Premiership talking points: Top four, cancellations and London’s showpiece March 27, 2022 Round 21 of England’s premiership rugby competition saw the battle for the semi-finals intensify as Leicester secured the first of the four spots, while we saw yet another draw – this time not involving London Irish. Here are the talking points as internationals returned to their clubs from Six Nations duty. One down The league [...]
Verstappen on top in Saudi as Formula 1 fans in for relentless title battle March 27, 2022 We’re just two races into the Formula 1 season and already it looks like fans the world over could be in for one mighty drivers championship battle. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen pipped Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc with a handful of laps remaining in a relentless Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, to get his first points on [...]
Chelsea’s bankers tell bidders to commit £1bn for club’s future March 26, 2022 Chelsea FC’s bankers have told those left in the race to acquire the team to commit at least £1bn to finance the club’s future. Former British Airways and Liverpool FC chairman Sir Martin Broughton as well as former Olympian Lord Coe feature among those making a play for the team. The bidders are expected to [...]
Ollie Phillips: England rugby chiefs stuck between rock and hard place over Eddie Jones March 25, 2022 It has been a challenging week for the Rugby Football Union (RFU) following the conclusion of another disappointing Six Nations for England and Eddie Jones. The expectation, which the RFU have helped to foster, is that England should be the best team in the world. But the reality, as winning just two games at the [...]
EP: 121 Dubai, Doncaster, Kelso & Hong Kong March 25, 2022 There’s a really good mix of racing to look forward to this weekend as the new flat racing season gets underway in the UK. The Lincoln Handicap is the feature race at Doncaster on Saturday, plus it’s a magical night of racing at Meydan racecourse where the Dubai World Cup features a host of international [...]
Chelsea bankers reject bids from Saudi Media Group and Woody Johnson March 24, 2022 The sale of Chelsea took a major step towards conclusion today when a number of bidders, including Saudi Media Group and Woody Johnson, were reportedly rejected. US bank the Raine Group, hired to sell the club by sanction-hit owner Roman Abramovich, contacted a number of unsuccessful bidders as it whittled down would-be buyers. Saudi Media [...]
PM Boris Johnson dents UK and Ireland bid by suggesting Ukraine should host Euro 2028 March 24, 2022 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appeared to undermine the UK and Ireland’s bid for Euro 2028 by suggesting Ukraine be named hosts. Johnson also joined a chorus of criticism of Russia, who only declared their interest in staging the championship hours before the deadline on Wednesday. “The idea of Russia holding any football tournament or [...]
Life is definitely Good for Dubai favourite backers March 24, 2022 Bill Esdaile’s Dubai World Cup 1-2-3: 1. Life Is Good 2. Hot Rod Charlie 3. Chuwa Wizard WHILE it may no longer be the world’s richest race, the Dubai World Cup (4.30pm) is still a huge draw, and this looks a top-class renewal of the £8.8 million spectacle at Meydan. Form from the best middle [...]
Women’s Six Nations: New dates, new sponsor, same old winners? March 24, 2022 Change is in the air at this year’s Women’s Six Nations, which now has its own slot in the calendar and a first title sponsor in TikTok – but that looks unlikely to extend to the outcome. Champions England start as hot favourites this weekend – no surprise given their 18-game winning run, which includes [...]
Ashleigh Barty hints at career in new sport following shock retirement from tennis March 24, 2022 Women’s tennis No1 Ashleigh Barty has hinted she could take up another sport professionally following her shock retirement. Barty, 25, played cricket to a high level during a previous break from tennis, competing in the Women’s Big Bash. She is said to have a single-figure golf handicap and has also been linked with a move [...]