Talking points: Premiership Rugby’s festive feast of tries, triumphs and storylines December 28, 2021 Like the left over port and cheese on Boxing Day, this weekend’s Premiership rugby action certainly did not disappoint. Covid-19 managed to scupper just one game out of the six – Newcastle Falcons vs Sale Sharks – a pretty good effort all round. Leicester Tigers remained lossless while Bath Rugby can’t buy a look in [...]
Rangnick disappointed after lacklustre United’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle December 28, 2021 Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick said he “did not like the performance at all” after the Old Trafford club laboured to a 1-1 draw with relegation-battling Newcastle United. Allan Saint-Maximin scored for the Magpies early on before United equalised through Edinson Cavani deep into the second half. United struggled against Newcastle and Rangnick criticised his [...]
Ashes: Australia retain the urn as they seal 3-0 series win Down Under December 28, 2021 Australia have retained the Ashes urn over England after securing the third Test and taking an unassailable 3-0 lead Down Under. The Baggy Greens were favourites to retain the trophy they’ve held since 2017 but the 3-0 scoreline blew England away. England were bowled out for 68 in their second Melbourne innings, their eighth lowest [...]
Record 103 new Covid-19 cases announced by Premier League December 27, 2021 A record 103 positive Covid-19 tests have been identified in England’s top-flight football league in the seven days leading up to Sunday. The last two weeks have seen a sharp rise in cases among the Premier League, with 90 cases identified in the prior week. A total of 15 Premier League hames have been called [...]
Best of 2021: Lilian Thuram on equality, books and Southgate December 27, 2021 In this interview from November, World Cup winning former France footballer Lilian Thuram explains why he turned his back on the game when his playing career ended to focus on championing equality through his foundation and, more recently, his books. A bespectacled Lilian Thuram reaches for a map of the world and turns it upside [...]
1872 Cup rugby match between Glasgow and Edinburgh off over Covid-19 December 27, 2021 Today’s 1872 clash between Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby has been postponed after positive Covid-19 tests were returned by the Warriors. The Cup, usually played over two legs, fall as regular season fixtures in the United Rugby Championship (URC). The news comes as Scottish Covid-19 rules are in place that would have limited the number [...]
Ashes: England wait on Covid-19 tests after day two positives December 27, 2021 England are waiting on a further round of Covid-19 tests after four positive cases in the camp led to the second day of the third Test being delayed. England’s players were told not to travel to the Melbourne Cricket Ground after “a positive test in the team’s family group” on the morning of the second [...]
Manchester United striker Anthony Martial tells club of wish to leave December 27, 2021 Manchester United striker Anthony Martial has told Ralf Rangnick, the club’s interim manager, that he wishes to leave the club. The Frenchman joined the Old Trafford club from Monaco in 2015 for £36m – then a transfer record for a teenage footballer. Since then, he has played 268 times for United, netting 79 times. Rangnick [...]
Ashes: Talking points as Aussies edge closer to retaining the urn December 27, 2021 If you’re still falling victim to that bloated feeling after Boxing Day, don’t expect the latest goings on in the Ashes to make you feel any better. At stumps after day two of the third Test match in Melbourne, England finished on 31-4, 51 runs behind Australia. The Baggy Greens are tantalisingly close to retaining [...]
Best of 2021: Why Saudi Arabia bought Newcastle United December 27, 2021 In this article, originally published in October, sports business expert Professor Simon Chadwick explains the strategic background to the takeover of Newcastle United by a consortium headed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – and why it about much more than football. After years of speculation, prevarication and consternation, Saudi Arabia has at last sealed [...]