Tom Curry has urged England to mount an immediate response against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday following the end of their 12-match winning run against Scotland.

Curry rues slow start at Murrayfield

The Sale Sharks flanker admitted his side were “fighting with one hand behind our back” during the 31-20 Calcutta Cup defeat in Edinburgh.

That result ended a significant winning streak for Steve Borthwick’s side, with discipline issues proving costly during a difficult first half.

“Maybe that first 25-30 minutes let us down,” Curry told Sky Sports.

“You’re fighting with one hand behind your back, really. But credit to Scotland, they put on a really good performance, they were accurate and clinical.”

England trailed 24-10 at the break, leaving them with too much to do in the second period despite a spirited effort.

‘Individual responsibility’ required for Twickenham test

Attention now turns to the visit of Andy Farrell’s Ireland, who arrive in London fresh from a nervy 20-13 victory over Italy.

Curry emphasized the need for personal accountability as the squad attempts to bounce back immediately.

“Coming in this week you just be better, you have to do it,” the experienced back-rower added.

“It’s an individual responsibility, get yourself right and then you attack together.”

The squad spent Sunday processing the disappointment of the loss but have now turned their focus entirely to the upcoming round of the championship.

“We had a good afternoon, physically and mentally you get yourself right, and then come the meeting you’re ready to listen and that’s the important thing,” Curry explained.

Arundell faces disciplinary hearing

Much of the damage at Murrayfield was self-inflicted, with wing Henry Arundell receiving two yellow cards which equated to a sending off.

The Racing 92 back faces a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday for the incidents involving a tackle in the air and failure to release.

Curry revealed he has been offering support to his team-mate alongside head coach Borthwick.

“He’s been very level headed, he’s a very measured bloke,” Curry said of the 23-year-old.

“It’s annoying, he’ll be alright. It’s one of Steve’s many strengths, the emotional side of it.”

“He was great with me, and just knowing you’re already feeling down so it’s helping out.”

London 2012 rowing gold medallist David Smith has revealed he has been given just months to live after being moved into palliative care.

The 47-year-old Scot used voice-activated technology to share the devastating update from his hospital bed.

Smith, who won gold in the mixed coxed four at the home Games, is now paralysed following a long battle with cancer.

He confirmed that a spinal tumour has spread to his brain, leading to the terminal prognosis.

‘My time is coming to an end’

The Dunfermline-born athlete told the Strathspey Herald that he fears he may never return to his home in Aviemore.

“On Thursday, I was moved to palliative care… and told that I have four months to live.”

Despite the severity of his condition, the former rower expressed a determination to keep going for as long as possible.

“I’m going to fight with every will in my body, but I’m also aware my time on this planet is coming to an end.”

Smith communicated the news using an electronic decoder, acknowledging that his message might contain errors as he battles the illness.

A career of resilience

The multi-sport athlete has faced a series of severe health challenges throughout his distinguished sporting career.

Born with a club foot, he underwent numerous procedures in his youth to reset his bones before finding success in elite sport.

In 2010, Smith underwent surgery to remove a tumour from his spinal cord which caused temporary paralysis.

Remarkably, he recovered to win Olympic glory just two years later at London 2012.

He was later forced to withdraw from the Rio 2016 Paralympics, where he planned to compete as a cyclist, due to the recurrence of a tumour.

Recent health battles

In 2018, the Paralympic hero was warned that further surgery on his spine could leave him paralysed from the neck down.

Last year, he underwent emergency brain surgery after doctors discovered three tumours.

He had initially attributed symptoms including blurred vision and headaches to watching television while recovering from a broken rib.

Doctors subsequently confirmed the presence of benign tumours and fluid accumulation on his brain.

Smith is currently receiving radiotherapy to treat the remaining growths while in palliative care.

England back Tommy Freeman has revealed he struggled to recover mentally from the “hangover” of last year’s British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

The 24-year-old featured in all three Tests against the Wallabies during a gruelling campaign down under.

That series concluded a marathon season comprising 34 matches for both club and country.

Fatigue has often plagued national squads in similar circumstances, with England failing to win a Five or Six Nations title immediately following a Lions tour since 1963.

‘I struggled without realising it’

Freeman, who is one of 13 Lions included in Steve Borthwick’s current squad, admitted he underestimated the psychological toll of the schedule.

“My body felt good, but my mental state wasn’t in the best spot,” said the Northampton Saints star.

“You go on a big Lions tour, off the back of 34 games or so. It’s a lot of rugby.”

The versatile back suggested that his downtime was not utilised effectively.

“I locked myself in and it might have been a bit of built-up anxiety,” he explained.

“I could probably have managed my off-time better and not gone on as many rollercoaster rides and things like that, probably just sat in the sun.”

“Coming back, you’re adjusting and going through that routine again. Without realising it, I think I was tired.”

Intervention by Saints coaches

While Freeman initially insisted he was fit to play, Northampton coaches Phil Dowson and Sam Vesty intervened to ensure his welfare.

“I had probably been in denial and was saying ‘I’m fine, I’m fine’, but they pulled me from bits here and there,” he added.

“Saints did really well at noticing that and giving me the time. England as well, picking that up and getting me back into the games in the right way.”

The recovery process required an additional fortnight away from full intensity.

“It was just two weeks to make sure your mind is rested and relaxed, and maybe the body did need a bit more time too.”

Adapting to a midfield role

Following his return to fitness, the natural winger has been deployed in the centre during the current Six Nations campaign.

He started at number 13 during the recent defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield, having also partnered club team-mate Fraser Dingwall in midfield against Wales.

“There’s loads to learn still,” Freeman admitted regarding the positional switch.

“I’ve got that versatility now. Like you saw at Scotland when I went out onto the wing, you’ve got to adjust as quickly as that, and I’m happy to do that.”

Charley Hull has become the highest-ranked Englishwoman in history after climbing to world number three following her victory at the PIF Saudi Ladies International.

The 29-year-old climbed two places in the standings released on Monday to surpass the previous best mark by a compatriot in the system’s 20-year existence.

She leapfrogged major champions Minjee Lee and Miyu Yamashita to sit behind only Jeeno Thitikul and Nelly Korda in the global pecking order.

Season-opening success in Riyadh

Hull’s historic rise follows a dramatic one-shot victory at the Ladies European Tour (LET) season opener on Saturday.

A final-round 65 secured the title ahead of Japan’s Akie Iwai and South Africa’s Casandra Alexander.

It marks a fifth title on the European circuit for the consistent ball-striker.

The victory adds to a rich vein of form that saw her win the Kroger Queen City Championship on the LPGA Tour in September.

Powered by potatoes

Hull was three shots off the lead after 54 holes but charged up the leaderboard on the final day.

Her round included an eagle and seven birdies, with a significant surge on the back nine attributed to an unusual mid-round snack.

After nine holes I ran into the toilet and also got some mashed potatoes, so I don’t know if that gave me a bit of power for the back nine.

Charley Hull, World Number Three

The English star noted that her off-season preparation had paid immediate dividends.

“I worked really hard this off-season, so it’s nice to get a result pretty much straight away and it’s one of the bigger events on the LET,” she said.

English contingent rising

Hull has not finished outside the top 21 in any event since early June, a run that includes a runner-up spot at the AIG Women’s Open.

She is joined in the world’s top 10 by compatriot Lottie Woad, who sits at number eight following a breakthrough maiden season as a professional.

With house renovations nearly complete, Hull is now eyeing further success to close the gap on world number one Thitikul.

“My house renovation is pretty much done, so I needed that win,” Hull added.

“I’m looking forward to getting settled into my house in a couple of weeks when it’s all done and celebrate my birthday.”

Tyson Fury has confirmed he will return to the ring to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov in April after being motivated by the tragic car crash involving rival Anthony Joshua.

The 37-year-old will face Russia’s Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 11 April as he emerges from retirement for the fifth time.

Fury claims the decision to end his latest hiatus was sparked by the incident in Nigeria involving Joshua, which occurred just days after his compatriot defeated Jake Paul.

While Joshua survived the crash, two of his teammates lost their lives, a tragedy that Fury says offered him a new perspective on his career.

‘Life is very fragile’

The former world heavyweight champion was vacationing in Thailand when he learned of the accident involving his long-time British rival.

Fury cited the fragility of life as the catalyst for his immediate comeback.

“I was on holiday with my family in Thailand for Christmas… then I hear all that bad news that’s gone on,” Fury said at a press conference on Monday.

“I thought: ‘You know what, life is very, very short and very precious and very fragile.’

“Anything could happen at any given moment, and you should never put things off until tomorrow or next year or next week, because tomorrow is not promised to nobody.”

The Manchester-born fighter emphasised that his passion for the sport remains undimmed.

“We have to live for today, and me, living for that day, I made my mind up there and then that I’m gonna come back to boxing – because it’s something that I love.”

Targeting a third world title

The Gypsy King has not fought since December 2024, when he suffered a second consecutive defeat by Oleksandr Usyk.

Those losses to the Ukrainian undisputed champion remain the only blemishes on Fury’s professional record.

He has now set his sights on a third reign as world heavyweight champion as he prepares to face the 36-year-old Makhmudov.

While rumours of a return circulated prior to the incident, Fury insists the realisation that “tomorrow is a mystery” was the definitive factor in signing the deal.

England have progressed to the T20 World Cup Super 8s but face questions over their form following a laboured victory against Italy.

Room for improvement

All-rounder Will Jacks admitted the team must be “a lot better” after securing their spot in the next round with a difficult win at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Despite being 2010 and 2022 champions, the side currently look far off the pace compared to unbeaten rivals such as India and South Africa.

Three unconvincing wins over Associate Nations, combined with a meek defeat by the West Indies, has done little to inspire confidence.

Change of scenery

Harry Brook’s side will now move to Sri Lanka for their Super 8s fixtures, hoping a shift in location can reignite their campaign.

Having secured a 3-0 series sweep on the island prior to the tournament, there is hope that the English squad can rediscover their touch.

However, recent performances suggest deep-lying issues, including a near-defeat to Nepal that was salvaged only by Sam Curran’s death bowling.

Batting struggles continue

Against Italy, it required a 21-ball half-century from Jacks to lift the score to 202-7 after the top order failed to convert good starts.

The vaunted opening partnership of Jos Buttler and Phil Salt has yet to fire consistently during the tournament.

Defending the total proved equally difficult, with the bowling attack looking devoid of ideas until Jacks eventually removed Ben Manenti for a rapid 60.

‘They lost a plan’

Former England opener Nick Knight expressed concern over the lack of authority shown by the team.

“I was really disappointed with that as a performance. They have done what they needed to do but I wanted to see real authority with bat and ball.”

He added that the bowling unit appeared to drift after taking early wickets.

“They bowled short and got whacked, lost coherency, lost a plan. If Adil Rashid doesn’t bowl well in the middle overs, I worry that they are not incisive enough to regain control.”

US figure skater Ilia Malinin has hinted at an “inevitable crash” caused by the pressure of the Winter Olympics in an emotional social media post.

The 21-year-old uploaded a video on Monday contrasting images of his past triumphs with black-and-white shots of him holding his head in his hands.

In the accompanying caption, he alluded to the immense strain of competing in Milan and teased that a “version of the story” would be revealed on Saturday.

That date coincides with the traditional exhibition gala which concludes the figure skating programme.

Invisible battles

Malinin arrived in Italy as the heavy favourite for individual gold having gone unbeaten in 14 events over more than two years.

Despite helping the United States clinch the team gold medal, the American finished eighth in the individual event after falling twice during his free skate.

He addressed the mental toll of the competition in his latest statement.

“On the world’s biggest stage, those who appear the strongest may still be fighting invisible battles on the inside,” Malinin wrote.

“Even your happiest memories can end up tainted by the noise. Vile online hatred attacks the mind and fear lures it into the darkness, no matter how hard you try to stay sane through the endless insurmountable pressure.”

“It all builds up as these moments flash before your eyes, resulting in an inevitable crash.”

Managing expectations

The son of Olympic skaters Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov had previously admitted to feeling the weight of expectation earlier in the Games.

He noted the pressure following an uneven short program in the team event, where he finished behind Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama.

While he appeared to regain his composure to win the individual short program, his free skate performance proved difficult.

Malinin bailed out of his signature quad axel early in the routine and fell twice, resulting in his lowest score since September 2022.

A difficult finish

Despite the disappointment, the former world champion remained magnanimous, congratulating surprise gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan.

He answered questions from the media with poise immediately after the event but later admitted to being overwhelmed.

“The nerves just went, so overwhelming,” he said.

“Especially going into that starting pose, I just felt like all the traumatic moments of my life really just started flooding my head.”

Malinin is expected to return to competition next month in Prague as he chases a third consecutive world title.

A significant outbreak of norovirus has struck the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games, affecting several competing nations and raising serious concerns over athlete welfare.

The highly infectious stomach bug has already impacted multiple squads within the Olympic setup.

Organisers are now scrambling to contain the spread as the event’s infrastructure faces a severe biological challenge.

Perfect storm for transmission

Major international tournaments create ideal breeding grounds for such resilient pathogens.

With thousands of competitors converging from across the globe, the winter showpiece has inadvertently become a hotspot for infection.

The sheer size and intensity of the Games often overshadow the microscopic risks lurking in the background.

Shared dining halls, centralized training facilities, and communal recreational zones are facilitating the rapid transfer of the illness.

In these high-density environments, close contact is inevitable, allowing the sickness to move efficiently between delegations.

The ‘winter vomiting bug’ explained

Medical officials identify the culprit as a potent virus capable of causing acute gastroenteritis.

The condition triggers inflammation of the stomach and intestines, leading to sudden and debilitating symptoms.

Victims typically experience intense vomiting, watery diarrhoea, and severe stomach cramps.

While the infection is often brief – lasting between 24 to 72 hours – the physical toll on elite performers can be devastating.

Dehydration poses a significant risk, threatening to derail medal hopes for athletes operating at their physical peak.

Resilient pathogen

One factor driving the outbreak is the exceptionally low infectious dose required to cause sickness.

Fewer than 20 viral particles are needed to trigger the illness, a microscopic amount compared to other common viruses.

The pathogen is also remarkably hardy, capable of withstanding freezing temperatures and surviving on surfaces for days.

Health experts have warned that standard alcohol-based hand sanitisers are largely ineffective against this specific strain.

Teams are now being urged to rely on thorough hand-washing with soap and water as the primary defence to break the chain of transmission.