Rugby union is going from strength to strength in the Pacific Island country and the team are eager to settle the score of a World Cup quarter-final defeat True, they are the lowest-ranked team England will play this month, but it would be highly dangerous to underestimate Fiji. Coming between...
WTA Finals tennis: Anisimova sends Swiatek out; Rybakina beats Alexandrova – as it happened
Amanda Anisimova came back from a set down to advance to the semi-finals and eliminate Iga Swiatek Alexandrova 3-3 Rybakina* (* denotes server): Rybakina sends down a blistering serve to Alexandrova’s backhand; it’s not one for returning. At 30-all, Alexandrova returns with a stonking forehand winner: break point. Rybakina’s whippy...
Meet the new, fun Erling Haaland: he’s laughing but he’ll still destroy you | Barney Ronay
The Norwegian’s goalscoring feats have become so vast they hardly need chronicling, but at least he’s now doing it with a smile With 27 minutes gone, and Manchester City 1-0 up, Erling Haaland did an extraordinary and also very funny thing. Strolling with feigned disinterest away from a free‑kick in...
Who is Joe Marler? From hair-raising rugby antics to breakout star of Celebrity Traitors
Viewers have been won over by the quick-witted and quirky former England international. But do they all know about the groin-grabbing and that ‘horse’ of his? It’s difficult to know where to begin with a not-so-quick guide to Celebrity Traitors’ breakout star, Joe Marler. The BBC series has introduced a...
Champions League roundup: Club Brugge hold Barcelona in six-goal thriller
Inter maintain perfect start with win over Kairat Almaty Pafos beat Villarreal to earn first Champions League win Barcelona had to settle for a share of the spoils at Club Brugge after a thrilling 3-3 draw but were fortunate the English referee Anthony Taylor ruled out Romeo Vermant’s stoppage-time effort...
‘It is very hard for us’: Maccabi Tel Aviv aim to give absent fans reason to smile
Fans banned from attending match at Aston Villa Police granted section 60 stop-and-search powers The Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder Issouf Sissokho urged his teammates to make their supporters smile against Aston Villa, after away fans were banned from the politically charged Europa League match on Thursday. The Israeli club’s fans...
Burn and Joelinton use their heads to give Newcastle win over Bilbao
Newcastle needed that. They have won six of their past eight games, which might sound like an impressive run of form, but their defeat at West Ham on Sunday was wretched enough to raise all manner of doubts. Three successive Champions League wins, though, all without conceding, means they probably...
Garnacho spares Chelsea shock Champions League loss at Qarabag
Chelsea’s precision is nowhere to be seen when Enzo Maresca rings the changes. Chaos tends to set in whenever the Italian tries to freshen things up by making use of a deep but raw squad and he is unlikely to be in a rush to rotate again in the Champions...
Pat Cummins targets return in second Ashes Test but doubts remain beyond Brisbane
Australia captain is on track to feature at Gabba next month But paceman may need to rest during final three Tests Australia captain Pat Cummins is back bowling multiple overs on a reduced run-up and has targeted returning to the team for the second Ashes Test against England, a day-nighter...
Phil Foden’s double downs Borussia Dortmund as Manchester City sparkle
If Phil Foden performs so, too, do Manchester City. This was reiterated by his two-goal show that helped to sweep Pep Guardiola’s improving team to 10 points from four games at the league stage’s halfway juncture. Factor in Erling Haaland, who decorated his captaincy for the night with a 27th...