All eyes turn to Europe as rugby’s Champions Cup gets underway December 6, 2021 Come winter every season, European rugby halts its domestic competitions and looks towards the Champions Cup – the premier international club rugby competition in the world. This season, in a revised format, it’s imperative that teams get off to a flying start. Here’s what to look out for. Fast Start Last season saw a new [...]
San Francisco 49ers in position to buy Leeds United in coming years December 6, 2021 The San Francisco 49ers could exercise a clause in their deal with Leeds United which could see them buy the Premier League club by 2024. The group that funds the NFL this year increased their stake in United to 37 per cent in January before acquiring another seven per cent last month. The deal would [...]
Saudi Arabia: Hamilton and Verstappen level on points after chaotic race December 5, 2021 If you were to convert yesterday’s race into a film script and pitch it to the bigwigs of Hollywood, you would be laughed out of the door for it being unfeasible. In the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix we saw the very best, and some of the worst, of the sport. But, when all’s said [...]
Women’s football was once banned but now it is a beacon of possibility December 5, 2021 Though 40,000 plus fans will celebrate Women’s sport at today’s FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea, there’s a darker occasion being marked at the weekend – the 100-year anniversary of women’s football being banned in England. “Essentially, the Football Association (FA) said that the game of football was ‘quite unsuitable for women’,” said Charlotte [...]
Barmy Army: The cricket supporters known the world over finding their own way to watch the Ashes December 3, 2021 At around 11pm next Tuesday, more than 150 people will be packing into a bar near London’s Victoria railway station. Tuesday night isn’t always the night for making late plans in the capital. But this is no normal Tuesday. At the stroke of midnight, heads will turn to one of the many screens as the [...]
Saudi Arabia: What can we expect from Formula 1’s newest addition? December 2, 2021 When the lights go out on Sunday evening and racing gets underway at the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, we’ll be thrown into the unknown of both a new track and an uncertain title result. Championship leader Max Verstappen sits eight points ahead of his last remaining rival Lewis Hamilton. And come the end of [...]
Peng Shuai: WTA suspend tournaments in China over tennis star December 1, 2021 The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) have this evening suspended all WTA tournaments in China and Hong Kong over Peng Shuai’s sexual assault allegations and the events which subsequently followed. In a statement, WTA chief executive Steve Simon said: “With the full support of the WTA Board of Directors, I am announcing the immediate suspension of [...]
Former British No1 tennis star Johanna Konta retires at 30 December 1, 2021 British tennis player Johanna Konta has retired at the age of 30. The former British No1 reached the semi-finals of three Grand Slams, including Wimbledon, between 2016 and 2019. In a statement on her social media, Konta said: “My playing career has come to an end, and i am so incredibly grateful for the career [...]
The Women’s FA Cup final marks dark of past and possibilities of future December 1, 2021 On Sunday, tens of thousands will head into the home of English football for the Women’s FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea in what could be the best attended domestic match for 101 years, when 53,000 packed into Goodison Park. This weekend, however, will also offer a reminder of a darker era for women’s [...]
Rugby chaos: Further nine Munster personnel test positive for Covid-19 November 30, 2021 Munster rugby club have announced that nine more of their personnel have tested positive for Covid-19. The province are currently stranded in South Africa, having traveled to the country for United Rugby Championship fixtures. Having been given clearance to travel home, on the basis Munster players would isolate upon return to Europe, the positive cases [...]