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John Mitchell says his side “put themselves through the washing machine” in a difficult first half against Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations on Saturday. England were held scoreless until the 34th minute and only held a slender 7-5 lead at half-time. In 2024 the Red Roses led Ireland 38-3 at the break. In the … Read more

For a small man, Rory McIlroy casts a long shadow. On Saturday, it covered every single one of the 52 other men in the field at the Masters, so that even the world’s No 1 golfer, Scottie Scheffler, found himself playing in the shade. Scheffler is a popular golfer, and a particular favourite with the … Read more

It is now or never. Surely it is now or never. Rory McIlroy will take a lead into the closing round of the Masters for the first time since 2011. That sentence barely does justice to a Saturday of high drama at Augusta National where McIlroy created history then threatened to feature in his own … Read more

With Great Britain’s presence at the Billie Jean King Cup this year hanging in the balance, their pivotal contest with the Netherlands tied at 1-1, Anne Keothavong made a dramatic call. Instead of the doubles specialist, Olivia Nicholls, present in The Hague precisely for these matches and with Harriet Dart positioned as the first-choice doubles … Read more

As the saying goes, it is the hope that kills you and that was definitely the case for the home fans here in Cork. Ireland’s classy first-half performance displayed the team’s remarkable uptick after having lost 88-10 to England in 2024. The hosts kept England from scoring until the 34th minute and they frustrated every … Read more

The last time we were here, on Tuesday night, Arsenal enjoyed surely the finest occasion in Emirates Stadium history. The 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final will live forever; the return is eagerly awaited on Wednesday. It was always going to be lower-key here, Mikel Arteta making … Read more

Managers rise and managers fall and often there isn’t much reason for it. It was only a year ago that Gary O’Neil seemed one of the brightest young managers in the Premier League, but by December it was over. This is how football is: when a blip becomes a slump becomes a spiral, the only … Read more

Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature An email: “On American TV, Graeme Le Saux has just asked if the pigeons on the pitch might have been standing in an offside position in the Brentford penalty area,” writes Justin Kavanagh. “He’ll get himself banned from the US, if … Read more

Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Before things get wild, let’s take this opportunity to tip the cap to young Nick Dunlap. The 21-year-old shot 90 on Thursday, and many a player would have responded by playing the illness or injury card to minimise embarrassment before withdrawing … Read more

You expect to find Jim Nantz waiting for the Masters champion in Butler Cabin on Sunday evening, but it must be a surprise to find God is in there with him, too. But, as Bernhard Langer explained after finishing his 136th and final competitive round at the Masters on Friday evening, apparently that’s what happened … Read more