Qatar show interest in hosting 2025 Rugby League World Cup May 17, 2023 Recent Fifa World Cup hosts Qatar have expressed their interest in hosting the 2025 Rugby League World Cup, the International Rugby League (IRL) chairman has stated. The Gulf state, whose Qatar Islamic Bank chairman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani is bidding to purchase Manchester United – could step in after the original hosts France pulled [...]
Bairstow: I’ve got some sympathies for Ben Foakes May 17, 2023 England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow said he has some “sympathies” for fellow gloves-man Ben Foakes amid the Surrey player’s exclusion from England’s Test squad versus Ireland. Bairstow, who has recently recovered from a freak leg break, has displaced Foakes – seen as one of England’s in-form wicketkeepers – ahead of the Test side’s solo Ashes preparation [...]
Ivan Toney banned for eight months over betting breaches May 17, 2023 England and Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been banned from football for eight months due to his breach of betting rules. The 27-year-old committed 232 violations of FA betting rules and has also been charged £50,000. The ban, which stretches into 2024, begins immediately but the Northampton-born player will be able to train with his [...]
Imola Formula 1 grand prix OFF over flooding in Italy May 17, 2023 This weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix has been called off due to flooding at the track in Imola. Water levels have been rising throughout the week with the track near Bologna separated from the River Santerno by a mere fence. F1 president Stefano Domenicali said: “The decision that has been taken is the right one [...]
Aramco Team Series – Florida: Who is playing for $1m at Trump West Palm Beach? May 17, 2023 Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson look to be the women to beat when the Aramco Team Series rolls into Florida for the first time this week. World No3 Ko is the highest ranked player in the field at Trump International Golf Club, West Palm Beach, while Thompson is defending champion of sorts, having won the [...]
Sam Torrance: Jon Rahm’s the man to beat at US PGA but don’t overlook Brooks Koepka May 17, 2023 Sam Torrance previews this week’s US PGA Championship and fancies Brooks Koepka to rival the three favourites, Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Oak Hill is a venue I know well from playing the 1995 Ryder Cup and I’m back in New York state this week to cover what promises to be a great [...]
O’Driscoll: Champions Cup double with La Rochelle can make O’Gara as coach May 17, 2023 A La Rochelle victory in the Champions Cup final would be the greatest moment in Ronan O’Gara’s coaching career, says his former Ireland teammate Brian O’Driscoll. O’Gara’s stock has risen monumentally since he took his first role as assistant coach at Parisian side Racing 92 a decade ago. After five years in the French capital, [...]
Fresh twist in Manchester United takeover saga as Sheikh Jassim submits fourth bid May 16, 2023 Qatari bidder Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani has made an increased offer for Manchester United in a dramatic attempt to win the takeover battle with Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Sheikh Jassim, the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank, is understood to have submitted a new bid which values United at a similar price to Ratcliffe but [...]
Michael Johnson: Track and field needs more best versus best to attract fans May 16, 2023 Four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson says track and field’s lack of “best versus the best” battles on the calendar has contributed to declining interest in athletics. The sport has been at a crossroads for a number of years. While it can claim the fastest man and woman in the world and remains the epicentre [...]
Guardiola: My Manchester City legacy is already exceptional May 16, 2023 Pep Guardiola insists his legacy at Manchester City is “already exceptional” despite his team’s failure to win a European trophy. City can take a major step towards remedying that when they face Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Etihad Stadium tonight, having drawn 1-1 in Madrid last week. [...]