The hangover: Why aren’t England’s stars of Euro 2020 shining this season? October 5, 2021 It is less than three months since England, propelled by the goals of Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane and fortified by the defending of John Stones, got to within touching distance of victory at Euro 2020. For those players in particular, it must feel like far longer. Each of that trio, firmly established as key [...]
World Rugby’s 15 minute contact limit: the solution to injury fears or too simplistic? October 4, 2021 Rugby’s physically demanding nature has seen the sport’s organisers implement advanced concussion policies and a science-based approach to medicine, but they are about to go further. World Rugby, the game’s international governing body, last month issued the recommendation that players be limited to 15 minutes of full-contact training per week, across a maximum of two [...]
Weekend of achievements: 30 fun new world records set at London Marathon October 4, 2021 A Londoner can boast she is now the fastest woman to finish a marathon in a cake, having competed in this year’s London Marathon. The effort by Anna Bassil, 42, of St Albans, is among 30 official Guinness World Records (GWR) titles which were broken as the Virgin Money London Marathon returned after last year’s [...]
England cricket chiefs set to make decision on Ashes participation October 4, 2021 The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) plans to decide this week whether to send a team to Australia for the men’s Ashes this winter. The series is in doubt because of Australia’s strict Covid-19 protocols, although talks are continuing between both countries. A major sticking point has been whether players’ families can accompany them, [...]
Claire Harvey: Sport should take lessons from the City on inclusion policy October 4, 2021 British Paralympian and global inclusion expert Claire Harvey calls on sport’s national governing bodies to adopt grassroots diversity targets into their participation drive. Sport has for a long time been a source of inspiration to the masses. It is one of the unifying forces that humanity has to offer, yet – if we’re honest with [...]
Premiership: Five things we’ve learned as the east Midlands rise again October 4, 2021 The east Midlands are on the rugby rise again and more clubs than ever are competing for European places, here are five things we learned from this weekend’s Premiership action. The east Midlands heartlands are back The east Midlands duo of Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints now occupy the top two Premiership spots. The pair [...]
Liverpool 2, Manchester City 2: Neutrals win stalemate between clinical Reds and blunt Blues October 3, 2021 As they caught their breath following this whirlwind contest at the top of the Premier League, Manchester City supporters could be forgiven for feeling conflicted. Glass-half-full Blues will point to the fact that they twice came from behind at Liverpool, where they have won just three times in 49 league games. Pessimistic City fans, on [...]
Jepkosgei and Lemma triumph as fans return to the London Marathon October 3, 2021 Joyciline Jepkosgei and Sisay Lemma won the women’s and men’s London Marathons for the first time as British junior doctor Phil Sesemann shocked the field to finish seventh. Over 40,000 took part in today’s Marathon, and 50,000 completed the race virtually, as crowds returned to the streets of the capital for the first time since [...]
EP: 90 Paris-Longchamp Arc Day Special October 1, 2021 With no less than six Group 1 races to look forward to on Sunday, the Longchamp course stages one of the best days in world racing. German trainer Marcel Weiss runs Torquator Tasso in the feature race and we speak to the yard about their Arc De Triomphe hopes, plus we hear from French trainer [...]
EP: 89 Newmarket, Ascot & Longchamp October 1, 2021 Newmarket hosts the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes for fillies on Saturday, whilst Ascot is the venue for a couple of Group 3 contests. German trainer Marcel Weiss runs Torquator Tasso in the Arc and we chat to the Mulheim based team. We also catch up with French trainer Francois Rohaut about his star sprinter [...]