Two-job Townsend is on the brink but deserves break from Scotland fans February 13, 2026 Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend may have played down rumours that he has agreed to take over as boss of Prem Rugby club Newcastle Red Bulls after the 2027 World Cup, but he currently advises the club south of the border on strategy and philosophy. So he’s well on his way, right? One thing is [...]
Sport’s overreachers like Sussex and Leicester are guilty of hope not greed February 12, 2026 As long as sport’s governing bodies and regulators reward risk over restraint, the cycle of boom, bust, sanction, repeat will continue, writes Ed Warner. First the disclaimer: I live in Sussex and although its county side isn’t my first cricketing love – that “honour” belongs to Middlesex CCC – I’ve enjoyed days at Hove’s County [...]
The real Guinness Six Nations showdown is happening in the pub February 7, 2026 As the Guinness Six Nations kicks off, Britain will do what it does best: argue about referees, over-analyse scrums, and drink a respectable amount of beer. And while the games unfold on the pitch, another contest will play out in pubs, feeds and group chats across the country. For beer brands, live sport remains one [...]
Leicester City’s points deduction shows the tail doesn’t always wag the dog February 6, 2026 The Premier League’s victory over Leicester City shows that clubs can’t lose money with impunity, but is it one battle in a much bigger war, writes Aaryaman Banerji. Every ruling tells a story. And so it is that English football has become something of an anthology. This week’s verdict by a three-man independent commission, finding that Leicester City had breached EFL Profit and [...]
Super Bowl LX ad review: Budweiser, Pepsi and Kellogg’s put on a show February 6, 2026 Advertising guru Jon Williams picks his best of the Super Bowl LX ads, featuring Budweiser, Pepsi, Fanatics Sportsbook, Michelob Ultra and Kellogg’s Raisin Bran. Get the popcorn in, here comes the Super Bowl! No? A bit too brash for you? Well let me take you through why it might be worth it. Put simply it’s [...]
Six Nations Thursday start is smart from organisers February 5, 2026 It feels slightly odd to be looking forward to the Six Nations beginning this evening when it is only Thursday. That’s because Ireland’s trip to take on champions France in Paris has been brought forward to tonight to ensure there’s no clash with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan tomorrow. At first [...]
Forget medal targets, Winter Olympics success will be decided on sofas not ski slopes February 5, 2026 Sports fans have a feast of action, from the Winter Olympics to the Six Nations and the T20 World Cup, to gorge on over the coming days, writes Ed Warner. Have you planned your viewing schedule for the next few days? Pushed the football to the margins of your calendar for once? Six Nations opener [...]
Is Guinness Bristol City deal a sign of football shirt sponsorships to come? February 4, 2026 Looming exit of betting companies from football front-of-shirt sponsorship opens the door for more consumer brands like Guinness to return, writes Matthew Fletcher-Jones. Having made the often-regrettable decision to support Tottenham Hotspur in the 1980s, I’m still pleased to see any corner shop selling Holsten Pils – the club’s shirt sponsor throughout my youth. Chelsea [...]
Why transfer window could be a tax issue for footballers February 1, 2026 As the end of the transfer window approaches, once again many young international footballers have relocated to England, with considerable salaries now in their pockets. For instance, Chelsea’s pair of teenage summer signings, Jorrel Hato and William Estevao, joined with reported salaries worth a combined £180,000. While these contracts mark the sudden arrival of significant [...]