Israel’s renewed air strikes on Gaza were “fully co-ordinated” with the US, its government said as Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that from now on “negotiations will be conducted only under fire”.]]>
Rory McIlroy was described by his coach as “the complete player” after sealing his second Players Championship crown in a bloodless three-hole play-off against J.J. Spaun here at the Stadium Course on Monday.]]>
Jack Draper became the fifth British male to land a Masters 1000 title as he cruised past a demoralised Holger Rune – who broke down in tears at the presentation ceremony – for the loss of just four games.]]>
Manchester United’s supporters noisily insist Ruben Amorim will bring the glory days again and, finally, it does appear that this giant oil tanker is creaking into life.]]>
What is black and white and all over the Reds? For Newcastle United the years of anguish, hurt, sometimes humiliation and not a little desperation are finally over. They have won their first trophy for 56 years and their first domestic silverware for seven long, long decades. And deservedly so. For once the tears were tears of joy. Unbridled joy and relief.]]>
Gloucester-Hartpury’s warrior queens will not just stay on their throne for another season, they have written their names in the history books, bagging their third consecutive domestic title and achieving their remarkable mission of a ‘three-peat’. Not even a so-called neutral venue of Saracens’ home ground would deny them.]]>
There were times when this felt more like a fouling contest than a football match. A day for petty squabbling rather than pretty passing. In the end, then, it was probably fair that the team that played more football – just about – was the team that claimed all three points.]]>
Time will tell just how significant this victory proves to be in the career of Lando Norris. But after holding his nerve to win this chaotic, rain-affected, season opener, and then holding forth in the press conference afterwards, owning the fact that McLaren are “favourites” for the title this year and dismissing the pressure his rivals tried to place him under, it felt significant.]]>
France did not quite hit the heights of their Dublin demolition last weekend, but Les Bleus did enough on a nervy night in Paris to clinch a second Six Nations title in four years – and kill off England’s faint hopes of a trophy-lift in Cardiff.
After Steve Borthwick’s side had done all they could against Wales to surge to the top of the championship table, France knew that a win of any kind against Scotland would send them back into first place and guarantee the title. In the end, the victory was secured in bonus-point, record-breaking style – tying England’s seven Six Nations championship wins, too – but it was nowhere near as emphatic nor attractive as it might have been against a Scotland side intent on spoiling the party.
Still, job done – the second championship title of head coach Fabien Galthié’s reign to add to the 2022 Grand Slam – and clinched on Saturday night without talismanic captain Antoine Dupont, a long-term absentee with a serious knee injury sustained in the victory over Ireland.]]>
Stunning, simply stunning. This was without doubt the best performance by England under Steve Borthwick, a statement victory that after three seasons felt like a lift-off moment. It was also the moment when the connection between the team and their supporters, which at times has felt like an on-off relationship, was gloriously renewed and strengthened.]]>
Nuno Espírito Santo warned Nottingham Forest there is a long way to go after a 4-2 win at Ipswich Town opened up a six-point gap to Manchester City in the race for Champions League qualification.]]>
What a difference in the way we view this Ireland side compared to just a fortnight ago. At the halfway point of the tournament, a Grand Slam felt realistic and Andy Farrell’s touring party for the British and Irish Lions tour was going to be overwhelmingly green. Given that 15 Welsh players made the original squad in 2013, and there were 16 England players going in 2017, with three rounds ticked off and three wins you sensed that Ireland’s contingent in Australia this summer could surpass both of those tallies. Now? Irish selection calls you felt comfortable about are a little murkier.]]>
Lando Norris said he was “not getting ahead” of himself, despite making the perfect start to the new Formula One season in Melbourne. The McLaren driver topped all three qualifying sessions to grab the first pole of the year from team-mate Oscar Piastri as McLaren finally showed their full hand.]]>
The unpredictability of horse racing was hammered home as instead of joining Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate as three-time winners of the Boodles Gold Cup, Galopin Des Champs joined a succession of beaten odds-on shots at this year’s Festival after he was put firmly in his place by Inothewayurthinkin.]]>
So now we know for certain. Thomas Tuchel is emphatically dealing in the here and now and has set about trying to win the next World Cup by turning back to the future. It even felt a little like Tuchel’s version of Dad’s Army as he chose his first squad.]]>
Such is the gulf in quality and resources between Chelsea and their rivals for the Europa Conference League trophy, it is entirely possible that Enzo Maresca’s side could win this tournament without ever leaving second gear.]]>
It was the 60-yard dash from deep in his own half as much as the composure he demonstrated at the end of that lung-busting run to complete his hat-trick that showcased what Bruno Fernandes is all about. He is the player who never tires, the one who is always there even when team-mate after team-mate succumbs to injury, the guy that keeps stepping up in his side’s time of need, United’s man for all seasons.]]>
For Tottenham Hotspur the season remains alive. For Ange Postecoglou he fights on. The brutal reality is that it felt like it could – that it would –have been over for the head coach had they not overturned a first-leg deficit to win this Europa League tie and earn a place in the quarter-finals.]]>
Coming into this Cheltenham Festival no jockey was more out of form than Rachael Blackmore, no trainer enduring a more rotten run than Henry de Bromhead but, after a stunning two and a half hours for the Waterford stable, no trainer-jockey combination goes into Gold Cup day in better form.
There had been signs of a revival when Quilixios fell upsides in front at the last in the Champion Chase on Wednesday but confirmation came when, after the Robcour-owned Air of Entitlement had won the Ryanair Mares’ Novice Hurdle, the same owner’s Bob Olinger won the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle completing the set of Cheltenham’s big four races for both the jockey and trainer. The only other jockey currently riding to have achieved the feat is Paul Townend.
Few jockeys ride Cheltenham as well as Blackmore, 35, who has now ridden 18 winners at the fixture and, with only five winners on the board since returning from a broken neck in December, even the mentally resilient Blackmore might have been questioning herself but not at the place which has become something of a spiritual home for her. If she was good on Air of Entitlement, she was masterful on Bob Olinger who is unbeaten in four starts at the course.]]>
It has been tempting, in recent weeks, to conclude that Raheem Sterling is simply no longer part of Mikel Arteta’s plans. The winger has hardly played for Arsenal in the past few games and, against Manchester United at the weekend, he was overlooked once again as his team chased a goal. ]]>
Steve Borthwick has told England not to be cowed by the Cardiff cauldron after the head coach revealed that he is prepared to unleash three fly-halves in the hunt for the Six Nations title against Wales at the Principality Stadium.]]>
The Queen warmly embraced the grieving girlfriend of late jockey Michael O’Sullivan as his two previous Cheltenham-winning horses triumphed again just weeks after his death.]]>
Top of the Champions League in January, out by mid-March – Liverpool were dispatched in a penalty shoot-out at the wrong end of Anfield, their nerve finally failing at precisely the moment this club has so often triumphed.]]>
This might not have been a performance to strike fear into the hearts of Liverpool, but it was a result that gave Newcastle United some much-needed momentum heading into Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.]]>