Owen Slot
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owenslot.bsky.social
Owen Slot
@owenslot.bsky.social
210 followers 28 following 13 posts
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owenslot.bsky.social
My interview, here, with Mondo Duplantis. Can the most dominant sportsman on the planet be a pole vaulter?
www.thetimes.com/sport/athlet...
Meet ‘nutty’ Mondo Duplantis — who is also world’s most dominant sportsman
Mondo Duplantis may look like an unfazed skateboarder with floppy hair but no one can touch him — with 11 world records, the next one is only around the corner
www.thetimes.com
June 12, 2025 at 6:35 AM
owenslot.bsky.social
My interview, here, with Tom and Ben Curry, on the twin thing, chasing shared dreams, sometimes getting there together and sometimes not.
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
Tom and Ben Curry: We watched Lions announcement on Sale bus — it was hell
Twins on the ‘hell’ of discovering their different Lions fates on Sale team bus and how they have decided to live apart for the first time in their lives
www.thetimes.com
May 30, 2025 at 8:21 AM
owenslot.bsky.social
My special report, here, on the disgrace of the UAE and how it became a Wild West for the transfer market of young African footballers.
www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
The African kids sold a European dream then sent to UAE’s ‘Wild West’
Gulf state is heaving with wannabe footballers abandoned by unscrupulous agents. One player, Joseph Agyei, is yet to tell his parents of his three-year ordeal
www.thetimes.com
April 30, 2025 at 3:59 PM
owenslot.bsky.social
Finally, here's a story I wrote earlier in the Championship where I was almost typing through the tears: www.thetimes.com/article/beea...
How ghost club of Ray Gravell became symbol of Wales decline
Mynydd-y-Garreg has a beautiful location, a mown pitch and an active bar with TV – but its team hasn’t played in nearly a decade. Can this club, and others like it, reverse rugby’s decline there?
www.thetimes.com
March 15, 2025 at 1:00 PM
owenslot.bsky.social
Here's the big Lions debate:
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
Maro Itoje can seal captaincy but Finn Russell must shine — Lions dilemmas
Ireland’s top players need to bounce back to reinforce their claims for a spot on the plane to Australia while slots at prop and flanker remain up for grabs
www.thetimes.com
March 15, 2025 at 12:53 PM
owenslot.bsky.social
This is my column on classless Galthié, lonely Borthwick, the ruthless Ireland selectors and much more: www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
Unsparing Ireland, classless Fabien Galthié: lessons from Six Nations
Irish decision to deny 137-times-capped Cian Healy a final farewell and France head coach’s incendiary media comments speak volumes about nature of elite sport
www.thetimes.com
March 15, 2025 at 12:53 PM
owenslot.bsky.social
As we count down to the Six Nations finale, here's a lot of stuff from our rugby team, all available for free as the paywall is down for the entire weekend. Start here with Sam Warburton explaining why he thinks Wales can beat England: www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
I believe we could see a historic Wales victory at a rocking Cardiff
Levels of Welsh physicality have taken us all by surprise. Through that, they can force England into the three or phases of attack that are not their strength
www.thetimes.com
March 15, 2025 at 12:52 PM
owenslot.bsky.social
Worcester Warriors went out of business two and a half years ago yet, to England's great benefit, its legacy is thriving
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
Made in Worcester: Club that died still influencing England’s attack
The international success of academy products such as Fin Smith and Ollie Lawrence has former staff wondering what might have been had club not met its demise
www.thetimes.com
February 20, 2025 at 5:35 PM
owenslot.bsky.social
Ireland-England in Dublin. The aftermath
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
Punch-drunk England fans find consolation in booze and bonhomie
Despite seeing side snatch defeat from jaws of victory in Six Nations opener against Ireland, travelling supporters still find joy during weekend in Dublin that has become a biennial ritual
www.thetimes.com
February 3, 2025 at 7:56 AM
owenslot.bsky.social
An interview, over haggis, with Gregor Townsend in which he is good fun, proud of the food and fascinating on coaching, coaching theory and not being liked.
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
Lunch with Gregor Townsend: haggis, humility and beating England
The Scotland head coach is aware that he does not have the job for life, having initially planned to go into teaching, and does not intend to be liked by everyone
www.thetimes.com
January 28, 2025 at 8:07 AM
owenslot.bsky.social
In my next life, I'm gonna be a pole-vaulter and compete in Reno...
www.thetimes.com/sport/athlet...
Pole vault mecca unites Armand Duplantis and old men with bad hamstrings
European schedule prevented Olympic hero from attending Reno annual summit this year but 1,200 competitors, aged six to 60, still descended on the city
www.thetimes.com
January 24, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Reposted by Owen Slot
grantfeller.bsky.social
A brilliant, damning commentary from @owenslot.bsky.social on a truly embarrassing PR campaign from rugby chief Bill ‘I had no idea’ Sweeney, supported by Teneo, one of the most renowned and expensive PR firms.
www.thetimes.com/article/04e4...
It’s hard to believe any Bill Sweeney comment – apart from bonus defence
From saying that his contract obliged him to accept six-figure bonus to not knowing why his own chairman resigned, RFU CEO has shown just how out of touch he is in mini PR tour
www.thetimes.com
January 24, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Reposted by Owen Slot
alexmlowe.bsky.social
Cash-strapped RFU, which made 40+ jobs redundant, is to spend c£100k on a crisis-management firm and £50k on a governance review after the executive pay row triggered an unprecedented grass roots revolt.

Exclusive by @owenslot.bsky.social

www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
RFU hires crisis management firm at £5k a day to fix its image
Under-fire governing body employs corporate consulting firm to help it navigate storm caused by perceived excess of the rewards of its own senior staff
www.thetimes.com
January 16, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Reposted by Owen Slot
alexmlowe.bsky.social
Siya Kolisi: Hero, sinner, world-changer — an athlete like no other

Amazing interview with @owenslot.bsky.social in @timessport.bsky.social

www.thetimes.com/article/4796...
Siya Kolisi: Hero, sinner, world-changer — an athlete like no other
Siya Kolisi icon tells Owen Slot why he’s tired of people celebrating his triumph over childhood struggle, benefiting from therapy and leaving Paris to ‘feel’ his homeland again
www.thetimes.com
January 16, 2025 at 7:58 PM
owenslot.bsky.social
My column on honours lists, the snubbing of rugby league, a history of racism in 20th century Welsh rugby and why Billy Boston should be league's first knight.
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
Rugby league due its first knight – but Sir Kev must wait his turn
Now 90, Billy Boston rose above discrimination to establish himself as a role model in a community that was proud to support him. He and his sport should be properly honoured sooner rather than later
www.thetimes.com
January 4, 2025 at 8:58 AM
owenslot.bsky.social
New year, new platform for me... Here is my report on an extraordinary night watching Luke Littler making history.
www.thetimes.com/sport/darts/...
Luke Littler, 17, etches name into legend with final masterclass
The 17-year-old Luke Littler becomes youngest-ever world darts champion with comprehensive 7-3 defeat of Michael van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace
www.thetimes.com
January 4, 2025 at 8:53 AM