Will Steve Tandy be tempted to include the Cardiff backrower in his Wales squad? He certainly has a number of fans

Wales head coach Steve Tandy would have been an interested observer as Cardiff beat the Ospreys at the Arms Park for the first time since 2007 last night.

With Tandy set to name his squad for the inaugural Nations Cup in the near future, a number of players on show last night, the Wales boss was looking at a number of players. Nobody caught the eye more than Cardiff openside Dan Thomas who won the official player of the match award.

Thomas may be 32-years-old but there are few players as consistent as the all-action openside, who played havoc with the Ospreys last night.

But for all his consistency for Cardiff and previously for Bristol Bears in the Gallagher Premiership, Thomas has never received an international call-up.

Thomas is somewhat unlucky to have played in a generation where Wales has been blessed with top-end openside flankers, with the likes of Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric and Ellis Jenkins all around during the first stage of his career, while he now has to contend with the likes of Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Thomas Young, Josh Macleod, James Botham and Harri Deaves.

But despite Wales’ strength in depth at openside it is somewhat surprising Thomas has never been called into a senior international squad.

Speaking on S4C last night presenter Sarra Elgan was quick to highlight Thomas’ consistency.

“It is astonishing to me how he has never had the opportunity with Wales,” she said.

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He is also hugely popular with his teammates.

“Dan has been a huge player for us over the last two years,” Cardiff and Wales lock Teddy Williams told S4C last night.

“He is a bonkers character. I describe him as a bit of an old school seven.

“You leave him out on the field and he runs around like a madman in how he tackles and he supports everything with the ball.

“He’s been a very good player for us.

“He is always fit and that is huge for any team. That is why we see him performing well for us every week.”

Thomas was outstanding in the victory over the Ospreys, more than holding his own against Jac Morgan.

This season he has won 12 turnovers in the United Rugby Championship and is second behind his Cardiff teammate Alun Lawrence for tackles made on 199.

“There was a try for him and the fact he was a thorn in the side of the Ospreys throughout the night,” said former Wales backrower Gwyn Jones on S4C last night.

Thomas may be at the tail end of his career but Tandy could do a lot worse than include the 32-year-old in his wider squad.

He has turned into one of Welsh rugby’s great cult heroes and is hugely popular with the players.

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Away from the field of play, he helps run his family’s Croesyceiliog, near Carmarthen which has a herd of 130 cattle.

He also helps run a wedding car business and has developed a passion for arm wrestling.

“When my wife was pregnant, she was back in Carmarthen and I was still up in Bristol,” he said.

“So, every night, I was bored as hell and needed to find something to do.

“I was scrolling through Facebook and a Canadian arm wrestler came up on my phone and I thought I would give this a go.

“So I searched arm wrestling clubs in Bristol and this Ukrainian bloke called Sasha came up. He said it was every Monday or Tuesday night for an hour, come along.

“I turned up and it was literally his garden shed!

“It was four or five Ukrainian blokes and me in the garden shed of this apartment block.

“Sasha was 5ft 5ins, but his arms were huge and he just played around with me. He would hammer me.

“But I really enjoyed it because I was bored stiff in the house. I went back once a week.”

Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years at Anfield and now faces an uncertain future

Rangers consultant Stig Inge Bjornebye has disclosed that the Ibrox club have held talks about the future of Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian forward confirmed he will be departing the Anfield giants at the end of the campaign after nine years at Liverpool.

Salah confirmed the news during the March international break, and will leave Liverpool this summer despite his contract with the club still running until the end of the 2026/27 season.

The 33-year-old will have no shortage of suitors at the next chapter of his career, with a hugely lucrative switch to Saudi Arabia widely tipped as a potential destination.

Former Liverpool star Bjornebye is currently serving as a football consultant and adviser at Rangers on an initial six-month deal, though he is widely expected to extend his tenure at the club.

READ MORE: Red Bull boss speaks out over Yan Diomande as Liverpool hatch transfer planREAD MORE: Liverpool chiefs and Arne Slot in agreement over future under him despite alarm bells

The former Norway international appeared as a guest on Egyptian channel Modern MTI’s Modern Sports discussion programme, where he was quizzed about Salah’s next move, reports the Daily Record.

And the 56-year-old let slip that Salah had been a hot topic of conversation within Ibrox. Bjornebye said: “I don’t know what Mo’s plans are – we discussed it at work today as well, as I’m an advisor to Rangers.

“We discussed where he’ll go and so on. But I think most people are grateful for what he’s done for Liverpool.

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“He is a true legend at Liverpool and has achieved a remarkable legacy for a great club. He has delivered exceptional results for them over many seasons.

“There were some heated discussions about his situation last year, but the matter has been resolved and he has remained loyal to Liverpool.

“I think most people can accept that he has given the club many great years and now wants to seize a new opportunity, perhaps embarking on another adventure.”

Salah is not the only player to have confirmed that they will leave Liverpool in the summer, with Andy Robertson also announcing earlier this month that he would be departing Anfield at the end of his contract, which expires at the end of the season.

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Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Refuse collector Ashley, who shares tips with thousands of followers online, says there is one thing people should do immediately if they realise too late.

In a video, Ashley explains that timing and approach make all the difference.

He said: “If you forget to put your bin out, I’ve got a solution for you.”

He warned against simply asking from a distance, adding: “What you don’t do is walk up and just tell them you forgot because nothing can happen.”

Instead, he says there is a much better way.

The simple trick that works

‘Bin-fluencer’ warning on the item you shouldn’t throw away with general rubbish https://t.co/gWfV2HwWRS

— Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) April 22, 2026

Ashley explains that physically bringing your bin to the crew gives you a much better chance.

He said: “If you bring the bin with you and say ‘sorry, my fault completely, forgot to put my bin out on time, can you empty it?’

“They’re more likely to say yes if you have the bin with you.”

He added: “If you realise you forgot, carry on taking it to the dustcart and you’re more likely to get it collected.”

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The tip has been widely shared online, with many saying they have done the same thing in the past.

One person said: “That’s why I remind myself the day before. I take it out the night before.”

Another added: “One man drove the bin to us two weeks ago since he forgot to put it out.”

Others joked about the reality of rushing out late, with one saying: “Imagine me running down the street with my full heavy bin.”

For anyone who forgets bin day, the advice is clear: Act quickly, take the bin to the collection crew, and ask politely. It might just save you waiting another week.

Have you ever missed bin day? What are your top tips? Tell us in the comments below.

Jonathan Hammond, who runs Alpiner, has committed to supporting the River Tyne through a new partnership with Tyne Rivers Trust. This pledge aligns with his long-standing dedication to environmental conservation and his professional background.

Mr Hammond, a firefighter of 21 years, said: “It has never been more important to consider the environmental effects of what we do, what we purchase and how we live our lives.

“Charities now play a vital role in protecting and restoring our rivers.

“I wanted to ensure Alpiner was supporting ‘profit with a purpose,’ giving back to the environments that give us so much.”

In addition to his firefighting duties, Mr Hammond serves on the Fire and Rescue Service’s Specialist Water Rescue team, responding to emergencies along the river and educating communities on water safety.

Outside of work, he enjoys fly fishing and surfing, giving him a direct view of the environmental challenges facing the UK’s waterways.

His business, Alpiner.co.uk, specialises in high-quality vintage clothing, grounded in a philosophy of repair and reuse.

Mr Hammond’s environmental commitment extends beyond financial contributions.

Having previously volunteered with the RSPB, he plans to take part in hands-on projects with Tyne Rivers Trust to support the health of the River Tyne and its tributaries.

Sophia Stovall, chief executive officer at Tyne Rivers Trust, said: “We are incredibly grateful for Jonathan’s support.

“It is heartening to see a local business like Alpiner value the environment so highly.

“We truly appreciate businesses supporting our work; these contributions are essential in allowing us to continue our mission of protecting the Tyne for future generations.”

It’s been a short stay at The White Lotus for Helena Bonham Carter, with the actor’s role set to be recast just over a week into filming.

The Bafta-winning actor, best known for her roles in A Room with a View, The King’s Speech and the Harry Potter franchise, was due to star in the hit drama’s upcoming fourth series alongside Steve Coogan, Chris Messina and Alexander Ludwig.

However, HBO has confirmed that Bonham Carter will no longer feature in the project – and another star to be cast in her place.

“With filming just underway on Season 4 of The White Lotus, it had become apparent that the character which Mike White created for Helena Bonham Carter did not align once on set,” an HBO spokesperson said in a statement to Deadline on Friday (24 April).

“The role has subsequently been rethought, is being rewritten and will be recast in the coming weeks. HBO, the producers and Mike White are saddened that they won’t get to work with her, but remain ardent fans and very much hope to work with the legendary actress on another project soon.”

According to the publication, after Bonham Carter shot her scenes, director and writer Mike White felt that her character was not what it should be. Filming will reportedly continue, with the schedule being changed to accommodate rewrites and recasting.

The Independent has reached out to Bonham Carter and HBO for comment.

The news comes just over a week after production began on The White Lotus on the French Riviera, with the series following a new group of wealthy hotel guests during the Cannes Film Festival.

Filming is taking place in Cannes, St Tropez and Monaco, while five-star hotel Airelles Château de la Messardière becoming the White Lotus du Cap.

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Bonham Carter was one of the first stars to be confirmed in the White Lotus cast for series four alongside Sharp Objects’ Messina and newcomer Marissa Long back in January.

While the Harry Potter star won’t feature in the new series, Caleb Jonte Edwards, Vincent Cassel, Dylan Ennis, Corentin Fila, Ari Graynor, AJ Michalka, Kumail Nanjiani and Nadia Tereszkiewicz are making up the rest of the cast.

Others include Rosie Perez, Heather Graham, Max Greenfield, Chloe Bennet as well as Sandra Bernhard, Frida Gustavsson, Charlie Hall, Jarrad Paul, Ben Schnetzer and Laura Smet.

Bonham Carter’s exit isn’t the first time someone has dramatically left The White Lotus; last year, the show’s composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer quit over long-standing friction with White.

He didn’t have any symptoms apart from blurred vision and headaches which his parents thought were caused by eye strain

A five-year-old boy visited the optician to get stronger glasses after getting “fuzzy eyes” in his first few weeks at school only to discover he had an aggressive brain tumour. Teddy Hemms, five, seemed perfectly healthy when he went to Specsavers to get new glasses.

But the eye test revealed nerves at the back of his eye were inflamed – which was later revealed to be caused by a grade four medulloblastoma, a highly aggressive form of brain cancer. An MRI scan before surgery revealed Teddy, who had only just started school, identified multiple growths on the outside of the lining to his brain.

The surgery revealed a multiple tumours on his spine too, showing the cancer had already spread beyond his brain. Without treatment, Teddy’s family were told the youngster would have just six to twelve weeks to live.

He had radiation and several rounds of chemotherapy, and major surgeries left him unable to walk and severely unwell. Teddy is now on a new, more intensive course of chemotherapy, which might leave him with hearing loss, in a last ditch attempt to treat the cancer, before palliative care.

Doting mum Cindy Hemms, 40, said: “He had no symptoms but a little bit of blurred vision and some headaches we thought were caused by eye strain. It’s been so hard for Teddy, because he is so active. He wanted to get running around dancing again, and he became withdrawn.

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“He is now on high-risk chemotherapy – it has made him really poorly, and could give him permanent hearing loss. But we need to be aggressive because if he relapses there will be no further treatment available. But if there is any chance at all for him, we have to take it. We’re taking things one day at a time.”

Teddy’s dad, Ian Hemms, 45, who works in intelligence in the RAF, added: “When we got the diagnosis, I couldn’t believe it, I went into a state of shock. As a parent, it’s extremely tough because there’s nothing you can do. You feel extremely helpless, watching him fight something that feels impossible to beat.”

Teddy, from Sawtry, Cambridgeshire, went for his eye test on September 29, three weeks after starting school. He was referred to Peterborough City Hospital for scans, and given a new pair of glasses.

But the following day, his parents got a call asking them to bring Teddy back for urgent CT and MRI scans. He was transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, where it was revealed he needed surgery to remove a mass behind his eye.

A week later, when he went under the knife, his family were shocked to learn they had found several more masses on his spine and the lining of his brain, and biopsies confirmed they were cancerous. Cindy, an events manager, said: “Clinically, he was completely stable, running around the ward, everyone told us he didn’t look sick.

“We thought it would be benign, because he was so well. But then we started getting oncologists coming to talk to us, and we knew what that meant.”

Teddy was diagnosed with a grade four medulloblastoma, with MYC amplification large cell anaplastic – requiring urgent treatment as it was aggressive and likely to spread. Before the surgery, the family got the devastating news from an MRI scan that Teddy had multiple growths on the outside lining of his brain, and multiple tumours on his spine.

The primary tumour in his brain was removed for analysis during the surgery. Cindy, who has given up work to be Teddy’s full-time carer, said: “They told us without treatment, he wouldn’t live past six to 12 weeks.

“It was a complete shock and I didn’t deal with it well – every time I looked at him, I thought I’d lose him.” He had whole spinal and brain radiation before several rounds of chemotherapy in October 2025. A second tumour on the end of the brain stem and one small tumour inside the left back part of his brain were discovered on a follow up MRI conducted between his first and second round of chemotherapy.

Little Teddy ended up needing an emergency brain shunt in November, when he took a turn for the worst and it was discovered his brain ventricles had filled with fluid. Teddy recovered quickly, but the surgery affected his balance, and he lost the ability to walk or sit up properly.

Cindy said: “He was so withdrawn because he couldn’t be active. He didn’t want to sit on the floor to play, or be in a wheelchair. When we got him home, he would commando crawl across the floor and started pulling himself up on furniture. When he took his first steps again, we were crying and clapping like he was a baby doing it for the first time. Soon the baby steps went to wanting to dance with his stepdad with music on. He couldn’t walk properly yet, so he’d say, ‘hold me, lift me up and make my legs dance’.”

Once he recovered from the surgery, he began radiation at University College London Hospital, five days a week for six weeks. Cindy and stepdad Liam stayed in funded accommodation nearby, but had to cover food, transport and bedding with their savings, and Ian also spent some time in London with Teddy throughout his radiation. Teddy then had a break from treatment in February and early March, before starting a final four month course of aggressive chemotherapy, which he has so far had one round of – scheduled at the start of his treatment after his initial diagnosis.

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Cindy said: “It has been brutal. “It’s made him really poorly but there is no further treatment available for him. It’s a real worry that you might put your child through all this pain, knowing they might relapse in a few months anyway. He will have the chemotherapy until August, providing there are no setbacks. Cindy said so far, his scans are showing significant reduction in the metastases in his spine, but Teddy still has two tumours in his brain which haven’t grown or shrunk.

She said: “Looking to the future wasn’t getting anyone through the days – so we take things one day at a time. We don’t know if he’ll get through this, but we’re staying positive for him.” Cindy and Liam, a fabricator, are now fundraising to cover the costs to support Teddy’s treatment. A

fter Cindy gave up work to care for him, and Liam had to drop to part-time hours to help, the family have burned through their £8,000 of savings getting to and from hospital. Fundraiser can be found here.

Wade, 19, was last seen at around 5.45pm on Friday, April 24, at the hospital on Minerva Road in Farnworth.

He is described as around 5ft 11in tall with shaved, blond hair and was last seen wearing grey/black jeans, blue shirt and a light coat.

Officers are becoming increasingly concerned about him and want to make sure he is safe and well.

Wade, 19, was last seen on Friday at Bolton Royal Hospital (Image: GMP)

In a statement a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: “We are becoming concerned for the welfare of Wade, 19, from Bolton.

“He was last seen at Royal Bolton Hospital at around 5:45pm yesterday (Friday).

“Wade is around 5ft 11in tall with shaved, blond hair and was last seen wearing grey/black jeans, blue shirt and a light coat.

“Officers are becoming increasingly concerned about him and want to make sure he is safe and well.

“Anyone with information about Wade’s whereabouts should contact police on 101 – or 999 in an emergency – quoting log 3329-240426.”

For a medicine so commonly found in bathroom cabinets and high street pharmacies, codeine has a surprisingly complicated story. It sits at the intersection of pain relief, genetics, public health and regulation. As the UK continues to tighten rules around opioid use, codeine offers a useful case study in how a drug can be both helpful and potentially harmful, depending on who takes it and how it is used.

Codeine is an opioid used to treat mild to moderate pain. In some formulations, it is also used to suppress coughing. Over-the-counter products typically combine it with paracetamol, as in co-codamol, or ibuprofen, while stronger doses are available only on prescription.

Codeine itself is a weak opioid. Its analgesic effect is about one tenth that of morphine. Once swallowed, it is metabolised by enzymes in the liver, with some of it converted into morphine. That morphine then produces pain relief by acting on opioid receptors in the brain. For most people, the body makes enough morphine to ease symptoms. For others, the same dose can be ineffective or unexpectedly strong.

One of the most striking features of codeine is how differently people process it. The enzyme mainly responsible for converting codeine into morphine, CYP2D6, varies significantly between people. Most metabolise codeine at an expected rate, but some carry genetic variants that alter the process.

A small proportion of the population are ultra-rapid metabolisers, thought to make up around 1% to 2% of people. They convert codeine into morphine much faster than average. This trait is more common among people of North African and Middle Eastern backgrounds, for whom even standard doses can produce unexpectedly high morphine levels, increasing the risk of severe drowsiness, breathing difficulties and other serious side effects.

Around 2% to 11% of people are intermediate metabolisers. Their CYP2D6 enzyme works more slowly or less effectively, so codeine may provide only limited benefit.

At the other end of the spectrum are poor metabolisers, estimated to make up 5% to 10% of the population. They convert very little codeine into morphine, so the drug may offer little or no pain relief. Poor metabolism is more common in people of white European descent. In these cases, it may make more sense to prescribe a different painkiller rather than rely on a drug the body cannot use efficiently. This wide variation makes codeine far less predictable than many people assume.

That unpredictability matters because low-dose codeine does not always offer much in return. Research suggests that many over-the-counter codeine products provide little proven benefit for pain relief, particularly at doses below 10mg, while still carrying the risk of side effects. A review found that low-dose codeine combinations gave only modest relief for short-term pain, such as dental pain, episiotomy pain or pain after minor surgery, and many of the underlying trials were small.

By contrast, combinations such as ibuprofen 400mg with higher-dose codeine, between 25mg and 60mg, appear to provide more reliable relief. Even so, studies suggest that simple combinations such as paracetamol plus ibuprofen can match or outperform low-dose codeine products without the risks associated with opioids.

Common side effects include constipation, nausea, dizziness and drowsiness. At higher doses, codeine can slow breathing and impair coordination. It can also interact with other medicines that cause sedation, including some antiepileptic drugs. Certain antidepressants can block the enzyme that converts codeine into morphine, making it less effective.

Like other opioids, codeine can also become less effective with repeated use. This process, known as tolerance, happens when the brain’s opioid receptors adapt to the drug. People may then need higher doses to achieve the same effect. Even when taken as directed, tolerance can develop within days, and as doses rise, so does the risk of physical dependence.

Stopping suddenly after regular use can trigger withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, sweating, anxiety and poor sleep. This is why health professionals advise using codeine for the shortest possible time and tapering the dose if it has been taken for longer periods.

Concerns about misuse, addiction and accidental harm have prompted tighter regulation in the UK. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has introduced clearer warnings on packaging about addiction risk and limited over-the-counter pack sizes to a maximum of 32 tablets or capsules. Non-prescription codeine-containing products are now intended for use for no more than three days. Stronger codeine tablets, including 30mg formulations, have long been prescription-only.

Some products have faced even stricter controls. Codeine linctus, once widely used as a cough suppressant, was reclassified as prescription-only in 2023 because of growing concerns about misuse and diversion. It has been used in “purple drank”, a recreational mixture of codeine cough syrup with soft drinks and sometimes alcohol. Its opioid effects can lead to dependence, breathing difficulties and overdose, especially when combined with other sedatives.

Codeine remains a useful option for short-term pain when other medicines are unsuitable or insufficient. But its effectiveness, safety and potential for dependence vary far more than many people realise.

In a landscape where medicines are often judged by how familiar they feel, codeine is a reminder that common does not always mean simple. Used carefully, it can help. Used carelessly, it can cause problems that last long after the pain itself has passed.