Premiership: Five things we’ve learned from the opening weekend September 19, 2021 England’s Premiership kicked off at the weekend as 12 of the 13 sides got their domestic campaigns underway. With no relegation, a heavy calendar and so many evenly matched sides, this season may just be one of the tightest in recent seasons. Here is what the first week has taught us. Matson’s dream start Harlequins’ [...]
Jimmy Greaves: Football mourns Tottenham and Chelsea icon, England World Cup winner and ‘possibly the greatest striker this country produced’ September 19, 2021 Football has united to pay tribute to Jimmy Greaves after the World Cup-winning former England striker and London football legend died, aged 81. Greaves set several goalscoring records that remain unsurpassed, including his 357 goals in the English top division, 266 for Tottenham Hotspur, and 41 in a league season for Chelsea. The east Londoner, [...]
Emma Raducanu reflects on ‘surreal, whirlwind week’ as she returns to UK September 18, 2021 Tennis player Emma Raducanu reflected on a surreal, whirlwind week that began with winning the U.S. Open and ended with her mum’s homemade dumplings. Watch the full report.
Exclusive: How Premiership champions Harlequins are looking to build on their success with new head coach Tabai Matson September 18, 2021 Tabai Matson has picked a job few would relish: taking over a Harlequins team flying high and with last season’s Premiership trophy in the cabinet. The Fiji-born former All Black is the new head coach at the London club, who begin their defence against Newcastle Falcons on Sunday, and has the unenviable task of following [...]
Back in black: Saracens ready to resume fight for Premiership supremacy September 17, 2021 Little more than a year ago Saracens left the Premiership with their tails between their legs, effectively kicked out for breaching salary cap rules. Since then they have undertaken a partial rebuild based on strength in depth, shrewd recruitment and a need to prove the doubters wrong. Now Saracens are back in the big time [...]
Ollie Phillips’ Premiership season preview: Harlequins vulnerable, Saracens favourites, and Leicester and Sale to join Exeter in play-offs September 17, 2021 The new Premiership Rugby season has a lot to live up to after the fireworks of the last campaign but I think there’s reason to believe it will match or even better it. Removing relegation last term allowed every team to play without fear and the result was enterprising, adventurous rugby and perhaps the most [...]
Survey shows that most football fans want World Cup every two years, says Fifa September 16, 2021 Fifa has stepped up its push for biennial World Cups by reporting that most football fans support the controversial proposals. The world governing body cited a survey of 23,000 people in 23 countries undertaken in July as part of a wider feasibility study. Fifa did not reveal any further figures but said it had drawn [...]
Brooks Koepka should drop out of Ryder Cup if he doesn’t like it, says former US captain Paul Azinger September 16, 2021 Former US Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger has urged Brooks Koepka to consider dropping out of next week’s contest with Europe. Koepka, who is recuperating from a wrist injury, admitted this week that he found being part of a team event “more demanding” than regular tournaments. “Not everyone embraces it. I know players who felt [...]
Anti-doping chiefs WADA consider taking cannabis off prohibited list following Sha’Carri Richardson ban September 15, 2021 The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) is to a review cannabis as a prohibited substance after criticism surrounding Sha’Carri Richardson’s Olympic ban. WADA says the scientific review will be used to determine whether cannabis should remain a banned substance. The discussion around cannabis gained momentum after US sprinter Richardson was forced to miss this year’s [...]
Harlequins revive Big Game with December double header at Twickenham September 15, 2021 Harlequins’ annual Big Game is returning to Twickenham after a one year hiatus for a double header featuring the men’s and women’s teams. Quins men will play Northampton Saints on Bank Holiday Monday 27 December following a clash between Harlequins Women and Wasps Women. Dubbed the world’s biggest annual club rugby event, this will be [...]