Rugby Sevens Star's Famous Family Link
Grace Crompton, who will represent Team GB in rugby sevens at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has a famous family connection: she's the step-granddaughter of stage actor and singer Michael Ball.
Ball, renowned for his originating role as Marius Pontmercy in the West End production of Victor Hugo's *Les Misérables*, married Crompton's grandmother Cathy before the young athlete was born. He's been a constant presence in her life, becoming a cherished figure she affectionately calls "Bumpy and Bally".
The 22-year-old Crompton revealed that Ball and her grandmother are her biggest supporters in her rugby journey. "Bally is my step-grandad, but he's been in our family since my mum was born, so he's all I've ever known," she shared.
"He is an absolute fan of ours. He always tells me that he never thought he would be cheering on women's rugby sevens, but here he is now." Crompton added, "He watches every stop on the series with my grandma. They put on the live stream with a glass of wine in hand and watch all day. They are the biggest supporters ever, and I guess he's great at what he does as well."
While Crompton thrives on her sporting passion, she's also not averse to a bit of musical theatre: "I will never say no to a bit of *Les Misérables
on the team bus."
England Set for Wales Clash at Expanded 2027 Rugby World Cup
The upcoming Rugby World Cup in 2027 will see an expanded format, featuring 24 teams divided into six pools of four. This unique draw will take place before the regional qualifiers are finalised, leading to a dual-world approach.
The 12 automatic qualifiers from the 2023 Rugby World Cup will be confirmed by name, while the remaining spots will be allocated to regional winners, designated as Africa 1, Europe 1, Europe 2, and so forth.
Australia will host the tournament for the third time, having co-hosted the inaugural event in 1987 with New Zealand and hosting solo in 2003.
With current World Rankings in mind, we can anticipate how the 2027 Rugby World Cup might shape up.
2027 Rugby World Cup Draw (Current Rankings)
Pool A
South Africa
Argentina
Samoa
Spain
Pool B
Ireland
Australia
Georgia
Romania
[Image of Antoine Dupont of France]
To be continued on page two
