England captain Tomkins backs former club Wigan to win Challenge Cup May 25, 2022 The rugby league Challenge Cup has a new showpiece location for its final. Come Saturday, thousands will pack into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the competition crowns either Wigan Warriors or Huddersfield Giants as its 121st winner. The winner will a trophy which has always left an extraordinary memory for players lucky enough to lift [...]
Chelsea £4.25bn takeover satisfies Premier League owner’s test May 24, 2022 The Chelsea takeover bid led by Todd Boehly’s consortium has passed the Premier League owner’s and directors test. The move ticks yet another box on the list that, once completed, will see the Premier League outfit change hands from sanctioned owner Roman Abramovich. The Boehly bid has not gone through, however, as it remains dependant [...]
T20 Vitality Blast: Quick-fire tour of teams hoping to lift title May 24, 2022 The first ball of the 20th T20 Vitality Blast season will be bowled tomorrow evening as the 18 teams hope to sweep, slog and strike their way to Edgbaston finals day in July. Here’s what you need to know about each team. Derbyshire Falcons Derbyshire have reached the knockouts the least of any team – [...]
French Open: Swiatek on form, Brits a mixed bag, Osaka out May 24, 2022 It may have only been the second day of the French Open but there was drama all around at Roland Garros yesterday as favourites battled on, big names fell and British players offered a mixed bag of fortunes. Here are the three key takeaways. Over it and out There was a sense of unease about [...]
Leclerc becomes the chaser after power loss hands Verstappen title lead May 22, 2022 For the first time since he was crowned world champion six months ago, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen tops the Formula 1 driver’s standings once again. A gap that once stretched to 46 points has been steadily closed and, yesterday, following the Spanish Grand Prix, the Dutchman surpassed Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and opened up a six-point [...]
Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix set to show off sport’s innovation May 19, 2022 Come the conclusion of Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix, the Formula 1 season will have passed the quarter completion mark. Already we have seen the revival of Ferrari and the decline of Mercedes – along with the seeming ever-presence of Red Bull. But with the Formula 1 calendar set for an extended stay in Europe – [...]
Is Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz ready to be the next teen Grand Slam winner? May 19, 2022 At the conclusion of the French Open, which begins on Sunday, we could see rising star Carlos Alcaraz win his first Grand Slam at the same age – and the same venue – as his hero Rafael Nadal’s maiden major. There’s a sense that the baton is changing hands in the world of men’s tennis. [...]
First England Test squad shows Stokes values balance in his selection May 18, 2022 So this is it, the first Test squad of the Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum era. Amid the goings on in and around the English set-up, we’ve been treated to a squad for – at least – the opening two Tests against New Zealand. Captain Stokes has recalled the dynamic bowling duo of James Anderson [...]
Chelsea directors Buck and Granovskaia set to share in £50m takeover bonus pool May 18, 2022 Chelsea directors including chairman Bruce Buck and Marina Granovskaia are set to receive multimillion pound bonuses once the sale of the club is completed, according to reports. Buck and Granovskaia will share in £50m once a consortium led by Todd Boehly, part-owner of the LA Dodgers baseball team, complete its takeover, according to The Times. [...]
Chasm at ECB widens as list of priorities for new CEO grows May 17, 2022 With the resignation of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Tom Harrison yesterday, yet another chasm appeared in the national set-up. Though current managing director of women’s cricket Clare Connor will take over the responsibilities on an interim basis, the governing body in charge of England’s international and domestic game will eventually need [...]