Hundreds of former professional and amateur rugby players have won a High Court battle allowing their claims against the sport’s governing bodies over brain injuries to proceed to trial.

World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union, Welsh Rugby and two rugby league bodies had attempted to have approximately 500 cases struck out.

The governing institutions argued that the legal team previously representing the athletes had failed to comply with strict court orders.

However, Judge David Cook ruled on Friday that the litigation carries a specific element of public importance and must be heard in full.

‘Exceptional circumstances’

The claimants allege that authorities breached a fundamental duty of care by failing to protect them from repeated blows to the head during their careers.

Many of the competitors involved in the legal action are now suffering from severe neurological conditions, including early-onset dementia, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and motor neurone disease.

The authorities strongly deny liability and intend to vigorously defend the actions when the full trial commences.

Judge Cook admitted he reached his decision to let the case proceed with some hesitation but noted the immense potential impact on the national sport.

“This litigation has the potential to greatly impact the way in which one of our national sports is conducted at amateur and professional levels.”

Judge David Cook

New legal representation

The athletes have recently transferred their representation to a new firm, KP Law, which proved crucial in avoiding a dismissal.

The presiding judge acknowledged that the vulnerability of the claimants meant they should not be punished for the previous procedural failures of their lawyers.

A spokesperson for the new legal team welcomed the decision, stating that the affected individuals deserve to have their experiences heard and properly addressed.

These legal proceedings are part of a growing focus on concussion protocols and long-term player welfare across contact sports worldwide.

The highly anticipated heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is facing delays due to a contractual dispute over moving the bout from the United Kingdom to New York.

Contracts were initially signed for the defining all-British clash to take place on home soil.

However, Saudi Arabian backer Turki Alalshikh and broadcasting partner Netflix are now pushing for the event to be staged at Madison Square Garden.

Contractual standoff

Eddie Hearn insists that the current agreement explicitly guarantees a British venue, likely Wembley Stadium.

The Matchroom promoter is seeking a contract addendum and additional compensation before agreeing to a transatlantic shift.

A provisional date of Friday, 20 November has been floated for the New York spectacle.

Despite both British fighters currently sitting without world titles, the financial muscle of Netflix and Zuffa Boxing is driving the demand for a US primetime audience.

Broadcaster demands

The proposed move to the United States has sparked farcical discussions regarding ring walks taking place in London during the early hours of the morning.

Hearn remains determined to protect the interests of his fighter amid growing pressure from international stakeholders.

“Everybody involved in the fight wants the fight to take place at Madison Square Garden, apart from Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn, who have a clear contract that says the fight must take place in the UK.”

Eddie Hearn

“We wouldn’t have signed the contract that we signed if this fight was in America,” the boxing promoter added.

Tyson Fury’s manager has expressed concerns that the highly anticipated heavyweight showdown against Anthony Joshua could collapse amid ongoing venue delays.

Spencer Brown fears the all-British bout may be scrapped entirely if a definitive agreement is not reached soon.

The pair signed to fight immediately after the Gypsy King’s comeback victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April.

Both men subsequently navigated their respective warm-up bouts last month, paving the way for a monumental clash later this year.

Doubt creeps into negotiations

Despite a recent Netflix promotional trailer teasing that the event is coming soon, progress behind the scenes appears to have stalled.

Brown revealed in an interview with Sky Sports that the lack of movement has created uncertainty within Fury’s camp.

Everybody’s got a bit of doubt in their mind. If you’d asked me a week ago, I’d have said no, but now it’s a little bit concerning that things haven’t progressed down the line.

He added that fans are growing weary of the constant speculation surrounding the blockbuster fixture.

You can’t keep flogging a dead horse, can you? We’ve waited and waited to do it at Wembley, but the hope is fading that it’s going to be there.

Venue shift to America

Rumours have recently circulated that the contest could instead be staged on 20 November at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed that while no official agreement has been reached to move the event from London, negotiations regarding a venue change are ongoing.

Hearn admitted that adjusting the current setup is proving to be a highly complex and arduous process.

We don’t want to change the venue or the host country, but if they’re that desperate, we will find a way to help.

The Matchroom Boxing chairman noted that if certain conditions are met, there is a very strong chance the fight will eventually take place in the United States.

Ardie Savea will return to captain New Zealand in their opening Test match against South Africa in Johannesburg this Saturday, as Ruben Love retains the fly-half jersey.

The powerful number eight was rested for the preceding tour games but reclaims his starting spot at Ellis Park for the first of four clashes with the Springboks.

Meanwhile, head coach Dave Rennie has opted to keep faith with Love at number 10 following the youngster’s impressive showings during the Nations Championship in July.

This bold selection means there is no place in the 23-man matchday squad for seasoned veterans Beauden Barrett or the recently recalled Richie Mo’unga.

Injury boosts for the visitors

The All Blacks have received a significant fitness boost ahead of the clash, with Cam Roigard, Will Jordan and Damian McKenzie all successfully overcoming injury concerns to start.

They face a formidable challenge this weekend against the reigning world number one side, who will be backed by a fiercely passionate crowd at their spiritual home.

“After all the build up and anticipation, our whole touring squad is excited to get this first Test underway.”

“We have selected a balanced mix of big match, experienced players and younger players who have earned the right to play in this first Test,” Rennie added.

New Zealand team to face South Africa

The head coach noted that recent franchise fixtures had perfectly prepared his newer faces for the intense physical pressure of South African rugby.

LIV Golf chief executive Scott O’Neil says the breakaway circuit faces a race against time to secure new investment after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund confirmed it will withdraw its financial backing at the end of the season.

Speaking ahead of this week’s event in Indianapolis, the newly appointed boss admitted the league is operating under immense financial pressure.

The tournament will now serve as the campaign’s finale after organisers were forced to cancel the Team Championship in Michigan.

Without a fresh cash injection, the rebel series faces the looming threat of bankruptcy amid reports of unpaid bills to suppliers.

Player commitment key to survival

Investment group BC Partners, led by Ted Goldthorpe, have reportedly agreed a preliminary term sheet to fund operations from 2027 to 2030.

However, that crucial lifeline remains strictly conditional on a majority of the roster’s top stars committing their long-term futures to the tour.

O’Neil confirmed the existence of a strict deadline to secure those essential player agreements.

“We have a very compressed timeline to get the deal done,” he explained.

“Without the players, that becomes very difficult.”

Greg Norman’s successor added that he remains confident of retaining a critical mass of elite talent to move the brand forward.

A disciplined approach to debt

The sudden withdrawal of Saudi support has left a trail of financial chaos, with several vendors taking legal action to recover owed money.

Addressing the ongoing lawsuits, the chief executive pledged to ensure all outstanding contractors are rightfully compensated.

He acknowledged that the organisation’s previous regimes were significantly more free-spending than current economic realities allow.

“We’ve taken a real disciplined look at the cost side of the business,” he noted.

Despite the severe uncertainty, the management team has vowed to stand together as they desperately seek a sustainable path.

“We’re spending all our time thinking about how we best land this plane and have it landed so we can take off again. All our focus is in that direction.”

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been ruled out of the first Test against England at Headingley after failing to recover from a right hand injury.

The prolific batter sustained the blow during a warm-up fixture at Beckenham last week, compounding an initial strike suffered against the West Indies in August.

Off-spinning all-rounder Salman Agha will step up to lead the side in the longest format for the first time.

Agha assumes leadership duties

Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed confirmed the leadership change on Tuesday, handing the reins to the 32-year-old who has captained the national T20 team since 2024.

Agha brings the experience of 27 Test appearances to the role as the tourists seek a positive start in Leeds.

Team management remain hopeful that their talismanic batsman will regain full fitness in time for the second Test at Lord’s next week.

Shakeel and Masood poised for return

The visitors are expected to welcome middle-order batter Saud Shakeel back into the starting XI following his absence during the recent Caribbean tour.

Former skipper Shan Masood is also primed to return from his own injury layoff to bolster the lineup.

Awais Zafar could retain his spot after making his international debut during the second Test in Trinidad last month.

Crucial points at stake

Both nations are desperate for a series victory as they languish near the foot of the World Test Championship standings.

The touring side currently sit second from bottom in the global table, just one position behind their English hosts.

UFC president Dana White has expressed serious doubts over whether the long-awaited heavyweight boxing bout between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will actually take place, despite both fighters having signed contracts earlier this year.

The highly anticipated all-British mega-fight remains without a confirmed date or venue amid ongoing disagreements behind the scenes.

Streaming giant Netflix is reportedly pushing to stage the spectacle in New York on 20 November, while the former Olympian and his promoter Eddie Hearn are demanding a UK location.

White, who claims to have been instrumental in initial negotiations, has grown frustrated with the constant delays surrounding the generational showdown.

Frustrations mount over contract disputes

The 55-year-old mixed martial arts boss bluntly questioned the true intentions of both heavyweight superstars.

‘They either want to fight or they don’t. I don’t know. To make a fight, two guys have to want to fight. Period.’

Dana White

The outspoken promoter emphasised that both men must be fully committed for a bout of this magnitude to materialise, especially with substantial financial rewards on the table.

‘Do you want to fight or do you not want to fight? The fight should have happened 10 years ago, is it going to happen now? We’ll see.’

Dana White

Warren warns mega-fight could still collapse

While the WBC heavyweight champion remains silent on his preferred location, his long-time promoter Frank Warren has admitted the highly lucrative deal hangs in the balance.

Warren revealed that the undefeated fighter had originally signed an agreement in January for a September clash.

However, those initial plans were derailed following a tragic accident that resulted in the death of two of Joshua’s close friends.

Speaking to Box Nation, Warren warned that a failure to find common ground on the venue will ultimately terminate the long-overdue rivalry.

‘They’re either going to agree to it or not. If they don’t agree to it then the fight won’t happen.’

Frank Warren

Despite the ongoing friction, Warren maintains that the blockbuster event is still tentatively targeted for November, with a venue to be announced in due course.

Two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard will miss the remainder of the 2026 season to recover from a collarbone fracture sustained in July.

The Dane crashed out during stage 15 of cycling’s most prestigious race while trailing longtime rival Tadej Pogacar in the general classification.

His Visma-Lease a Bike team confirmed the early end to his campaign allows the 29-year-old to focus entirely on rehabilitation and training.

Focus shifts to recovery

After a long and intense racing period, a recovery period was planned after the Tour de France anyway.

Due to the collarbone injury, the start of my training has been delayed and it is not possible for me to get back to top level in the coming period.

The focus is on preparing optimally for the goals of the 2027 season. I will discuss these specific goals with the team in the coming period.

Jonas Vingegaard

The cycling outfit added that their lead rider is still experiencing the physical effects of the heavy fall.

They concluded that working towards any new racing targets in the short term was simply impossible.

A stellar spring derailed

Before his mid-summer crash, the reigning Vuelta a Espana champion had enjoyed a dominant first half of the year.

He secured overall victories at Paris-Nice and the Volta a Catalunya before claiming a masterful win at the Giro d’Italia.

Taking the maglia rosa in Rome elevated him into an elite group of just eight male riders to have won all three Grand Tours.

Midnight testing controversy

His subsequent Tour de France title defence was abruptly halted on a seemingly innocuous corner during the descent towards the Plateau de Solaison.

The incident drew significant attention after it emerged he had been subjected to a highly unusual anti-doping test at 2am that same morning.

While the injured star refused to blame sleep deprivation for his fall, high-profile peers including Remco Evenepoel heavily criticised the nocturnal testing decision.

He had already intended to skip defending his Spanish Grand Tour crown this autumn to prioritise rest ahead of next year.