The Guardian

Three months after Hatton’s death, his bereft former trainer Billy Graham, friend Jane Couch and his brother Matthew are all trying to find a hopeful future amid the grief “Of course I remember,” Billy Graham says quietly as he pushes back his straw trilby to show me his wounded expression. “I can remember everything.” Graham, who trained Ricky Hatton for all but the last three of his 48 fights, …

Women’s football is booming – but the bigger it’s got, the messier it’s become for players. Through it all, the hot tip for Sports Personality of the Year has kept a cool head At the end of last year, Chloe Kelly was seriously considering stepping away from football. She was deeply unhappy at Manchester City, her team since 2020, where it seemed as if they wouldn’t let her play, nor let her leave…

The 21-year-old came to rugby via an unusual route, but it is one that may soon see him in the England squad To announce Afo Fasogbon as English rugby’s next big thing is not entirely accurate. He may be big – 6ft 4in tall and about 130kg (20st 6lb) – but as far as the internet is concerned he arrived some time ago. Video footage of the young Gloucester prop waving off the more experienced Ellis …

Ahead of the third Ashes Test, Geoff Lemon looks back at some of the surprising stories born of the iconic South Australian cricket ground As England’s team approach the third Ashes Test, it’s tempting to link their tour so far with the Adelaide rollercoaster launched in 1888. Then you realise it’s not accurate because a rollercoaster has to offer some ups as well as downs. Still, perhaps the pla…

The view from his homeland is that Salah’s character and past form should allow for his outburst, while Jamie Carragher has been scolded for his hot takes Mohamed Salah’s stature in Egypt means his every move dominates public discourse. It was therefore entirely predictable that the forward’s comments after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw at Leeds – where he was relegated to the bench for a third consecutiv…

Leicester 15-23 Leinster Gibson-Park and Sheehan score visitors’ tries Harry Byrne’s goal-kicking proved the difference as error-strewn Leinster held off a determined Leicester to claim a 23-15 Investec Champions Cup victory at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. Each team scored two tries but three penalties and a conversion from Byrne were decisive as the bottom side Leicester’s European campaign cont…

Leaders Arsenal host rock-bottom Wolves on Saturday night while Sunderland and Newcastle do battle on Sunday Saturday 3pm Venue Stamford Bridge Continue reading...

Clark makes senior Team USA debut at Duke camp WNBA CBA talks loom as players seek revenue share Clark calls negotiations league’s biggest moment WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark is making her debut with the senior US women’s national team this weekend, taking part in a training camp at Duke under first-time Team USA head coach Kara Lawson. And while much of the attention on Friday was focused on how…

With the arrival of US hedge funders at Wrexham, there is no pretence any more. This is just another project, as it always was Tea and cake. Cobble-close streets. Collectivism. Sugar rush. Hollywood fairytales. And also, as of this week, a minority owner with historical links to celebrity paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Wait! Welsh cakes! Welsh tea! Aggregated tourism benefits. The sloeblack, slow, b…

Prices 10 times those promised in initial bid Fifa not expected to change policy for 2026 The Football Association will pass on England supporters’ concerns about high 2026 World Cup ticket prices to Fifa. However, despite the growing outrage, it is understood none of the international federations expect world football’s governing body to change its policy. Anger among supporter groups continued …

Moore charged after abrupt firing at Michigan University says conduct violated policy Prosecutors allege home invasion, stalking Sherrone Moore, who was abruptly fired this week as the University of Michigan football coach, was charged Friday with three crimes including home invasion and stalking a person he had dated, prosecutors said. Moore has spent two nights in jail following his firing and …

Here’s how to follow along with our coverage – the finest writing and up-to-the-minute reports Continue reading...

Word from the top-tier press conferences, including updates on Gabriel Jesus, Dominic Solanke and Ola Aina Continue reading...

Fifa’s demand that the most fervent supporters cough up a minimum of £5,000 in advance just for tickets is scandalous It was not mathematically confirmed until the Latvia game a month later, but as I watched Ezri Konsa turn in the third goal away to Serbia in early September I smiled to myself in the Stadion Rajko Mitic, knowing England were going to the World Cup. But immediately, a key question…

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! One week on, and the unedifying spectacle of the Geopolitics World Cup tombola has faded, overtaken by the club game’s relentless news cycle. Mohamed Salah has taken a blowtorch to his immediate hopes of returning to the Liverpool starting XI; Real Madrid are apparently in crisis; and Celtic are bad again, their fans perhaps the first in history…