The Guardian

The retired second-row on his recovery from addiction, depression and incarceration to find a new life as a meditation teacher “Carefree,” says Ryan Caldwell when I ask him what word is tattooed across his fingers. He looks up from his hands on a rainy morning in Belfast. The former Ireland international, who played the role of enforcer for Ulster, Bath and Exeter, then laughs softly in acknowled…

The Argentinian’s international career was singular, and his exit is a reminder that all good things come to an end It was among the defining moments of the 2026 World Cup: Lionel Messi standing arms akimbo, looking up towards Argentina’s fervent supporters after losing the final . Tears streamed down his face after his team’s embarrassing loss to Spain in what we now know was Messi’s final match…

Former jockey reflects on remarkable story from overcoming hardship to breaking barriers as the first trainer of black or Asian heritage at Flat racing’s HQ “It’s just unbelievable, isn’t it?” Gihan Arnolda says as he reflects on his first three months as a trainer: five winners from 33 runners, £50,000 prize money banked and a string that is, according to the much-respected Timeform operation’s …

Batter dropped from white-ball tour to Zimbabwe and South Africa Chief selector George Bailey insists his Test chances still alive The once-glittering international cricket career of Marnus Labuschagne is on the ropes after he was dropped from the ODI side, even if chair of selectors George Bailey made it clear he remains in contention for the Test side. Labuschagne was dropped from Australia’s w…

Kim Birrell, Maya Joint and James Duckworth advance on day two Birrell plans to spend $265,000 pay day on upcoming wedding An elated Kim Birrell plans on paying down her mortgage after surviving a match point and a restless night’s sleep to chalk up a life-changing US Open win in New York. The gritty Gold Coaster wore down Croatian Petra Marcinko 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 to finally reach the second ro…

Beloved singer died last week at the age of 80 Parton was born 30 miles from college campus The Tennessee Volunteers will be honoring Dolly Parton with a helmet sticker this season, the college football team’s head coach, Josh Heupel, announced on Monday. Parton, a Tennessee native, died last week at the age of 80 from cancer. Continue reading...

Interim coach Trescothick hopes for unchanged lineup England secured series win against Pakistan on Sunday Marcus Trescothick is determined to sign off as England’s interim head coach with a 100% record and has no plans to meddle with a winning formula in next week’s final Test of the summer, despite securing the series win by beating Pakistan at Lord’s . Two successful games into a series, the m…

Kenin wins 6-2, 7-6 (6) in late-night contest Williams loses 15th straight tour-level match First-round clash finally begins at 12.13am Sunday had become Monday by the time Venus Williams finally emerged beneath the closed roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium, her entrance pushed deep into the night after Novak Djokovic’s bruising defeat by Argentina’s Mariano Navone went the five-set distance. The first …

Beth Mead and Niamh Charles are notable additions to the champions’ squad that looks just as strong as last season Guardian writers’ predicted position: 1st (NB: this is not necessarily Tom Garry’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips) Last season’s position: 1st Continue reading...

The home game against Frosinone seemed a perfect way to celebrate their landmark. It did not work out that way Fiorentina’s 100th birthday party had been going for four days, starting with a fan procession through the historic centre of Florence on Wednesday night and extending to their home game against Frosinone on Saturday afternoon. The club was founded on 29 August 1926, but a decades-old di…

Ollie Robinson’s metronomic medium-nip represents the new age – sometimes, you just get the heroes you need Each age makes its own heroes. Two hours from the end of the final day of the second-last Test at the fag‑end of the post‑Bazball summer, the cheer from the Lord’s crowd at deep fine leg had something pointed about it, a crackle of event glamour. Ollie Robinson turned as he ambled back and …

Manchester City confirm Allan signing for initial £32.1m Palace sell Muñoz to Forest and poised to sign Ahanor Nick Woltemade is close to a loan move from Newcastle to Juventus, a year after arriving at St James’ Park in a club-record £69m deal from Stuttgart. The gifted Germany forward has struggled to impose himself amid the high-intensity gameplans choreographed first by Eddie Howe and now Mat…

Spaniard wins 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in first-round match Alcaraz back after months out of action with injury As Carlos Alcaraz edged closer to the conclusion of his first singles set in more than four and a half months, like so many times in his career instinct took over. Up 5-4, 30-15 in set one, Alcaraz swept forward to the net behind a precise wide serve and, when his opponent Roman Safiullin responde…

Edward and Mo Farah among those to be inducted Sonia Lannaman and Shirley Strong also honoured Britain’s first black Olympic medal winner Harry Edward is to be inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame. Edward will join the likes of Mo Farah, former sprinter Sonia Lannaman and medal-winning hurdler Shirley Strong, who will all be honoured at a ceremony in Birmingham in November. Edward’s c…

The smile on Declan Rice’s face a few minutes from time said it all. The Arsenal midfielder had just shut down Ian Maatsen as the Aston Villa full-back zoomed into the box. Arsenal were hardly imperious, Bukayo Saka scoring the only goal, but Unai Emery’s side struggled to hurt the champions , David Raya untroubled. The records will show Villa have lost their first two league matches of a season …