hit a flurry of late boundaries in her unbeaten 35 (19), but Fire were left to rue their lethargic powerplay, posting a run-a-ball 25-0.

Capsey collected 2-24 but Lauren Filer was the pick of the bowlers, conceding just 15 runs from her 20 deliveries.

Welsh Fire put on a dominant display in Cardiff to make light work of MI London, as captain Sophie Devine’s excellent all-round performance leads her side to a 60-run victory. The result leaves the visitors winless in their opening two matches of The Hundred.

MATCH REPORT: Devine inspires Fire to dominant win over MI London

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The Hundred women’s competition, Sophia Gardens

Welsh Fire 177-4 (100 balls): Devine 52 (29); Matthews 2-52

MI London 117 (92 balls): Henry 30 (23); Potts 3-24

Welsh Fire won by 60 runs

Scorecard. Table

An impressive Welsh Fire earned their first win of the women’s Hundred with a 60-run thrashing of MI London in Cardiff.

Fire suffered a poor defeat by Southern Brave in their opener but bounced back to post 177-4, comfortably the highest total of this year’s tournament and the third-highest in the tournament’s history.

After openers Ella McCaughan and Georgia Voll added 49, captain Sophie Devine and all-rounder Georgia Wareham added 79 from just 35 balls for the fourth wicket as MI London’s bowlers wilted.

Devine was stumped from the penultimate ball for 52 from just 29 balls including four sixes, one of which was smacked out of the ground, while Wareham finished unbeaten on 43 from 20.

To conclude the entertaining innings, Em Arlott came out with one ball to face and launched it for six, as Fire’s performance provided some much-needed entertainment for the women’s tournament where the previous-highest team total so far was just 126.

In reply, MI London – despite a batting line-up stacked with international quality – crumbled to 117 all out and suffered their second successive defeat.

Fire seamer Grace Potts dominated the powerplay with figures of 3-24 as MI London crumbled under the run-rate pressure. Potts accounted for MI London’s powerful top three of Hayley Matthews for 10, Danni Wyatt-Hodge for 12 and Kira Chathli for two.

Devine backed up her knock with figures of 2-15, including the wicket of Chinelle Henry who was MI London’s top-scorer with 30, while Welsh left-arm spinner Sophia Smale chipped in with 2-17.

MI London will take on unbeaten Southern Brave on Monday as they search for their first win, while Fire face Trent Rockets on Wednesday.

Captain Phil Salt led from the front as he finished unbeaten on 47 to guide Welsh Fire to a six-wicket victory against Southern Brave in a low-scoring match in Southampton.

READ MORE: Captain Salt leads Fire to victory against Brave

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Welsh rider Zoe Backstedt has retained the 2026 Baloise Ladies Tour title a year after becoming the youngest winner of the race.

The 21-year-old’s performance included a time trial win on stage 3A on Saturday, and she finished with a provisional overall time of 11 hours, 27.08 minutes.

Only one second overall separated the Netherlands’ Nienke Veenhoven – who won the final stage – and Felicity Wilson-Haffenden of Australia. They finished 22 and 23 seconds respectively behind Backstedt.

English competitor Millie Couzens finished fifth behind the Netherlands’ Charlotte Kool.

THE Prince and Princess Of Wales have paid tribute to singer Bonnie Tyler, describing her as a “proud Welsh icon” following her death aged 75.

Bonnie died on Wednesday night, months after being treated in intensive care and being placed in an induced coma following emergency intestinal surgery.

A post on William and Kate’s joint Kensington Palace account said: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bonnie Tyler.

“A proud Welsh icon, her extraordinary voice and unforgettable music touched millions around the world and will continue to inspire generations to come.

“Our thoughts are with her husband, family, friends and all who loved her. Diolch am y gerddoriaeth (thank you for the music).”

Bonnie was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by the Prince Of Wales in 2023 for services to music.

READ MORE ON BONNIE TYLER

FINAL CHAT

Bonnie Tyler’s heartbreaking last TV interview before her death at 75

BONNIE’S BATTLE

Inside Bonnie Tyler’s health battle as singer dies ‘unexpectedly’ at 75

It comes after Chicago star Catherine Zeta-Jones said her “heart is broken” after the Total Eclipse Of The Heart singer’s death.

Catherine, 56, said Bonnie was a big part of her life after marrying her cousin Robert Sullivan and paid a heartfelt tribute to the Welsh singer, real name Gaynor Hopkins.

The actress shared a photograph of the pair together on Instagram which was taken the night before her wedding.

She said: “An extraordinary woman with vocals to match. A one of kind artist, who so easily could have been a comedian because she was one of the funniest people I ever met.

“Thank you Bonnie for the joy you brought so many. Sleep tight beautiful lady. We shall forever ‘Keep A Welcome In The Hillsides’ of Wales for you. Sending my love to Robert and the family.”

A statement on the singer’s official website said her family and team were “heartbroken” after she “unexpectedly passed away” on Wednesday night in a hospital in Portugal where she was being treated near her home in Faro.

Catherine was among the stars who paid tribute to the singer including Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Rod Stewart and rockstar Bryan Adams.

Sir Cliff, who sang a duet with Tyler on the 2019 song Taking Control, said she was a “wonderful friend gone too soon” in a post shared on Facebook.

He added: “Bonnie’s infectious zest for life entertained so many around the world, and to be a good friend to all, including me.

“It is shocking news to wake up to this morning and I send my love to her family at this very sad time.”

Bonnie was due to perform at the Sunshine Festival in Worcester this summer, along with a number of European dates, and was also booked to perform at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena on December 17.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also paid tribute to the singer, who he described as “one of Britain’s greatest recording artists”.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “An iconic figure, she leaves behind a catalogue of music – from Total Eclipse Of The Heart to Holding Out For A Hero – which continues to touch lives, flood dance floors and fill karaoke booths.”

He added: “The Prime Minister’s thoughts are very much with her friends and family.”

The singer achieved international fame in the 1980s with the release of Total Eclipse Of The Heart, which shot to the top of the charts in the UK and the US.

Faster Than The Speed of Night, the album which featured the smash-hit track, was also a chart-topping success and landed the singer her only UK number one album.

Recognisable for her husky voice, Bonnie released many other hit songs over the years including Holding Out For A Hero, It’s A Heartache and If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man).

Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth led tributes on Thursday and said Wales had “lost a true icon”.

He posted: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Bonnie Tyler.

“Wales has lost a true icon, whose music brought joy to so many.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and fans across the world.”

She represented the UK in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, with the song Believe In Me finishing in 19th place.

Welsh broadcaster Carol Vorderman also paid tribute, writing: “I’m so very sorry to hear this. As a Welsh woman Bonnie and her music represented so much to us, it was about fighting and power and living life without apology.

“May you rest in Musical Glory Bonnie.”

The star, who was born in Neath in South Wales, continued to make music and perform until her death, having released her 18th studio album The Best Is Yet To Come in 2021.

Despite being a widely acclaimed and globally-renowned star, Bonnie never received a Grammy Award during her decades-long career but did receive three nominations.

Bonnie’s official website appears to have crashed since the news of her death was announced.

North will link up with the Barbarians squad in London next week after the invitational side have played South Africa on Saturday.

The Wales and Barbarians occasion in Twickenham will be a double-header with the men’s game at 14:00 BST followed by the women’s game at 17:00 BST.

On the previous occasion that Wales men faced the Barbarians, after the 2023 World Cup, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric were given a farewell to the Welsh crowd when they lined up for the invitational side at the Principality Stadium.

This time North will be one of the headline acts.

“I have been privileged to enjoy the career I have had, and I have so many unforgettable memories from Wales and friendships to last a lifetime,” said North.

“So to go out against my country, with some of my friends and team-mates playing is so special.

“To also be able to play alongside some of the best and most exciting players in the world, and to enjoy that famous Barbarians spirit is something I couldn’t turn down.

“I can’t wait to link up with the boys next week and hopefully we can do something special.”

The Barbarians fixture is a warm-up for Wales’ Nations Championship Tests against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa in July.

Wales faced Slovakia in their first match at Euro 2016 on 11 June a decade ago and – 10 years on – then Wales boss Chris Coleman relives that day in Bordeaux.

In an interview with Nathan Blake for the new documentary series Iconic: The Summer that Changed Welsh Football, Coleman recalls the scenes that greeted the squad as they left their hotel .

Episode one is available now on BBC Sounds – episode two will be on BBC Radio Wales at 18.30 BST on Monday, 15 June.

Compared to their second-half showing against England, where they bagged two late tries for a bonus-point, Wales could muster very little after the break in Belfast.

Ireland were utterly dominant with possession and territory, with last year’s player of the championship Aoife Wafer leading the charge.

Travelling fans’ only consolation was a 78th minute Jasmine Joyce try but it was not enough to prevent Wales from leaving empty handed.

“We’re ranked 12th in the world, we played the team ranked 5th in the world and you can clearly see when you’re away from home, you’ve got to be a lot more clinical,” said Wales head coach Sean Lynn.

“We said in the huddle at the end of the game, we’ve got to be better with our composure and accuracy.

“I wouldn’t have said the girls dropped their heads. They stuck at it, stuck to their processes, but Ireland kept the ball really well.

“The girls give everything out there and when you see them upset after the game it’s because they care, they want to be winning, so it is tough.”

Back in 2008, a Wales Under-20s side went deep into the Junior World Championship and hinted at what was coming. Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Jonathan Davies and Halfpenny were in that side.

Grand Slams, titles and World Cup semi-finals. For a time, the best team in the world.

One by one, they’ve gone. Halfpenny is the last.

The numbers are strong. Some 101 caps, 801 points – third behind Neil Jenkins and Stephen Jones – but they don’t quite explain him.

He was unassuming, almost bashful, and the last person looking for credit.

Yet the one everyone trusted.

Nobody has a bad word to say about him. In this game, that’s rare.

His former Wales coach Warren Gatland called him the best defensive full-back the game has seen. At his peak, especially with the British & Irish Lions in 2013, he was probably the best full-back. Full stop.