When it comes to raw talent and magnetic charisma, the Australia Rugby League does not have a dearth of clear-cut examples. David Williams, in particular, was voted by Outsports Readers as the hottest athlete in the world and won the King of the Hardwood competition in 2009. He beat out 63 other jocks to clinch the title in a contest spearheaded by Mariner Duck Guy which is closely similar to the NCAA men’s basketball popularity contest.

Williams participated in a ‘Gods in Football’ campaign to raise awareness of and money for breast cancer research-and in the process stood out from the rest of the hot Aussie athletes who also showcased their chiseled assets and physique in a colourful calendar and DVD. William’s magnetic appeal shouldn’t precede his talent of the game, where he can shift between wing and centre roles if necessary. Impressive athletic skills run in the Williams family because in fact David is the younger brother of John Williams, who plays for the Cronulla Sharks.

The ‘Wolfman’ with his signature beard knows when to clean up for a calendar photo shoot yet is ready to get down to business when it comes to no-nonsense, in-your-face rugby. He may look like a pretty boy but he is the real deal (and according to reputable league insiders, not gay). There are detractors but his following certainly outnumbers them. Williams has had a cult following since 2008 ever since he scored a try in the NRL Grand Final where his team won against Melbourne Storm.

Another notable career milestone was being selected to be part of the Australia squad for the Rugby League World Cup in 2008 at Dairy Famers Stadium where he made his trial run against Papua New Guinea. In that same competition Williams was one of a few players to score in the green and gold a hat-trick on debut aside from making 3 try scores. The slot to play in the World Cup Finals against New Zealand in November 22, 2008 was providential to Williams but a setback to Brent Tate, his teammate who was the original choice but had to back out due to a hip injury.

Funny and laid-back, Williams again showed his charitable streak by dying his beard pink in a match against Penrith Panthers in 2009 and encouraging his Manly team-mates to do the same so that the team can raise money for the Women of League Round.

In 2010 Williams suffered an injury at the beginning of the season during an opening head-on clash with the Tigers. His 2010 NRL campaign became bleak when a training injury sidelined him during pre-match training on the eve of that game. Coach Des Hasler believed that Williams could’ve staged a comeback if only he aced his fitness and medical tests ahead of the Dragons match. The rebounding player subsequently had surgery and was back on his feet in no time. Today Williams enjoys the security and the perks of a three-year deal for St. Helens at the Super League.

For more information on David Williams you should check out his profile on Footysocial at http://www.footysocial.com.au/players/davidwilliams

I was born in Salford and worked for many years within the City but after a long absence I returned there recently for a brief visit. In reality, I visited Swinton which is a separate location within the City of Salford and is home to a small but busy shopping centre and the administrative offices of Salford council.

Famous Salford resident LS Lowry, who painted famous pictures of “match stalk men and match stalk cats and dogs” was actually a life long resident of Swinton and lived on Station Road nearby.

Swinton, and particularly Station road, are also famous for a Rugby League team who were once one of the biggest names in the game and in 1927/28 were one of only three clubs to win all four cups played for in one season. Their successful team of the 1960′s won the Championship twice with stars such as Alan Buckley, John Stopford and Ken Gowers.

Station Road was the venue for numerous international matches between Great Britain and other nations in particular Australia for the Rugby League Ashes. It was once called the “Aussie graveyard” because for many years Australia were unable to win there.

In 1930 at Swinton, in the third and deciding Test with the score standing at a very unusual 0-0 and time running out, Australia’s half-back Joe “Chimpy” Busch picked the scored what seemed like a match winning and Ashes winning try. Busch and his team were jubilant but the referee consulted the touch judge and over-turned his original decision.

In 1948, the Second Test match was played at Station Road and before the game, the Australian players paid homage in the corner where “Chimpy” Busch had been denied but they lost the match 17-6 and The Ashes with it. Station Road, once again proved to be the graveyard of the Aussies.

In 1950, Australia won the Ashes for the first time since 1920 when they won a series 2-1 on home soil but Great Britain regained them in 1952 at Station Road.

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In 1963, the Australians finally won at Station Road and became the first Australian team to win an Ashes series way from home. The result was a 50-12 massacre which was a record score at the time. Station Road was no longer an “Aussie graveyard”.

In 1992, the famous Swinton club had fallen upon hard times and the then directors decided to sell the ground to a housing company to clear debts. No consultation process was carried out with the supporters, the local council or the Rugby League authorities. It was an act of treachery and betrayal.

The Rugby League team are still called Swinton but have since played their matches at various locations including Bury FC and Sedgeley Park RU and have struggled ever since. They are currently enjoying their best season for many years and stand top of Championship 2. They play their games at The Willows which is the home of fierce rivals Salford but at least it is close to their traditional home. There is talk of them moving to a new purpose built stadium nearby. Let’s hope so

Station Road is a now a nondescript housing estate and when I visited I saw no mention made of it’s significance in Rugby League history. There was no signpost, no commemorative plaque or even roads named after famous Swinton, Great Britain or Australian players. It really is a great shame.

CLICK HERE for more information about International Rugby League.

In the good old days, England used to play regular soccer fixtures against Scotland, usually during May as part of the Home International Series involving England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. I vividly remember Scottish supporters displaying banners with the motif “Remember Prestonpans”.

Prestonpans is situated to the east of Edinburgh and was the scene of a landmark battle in Scottish history. In 1745, the Jacobite forces under Charles Edward Stuart (or Bonnie Prince Charlie as he is usually known) defeated the English at Prestonpans as part of his campaign to regain the English throne for his father. Encouraged by this, the Jacobites ventured as a far south as Derby causing panic in London which was virtually unprotected at the time. The Prince was persuaded by his advisers to retreat due to a their failure to gain the expected levels of support and the opportunity was lost. Eventually the Jacobite forces were massacred by the English under the Duke of Cumberland at Culloden Moor near Inverness in 1746. The Prince went on the run and escaped to France where he spent the rest of his life in exile.

During a recent trip to Edinburgh, I decided to pay a brief visit to Prestonpans to satisfy my curiosity. I found a quiet, pleasant bay with excellent sea views and a yacht club but few facilities. The nearby Cockenzie Power Station dominated the skyline although the numerous new housing developments inland indicated that other people shared my opinion about unrealised potential.

I was particularly disappointed to find no mention of the Battle of Prestonpans. There were no sign posts, no visitor centre and no pubs with historically accurate names.

There was a Museum of Industrial Heritage which looked interesting as were various unusual murals and I later found out that Prestonpans is a mural village with a mural trail. Musselburgh Racecourse was nearby as were the varied attractions of Scotland’s capital but there was nothing concerning the Jacobite rebellion. What a shame!

Eventually, I managed to track down a small information board about Prestonpans with some historical information about Bonnie Prince Charlie, the battle and other relevant facts about the area. I saw a signpost for a cairn commemorating the battle but after a brief search I couldn’t find anything obvious.

Modern day Scots are toying with the idea of independence but are they actually aware of the exploits of perhaps the greatest Scottish Nationalist of them all?

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After pleasant journey from Pier Head in Liverpool to Douglas Harbour, I returned to the Isle of Man after an absence of approximately twenty years. I regularly visit old haunts to reminisce and am usually surprised at the pace of change but the Isle of Man seemed to be stuck in a time warp. I enjoyed revisiting some of the famous features and also discovered some hidden treasures

On the promenade in Douglas is a striking memorial to William Hillary who founded the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (R.N.L.I.) In 1830, at the age of 60, he took part in the rescue of the packet St George, which had foundered on Conister Rock at the entrance to Douglas Harbour. As a result, Hillary became a prominent member of the scheme to build the Tower of Refuge on Conister Rock which still stands there and is the subject of a poem by William Wordsworth.

The Isle of Man has long standing brewing regulations which forbids the use of additives in any beer brewed there. The island has become a Mecca for real ale enthusiasts who visit the many pubs to sample the excellent beers on sale. I recommend Okells Bitter and enjoyed a few pints myself in and around Douglas.

At the far end of Douglas promenade is a small village called Onchan which is home to a remarkable, recreation of St Bernadette’s Grotto in Lourdes. It was built in 1951, near to St Anthony’s Church as a replica of the natural cave in France where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1858 and was the brainchild of Father James McGrath who sadly died in 1982.

Close to Douglas and Onchan is Groudle Glen which to my amazement was deserted during my Friday evening visit in high season during August. It consisted of an easily accessible stream complete with waterfalls and a waterwheel flowing through a picturesque wooded valley. I thoroughly recommend it.

Within easy reach of Douglas, past Ronaldsway Airport is the ancient capital of the Isle of Man called Castletown which was home to the government until it relocated to Douglas. The narrow streets and working harbour are dominated by Castle Rushen which used to provide a home both to the Kings and the government. I visited on the day of the Castletown Festival when the roads were closed to accommodate stalls, attractions and Bouncy Castles. A good time was had by all.

Further along from Castletown is Port St Mary which is the home of sailing on the Isle of Man and I have happy memories of childhood holidays spent there. I can say the same about many other places but Port St Mary, for once doesn’t disappoint with it’s the clear water in a quiet, tranquil bay, clean sand and a quaint harbour. On a summers day it’s an idyllic spot and one of my favourite places on earth.

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This article discusses a sport that many of you will be unfamiliar with. It is popular around the world but those from the United States are unlikely to have heard of it although the USA does have a national team.

History

Rugby League is a very popular spectator sport in England, Australia and New Zealand but is also played in many other nations. It is very similar to Rugby Union. In fact, the rules of Rugby League were created in 19th Century England as a split from the Rugby Football Union. Unlike in American Football, players do not wear protective gear and consequently rugby league is a highly dangerous game. This also makes it great fun to watch.

Rules

The aim of the game is to get the ball past the other side’s goal line (similar to a touchdown zone in American Football). Instead of a touchdown this is called a try and is worth 4 points. 2 points are awarded if a goal is scored and after scoring a try, the team has the chance to convert a goal. Goals can also be scored in the normal run of play by half volleying the ball between the goal bars. Each game lasts for 80 minutes and each team has 6 tackles or downs to aim to score a try. Unlike in American Football, players can only pass backwards not forwards. Only the player holding the ball is allowed to be tackled by the defending team. If the ball is dropped onto the ground by the attacking team then play immediately switches known as a handover and the defending team gets to attack. Not only do fans like to watch the games but some punters also enjoy rugby league betting.

Competitions

Aside from the rugby league world cup, the rugby league four nations is probably the most famous international tournament.

For the last ten years, most media outlets have paid a great deal of attention to the worldwide energy crisis and to global warming in particular. It is generally agreed that alternative energy sources will need to be developed to meet our ever expanding need for power. Possibilities include wind power, solar power, wave/tidal energy and biomass but while these technologies can make a contribution, it is unlikely that that existing alternative energy technology can provide enough energy to meet out needs.

Another possibility is nuclear power which is clean, efficient, reliable and relatively cheap. Despite the problems disposing of the dangerous waste produced, politicians seem to be ready to consider the use of nuclear power and might agree to a large scale construction program.

Many analysts have speculated that the worldwide nuclear energy market could grow substantially by 2030.

Does this mean nuclear energy is worth investing in?

In the U.S.A, the Department of Energy expects the amount of electricity needed to rise by 50% during the next twenty years. Worldwide electricity consumption is expected to double by 2030. Fossil fuel stocks are dwindling and the price oil continues to rise

It more than possible that there will be an increase in demand for nuclear power and this coincides with a weak amount of supply. Basic economics tells us that prices increase and decrease according to supply and demand.

Furthermore, as emerging economies in Asia develop over the next twenty years, the spike in demand for cheap, clean, reliable alternative energy sources could intensify and nuclear power is well placed.

Various private sector investment managers have recently described the structural shortage of power generation facilities in the developing world. Some countries are in the process of building large numbers of nuclear power stations and this will lift the demand for uranium.

Until recently, it has been very difficult for an ordinary investor to participate in the nuclear energy market because most investment opportunities were offshore. This has changed and there are now several options available:-

• Three years ago, the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) launched its first futures contract for uranium. This allows investors to speculate on the future growth. Prices were high before the Global Credit Crisis in 2008 when uranium was trading at approximately $140 per pound. Recently it was approximately $40
• Investors can invest in the potential growth in the price of uranium by investing in mining companies which often have a very low share price. Proper research should be carried out and if the company finds substantial deposits the share prices will rise significantly
• Investors can invest in companies that have existing uranium operations such as BHP Billiton and Cameco which are both large companies and proven leaders in the field. Many smaller companies in countries with uranium deposits are good investment opportunities but shares would need to be purchased on a foreign exchange.
• The currency of countries with uranium deposits should increase in price and Forex Brokers could give advice about whether this is a viable investment opportunity

The human race has used wood to make fire for a very long time. It has been our main source of energy for most of our existence and we have used it to cook food and provide heating.

Use is dwindling but burning waste to produce energy has great potential as an energy source. This is particularly important when you consider the amount of waste produced in the modern world, the problems faced with disposal and the effort being put into recycling.

A Biomass Power Station works in a similar way to a coal fired power station. Waste is burned and used to heat water, the steam produced is used to turn turbines, the turbines turn generators and generate electricity. Any solid waste can be used including animal manure, woodchip, seaweed, rubbish and any other waste.

Bio-conversion is a related process where plant/animal waste is used to produce bio-fuels such as methanol or natural gas. These bio-fuels can be burned to produce power and vehicles have been developed powered by bio-fuels

Sugar can be used in a similar way because it can be fermented to make alcohol which can be burned. Alternatively, the left over sugar cane pulp can be burned and often a biomass power station provides energy for a sugar mill as well as the surrounding area.

A Biomass Power Station is planned for Portbury near Bristol which would produce 150 MW of power and this is enough to provide power for two hundred thousand homes. It will burn wood materials brought to the plant by ship from sustainable sources and will annually offset about four hundred thousand tones of carbon dioxide emissions.

Another Biomass Power Station is planned for Longannet in Scotland which will produce 20 MW from wood and waste derived fuel and provide electricity for about thirty three thousand homes. It will also offset one hundred and thirty tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year and prevent one hundred and thirty five tonnes of waste material being disposed in landfill sites.

Bio-fuels could help us reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and most particularly the oil used for transport which is obviously a good thing.

Some people claim that it will take a huge amount of land to grow the bio-fuels needed and this will affect our capacity to grow food. Bio-fuel powered vehicles produce similar carbon emissions to petrol driven vehicles but scientists argue that the plants growing the bio-fuel will take in the extra carbon emissions produced as they respire. Time will tell on this argument.

We should definitely take the opportunity to burn waste materials whenever we can. It is a very cheap source of fuel and would help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. It also destroys waste and reduces the need to recycle. We collect waste anyway and have trouble with disposal.

However, growing bio-fuels could cause problems and some fuels may not always be available. Bio-fuels are burned and still produce greenhouse gases in the same way as fossil fuels.