EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — After Wales rugby players canceled their threat of strike action, national captain Dewi Lake called the upcoming Six Nations “a welcome distraction.”
The Welsh players' association last week gave the Wales Rugby Union a deadline of Feb. 6 — the day before Wales plays its Six Nations opener against England — to clarify the future of the four men's regional sides.
The WRU wants to cut one team amid protests from supporters and stakeholders.
At the weekend the WRU assured that all four regions will continue playing through the end of the 2026-27 season. That certainty for 12 more months has satisfied the players' body. But the region most at risk of the axe is Swansea-based Ospreys, which features seven of the Wales squad including Lake.
“What's going on off-field affects everyone in our group,” Lake said at the Six Nations launch on Monday in Edinburgh. “Something like that can only rally your group, make you tighter together. It's massive fuel for the fire for us.”
He is leaving Ospreys at the end of the season for England's Gloucester, and called the Six Nations "quite a welcome distraction, having the ability to throw yourself into matches or watch the opposition and doing your analysis for the weekend.
“Having the opportunity to step on the field and represent your country in one of the best competitions in the world is only going to take your mind away from things happening off the field.”
Wales has also not won a Six Nations match since March 2023 and Lake was asked how difficult being captain would be.
“There's not much managing needed really in terms of how boys deal with things like this (the fight by the regions not to be cut) because it's quite personal," he said. “It's instability, boys will have families and deal with things differently. The only thing I will deal with is that come game time everyone is switched on.”
The Six Nations begins on Feb. 5 with titleholder France hosting Ireland.
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
FILE - Wales' players react after being defeated during the Six Nations rugby union match between Italy and Wales at the Olympic Stadium in Roma, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, file)
TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 27, 2026--
Shriners Children’s Hospital in Tampa has strengthened its flood resilience with a new flood protection installation by Flood Risk America (FRA). Located right along the coast, the hospital faces growing risk to essential areas, including its parking garage, elevator access points, and building entryways.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260127214951/en/
Shriners Children’s is a world-renowned nonprofit pediatric hospital dedicated to providing specialized, family-centered care for children with orthopedic conditions, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, cleft lip and palate, and more, regardless of a family’s ability to pay.
“Many families rely on Shriners Children’s Hospital for life-changing care, which we don’t take lightly,” says Stephen Gill, founder and Managing Partner at Flood Risk America. “Providing the right flood protection to medical facilities ensures that care can continue without interruption, even during severe weather.”
Growing Risk of Flooding to Essential Buildings
As climate change drives more frequent and intense storms, flooding is becoming an increasing threat to essential facilities, particularly healthcare buildings in coastal and low-lying regions like Tampa. Even minor water intrusion can quickly disable parking areas, elevators, and entryways, restricting access and creating serious safety risks for patients, families, and medical staff.
Because hospitals must remain fully operational at all times, flood protection systems must be quick to deploy, easy to install, and non-disruptive while providing reliable protection without permanent alterations that could interfere with daily care or emergency response.
Protecting the Hospital’s Most Vulnerable Points
As a solution, FRA installed its patented and customized FRA Flood Panel system, designed for rapid deployment and reliable, watertight technology.
Key areas protected include:
Each solution was customized to integrate seamlessly with the hospital’s existing infrastructure.
About Flood Risk America
Flood Risk America specializes in custom flood protection systems designed for virtually all types of buildings. By combining marine-grade and corrosion-resistant flood products with a truly tailored approach, FRA helps clients protect their property, maintain operations, and ensure safety in flood-prone regions.
“Our team is honored to support an institution that delivers hope to children and families every day,” says Stephen Gill. “With this system in place, the facility now has a layer of protection to better withstand flood events.”
Advanced Flood Protection Installed by Flood Risk America at Shriners Children’s Hospital Tampa
Advanced Flood Protection Installed by Flood Risk America at Shriners Children’s Hospital Tampa
