in response to concerns which had been brought to his attention commissioned a visitation of Bangor Cathedral and a review by Thirtyone:eight an external body that specialises in safeguarding advice in church settings The reporting process is now complete and the following summary reports have now been released publicly We are grateful to all who contributed to this careful and prayerful process The reports give details of the next steps which will now be taken I commissioned two exercises in connection with Bangor Cathedral The first of these was a visitation and the second a safeguarding audit by the independent organisation thirtyone:eight I asked that those who conducted these exercises on my behalf undertake a thorough review of the quality of life Those who undertook these exercises did so on the condition that any sensitive and personal information which might be disclosed by participants (including safeguarding disclosures) would not be released into the public domain This was to give confidence to anyone who participated I am upholding their request for confidentiality and therefore releasing today summary reports prepared by the reviewers and their unabridged recommendations It is evident that in recent years great progress has been made at our cathedral We have seen the fruit of hard work: improved attendance a raised public profile and an enhanced musical life These are signs of vitality and growth that we rightly celebrate But we also know that growth is not just about what is visible—it’s about what is true The reviewers identified some concerns which needed to be addressed the reports described areas where we needed to do better to ensure that the cathedral is truly safe I acknowledge that these findings are hard to hear—but they must be faced if we are to move forward with integrity let me firstly pay tribute to those who participated in the two processes I have listened carefully to those who came forward and I want to honour their honesty and courage I also thank those who carried out the visitation and the audit for their conscientious and sensitive work The response will be primarily in the hands of two groups which will be responsible for implementing I have asked that this work be completed by 4th August The second group is an Oversight Board chaired by Prof Medwin Hughes Their role will be to oversee and scrutinise the work of the Implementation Group and to support a new Dean The recruitment of a new Dean will commence tomorrow Copies of the terms of reference of the two groups will be made available I have begun reflecting on what I must learn from this process—not only as a leader The call to lifelong formation is one we all share and I remain committed to walking that path with humility We shall commit ourselves to the work of repair of rebuilding trust and of creating a healthier culture—together we know that we are people who need repentance and hope We know our human flaws—but we also know the grace of a God who shares our humanity understands our weaknesses and strengthens us to become the Church Copyright © 2007-2025 The Representative Body of the Church in Wales All Rights Reserved.Registered Charity Number: 1142813 Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More BANGOR — A group of volunteers took to the streets of downtown Bangor Saturday morning for a bit of spring cleaning The annual cleanup is an effort to beautify the city and get the area ready for the flowers and plants that will soon be placed throughout the downtown area for the summer season “Public Works and our Downtown ambassadors do a really good job of keeping things clean,” said Betsy Lundy executive director of the Downtown Bangor Partnership “But there’s always little things hiding here and there that we like to get out of the way and make sure when we do our Big Dig Weekend for Adopt-A-Garden in two weeks that the gardens walk into a really nice The Adopt-A-Garden effort allows residents to take care of their own plot of plants in the city throughout the summer and the Big Dig Weekend is where people come together to plant gardens in the city Lundy said this is the 11th year that Downtown Bangor has held the cleanup and that it helps residents to feel more connected to the city of Bangor “It helps people feel a sense of ownership of downtown,” said Lundy “That’s one of the things that’s unique about a downtown is that it’s public space and literally everyone owns a little slice of this downtown and so when they come down here and do a little cleanup and do a little planting it helps them feel invested in it.” changing the dirt in flower boxes and removing several invasive shrubs Volunteers said it's a great way to give back to the community “I’ve spent a lot of time exploring the city and exploring the parks,” said Kris Daignault “Just meeting all the great people and getting involved in the community and getting involved and finding my niche.” To learn more about the annual cleanup and other upcoming events in Bangor, visit downtownbangor.com by Matthew Bourgault BANGOR (WGME) -- Maine State Police says it has arrested a man suspected of killing a teenage girl more than 40 years ago Police say 18-year-old Linda Maxwell was last seen in the Calais area on August 23 1984 after spending the evening with her friends police arrested 65-year-old Raymond Brown of Bangor and charged him with murder Thursday afternoon Brown will be held without bail at Washington County Jail UMaine's Student Newspaper since 1875 introduced a bill that would prohibit state and local police agencies in Maine from entering contracts with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) This bill is a response to the increased deportations and arrests under the Trump Administration that have caused concern over local law enforcement resources being used to assist federal immigration enforcement Rana shared her reasons for proposing the bill Rana has been an active community leader for over a decade She advocates for the needs of the people and the struggles residents face throughout the state Rana wants to alleviate the hardships for locals and give “Maine communities some room to breathe.” “Maine has enough challenges of its own: homelessness Deputizing local police as ICE agents is a step too far” said Rana “They have enough to do as it is.” Rana believes that the immigration enforcement practices under both administrations have caused disruption between families and communities across the country Problems such as separation of children from their parents workplace raids and other harmful practices are set to increase under the new administration and have compounded challenges for these immigrants which essentially deputizes local police as immigration enforcement officials would turn Maine Police into federal agents I knew the new federal administration hoped to expand this program and I thought that would erode trust between police and immigrant communities stretch our resources too thin and potentially expose our police to expensive liability Rana understands the fears that may be spreading on campus for immigrant students Rana expresses her empathy and concern and hopes that this bill will “make immigrants less fearful of local police and police more approachable.” this bill would prevent Maine Police from contracting with ICE While this is a relatively new measure that Maine could be taking other states like Oregon and Illinois have already begun to enact laws that offer protective policies to residents Proponents of these laws believe that there should be measures taken to protect immigrant communities and prevent racial profiling Others argue that these policies will affect law enforcement’s ability to cooperate with federal agencies and could possibly endanger public safety “I’ve heard some very supportive feedback from my colleagues in Augusta Many of them feel like something has to be done to better define the role of local police in federal immigration enforcement Very few of them – if any – want our local police turned into full-fledged ICE agents Our local needs are just too numerous and too time consuming to justify the level of responsibility the 287(g) program imposes on local law enforcement,” said Rana Maine-based organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition (MIRC) have offered a sense of hope for immigrant communities and believe that their protection should be included in the laws that are enacted The ACLU continues to advocate for the voices of immigrant residents who are already experiencing the tensions and pressures of increased discrimination under the Trump Administration the MIRC prioritizes the social and legal conditions for immigrants in the state of Maine Both of these organizations serve as resources and provide a safe haven for immigrants through advocacy and information sharing Rana emphasized the importance of this bill for immigrant communities and the safety that they deserve “LD 1259 would help ensure that Maine law enforcement resources – which are already strained and limited – are solely used for Maine communities It would help build and maintain transparency and trust between police and the communities they serve This bill would also protect the constitutional rights of due process and equal protection for every Maine resident.” For more information on the status of this bill please visit the Maine Legislature website Archbishop of Wales commits to ‘reflecting’ on lessons to be learned THE decision by the Archbishop of Wales, the Most Revd Andy John, to appoint the Bangor diocesan secretary as sub-dean of Bangor Cathedral has been implicitly criticised in the Visitation report he commissioned last year (News, 28 February) The report also identifies a number of areas of concern around the working culture at the cathedral including the personal conduct of certain individuals and management practices “that lacked transparency and rigour” The first recommendation of the Visitation report — a summary of which was published on Saturday evening — is that “any future appointment to the role of Dean or Sub-Dean should be exclusive of other responsibilities” Bangor Cathedral has been without a Dean since the Ven Canon Siôn Rhys-Evans was appointed Sub-Dean and Canon Treasurer by Archbishop John He had been ordained as deacon two years earlier in June 2019 and remained in post as diocesan secretary of Bangor a statement on the diocese of Bangor’s website said: “Canon Siôn Rhys-Evans is leaving his roles as Diocesan Secretary and Sub-Dean.” No further clarification was provided at the time and the four-and-a-half pages of the Visitation report now published — three pages of background information followed by a list of recommendations — provides limited elucidation Archbishop John said that participants had taken part on the condition of confidentiality But the Visitation had found “management practices that lacked transparency and rigour with some appointments made without proper paperwork inadequate oversight arrangements and concerns raised about exclusion due to favouritism,” he said The Visitation was commissioned in October 2024 by Archbishop John who informed the Bangor Cathedral Chapter that “very serious and urgent” safeguarding concerns had been raised The recommendation in the report that “urgent consideration” be given to appointing a senior cleric to “steady the ship until such time as the Sub Dean returns or a successor arrives” indicates that it was concluded some months ago given confirmation of Canon Rhys-Evans’ departure in December The Visitors emphasise in their report that they were not conducting an investigation and did not seek to verify what they were told Archbishop John commissioned a safeguarding audit carried out by the charity ThirtyOne:Eight in November in response to safeguarding concerns having been raised about the cathedral with the Provincial Safeguarding Team (PST) The charity emphasises that the audit — which considered the period during which Canon Rhys-Evans was in post — “did not include a fact-finding exercise where the strength of evidence was tested in relation to complaints made against specific individuals” It recommends that priority be given to establishing an alcohol policy at the cathedral following reports of “excessive consumption” and “inappropriate behaviours” to “avoid any pressure to conform to drinking unwanted alcohol” The charity heard reports of “inappropriate language” being used in front of younger members of the choir including “rude jokes and innuendoes in the choir that left some feeling unsafe and marginalised” Accounts indicated “a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred and to some in their view promiscuity was acceptable” The reviewers also heard of homophobic comments that “do not appear to have been responded or challenged rigorously enough” The reviewers write that they were “repeatedly informed of a lack of confidence in those with authority both in the Cathedral and in the wider senior Church in Wales leadership” The reviewers heard of an “unhappy working environment” and concluded that many of those working for the cathedral did so “in silos with little evidence of a common focus and shared vision/mission” There “didn’t to some appear to be any safeguards put in place when some individuals’ behaviours reportedly became unacceptable A lack of contracts for paid roles or tenancy agreements “caused a potentially unsafe environment for those not knowing what their employment status is and this in turn may make them vulnerable to coercion and control by those in authority.” The lack of a recognised or promoted formal complaints process had left individuals “feeling there is no protection for those raising concerns” There was a “fear of consequence and repercussions” PILGRIMS on a new route from north-west Wales will be taking inspiration from the sixth-century saint Cadfan and who established an abbot-led community at Tywyn (the start of the walk) and a monastery on Ynis Enlli (Bardsey Island) (the conclusion) the reviewers said that they had heard of “significant positive changes” within the Cathedral in the last two years including a commitment to the Welsh language There was “largely positive” feedback from parents and choristers many of whom “struggled to understand that there might be any safeguarding concerns” Those with mental health problems and autistic people spoke positively about the choir The culture was found to be “challenging but not broken with many working in the background for the greater good of others” who is due to address the cathedral congregation on Sunday said that he had asked for all recommendations to be implemented within three months with the work led by the Archdeacon of Bangor who has been chairing Chapter meetings in the absence of a dean This will be monitored by an Oversight Board who chairs the Representative Body of the Church in Wales Recruitment of a new Dean will begin on Sunday “I have begun reflecting on what I must learn from this process — not only as a leader but as a fellow pilgrim,” Archbishop John said “The call to lifelong formation is one we all share of rebuilding trust and of creating a healthier culture — together.” Nicholas Reed Langen examines the Supreme Court ruling on gender We are a partnership of six diverse and welcoming congregations in the northern districts of Milton Keynes offering a rich tapestry of worshipping traditions – Anglican USPG is looking to appoint 3 Trustees (lay or ordained) committed to global mission within the Anglican Communion The Diocese of Gloucester is looking for a practical team member to join the Department of Mission and Ministry who brings a creative and flexible approach as we seek to develop and implement innovative approaches to collaborative ministry across the Diocese The Bishop of Lincoln seeks an ordained colleague to lead in vocational discernment within the Diocese The Diocese of London is delighted to welcome applications for the position of Area Director of Ministry (Willesden) and Diocesan Clergy Wellbeing Adviser run jointly by Sarum College and The Church Times tickets available This online seminar, run jointly by Modern Church and The Church Times discusses the theology underpinning the drive for growth tickets available Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month The menu combines Italian-inspired dishes with classic pub favourites Owned by the Sutherland Shire team behind Bobbys Cronulla "Our heavily alfresco forward venue is so well suited for Robertos to provide our customers a gentle pivot into the regions of Italy," Mr Micola said The menu has been designed to reflect accessible Italian dishes combined with classic pub favourites with highlights including grilled octopus with nduja vinaigrette lemon and focaccia; chicken schnitzel with cabbage and fennel slaw prosciutto cotto and stracciatella and pizzas including the piccantissima with tomato Paying homage to the menu's Italian take on pub food a gelato cart featuring fresh Italian flavours such as pistachio chocolate and pannacotta will also be available by the scoop The beverage program has been curated by Sydney hospitality figure Alex Cameron (owner of Table Manners and ex-Franca The wine list focuses on Australian varietals with several overseas features including emerging brand Golden Hour from the Central Ranges of NSW an Eden Valley riesling from Dead Man Walking and a Cantina Di Negrar pinot grigio The cocktail list will include Italian-style spritzes featuring ingredients such as Limoncello Jugs and pints of local beer will also be available with a rotating 'Beer Of The Month' featuring independent breweries The tavern's recent redesign has been led by design studio Tom Mark Henry With warm Mediterranean tones in a contemporary design it's a neutral colour palette with touches of terracotta The venue's update includes an extension to the popular children's pandas and a new sports lounge featuring a 3.5-metre indoor screen Open seven days a week from 11am until late St George and Sutherland Shire Leader reporter covering education, health and general community news. Email: ekolimar@theleader.com.au Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy University of Maine art and wildlife ecology students have designed an educational mural on the Kenduskeag River Pump Station in Bangor that highlights the importance of freshwater mussels Intermedia Programs and the Department of Wildlife and Conservation Biology collaborated with Bangor Beautiful and city officials on this project.  The mural serves as a visual representation of the freshwater ecosystem at the intersection of the Kenduskeag Stream and Penobscot River It features depictions of various species like turtles fish and frogs that will be cut from wood to give the mural a 3D element Students painted all four sides of the water pump station located at the corner of Washington and Broad Streets in downtown The undergraduate wildlife ecology students conducted research into the ecological aspects of the mural while the graduate intermedia students have designed the creatures that will be displayed Both classes cut the wooden cutouts and painted the different wildlife that will go on the mural.  is one of the students who have studied the animals in the design.  we wanted to make sure that it was ecologically accurate and really depicted a lot of the species in the Penobscot River,” said Dixon “So being one of the many advisors for the art students on how these species actually look how many fins they have or specific lines that help us tell them apart.” initially devised the idea for this project as a way to spread awareness for freshwater mussels.  “Not a lot of people see those species or know that they’re important,” said Fedarick She eventually expanded her idea to include other wildlife She has integrated this project into her Ph.D graduate coordinator for Intermedia Programs They established two integrated classes made up of ecology and intermedia students to bring the project to life “The mural will be not just a visual representation but there will be panels and charts on the mural that have QR codes that lead to information but about the site itself and its Indigenous history,” said Smith “I think that’s important as well and the importance of those species and thanks to Indigenous tribes and fishing.” Bangor Beautiful also collaborated with students at Bangor and Brewer high schools on the project Bangor high school students created wooden cutouts of different freshwater mussel species These sculptures are meant to be scientifically accurate and will be physically attached to the mural Brewer high school students designed an educational chart that explains the life cycle of freshwater mussels to be featured on the wall alongside the mural will teach people about mussels and how they grow and reproduce Both groups of students learned about the science behind freshwater mussels and river ecology before doing the art They not only created something that looks pretty — they made sure it’s scientifically informed They also helped paint the background of the mural which shows the river ecosystem where mussels live This event is open to the public and will include conservation organizations from across the state Visit the Bangor Beautiful website to learn more about the project Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCALAIS Maine (WABI) - A Bangor man accused of murdering a Calais woman over 40 years ago appeared before a judge in Calais Friday was arrested in Bangor Thursday after he was indicted by a Washington County Grand Jury for murder Brown could face 25 years to life in prison Brown is accused of killing 18-year-old Linda Maxwell who was last seen in the Calais area in August 1984 Maxwell’s body was found along the shoreline of the St During Friday’s hearing Brown entered a not guilty plea to the charges Brown is being held without bail pending further action by the court The court documents in this case have been sealed so we do not what led to Brown’s arrest more than four decades later State police are asking anyone with information related to this case to contact them Brown’s next hearing has not been scheduled at this time The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n \n \n \n '.concat(e,' Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response The file could not be found for a number of reasons such as the file being moved or deleted. 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Sports Coaching: Performance and Development Volume 7 - 2025 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2025.1568302 This article is part of the Research TopicMultidisciplinary Approaches to Youth Rugby Talent DevelopmentView all articles Introduction: Player profiling is fundamental to effective talent identification and development strategies whilst anthropometric and physiological profiling is customary practice effective evaluation of technical and tactical skills in team sports has arguable been overlooked largely due to a lack of suitable measurement tools the aim of the present study was to design and test the reliability of a novel observational instrument for assessing technical and tactical skills in rugby union Methods: The Bangor Rugby Assessment Tool (BRAT) was developed via the following three stages: (1) completion of a targeted literature search and expert focus group to inform initial item content; (2) Bayesian structural equation modelling (BSEM) to examine instrument factor structure; and (3) establishment of instrument reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) Results: Results demonstrate excellent model fit (PPP = 0.511) and strong validity for both the technical and tactical factors ICC values ranged from moderate to excellent Discussion: The assessment tool offers a valid and reliable measure of technical and tactical aptitude within rugby union whilst maintaining the requisite practical utility valued by practitioners there are no observational instruments available for assessing individual players' technical and tactical skills in rugby union Observational instruments are commonly used field-based tools, that can facilitate the collection of detailed information on player attributes. While observational instruments have been previously used in rugby union to evaluate performance (14–16) their ability to evaluate technical and tactical skills remains unexplored Such observational instruments would provide coaches and researchers with a cost-effective and easily accessible means with which to assess players' technical and tactical skills serving as an alternative to video-based notational analysis and isolated skills tests The aim of the present study was to design validate and test the reliability of an observational instrument to assess technical and tactical skill in rugby union The Bangor Rugby Assessment Tool (BRAT) was developed via the following three stages: (1) completion of a targeted literature search and expert focus group to inform initial item content; (2) Bayesian structural equation modelling (BSEM) to examine instrument factor structure; and (3) establishment of instrument reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) The aim of this stage was to generate a comprehensive pool of items critical for assessing technical and tactical skill in rugby union, forming the foundation for a new observational instrument. Given there are no pre-existing observational measures specifically aimed at assessing technical and tactical skill in rugby union, a targeted literature search [using a methodology similar to (17)] was carried out to identify key technical and tactical skills in rugby union a focus group with experts was conducted to help guide the creation of the items A purposefully selected sample of experts were invited to participate in a focus group, consisting of four coaches and one performance analyst (mean age = 36, SD = 8). The coaches were qualified at advanced (i.e., level 3) and high-performance (i.e., level 4) levels within rugby union coaching [for further detail on how coaching qualifications are positioned at the international level, see (18)] The coaches had varying years of experience in the sport including professional and national playing backgrounds (mean playing years = 10.33 SD = 6.43 years) and extensive coaching experience (mean coaching years = 12.75 the performance analyst had experience working at the professional level and was employed by a national governing body (NGB) for rugby union all participants received an information sheet and provided written informed consent It should be noted that written informed consent was obtained prior to participation in each stage of the study guidelines provided by the NGB for rugby union specifically key performance indicators used by performance analysts were reviewed for further clarification on definitions and characteristics A copy of the newly drafted 16-item instrument was sent to each expert with instructions to rate each item in terms of its relevance on a scale of 1–4 (1 being not relevant and 4 being highly relevant) Items that were rated as quite relevant (3) or highly relevant (4) were included in the process Flow diagram of the study selection process The diagram illustrates the eligible study identification and exclusion processes of the targeted literature search Results provided a valuable foundation for identifying important technical and tactical skills in rugby union. While the studies in Table 1 offer a detailed list of key skills directly using these items in an observational instrument may be unsuitable due to insufficient detail in item descriptions and the extensive number of items an initial draft of the observational instrument was developed by combining the skills identified by the literature review and NGB performance analyst guidelines This draft instrument aimed to reduce the number of items by consolidating related skills combining skills like catching and passing into a single category while positional-specific skills are inherent to the sport a decision was made to exclude these (e.g. The rationale for this decision was twofold: we wanted to (1) keep the instrument global and applicable for all 15 players and positions; and (2) maintain practical utility and brevity the draft instrument was reviewed by the focus group the participants identified several pertinent factors to consider or improve when selecting suitable items for inclusion in the newly developed BRAT This included separating previously combined technical items such as passing grip and ball control) and tactical items related to situational decision making (e.g. or weak defenders) and game awareness (e.g. does the player assist with attacking players who have broken through opposition defensive line) were added greater depth of detail was emphasised on certain items participants discussed the importance of including different types of tackles in the assessment (e.g. recognising that players execute various tackles in different game contexts intraclass correlation coefficients and standardised factor loading The aim of the second stage was to examine the factor structure, model fit, and rigor of the new 16-item technical and tactical observational instrument. To do so, BSEM (41) was used. This novel approach is increasingly being used in sport and exercise psychology research (42, 43) offering an alternative approach to the traditional confirmatory factor analysis using maximum-likelihood as it acknowledges that models are likely to have small cross-loadings and co-variations across indicators This approach enables us to validate the instrument across the developmental stages represented in our sample The 16-item instrument developed in Stage 1 was utilised assessing players' technical and tactical skill The instrument comprises of 10 items evaluating technical skill and 6 items evaluating tactical skills with each item rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (below average) to 7 (outstanding) The coaches first received training on the instrument and were then instructed to rate their respective age-grade players independently Following the instrument's protocol coaches were asked to “think about the player's tactical awareness and their technical ability when performing in their relevant age-grade competition” The latent factors had a strong correlation [.889 (95% CI: .830 suggesting a significant and robust relationship between technical and tactical factors Altering prior variances from .01 to .005 and .015 did not result in any meaningful change in the convergence indicating that the factor loadings and cross-loadings were stable when using larger and smaller variances The aim of the final stage was to assess the instrument's reliability ensuring the instrument produces stable and repeatable results across different observers Establishing reliability is essential for determining the utility of an instrument inter-rater reliability is a key factor in validating observational instruments for use by multiple raters qualified as advanced (level 3) and high-performance (level 4) rugby coaches independently assessed the technical and tactical skill of 37 under-17 players (forward: n = 17; back: n = 20) The coaches first received training on the 16-item BRAT instrument (from Study 2) and were then instructed to rate the players independently coaches were asked to follow the procedures as outlined previously in stage 2 we focused on the average ICC values which provide a more stable and accurate reflection of reliability across multiple raters The average for the average measure ICC was 0.79 indicating good reliability for the instrument overall validate and test the reliability of an observational instrument for assessing technical and tactical skill in rugby union Our findings demonstrate that the observational instrument developed through a targeted literature search and focus group shows excellent model fit (PPP = 0.511) and good reliability (ICC = 0.79) This instrument offers an alternative method to video-based notational analysis and isolated skill tests helping researchers and practitioners address the need for more comprehensive approaches in talent identification and development research this is the first study to outline the development and reliability of an observational instrument specifically for assessing technical and tactical skill in rugby union While this study represents a crucial first step in the development further testing is necessary as instrument development is an ongoing process The application of BSEM in this study allowed the developed instrument to reveal excellent model fit and factorial validity across both technical and tactical factors. The use of BSEM is becoming increasingly popular in sport and exercise psychology research (42, 43) because it overcomes limitations of traditional confirmatory factor analysis by allowing for small cross-loadings and residual correlations (52) Given the novel nature of the observational instrument and the absence of prior estimates for factor loadings BSEM was particularly advantageous in the present study The results provide initial support for the properties of the items within the instrument and their ability to accurately assess their respective constructs the analysis provides support for the instrument's utility it is important to acknowledge some variability in the reliability of specific items the item “urgency to reload into position” demonstrated poor reliability when evaluated by a single observer suggesting it may be prone to higher variability between raters This item may require further refinement to improve consistency across observers in future studies the instrument exhibited strong validity and good reliability across the majority of its items making it a promising tool for evaluating technical and tactical ability in rugby union Previous talent identification and development research in rugby union supports technical and tactical skill as important prerequisites for player selection (53), as well as progression (54). Despite this importance, few studies have integrated these factors into their methodology (10). This may stem from a general lack of multidisciplinary approaches in this area of research (55) further compounded by the limited availability of accessible methods for researchers and practitioners to use which has undergone rigorous development and validation adds to the limited resources available to assess players' technical and tactical skill The instrument offers significant potential to enhance talent identification and development processes in rugby union by providing a structured method for evaluating these skills enabling coaches to systematically identify players strengths and areas of improvement the tool is designed for use in applied settings allowing coaches to assess players' performance following a single game or across a series of games it should be used when players are competing within their respective age grade competitions Ratings should be provided post-match based on a holistic evaluation of a player's involvement across multiple phases of play rather than being limited to isolated actions coaches may also use video analysis to support their evaluations This approach ensures that assessments reflect game context such as adaptability to changing scenarios and consistency in technical skill execution throughout a match by focusing on overall game involvement rather than individual moments the tool provides a more comprehensive picture of a player's technical and tactical capabilities while the instrument was designed to be applicable across various age-grades and playing level certain items may not be relevant for specific age-grades does the player offload the ball effectively at appropriate opportunities)” may not be applicable for younger age-grades still developing foundational passing and catching skills as offloading is a more advanced skill emphasised in older Beyond its contribution to talent identification processes the instrument also has practical applications in directly supporting coaches Informed by the focus group's emphasis on practicality the instrument provides coaches with a valuable tool for assessing technical and tactical skills helping to inform player development plans and monitor progression coaches can use the instrument to identify a players' strengths and areas of improvement the instrument's brevity and accessibility makes it a practical resource that does not require extensive time or resources Future research should compare the instrument with an established measure or method for assessing technical and tactical skills to further strengthen its validity and reliability researchers should consider expanding the instrument to include positional-specific items thereby increasing its practical utility for both applied and research setting The findings of this research provide initial support for the newly developed technical and tactical observational instrument This study represents the initial development of the instrument with results supporting its validity and reliability and BSEM employed as a novel method of analysis BRAT offers a valid and reliable means of measuring technical and tactical aptitude in rugby union The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors The studies involving humans were approved by School of Psychology and Sport Science The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements The participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article This work was funded by the Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS 2) as part of the Welsh Government’s European Social Fund and the Welsh Rugby Union (Grant No: BUK2E066) The authors would like to thank the staff at Rygbi Gogledd Cymru that participated in this study The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest The author(s) declare that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher Technical–tactical skill assessments in small-sided soccer games: a scoping review Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Technical and tactical effectiveness is related to time-motion performance in elite rugby Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Observational tools to collect data in team sports In: Social Network Analysis Applied to Team Sports Analysis Google Scholar The use of performance indicators in performance analysis PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Notational analysis—a review of the literature Google Scholar Comparisons of positional groups in 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union development pathways Received: 29 January 2025; Accepted: 7 April 2025;Published: 23 April 2025 Copyright: © 2025 Lowe, Owen, Gottwald and Jones. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: George C. Lowe, cGV1YWVkQGJhbmdvci5hYy51aw== Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish The Greater Bangor community is invited to attend a celebration of life for Bangor Fire Lieutenant Billy VanPeursem Members of the Bangor Fire Department and the community who was known by his colleagues as the 'Senior Man,' after joining the department in 1989 William 'Billy' Van Peursem took his own life last week The Bangor Fire Department announced on its Facebook page that a Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday to pay their respects and show support for VanPeursem's family People are encouraged to dress casually and sign a memory book Anyone who is unable to attend can send their photos of written memories to poversmith@chcs-me.org people are encouraged to make a donation to the Bangor Professional Firefighters in VanPeursem's memory All contributions will go directly to his family If you or someone you know is facing mental health struggles Our heartfelt condolences for Lieutenant VanPeursem's family and the members of the Bangor Fire Department Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna The Greater Bangor community is invited to attend a celebration of life for Bangor Fire Lieutenant Billy VanPeursem.\nRead More The Bangor Fire Department announced on its Facebook page that a Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday A myriad of reasons were given for the refusal of a development application for a $26 million private hospital on a long narrow strip of land above the Bangor Bypass Sydney South Planning Panel unanimously endorsed the findings of a council assessment which found deficiencies in the proposed development and that the area was unsuitable The panel said there were unresolved matters in relation to bushfire and flood risk and a substantial number of unresolved urban design and environmental planning concerns The proponent had failed to obtain general approval from the Rural Fire Service which was required because the land was identified for special fire protection The panel also found the proposal was inconsistent with the R2 - Low Density Residential objectives as outlined in Sutherland Shire Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2015 The proposal had also failed to meet building height floor space ratio and landscaping ratios in the LEP with the council receiving 28 submissions against the DA The council assessment concluded there were "a number of critical planning concerns identified which indicate that the site is not suitable for the proposal" "The assessment also reveals that the building typology / overall urban form / site coverage is unacceptable," the report said "There is a deficiency in the supporting information inhibiting the ability for the application to appropriately address planning concerns A development application (DA) for a $26 million private hospital on a long narrow strip of land above the Bangor Bypass has been refused The decision was revealed in Sutherland Shire Council's online DA tracker Picture DAThe application was lodged in March 2024 and new reports were still being added as late as October Approval was also required from the Rural Fire Service The DA was for a two- storey "health services facility (hospital)" and one basement level of parking on 9-13 Shackel Road The proposed facility would consist of consultation suites cafe and various ancillary clinical spaces Artist's impression of the proposed private hospital with noise wall above the Bangor Bypass Picture DAIt was envisaged the hospital would cater for up to 55 patients at a time and include overnight stays "The proposed facility has been designed so that the exact nature of the health services provided within the building is flexible given the operator of the facility will not be known until a development consent has been received," the DA said a clinical planning consultant has advised that the facility will be able to have a potential capacity of 85 people at any one time "The facility is proposed to operate for 24 hours given the nature of the use for health services which will require overnight stay depending on the nature of procedure or treatment undertaken procedures or treatments will be avoided outside of standard hours of operation and the 24 hour use will largely relate to overnight stay for patients "The proposal will provide multi-purpose rooms that can be used for a variety of various functions from day recovery to additional consultation or treatment spaces versatile enough for a spectrum of healthcare services." in which health service facilities are not permitted the DA was submitted under a section of a state transport and infrastructure planning policy which permits health services facilities in R2 zones Watch Big Films on the Big Screen at Pontio in Bangor Warfare embeds audiences with a platoon of American Navy SEALs on a surveillance mission gone wrong in insurgent territory boots-on-the-ground story of modern warfare and brotherhood told like never before: in real time and based on the memory of the people who lived it Find out more about what’s on at Pontio this week https://tickets.pontio.co.uk/ this poignant dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman’s personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history A father and daughter accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while en route to a weekend retreat where his billionaire boss seeks to exploit the creature’s miraculous curative properties Discover the Oscar-winning animated film Flow at Pontio this May It is a breathtaking journey that explores the depths of survival and the bonds of companionship tells the poignant story of a solitary black cat navigating a world devastated by a great flood forging unlikely connections with other animals along the way Pride & Prejudice 20th Anniversary (U) Sparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennet meets single Darcy reluctantly falls in love with a woman beneath his class Can each overcome their pride and prejudice Pictiwrs a Pram – SIX the Musical Live ‘Pictwrs a Pram’ offers a unique experience for parents/carers with babies under 12 months old It’s a chance to see the latest films in a safe and non-judgmental environment with reduced volume and increased lighting You will not be able to select your seat when booking but there are limited number of tickets available (20) and plenty of room for you in the Cinema Don’t worry about your pram; you can keep it parked at the cinema you can feel comfortable doing so while watching the latest titles ‘Pictiwrs a Pram’ screenings are for parents/carers and their baby but if you have an older child with you and the certificate is U they can also attend (no ticket required for children under 2) After his life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack a brilliant but introverted CIA decoder takes matters into his own hands when his supervisors refuse to take action Warfare embeds audiences with a platoon of American Navy SEALs in the home of an Iraqi family overwatching the movement of US forces through insurgent territory boots-on-the-ground story of modern warfare The Makings of a Murderer 2 – The Real Manhunter the UK’s top true crime theatre tour is back with a brand-new lineup Featuring Senior Investigating officer Colin Sutton who caught serial killer Levi Bellfield and ‘Night Stalker’ Delroy Grant who was head of a Metropolitan Police murder squad tells us the stories of how he caught some of the UK’s most evil murderers Colin; who the ITV drama series ‘Manhunt,’ played by Martin Clunes will talk you through his remarkable career and what it is like to chase and catch a serial killer in a unique and one-off night at the theatre – for true crime fans and theatre goers alike The Makings of a Murderer 2 – A Crime Thriller night at the Theatre Bangor will join communities across the UK and beyond on Thursday in marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day a national day of remembrance honouring the millions who fought and sacrificed to secure peace and freedom during the Second World War the country will echo with the sound of church bells with flags flying high and symbolic lights illuminating the night sky Bangor’s own tribute will take place at 9 pm at the War Memorial in Glanrafon Car Park culminating in the lighting of a beacon at 9.30 pm part of a UK-wide network of more than a thousand Beacons and Lamp Lights of Peace The ceremony will be led by Bangor City Council in collaboration with the Right Reverend David Morris Bishop of Bardsey and Assistant Bishop of Bangor the names of all local individuals who lost their lives during World War II will be projected onto the walls of the Pontio building ensuring their legacy will continue to shine said: “It is both humbling and a great honour for Bangor to be part of this significant national tribute The lighting of the Beacon and Lamp Lights of Peace symbolises the enduring legacy of those who gave everything for our freedom “As we commemorate eighty years since VE Day we do so with deep gratitude and solemn reflection remembering not only those from our own communities but the brave souls from all nations who stood together in the face of darkness These lights are a reminder of the peace they forged and a promise that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.” The Bangor VE Day event will start at 9 pm at the War Memorial with the lighting of the beacon taking place at 9.30 pm Every old soldier knows the dire consequences of being found drinking on duty … especially on high profile military parades But one bearded Lance Corporal parading in Bangor later this month has been excused from Regimental disciplines and the feared ‘King’s Regulations’ It’s been tradition beyond memory that the Regimental Goat of the 1st Battalion Royal Welsh is issued his daily pint which again when parading in Bangor as part of a massive military salute to the City L/Cpl Shenkin the Goat will enjoy before trotting off ahead of more than 200 uniformed army and RAF personnel on 29 May Until recently the Regimental Goat of the Royal Welsh was also issued with two cigarettes a day which it would briefly chew but the daily pint of Guinness remains on official Rations – as necessary as part of their intake of iron vitamins!’ said Goat Major ‘Jacko’ Jackson Not only does Shenkin enjoy his daily pint but his favourite off-duty ‘Rest and Recouperation’ chill area when visiting his regimental headquarters at Maindy Barracks Cardiff is in the beer-garden of the Heath pub opposite Given half a chance he’d cadge another free beer from one of the pub patrons!’ said Sgt Shenkin’s predecessor Regimental Goat Lance Corporal Gwillam ‘Taffy’ Jenkins had other chill-out routines after a day on parade He was a lover of BBC Radio Two which was played 24-hours a day in his luxury Regimental Goat-quarters And his other love was plotting ways of ambushing unsuspecting young officers ‘More than a few of them suffered badly bruised backsides’ laughed his former handler Shenkin will lead the spectacular Bangor city centre parade on Thursday May 29 as part of the city’s marking of its 1,500th year of foundation in 525AD   And it will be almost a home-from-home return for him as he was selected by the Regiment from a herd of feral goats which for centuries have thrived on the Great Orme local  North Wales folklore has it that Shenkin’s favourite tipple was discovered in North Wales rather than Ireland when brewery founder J Arthur Guinness en route to a brewing conference in England stopped in a stage-coach pull-up in Llanfairfechan and sampled the local black-stout ale being served   He cadged the recipe and headed straight back to Dublin where he named it ‘Guinness’ Regimental Goat ‘Shenkin’ will take pride and place ahead of the Army Band and others past Bangor High Street’s Town Clock where newly elected Mayor Medwyn Hughes and senior military officers will ‘salute’ him as he trots ahead   Bangor City councillor and former ‘red beret’ Para Mark Roberts explained: ‘They won’t be actually saluting the Goat but rather the coat it wears bearing the insignia and honours of the Regiment   The Goat represents the long and distinguished history of the Royal Welsh and all those regiments amalgamated into it’ History of Royal Welsh goats dates back to 1775 when a stray goat ambled into the ranks of red-coat Welsh Fusiliers during the American Civil War leading them from one victory to another All Regimental goats carry the name ‘Taffy’ although like Shenkin – the Welsh for Jenkins – they also have their own names the King or Queen is formally advised and the Monarch’s permission has to be officially sought before finding a replacement ‘That honour isn’t even applied to our most senior and most highly decorated Generals,’ laughed one former Welsh Fusilier; ‘ just the Goat; and a lowly ranked Lance Corporal at that!!!’ there could be another welcome surprise for animal-loving visitors arriving in Bangor for the 29 May Military parade through the city’s streets Norfolk is Cpl Emrys Forlorn Jones nicknamed ‘Longface’ the Regimental Mascot of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards Theirs is a Welsh Bay Cob pony and like Shenkin ‘A request has been submitted for Emrys and his human military escort to travel to Bangor but the QDG was suddenly mobilised to Poland to bolster the European position in the border areas close to Ukraine’ said retired army Major Adrian Kent who is co-ordinating the Bangor parade but I very much hope that Emrys will be released to us for the Bangor event Councillor Roberts who inspired the parade and a veteran of many major military parades with The Parachute Regiment said: ‘Marching ranks and military bands with all their ceremony and precision are always a delight to watch but so often the true show stoppers are the Regimental mascots Bangor has no military affiliation with the Norwegian army who have a King Penguin as a mascot or closer to home the Yorkshire Regiment who have two Ferrets!’ Shenkin and his Goat Major will be at the Storiel children’s play area to meet the children of Bangor but the army asks: please no food gifts or dogs off leads Shenkin has a very strict diet … and very sharp horns we're always thinking of ways to give back we've held our annual Ton of Pasta Drive at area grocery stores as we hope to collect -- as the name says -- a ton of pasta to distribute to area food banks in 2025 We need your help. Please join us on Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Brewer Hannaford parking lot at 383 Wilson Street in Brewer We'll be teaming up with our friends at Penquis CAP, which will distribute the pasta to area food banks A pound of pasta can feed a family of four.  Let’s all help our neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet Join us for our 2025 Ton of Pasta Drive on Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Brewer Hannaford parking lot at 383 Wilson Street in Brewer.\nRead More We need your help. Please join us on Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Brewer Hannaford parking lot at 383 Wilson Street in Brewer It got a lot easier to keep food fresh at home in the 1920s, when the refrigerator started to become an essential appliance for every kitchen. Manufacturers produced about 5,000 refrigerators in the U.S according to History Magazine (via The Packer) another 1 million refrigerators were manufactured in the country [Pictured: Men stand beside the first Frigidaire A 65-year-old Bangor man faces murder charges in the death of a teenager more than 40 years ago The body of 18-year-old Linda Maxwell was found on the shore of the St Croix River in Robbinston in August of 1984 two days after she went missing in the Calais area following an evening spent with her friends Maine State Police arrested Raymond Brown for her murder on Thursday afternoon during a traffic stop in Bangor Brown is now being held without bail at Washington County Jail State Police say an intensive and expanded investigation by Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit-Unsolved (MCU-U) and the Major Crimes Unit-North (MCU-N) led to the Attorney General’s Office presenting the case to the Washington County Grand Jury which returned an indictment charging Brown with murder A statement from Maine State Police said the arrest reflects their continued  commitment along with the Attorney General’s Office to pursue justice in homicide cases Cinco de Mayo festivities are taking place across the U.S tequila and colorful displays of Mexican culture — even if they're not always the most authentic LePage filed for the 2026 race late Sunday and a formal announcement is expected Monday One of the people being chased reportedly shot a gun twice They say the shooting appears to be an isolated incident Police say a 17-year-old was robbed of clothing The business of the Bangor Tavern has been put to market offering a well-rounded operation in an exclusive Sydney metro catchment Located around 35 kilometres south-west of the Sydney CBD Bangor is a prime developing precinct with residential population of around 32K people Immediately adjacent to the lively IGA-anchored Bangor Shopping Centre the Tavern is a site of roughly 1,500sqm within the 1.4-ha shopping centre land holding gaming room with 15 GMEs in a smoking solution The business generates average weekly revenue close to $110K with a balance of contributions from all departments It was operated for 13 years by Jason Marlow before he divested late 2017 to private owners Adam and Amanda Micola who have decided now to call time on the busy pub The Tavern sees “very high” foot traffic via the roughly 180 car parking spaces it shares with the shopping centre It’s suggested the right buyer could expand on the hospitality business or redevelop through purchase of the shopping centre site from the freehold owner There is more than 21 years remaining on the current lease and marketing literature describes the rent as “sustainable” Market guidance on the sale price is said to be upper $6-millions the Bangor Tavern boasts no clear competition from any other immediate pubs or taverns with gaming “This is therefore arguably the metro version of being a ‘one pub town’,” suggested HTL Property’s Blake Edwards marketing the asset with colleague Andrew Jolliffe The leasehold interest of the Bangor Tavern is being sold through an Expressions of Interest campaign A product of The Information CollectiveACN All Rights Reserved © 2025 | Privacy Policy