England coach Steve Borthwick named a 36-player training squad for November Tests against Australia, Japan and New Zealand, with the 2027 Rugby World Cup less than a year away. The squad includes recalls and two uncapped players, while injuries and uncertainty over the centres may affect England’s selections.
Key Facts
England will play Australia on 8 November, Japan on 14 November and New Zealand on 21 November.
The 2027 Rugby World Cup will take place in Australia next October.
Joe Marchant was recalled, and Gloucester centre Will Joseph was selected after a strong start to the season.
Uncapped players Archie McParland and Kepu Tuipulotu were named in the training squad.
England have won three of their past eight matches.
Benhard Janse van Rensburg is unavailable, while Seb Atkinson and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso are on the rehabilitation list.
Fly-half Fin Smith has a calf injury that is not thought to be serious; Charlie Atkinson was called up.
The article says selection behind the scrum, especially at centre, remains uncertain.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Shadab Khan scored an unbeaten 113 to lead Pakistan to a one-wicket win over England in a One-Day International in Lahore. His last-wicket partnership with Haris Rauf secured the chase of 242 and sent Pakistan into the tri-nation series final.
Key Facts
Pakistan were 154 for 9 while chasing England’s total of 241 when Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf began their partnership.
Shadab scored 113 not out from 96 balls, and Rauf made 7 not out from 19 balls.
Their stand was the highest last-wicket partnership in a successful ODI run chase, according to the article.
Ben Duckett top-scored for England with 105 from 111 balls.
England were all out for 241 in 46.4 overs.
Shaheen Afridi took four wickets for 46 runs for Pakistan.
Jamie Overton took three wickets and Liam Dawson took two as England reduced Pakistan to 154 for 9.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A BBC report highlights top plays from Week 7 of the NFL, including Bo Nix’s 62-yard touchdown and a performance it describes as “vintage” Aaron Rodgers. The video is unavailable in some locations and is listed as available to UK users only.
Key Facts
The report covers Week 7 of the NFL.
Bo Nix’s 62-yard touchdown is among the featured plays.
The report describes Aaron Rodgers’ play as “vintage.”
The article links to a report saying the Vikings are the last unbeaten team after the Chiefs lost.
The video is listed as available to UK users only.
The article was published 30 minutes before the page was viewed.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Alex Freeman scored his first La Liga goal in Villarreal’s comeback win over Valencia, earning man of the match honors. The Orlando City product played at left-back, right-back and right midfield, and Villarreal coach Iñigo Pérez praised his versatility and composure.
Key Facts
Freeman started the Valencia rivalry match at left-back, away from his usual right-back position.
He created two chances before Valencia took the lead with a penalty.
Freeman scored in the 69th minute after moving to right-back.
He later played at right midfield as Villarreal pursued the win.
Pérez said Freeman could play in several defensive and attacking positions.
Villarreal signed Freeman from Orlando City on January 29 for an initial fee of $4 million.
Freeman was named man of the match.
The article notes that Valencia’s forwards beat Freeman to several aerial balls.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senegal will host the Youth Olympic Games from 31 October to 13 November 2026, with events in Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly. The competition will bring together about 2,700 athletes across 25 sports and marks the first time an Olympic-ring event has been held in Africa.
Key Facts
The Games will run for 15 days, ending on 13 November.
About 2,700 athletes are expected to compete in 153 medal events across 25 sports.
The event will also include 10 engagement sports without medals.
The Youth Olympics are an International Olympic Committee competition mainly for athletes aged 15 to 17.
Dakar was originally scheduled to host the Games in 2022, but the Covid-19 pandemic led to a postponement.
Baseball5 and Wushu Taolu will make their Youth Olympics debuts, alongside skateboarding.
More than 400 young Africans have received training in areas such as event operations, logistics, technology and venue management.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Saudi Arabia’s organizers say the 2027 Asian Cup will begin on January 7 and run through February 5, despite security concerns linked to attacks and regional unrest. The AFC schedule sets Riyadh as the site of the opening match and final, while several participating football federations have questioned whether the tournament can safely go ahead.
Key Facts
The tournament will run from January 7 to February 5, 2027.
Saudi Arabia will host 51 matches at eight venues in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Khobar.
Saudi Arabia will face Palestine in the opening match in Riyadh.
The final is scheduled for Riyadh’s 72,000-seat King Fahd Sports City Stadium.
The AFC said a postponement until 2028 could be possible if needed, but the local organizing committee says it is keeping the original schedule.
Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said he had concerns about the security situation and hosting the tournament as planned.
The article reports that Houthi missile and drone attacks have prompted cancellations or postponements of several major sporting events in Saudi Arabia.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Alexia Putellas is favored to win a third Ballon d’Or after Barcelona’s successful season, which included four trophies. Khadija Shaw and Alessia Russo are among the leading challengers, while Spain’s recent club and national-team success has helped its players dominate the award in recent years.
Key Facts
Spanish players Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas have won the past five women’s Ballon d’Or awards.
Bonmatí is absent from this year’s race after suffering a serious leg injury while on international duty in November 2025.
Putellas captained Barcelona to four trophies, including the Champions League and Liga F title.
Putellas scored 21 goals and made 13 assists during Barcelona’s season.
Khadija Shaw scored 21 league goals to help Manchester City win the WSL title, then added five goals in the FA Cup as the club completed a domestic double.
Alessia Russo scored nine Champions League goals and finished second to Shaw in the WSL scoring race.
Spain has six players on the 30-player shortlist, more than any other country.
Barcelona players Claudia Pina, Cata Coll and Patri Guijarro are among the other nominees mentioned in the article.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix in Austin, finishing 13.078 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc. With five races remaining, Antonelli leads Mercedes teammate George Russell by 123 points and could clinch the drivers’ championship if Russell does not win the next race in Mexico City.
Key Facts
Antonelli started from pole position and finished the 56-lap race in 1:35:16.650.
Antonelli made one pit stop on Lap 25, while some other drivers stopped twice.
Charles Leclerc finished second, and Max Verstappen took third place.
Verstappen has been mathematically eliminated from the championship race.
A Virtual Safety Car was deployed on Lap 52 after Valtteri Bottas’s Cadillac stopped on track.
Mercedes leads Ferrari by 133 points in the constructors’ standings, 607 to 474.
Antonelli has won nine races this season and won both U.S. races held so far.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Aaron Rodgers led Pittsburgh to a 16-10 win over New Orleans in Paris, improving the Steelers’ record to 5-2. The article says the team’s strong defense and Rodgers’s experience could give Pittsburgh a chance at a deep playoff run, though reaching the Super Bowl would require luck.
Key Facts
Rodgers threw for 1,699 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions in his first seven games of the season.
He connected with DK Metcalf for a 51-yard gain against the Saints and ran for a first down on third-and-six late in the game.
Pittsburgh scored one touchdown on four trips to the red zone against New Orleans.
The Steelers’ defense allowed three touchdowns over its previous 15 quarters, according to the article.
Pittsburgh’s run defense allowed 2.8 yards per carry over the previous three weeks, down from 4.5 in Weeks 1–4.
Saints linebacker Kaden Elliss said Rodgers’s experience and football knowledge give him an advantage.
Rodgers said NFL owners chose a 17-game schedule rather than a 16-game schedule with an international week, which he said would have included two byes.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the New Orleans Saints 16-10 in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Paris on October 25, 2026. The game at Stade de France drew a festive crowd and took place a day after protests over living costs and inequality led to clashes in Paris and Marseille.
Key Facts
The Steelers defeated the Saints by a score of 16-10.
Stade de France in Saint-Denis hosted the NFL’s first regular-season game in Paris.
The game was played in a calm atmosphere, with a large crowd and a brief halftime show.
Nigerian rapper Burna Boy and French singer Yseult performed at halftime.
More than 100,000 people protested in the Paris area on Saturday, according to the article.
Protesters denounced rising living costs and growing inequality.
Some NFL and fan events were canceled over the weekend, mainly because of their locations in central Paris.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Former Premier League winger Jermaine Pennant says a German Shepherd attacked him while he walked his dogs in north London last week. He said he needed more than 50 stitches for four bite wounds to his right leg and credited his dog, King, with helping stop the attack.
Key Facts
Pennant, 43, was walking his two dogs when the attack happened.
He said the German Shepherd latched onto his leg and would not let go.
Pennant said he received hospital treatment and more than 50 stitches for four bite wounds.
His dog King intervened and helped fight off the German Shepherd.
Pennant said King was unhurt, apart from a small nip, and that he did not report the attack to police.
Pennant made 231 Premier League appearances during a 19-year career and retired in 2018.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Minnesota remained the NFL’s only undefeated team after beating Indianapolis 16-10, while Seattle handed Kansas City its first loss, 20-3. San Francisco also lost for the first time, and several other teams earned notable wins in Week Seven.
Key Facts
Minnesota improved to 6-0 with a 16-10 home win over Indianapolis.
Seattle beat Kansas City 20-3, limiting Kenneth Walker to 36 rushing yards on 14 carries.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 150 receiving yards and a touchdown for Seattle.
Atlanta beat San Francisco 29-20 after forcing four turnovers, including two interceptions by Brock Purdy.
The Los Angeles Rams beat the Las Vegas Raiders 35-21; Matthew Stafford became the first player to lead two teams in touchdown passes.
Miami beat the New York Jets 28-25, leaving the Los Angeles Chargers as the league’s only winless team.
Detroit beat Green Bay 20-17 on a field goal as time expired.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Organisers have moved the January 2027 Dakar Rally out of Saudi Arabia, citing recent regional developments. They plan to announce a new location in the coming days and aim to return the race to Saudi Arabia in 2028.
Key Facts
The Amaury Sport Organisation and Saudi Motorsport Company announced the move on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia has hosted the Dakar Rally since 2020.
Specialist race media have reported that Morocco or Spain may be considered as the new host.
The rally began as a race from Paris to Dakar and has been held in South America and Saudi Arabia in recent years.
Organisers said they hope the 2028 return will mark the rally’s 50th edition.
Other events affected include the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian World Rally Championship finale and the relocation of the WTA Finals to Indian Wells, California.
The article links the event changes to conflict in the region, including the US-Israel war on Iran and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
BBC Sport asked football experts who should win the men's Ballon d'Or, which is due to be announced in London on 26 October. Several pundits predict Lamine Yamal will win, while some say Paris St-Germain's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia deserves the award for his performances in Europe.
Key Facts
Bookmakers list Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane as close favourites.
The article says Yamal won La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain.
It says Kane scored 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England.
Guillem Balague predicts Yamal will win, citing his performances, trophies and profile.
Julien Laurens and Rory Smith say Kvaratskhelia should win.
Stephen Warnock also names Kvaratskhelia as his personal pick, but predicts Yamal will win.
The article identifies Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe as other probable candidates.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Prince William said making Kevin Sinfield a knight was an easy decision, praising his leadership and fundraising for motor neurone disease (MND) charities. Sinfield’s latest challenge was seven ultra marathons in seven days, continuing a campaign inspired by his friend and former rugby team-mate Rob Burrow, who died from MND in 2024.
Key Facts
William told BBC Breakfast that Sinfield should have been knighted years ago.
Sinfield was made a knight bachelor by William at Windsor Castle in October 2026.
Sinfield completed seven ultra marathons in seven days to raise money for MND charities.
Burrow died from MND in 2024.
William and Catherine visited Wakefield last month and surprised Sinfield during the third marathon.
William said he wrote to Burrow’s wife, Lindsey, and their children after Burrow’s death.
William opened the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds in November 2025.
William also praised the late Scottish rugby union player Doddie Weir and Princess Anne for their support of the MND community.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal are among the leading contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded at a London ceremony on Monday. Kane is described as the favourite after a prolific season, but his team’s exits from the Champions League and World Cup leave the race uncertain.
Key Facts
Kane scored 73 goals in 65 games for club and country last season.
Bayern Munich won the German league and cup with Kane, while England reached the World Cup semi-finals.
Yamal helped Spain win the World Cup but missed the end of Barcelona’s season with a hamstring injury.
Mbappé was the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup, but won none of those competitions.
Mbappé scored 10 goals at the World Cup and became the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with 22.
Journalists from 100 leading FIFA-ranked nations each rank 10 players from a 30-person shortlist; the player with the most points wins.
Alexia Putellas is described as the frontrunner for the women’s award, which could be her third Ballon d’Or.
The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held in England for the first time.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article previews the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane among the leading contenders ahead of the London ceremony. Avisia’s AI model favors Yamal, while bookmakers favor Kane; Mbappe leads several individual scoring records, and the article says team titles may affect the contenders’ chances.
Key Facts
The award ceremony is scheduled for the London Palladium, less than 24 hours after the article was published.
Avisia’s model gives Yamal a 23 percent chance of winning, Kane 21 percent, and Mbappe and Rodri 19 percent each.
The article says bookmakers give Kane about a 70 percent chance of winning.
Messi is listed with an 18 percent chance of winning a record-extending ninth Ballon d’Or.
Mbappe scored 25 La Liga goals and 15 Champions League goals, according to the article.
The article says Mbappe won the World Cup Golden Boot and set the record with 12 World Cup goals, but won no major team trophy in 2025–26.
Kane scored 73 goals last season and won the Bundesliga with Bayern; England finished third at the 2026 World Cup.
Diego Simeone and Marco Materazzi backed Messi, Jude Bellingham backed Kane, Anthony Gordon backed Yamal, and Aurelien Tchouameni backed Mbappe.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Clippers 108-101 to improve to 3-0, but All-Star guard Jalen Williams left late in the game with a serious-looking leg injury. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points and said he felt bad for Williams; the team said it expected an update on the injury Monday.
Key Facts
Oklahoma City defeated Los Angeles 108-101 on Sunday night.
The win gave the Thunder a 3-0 record to start the season.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points and became emotional while discussing Williams after the game.
Williams went down on a drive with 1:14 remaining and left the court on a stretcher.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said the team expected an injury update Monday.
Cason Wallace and Jaylin Williams also left the game in the first quarter and did not return.
The article says Jalen Williams missed 49 games last season because of injuries and helped the Thunder win the 2025 title.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
