Do the Prem Rugby semi-finals need a Welsh URC team? June 12, 2026 Ahead of this weekend’s Prem Rugby’s semi-finals, Ollie Phillips assesses whether they could do with a hint of Wales. Picture the scene: next year’s Prem Rugby semi-finals feature the top three teams from this year – Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby and Exeter Chiefs – plus one of the Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons or Cardiff. This would, [...]
World Cup: Third of fan visas from non-European countries are being rejected June 11, 2026 A third of World Cup fan visas from non-European countries are being rejected with Iran and Senegal hit the hardest, research has found. The United States, which is hosting 78 of the World Cup’s 104 matches, has refused 74 per cent of visas from Senegalese applicants and 61 per cent of Iranian submissions. These are [...]
Wimbledon hikes prize money but refuses to bow to tennis stars’ demands June 11, 2026 Wimbledon chiefs have announced a bumper increase in prize money for this year’s championships – but rejected calls from top tennis players for a percentage of revenue. The prize total pot for Wimbledon, which starts later this month, has been boosted by 20 per cent year-on-year to a record £64.2m. It follows pressure from the [...]
Kane and Rice sign wearable tech deals ahead of World Cup June 11, 2026 England football stars Harry Kane and Declan Rice will wear smart rings during the World Cup after signing long-term deals with Oura. The smart ring, which helps with sleep and recovery, will be worn by the Three Lions captain and the Arsenal stalwart. The pair join an Oura roster, headquartered in San Francisco, that includes [...]
Exclusive: Eilish McColgan joins performance nutrition brand Science in Sport June 11, 2026 Distance runner Eilish McColgan has hailed upcoming research developments for female athletes after this morning joining performance nutrition brand Science in Sport. The reigning 10,000m Commonwealth Games champion, from Scotland, has become a member of Science in Sport’s Elite Performance Advisory Panel, citing the need to tackle the research gap between men’s and women’s sport. [...]
Give me home Euros over World Cup, but is it really worth £557m of taxpayers’ money? June 11, 2026 I’m sure I’ll enjoy much of the 2026 World Cup, provided I can stay awake late enough, but I’ll approach Euro 2028 with far greater enthusiasm. Home nations competing on home soil in British Summer Time and with advertisers and broadcasters whipping up interest among the general populace. What’s not to like, other than violent [...]
Everton ‘surprised and angered’ at losing £40m legal case with Burnley June 10, 2026 Everton have blasted the decision to order them to pay a reported £40m after losing a landmark legal battle with Burnley over the latter’s relegation from the Premier League in 2022. The Merseyside club said they were “surprised and angered” by the verdict from a Premier League independent disciplinary commission that Everton’s breaching of spending [...]
Fanzo: London-founded app bets on World Cup in US expansion drive June 10, 2026 A World Cup is boom time for pubs and, by extension, Fanzo, as the tournament’s official venue finder pushes into the US, says founder Leo MacLehose. When World Cup fever grips football fans across England and beyond over the coming weeks, one London-founded business will have extra reason to cheer. Fanzo is the website and [...]
England named most valuable squad at 2026 World Cup, ahead of France and Spain June 10, 2026 No pressure, lads – England have been named the most valuable squad of players at the 2026 World Cup, according to leading football academics. Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man group, featuring stars such as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, is valued at €1.454bn (£1.254bn) by the CIES Football Observatory, an independent research centre used by Fifa and [...]
West Ham sponsor Boyle Sports ‘extremely concerned’ by David Sullivan allegations June 10, 2026 West Ham United sponsor Boyle Sports has expressed its serious concern at the allegations made against the club’s majority owner David Sullivan. Reporting by the BBC and The Times this week focused on claims that Sullivan had exploited his position as a publisher to pressure young women into sexual activity. Sullivan, 77, has strongly denied [...]