Captain George Furbank scored two tries in his final home game as Northampton Saints defeated Leicester Tigers 45-31 in a thrilling East Midlands derby at Franklin’s Gardens to reach the Premiership final.
The England international, who departs for Harlequins next season, ensured his current club has an opportunity to secure a second consecutive domestic title at Twickenham.
The hosts emerged victorious from an absorbing semi-final that featured an incredible first-half hat-trick from Tom Litchfield.
The table-topping Saints will now meet either defending champions Bath or Exeter Chiefs in the showpiece event.
Litchfield sets play-off record in frantic start
A bustling run from Henry Pollock laid the foundation for the fastest try ever scored in a Premiership play-off match.
Litchfield scythed through the opposition resistance after just 87 seconds to ignite the ferocious local rivalry.
The visitors responded swiftly through Hanro Liebenberg, who powered over in his final appearance for the Leicestershire club.
Fit-again full-back Freddie Steward then stretched over to give Geoff Parling’s side a momentary lead, remarkably scoring with the same hand that required thumb surgery just weeks ago.
Furbank finishes the job after first-half fireworks
A defensive mix-up allowed Litchfield to pounce for his second try before Tommy Freeman produced a spectacular solo effort.
The lightning-fast winger smartly side-footed a pinpoint Fin Smith cross-kick to extend the home advantage.
Ollie Hassell-Collins hit back for the fourth-placed Tigers, finishing well out wide following a clever kick from Billy Searle.
However, Litchfield muscled over with a last-gasp effort before the break to complete his treble and secure a 26-19 half-time lead.
Saints march on to Twickenham
The frenetic pace continued after the interval as the departing home skipper crossed the whitewash to consolidate the advantage.
Orlando Bailey and a second score from Hassell-Collins briefly kept the contest alive for the visitors.
Ultimately, Archie McParland’s fine effort and another clinical finish from Furbank sealed a memorable victory in front of a raucous home crowd.
The result sends the 2024 champions back to Twickenham, rewarding a spectacular regular season campaign where they finished comfortably at the summit of the standings.
Former two-time world champion Gudaf Tsegay has been suspended for four months after testing positive for a prohibited substance used to treat a medical condition.
The 29-year-old returned a positive out-of-competition test for a metabolite of Letrozole last December.
Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor primarily used in breast cancer treatment that helps lower estrogen levels.
The Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist promptly responded to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in January with supporting medical documents explaining the prescription.
Retroactive exemption denied
World Athletics confirmed the prescribed treatment met international standard requirements for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE).
However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) subsequently rejected the Ethiopian distance runner’s application for a retroactive exemption.
This led the former 5,000m and 10,000m world title holder to enter a formal case resolution agreement with both governing bodies.
Reduced sanction explained
An official statement confirmed a reduced suspension was applied under rules concerning no significant fault or negligence by the athlete.
The AIU noted that a four-month ban was “considered appropriate” under these specific regulatory guidelines.
This leniency reflects her prompt admission and the recognition that a TUE would have been granted had she requested it in advance.
Her period of ineligibility has been backdated to 1 June and will officially conclude on 30 September.
New Zealand’s all-time leading run-scorer Kane Williamson has announced his immediate retirement from international cricket.
The sudden decision brings the curtain down on a glittering career that saw the prolific right-hander dominate bowling attacks across all formats.
His departure leaves a significant void in the Black Caps’ batting lineup ahead of their upcoming international fixtures.
A generational talent steps away
The former captain will be best remembered for leading his nation to glory in the inaugural World Test Championship final against India in 2021.
Widely regarded as one of the finest batters of his era, the 35-year-old accumulated records with an elegant technique and a famously calm demeanour.
He steps away having amassed more Test runs than any other player in New Zealand’s history, cementing his status as a modern great.
End of an era for the Black Caps
Although he stepped down from the Test captaincy in recent years, his influence within the dressing room remained unparalleled.
The veteran batter consistently delivered on the biggest stages, frequently guiding his team deep into major World Cup tournaments.
Cricket New Zealand is expected to release a formal tribute detailing his extraordinary contributions to the national side over the coming days.
Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson has reportedly been expelled from a California golf club following allegations of nonconsensual physical contact with a female employee.
The incident is alleged to have occurred earlier this spring at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe.
According to Golf Digest, the 55-year-old made inappropriate advances towards a staff member inside the clubhouse.
The employee reportedly rejected the approach and immediately escalated the matter to her supervisors.
Club confirms decisive action
Following a swift independent investigation into the claims, officials confronted the American golfer on the course and instructed him to leave.
The Farms released a statement confirming the dismissal of an individual, though they chose not to name the player directly.
Following a staff member report of member misconduct, the club provided immediate and ongoing support to the staff member, conducted a thorough independent investigation of the incident and took decisive action.
This individual is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club.
Representatives for the veteran golfer have publicly dismissed the severity of the allegations.
Any misunderstanding has been cleared up.
Phil continues to attend to a family health matter and is uncertain when he will be able to return to professional golf.
Stepping away from the sport
The former world number two has only made one competitive appearance this year while dealing with an undisclosed family issue.
His extended absence means he missed both the Masters and the PGA Championship, while he is no longer exempt for the upcoming US Open.
This latest controversy adds to a turbulent period for the prominent LIV Golf figure.
The left-hander faced intense backlash in 2022 after admitting he used the Saudi-backed breakaway league to gain leverage over the PGA Tour.
He has also endured extensive public scrutiny regarding his personal finances and gambling habits in recent years.
A 2023 autobiography by noted gambler Billy Walters alleged that the Californian had wagered more than $1bn (£790m) on sports over a 30-year period.
Bangladesh secured a landmark first ODI series victory against six-time world champions Australia by clinching a five-wicket win in a rain-hit match in Dhaka.
The hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after comfortably chasing down a revised target of 192 from 41 overs.
Stand-in captain Josh Inglis watched his side endure a catastrophic start after winning the toss and electing to bat first.
Historic top-order collapse
The touring side suffered a spectacular batting failure, losing their top three batters without scoring a single run.
Pace duo Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman dismantled the top order, dismissing Matthew Short, Cooper Connolly, and Matthew Renshaw for ducks.
In a stunning statistical rarity, it was only the fourth time in international cricket history that a team has lost all three opening batters for zero.
The visitors found themselves reeling at 81-6 before Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett mounted a crucial recovery.
Labuschagne anchors the innings
The resilient middle-order pair combined for a 103-run partnership to drag their struggling team towards a respectable total of 187-8.
Labuschagne compiled a patient, unbeaten 55 from 85 deliveries to stabilise the visitors.
Bartlett also struck a vital half-century before being bowled by Ahmed, shortly before a torrential downpour forced a three-hour delay.
Hosts cruise to target
Despite losing opening batter Tanzid Hasan to a two-ball duck, the home side faced little difficulty in navigating the revised run chase.
Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto laid the foundation with crucial knocks of 42 runs each.
An unbeaten partnership between Towhid Hridoy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz ultimately guided the Tigers across the finish line.
This latest defeat compounds a miserable tour for the reigning World Cup holders, who continue to struggle without injured regular captain Mitchell Marsh.
French sailor and reigning Vendee Globe champion Charlie Dalin has died at the age of 42 following a long battle with a rare form of gastrointestinal cancer.
The accomplished yachtsman secured his historic victory in the 2024-25 edition of the non-stop round-the-world race while actively undergoing immunotherapy treatment.
He completed the gruelling 24,300-mile route in an astonishing 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 49 seconds.
That incredible feat shattered the previous record set by Armel Le Cleac’h in 2017 by more than nine days.
A profound loss for the sailing community
“It is with deep sadness that my family and I announce the passing of my husband, Charlie Dalin, following a long illness.”
That poignant message was shared with AFP on Thursday by his wife, Perrine Le Pape.
She and their son, Oscar, had famously joined the record-breaker aboard his boat as he crossed the finish line to claim the 10th edition of the legendary solo race in January 2025.
Overcoming heartbreak and illness
The French mariner had previously suffered bitter disappointment during the 2020-21 competition.
Despite crossing the line first on that occasion, he was ultimately relegated to second place after Yannick Bestaven received a time bonus for assisting in a mid-ocean rescue.
Medical struggles then forced the offshore specialist to withdraw from the Transat Jacques Vabre in late 2023.
It was only last October that he publicly revealed his diagnosis in a deeply personal book.
Within those pages, the oceanic racer chronicled his fight with the disease, confirming he had received life-extending treatment throughout his monumental globe-conquering voyage.
Fabled defence coach Shaun Edwards is negotiating his departure from the France national team with 18 months left on his contract, signalling an end to his near seven-year tenure ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The 59-year-old’s premature exit is heavily complicated by the French Rugby Federation’s desire to protect strict confidentiality regarding their team tactics.
The former Wigan rugby league legend has been notably absent from recent training camps following a disappointing defensive showing.
Les Bleus claimed the Six Nations title three times during his successful stint, but leaked more tries than any side except bottom-placed Wales during their most recent campaign.
Tactical secrets and southern hemisphere interest
Relations between the highly respected defensive specialist and head coach Fabien Galthie have reportedly become strained in recent times.
The ex-Wasps staff member publicly declared his interest in March regarding a coaching role within the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship.
This admission raised significant alarms within the French camp with just over a year remaining until the global tournament kicks off in Australia.
National unions remain fiercely protective of their intellectual property, especially after South Africa successfully decoded a key tactical call to defeat the host nation during their 2023 World Cup quarter-final.
Past England links and future prospects
Non-compete clauses are increasingly common in international rugby, effectively preventing staff from immediately joining rival set-ups with sensitive inside knowledge.
The vastly experienced coach has frequently been linked with an England position throughout his career but has never actually been hired by the Rugby Football Union.
He previously rejected a national coaching opportunity in 2006 to remain with his club side and subsequently chose a legendary 12-year stint with Wales over leading the England Saxons.
Despite holding talks with RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney in 2021, the decorated tactician ultimately signed a lucrative extension to remain across the Channel.
Finding a secure long-term agreement elsewhere may now prove difficult, as international teams are historically reluctant to make significant coaching changes this close to a World Cup.
Auburn junior Ja’Kobe Tharp has broken the men’s 110m hurdles world record by running a blistering 12.75 seconds during the NCAA championships in Eugene, Oregon.
The defending champion surpassed the long-standing global mark of 12.80 seconds set by fellow American Aries Merritt in September 2012.
In an astonishing display during Wednesday’s semi-final race, the collegiate star shaved a massive 0.26 seconds off his previous personal best.
He becomes the first individual athlete to break a world record at the NCAA outdoor track and field event since high jumper Dwight Stones achieved the feat 50 years ago.
A historic milestone at Hayward Field
Despite making international athletics history, the lightning-fast hurdler insisted his primary focus was merely securing qualification for Friday’s final.
“I’m speechless. I didn’t mean to.”
The history-maker explained in a university press release that a deliberate training strategy helped him peak at exactly the right moment.
“I knew going into this meet I would be in really good shape because we started deloading to hit my peak into this meet. It was about executing and doing it.”
‘I have more in my legs’
Merritt’s previous benchmark had seemed virtually untouchable for over a decade before this incredible run at the iconic Hayward Field venue.
However, the victorious student-athlete confidently told broadcasters immediately after crossing the finish line that he felt capable of going even quicker.
“I knew what I was capable of. I knew I had something faster than 13.0 in my legs.”