The Guardian

With Marcus Smith at full-back and a highly mobile back five in the pack, Steve Borthwick could play with the handbrake fully off Much has happened in the 27 months since Fiji were last at Twickenham and beat England. You would certainly have had decent odds back then on the home side’s reserve prop Joe Marler becoming a national TV treasure, a fever dream roughly on a par with Claudia Winkleman …

Premier Tech pulls out despite rebranding pledge Team’s participation in Vuelta was dogged by protests The main sponsor of the Israel-Premier Tech (IPT) team of the four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome has pulled out of funding the team, despite a pledge to rebrand and distance itself from its Israeli identity. The Canadian company Premier Tech, in a statement issued on Friday, said that …

Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen battle for the title, just as Juan Manuel Fangio, Nino Farina and Luigi Fagioli did 75 years ago With no little pleasing symmetry, 75 years on from a three-way fight for the inaugural Formula One title, the championship is entering its decisive phase once more with three protagonists in the running and the promise of an enthralling denouement of the …

Trump grants full pardon to New York Mets great Strawberry hit 335 HRs and was eight-time All-Star US president cites faith, sobriety, ministry work Donald Trump has pardoned former New York Mets great Darryl Strawberry on past tax evasion and drug charges, citing the 1983 National League Rookie of the Year’s post-career embrace of his Christian faith and longtime sobriety. Strawberry was an outf…

The Real Madrid midfielder is part of an attack-minded squad but the manager will be watching him carefully One snub was enough. Another and it would have started to look vindictive from Thomas Tuchel, who is far too wily not to know that winning the World Cup is probably going to require help from Jude Bellingham, even if it is also on the midfielder to fit into the tactical structures and squad…

Goalkeeper is staying grounded despite club equalling clean sheets record that has stood for 122 years After yet another relatively quiet night at the office, David Raya sprang into action. As soon as the referee pointed to the spot at Slavia Prague on Tuesday, Arsenal’s goalkeeper sprinted to the touchline to confer with the coach Iñaki Caña in a routine that began when the pair first worked tog…

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! Sunderland have come a long way since their Netflix documentary b@nter-era nadir . It was a time of turmoil. A time when TV cameras were welcomed into the Stadium of Light to record their Brentian chief executive using a cryo-chamber studiously avoided by the players whose recovery it was supposed to aid. A time the club hierarchy famously spaff…

Incident took place during February game with Burnley North End criticise FA’s decision to dish out punishment Preston have been left “extremely disappointed” by the Football Association’s decision to ban Milutin Osmajic for nine matches over allegedly making racist comments to Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri. Mejbril alleged Osmajic made the comments during last season’s Championship derby between the…

Arsenal travel to Sunderland aiming for a sixth consecutive league win while Manchester City host Liverpool on Sunday Saturday 12.30pm TNT Sports 1 Venue Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Continue reading...

NBA eyes 2027 launch for Europe league 16-team model with 12 permanent clubs Talks ongoing with investors, major cities The NBA is targeting October 2027 as a potential launch date for the new Europe-based league that it and Fiba have been working to make happen, a league official said Friday. NBA Europe managing director George Aivagolozu, speaking at a conference in Milan, said the first season…

Six NCAA players banned for prop-bet scheme Investigation found altered play, leaked info Follows earlier bans at Fresno St and SJSU The NCAA revoked the eligibility of six men’s college basketball players for allegations of sports betting on Friday in three separate cases at New Orleans, Mississippi Valley and Arizona State. The NCAA Committee on Infractions released findings from an investigati…

Manager has win-rate of 71.57% across coaching career Hails Liverpool as his ‘best’ rivalry Pep Guardiola will manage his 1,000th game when Manchester City host Liverpool on Sunday, with the manager thanking “the universe” for having the perfect opponent to mark the milestone. In 999 matches leading Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City, Guardiola has earned 715 victories, a win-rate of 71.57%, and c…

Coventry’s manager on rejuvenating the Championship leaders, coaching highs and lows, and why the ‘golden generation’ debate is overplayed “I’ve got a bit of a fat ankle, you can probably see the swelling,” Frank Lampard says, legs crossed, looking towards his right foot. At first glance it could be mistaken as evidence of his hands-on approach at Coventry City training, collateral damage from pa…

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In October 2024, lifelong Manchester United fan Frank Ilett vowed not to cut his hair until his side won five matches in a row. Now, more than a year later, Ilett is still waiting for a trip to the barbers as his hair grows ever larger. But how often do Premier League teams win five-in-a-row and how likely are United to achieve the feat this season? Continue reading...