Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli is the man with the whistle for today’s Calcutta Cup match and has an extraordinary story involving a stabbing, a cruel prank and tears of joy

We’re into round two of the Six Nations this weekend one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament takes place today – the Calcutta Cup match between Scotland and England.

The two old foes meet at Murrayfield in the latest instalment of their fierce rivalry – one which is taken far more seriously by the Scots, claims former England international Courtney Lawes.

Scotland and England enjoyed differing fortunes on the opening weekend, with the former losing to Italy in a sodden Rome, while Steve Borthwick’s men smashed Wales on home turf at Allianz Stadium Twickenham.

Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli will take charge of proceedings in Edinburgh and he has quite a backstory. Here’s everything you need to know.

Who is Nika Amashukeli?

Born in Tbilisi in 1994, Amashukeli grew up as a football supporter but took up rugby aged 11 and, in his own words, was “literally forced” by his father to watch his first ever match — a World Cup encounter between Ireland v Georgia — on television two years later.

After becoming “hooked” on the sport, he played for Georgia at youth level and was named in the squad for the 2012 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship. He hung up his boots aged just 20 having already sustained five concussions, fracturing an ankle and developing a knee injury, but his passion for the game remained and he chose to pursue a career in refereeing.

Amashukeli made his Test debut as a referee in 2015 when he officiated the first half of Montenegro v Estonia in a European Nations Cup Third Division fixture. He subsequently refereed at the 2019 World U20 Championship in Argentina and worked alongside his idol Wayne Barnes during the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup.

He made history as the first Georgian to officiate a tier one fixture when he oversaw Wales versus Canada in July 2021, subsequently taking charge of Ireland versus Japan, Barbarians versus Tonga and Wales versus Australia during the autumn internationals.

His Six Nations debut arrived in 2022 as Ireland demolished Italy in Dublin, with the appointment moving him to tears. While he also featured during this year’s tournament, he was especially awestruck when he refereed the marquee encounter between the Springboks and Ireland towards the end of last year.

“I remember when I was appointed to my first Six Nations match, I cried, tears were rolling down my face,” he revealed in an interview with Rugby Europe. “Then I officiated South Africa v Ireland later that year and the physicality of that game was unbelievable, I could hear ribs cracking at every breakdown and collision and after the match I just wanted to go round and shake every players hand, out of respect for their dedication and intensity.”

Cruel prank

Amashukeli fulfilled his ambition of refereeing at a World Cup in 2023, though confessed in the same Rugby Europe interview that he was initially left deflated upon receiving the phone call with the announcement. While he felt confident he would feature at the tournament in some capacity, he endured several days of uncertainty before receiving confirmation.

When his phone eventually rang, however, he was mischievously deceived by World Rugby’s Head of Match Officials, Joel Jutge, who jokingly claimed that a verdict on his selection had still not been reached.

“If I’m honest, I knew I would get the call-up,” Amashukeli said. “It was just a case of whether It would be as an assistant referee or one of the ‘top 12’ main officials.

“I knew when the management were gathering to make the selections and I knew the phone calls would come soon after but I was waiting for days and heard nothing. People from home were texting me asking if I was in and I had to tell them that I had no idea, I was just sat nervously holding my phone for three days straight.”

Despite the prank from Jutge, he shortly received the wonderful news that he would be taking charge of matches at the competition 16 years after first falling in love with the sport.

Horrific stabbing

The Georgian official’s career nearly came to a tragic end when a fixture he was overseeing in 2016 erupted into violence following the final whistle, resulting in him being stabbed in the leg.

The Didi 10 encounter, Georgia’s premier division, had witnessed Armia secure a dramatic late equaliser against Batumi, with a breakdown in communication between Amashukeli and the Batumi skipper proving costly as victory slipped from their grasp.

“There was no official timekeeping – referees controlled the time,” Amashukeli told Telegraph Sport. “I said to one of the team captains that four minutes were remaining but he misheard me and thought I’d said two minutes. They kicked the ball out after two minutes but I didn’t end the game – as there were two minutes left. Then the other team caught the line-out, won a penalty, and kicked it to draw the match.

“The home team exploded and accused me of cheating. When the supporters saw their players getting emotional and throwing their hands up in the air, they became very emotional and started swearing. After I left the pitch, there was a lot of abuse and swearing and the supporters followed. There was a big scuffle but the adrenaline was rushing through me. Someone had a knife. Suddenly, I felt something in my leg. I looked down, blood was pouring out. I had been stabbed.”

The attacker was never identified. Amashukeli confessed he initially considered walking away from the sport after the attack, but he made a complete recovery and has since progressed considerably as a match official.

Michael O’Neill will remain in charge of Northern Ireland for now after accepting the Blackburn Rovers job

Michael O’Neill has insisted that accepting the manager’s position at Championship side Blackburn Rovers doesn’t necessarily signal the end of his tenure as Northern Ireland boss, though he stopped short of guaranteeing he’ll remain in charge for the Nations League fixtures later this year.

An agreement has been reached between Blackburn and the Irish FA allowing O’Neill to juggle both roles for the remainder of the season. He’ll attempt to guide Rovers away from the relegation zone whilst overseeing Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final against Italy in March, and potentially the final if they advance.

The arrangement mirrors a similar deal struck in November 2019, when O’Neill joined Stoke City whilst planning to continue with Northern Ireland for their Euro 2020 qualifying play-off the following March, before the pandemic intervened.

Whilst O’Neill did eventually depart Northern Ireland for the Potters before returning for a second spell in December 2022, he stressed this situation is different.

“The agreement is in place to the end of the season and we’re not looking any further than that at this minute in time,” O’Neill explained during a conference call.

He subsequently added: “At this moment in time this is not about leaving Northern Ireland. It’s about an opportunity that’s been presented to me which I think I’m capable of doing in the timeframe we’ve discussed.”

O’Neill’s contract with the Irish FA extends until summer 2028 – by which time a youthful, developing squad harbour genuine aspirations of qualifying for the European finals. However, news of the Blackburn appointment has sparked surprise and concern among Northern Ireland supporters, who worry that a manager who reached his 100th game in charge last October is departing for a second time.

The announcement came just a day after O’Neill attended the Nations League draw in Brussels, which placed Northern Ireland alongside Georgia, Hungary and Ukraine. When questioned directly about whether he would remain in post when that campaign begins in late September, he avoided giving a clear answer.

“I think that’s an unfair question,” he said. “I’m contracted to manage Northern Ireland to 2028. That contract has a release clause for both parties.

“So that’s all I would be prepared to say, the same way as my initial contract had a release clause and I managed Northern Ireland for eight years.”

O’Neill dismissed claims that his departure would harm Northern Ireland’s preparations for their play-off semi-final in Bergamo on March 26.

“If I felt for one minute that it would distract I wouldn’t have taken the opportunity and I wouldn’t do that to Blackburn Rovers either,” he said. “It’s important they have my focus, but the reality is we’ve done a lot of work on Italy.”

Blackburn currently sit 22nd in the Championship, level on points with Leicester but with a game in hand, ahead of Saturday’s fixture away to QPR.

Former Northern Ireland midfielder Damien Johnson will continue as interim manager before joining O’Neill’s backroom team alongside Steven Davis and Phil Jones. “I’ve been at games recently at Ewood Park and I know the atmosphere is not what it maybe has been in the past,” O’Neill stated.

“There’s no getting away from that. But the most important thing is that hopefully they’ll be behind me and they’ll be behind the team.

“We have a big job to stay in the league.”

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Onespace Group, which is based in Knutsford near Manchester, specialises in the creation of commercial office spaces.

Insolvency practitioners from Leonard Curtis were appointed to the construction and interiors firm on January 26.

An official notice was published later on Wednesday, February 4.

UK construction company Onespace Group enters administration

On its website, Onespace says it has completed 532 projects to date and that it has a team of 30 people.

Companies House shows that the firm was only incorporated in June 2023.

It says that the business works to provide “dynamic, bespoke environments that perfectly match the needs of the companies we serve”.

The website adds: “We are committed to going above and beyond to understand each individual client perspective and get it right first time, every time.

“We reimagine and bring space to life with bespoke delivery, driven by what’s best for you. We know the key to this lies in understanding your individuality.”

Major projects completed by the firm include the full refurbishment and fit-out of the existing players’ lounge at Liverpool FC, and the fit-out and refurbishment of multiple laboratories at the Oxford Trust’s Innovation Centre.

The Gazette, which is an official record where notices placed by administrators are published, revealed the news that the company had entered administration.

Companies House has since confirmed that administrators have been appointed and that the registered office address has changed from Knutsford to Manchester.

Other major companies to enter administration in 2026

Onespace Group is the latest of many companies across the UK that have ceased trading or gone into administration this year.

Retail company Quiz confirmed earlier this month that it was closing its online store and starting a stock clearance sale across physical outlets.

Similarly, fashion retailer LK Bennett has also entered administration, with all stores to close.

Meanwhile, UK broadband company Vispa, has also ceased trading and informed customers to find a new provider.

Travel is another sector hit hard, with several travel companies having closed down this year, including:

Asiara UK Ltd, which offered tailor-made and small-group tours to places like Thailand, China, India, Japan, and Singapore, is one of the latest travel companies to cease trading.

The travel company dissolved on January 13 before it ceased trading as an ATOL holder on January 21.

It follows a tough year for travel companies in 2025, with several closing down, according to the ATOL website.

These included Ickenham Travel Group Ltd (November), Great Little Escapes LLP (June), and Jetline Travel Ltd (March).

Are there any companies you are sad to see hit by administration this year? Let us know in the comments.

The event will be held at Haslam Park Primary School in Wigan Road in Deane next Tuesday and will give people the opportunity to discuss issues directly with officers and council officials.

Officers from the Rumworth Neighbourhood Police Team will be present along with Bolton Council’s community safety team.

Cllr Ayyub Patel, of Rumworth ward, said: “This session comes at an important time for our community, following the recent incidents and growing concerns around road safety, anti‑social behaviour and crime in the area.

“Your experiences and concerns genuinely help shape local priorities, so if you live or work in Rumworth, please do come along and take part in the conversation.”

The event will give people the chance to meet the neighbourhood’s policing team and hear an update on recent incidents and police activity in the area.

They will also have the chance to discuss road safety concerns across and raise any anti‑social behaviour or crime issues affecting them, their family, or their street

Residents attending will be able to speak directly with officers and council teams in an open, informal setting.

The event will take place at Haslam Park Primary School in Wigan Road on Tuesday, February 17, at 5.30pm.

The isolated village only has one pub but is close to a few other towns with local amenities

Cambridgeshire is a county full of tiny towns and villages where people move to escape busy city life. This tiny village on the edge of Cambridgeshire is particularly isolated and ideal for those looking for a countryside escape.

Keyston is located around 12 miles away from Huntingdon and was originally built around the brook that runs through the village’s centre. References to the village in the Domesday Book date back as far as 1086, when there was just one manor and 32 households in the area.

It is estimated that the village’s population was around 112 to 160 people. To this day, the village has not grown much, as Keyston and Bythorn have a combined population of around 316.

The village lacks amenities, with no shops and only one pub. However, Thrapston is only an 8-minute drive from the village and offers a range of restaurants and shops.

The Pheasant is the village pub and is described as having “oak beams and open fires”, as well as a patio garden where you can spend hours soaking up the sun in the summer. The pub offers a modern British menu featuring dishes such as pork belly, battered fish, and steaks, all made with locally sourced ingredients.

The Pheasant’s drinks menu is just as impressive as its food, with plenty of beers, ales, and non-alcoholic options available. The pub also has an “extensive yet eclectic wine list” and house cocktails for those who don’t enjoy a beer.

Aside from a pub, the village is also home to the historic church of St John the Baptist, which dates back to the 13th century. The church is known for its oak cadaver, a memorial made from a wooden skeleton taken from a 15th-century tomb, and is one of only two carvings in the country.

Since 2008, the church has become a roosting site for Natterer’s bats, a species protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This means the church needs to be thoroughly cleaned before services and ceremonies.

If you would like to live in the area, there are a few properties currently on the market, such as this two-bed barn-style home priced at £465,000. If you are looking for something bigger, there is this four-bed home with three bathrooms, surrounded by countryside.

Tudor has also had short stints at Lazio, Marseille, Galatasaray, Udinese, Hellas Verona, Hajduk Split, PAOK and Karabukspor during a coaching career that followed his 13-year spell as a versatile defender for the likes of Juventus, Hajduk Split and the Croatian national team.

Though Scotland’s score always looked 20 runs below par, England were troubled at one stage.

They took three wickets in the powerplay, including Archer having the dangerous George Munsey and number three Brandon McMullen miscuing pulls in a lively opening spell of three overs, but Berrington countered impressively.

Berrington, a good player of slow bowling, was particularly aggressive against England’s spinners. He hit Rashid for two fours and a six in his second over and was the aggressor in a partnership of 71 with Tom Bruce.

At 113-3 in the 13th over, 190 was Scotland’s target. Instead, the wicket of Bruce resulted in the innings sliding away.

He slog-swept Liam Dawson to deep square leg for 24 – one of six batters to wastefully pick out fielders in the deep.

In the next over Rashid pinned the sweeping Berrington in front as England’s leg-spinner, having gone wicketless for 26 runs in his first two overs, took 3-10 in his second spell.

Dawson, who took 2-34, added the wicket of Michael Leask, also caught in the deep.

Scotland’s collapse 5-14 in 3.3 overs ultimately denied them the 30 runs that could have kept them alive in this tournament.

Russia has previously denied any involvement in the opposition leader’s death

The foreign secretary has said Russia poisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny with a toxin from a dart frog.

Mr Navalny died at a Siberian penal colony two years ago. On Saturday, February 14, following analysis of material samples found on his body, the UK and its allies stated that Russia carried out the attack.

The Russian authorities have previously strenuously denied any involvement in his death. But the Foreign Office said there is no innocent explanation for the toxin, Epibatidine, being found on the body.

Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper met with Mr Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya at the Munich Security Conference this weekend. Mrs Navalnaya announced her husband’s death at the gathering in 2024.

Speaking from the conference, Ms Cooper said: “Since Yulia Navalnaya announced the loss of her husband here in Munich two years ago, the UK has pursued the truth of Alexei Navalny’s death with fierce determination. Only the Russian Government had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin against Alexei Navalny during his imprisonment in Russia.

“Today, beside his widow, the UK is shining a light on the Kremlin’s barbaric plot to silence his voice. Russia saw Navalny as a threat. By using this form of poison the Russian state demonstrated the despicable tools it has at its disposal and the overwhelming fear it has of political opposition.”

A joint statement from the UK, Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands published on Friday states the countries are “confident that Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a lethal toxin”.

The statement reads: “This is the conclusion of our Governments based on analyses of samples from Alexei Navalny. These analyses have conclusively confirmed the presence of epibatidine. Epibatidine is a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America. It is not found naturally in Russia.

“Russia claimed that Navalny died of natural causes. But given the toxicity of epibatidine and reported symptoms, poisoning was highly likely the cause of his death. Navalny died while held in prison, meaning Russia had the means, motive and opportunity to administer this poison to him. Russia’s repeated disregard for international law and the Chemical Weapons Convention is clear.”

Putin arch-rival Alexei Navalny died after being poisoned with a lethal toxin and Russia is to blame for the attack, the UK and its allies have said.

The UK, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands said on Saturday during a press conference at the Munich security conference that analysis of samples from Navalny “have conclusively confirmed the presence of epibatidine.”

It is a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America.

Yulia Navalnaya, his widow, appeared at a press conference at the event to announce the discovery.

For the latest updates on the Munich security conference, read our live blog HERE

The countries said that “only the Russian state had the combined means, motive and disregard for international law” to carry out the attack on the Russian opposition leader.

The allies also pointed to an attempt to poison Mr Navalny with the nerve agent Novichok in 2020, which followed the Salisbury poisonings in 2018.

They will now send their findings to the UN’s chemical weapons watchdog, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Navalny, who crusaded against official corruption and staged massive anti-Kremlin protests, died in a penal colony in Siberia in February 2024.

He was serving a 19-year sentence that he believed to be politically motivated.

Ms Navalnaya said last year that two independent labs had found that her husband was poisoned shortly before his death. She has repeatedly blamed Putin for Navalny’s death, something Russian officials have vehemently denied.

It is not clear how the frog poison was allegedly administered to Navalny.

This story is being updated