The Guardian

It is feared soft-power politics and a $240m war-chest could leave Samoa and Tonga uniquely vulnerable There’s a new war in the Pacific brewing, with the Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika collapsing and rugby league on a new signing spree in union’s traditional heartlands. The conflict spells trouble for Rugby Australia (RA), whose federal government is funding a $600m NRL franchise in Papua New Gu…

Players want greater share of revenue from tournaments Sabalenka: ‘I think at some point we will boycott it’ Aryna Sabalenka believes the top tennis players will boycott grand slam tournaments in an attempt to resolve their dispute with the four events, which they argue should provide players with a greater share of their growing revenues. “I think at some point we will boycott it, yeah,” said th…

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! While the match itself may not have been up to much, the spectacle and occasion of Arsenal’s win over Atlético Madrid on Tuesday night made it a unique and memorable evening in the club’s history. Pre-match smoke and pyro provided the soundtrack to the raucous welcome their players received as they arrived on the team coach. The rabble-rousing O…

Circuit’s future is uncertain after Saudi withdrawal Two-time major champion also criticizes PGA Tour Bryson DeChambeau insists he would focus on his YouTube channel should LIV Golf not survive. The future of the Saudi-backed breakaway remains in doubt after the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced plans to withdraw financing at the end of the year, having spent more than $5.4bn on th…

Fan groups have called prices a ‘monumental betrayal’ Fifa collects 30% cut on resale markets Fifa president Gianni Infantino has defended World Cup ticket prices, insisting that football’s global governing body was obliged to take advantage of US laws that allow tickets to be resold for thousands of dollars above face value. Fifa has faced searing criticism over the cost of World Cup tickets, wi…

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Nicky Bandini and Paul Watson as Arsenal make a first men’s Champions League final in 20 years … and get an edge in the Premier League. Subscribe to The Guardian Football Weekly ► https://www.youtube.com/@FootballWeeklyPodcast?sub_confirmation=1 On today’s podcast: Arsenal reach the men’s Champions League final for the first time in 20 years, a timely-i…

With the Wood one win from reaching the Football League for the first time, a veteran correspondent recalls lessons learned from their amateur days The years teach much which the days never know. This weekend Boreham Wood FC go to Wembley fighting for a place in that treasured home of the global game, the English Football League. Why will I be watching 7,000 miles away? Well, the experience of ri…

A fourth manager of the season seemed a wild strategy but Portuguese coach has galvanised the squad and this journey could end in the Champions League Football, it transpires, is not rocket science. If it were, Nottingham Forest would not be close to securing Premier League survival and two games from Champions League football next season. The club’s approach could hardly be described as methodic…

The shot has been described as the purest expression of batting and a destroyer of innings, matches and careers Taunton, 3 April 2026. Somerset are hosting Nottinghamshire, the defending county champions, in their first fixture of the new season and are 20 for two having been sent into bat. It’s murky and cold. The batters wear cable-knit sweaters and the spectators in the crowd have wisely decid…

The league’s new CBA has made some players millionaires. After years of instability, they’re now able to take control of their future The WNBA is entering its 30th season, a milestone worthy of as big of a celebration as its players could muster – and this year, they mustered up a lot. The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) negotiated a landmark collective bargaining agreemen…

The Cal State Northridge player has attracted millions of views for his hair flicks and dismissive waves. He says navigating the fallout has been a career of its own “I think people are really enamored with me because you don’t often see someone like me – animated, flamboyant – but still able to back it up on the volleyball court,” says Jordan Lucas, the outside hitter for Cal State Northridge’s …

If supporters want transparency, they won’t find it in the rubber-stamping of Steve Borthwick’s coaching team There has been a lot of fuss in recent days about French TV directors not giving rugby fans the full picture. In that particular department, sadly, there remains a runaway market leader. To say the Rugby Football Union’s public response to England’s disappointing Six Nations campaign has …

Plus: youngest players to score a trophy-clinching goal, an apology to Albert Kidd and keepers seeing red Mail us with your all of your questions and answers “Sheffield Wednesday finished their Championship season on zero points, accumulating 18 points throughout their 46-game season after being handed an 18-point deduction for severe financial mismanagement,” notes Michael Butler. “But has any t…

The Essex and South Africa spinner has taken more Championship wickets than anyone else since arriving in 2017 – but says 18 teams can reward mediocrity For 10 seasons, few have earned the right to comment on English cricket more than Simon Harmer. Because for 10 seasons, no one has taken more County Championship wickets than the South African off-spinner who arrived at Essex in 2017 on a six-mon…

Frenchman had 12 blocks during Spurs’ Monday loss Minnesota say referees missed several infractions The Minnesota Timberwolves have questioned whether Victor Wembanyama’s NBA playoff record 12 blocks were legitimate . The San Antonio Spurs star set the record during his team’s conference semi-final loss to the Timberwolves on Monday night. But Minnesota coach Chris Finch believes the refereeing d…