Wales fly-half Sam Costelow has been ruled out of Friday’s Six Nations encounter against Ireland in Dublin after failing to recover from an ankle injury.
Costelow, 25, sustained the issue during the second half of the narrow 26-23 defeat by Scotland nine days ago.
Despite being retained in the training squad last week, the Scarlets playmaker is not fit to travel for the fourth round of the championship.
He remains in contention to feature in the tournament finale against Italy in Cardiff on 14 March.
Selection dilemmas for Tandy
The injury forces a change at number 10, with Costelow set to be replaced by either Jarrod Evans or Dan Edwards.
Edwards is looking to regain his spot after being dropped for the Scotland fixture, having started the previous seven international matches.
Head coach Steve Tandy will officially confirm his matchday 23 on Wednesday.
Tandy is also forced to replace Taine Plumtree, with the Scarlets flanker ruled out for the remainder of the tournament due to injury.
Squad updates and dismal run
Cardiff prop Keiron Assiratti and Dragons flanker Ryan Woodman have been drafted into the squad for this stage of the campaign.
The visitors travel to the Aviva Stadium seeking to end a desperate run of 14 successive Six Nations defeats stretching back three years.
Wales have lost 24 of their past 26 internationals across all competitions.
History is also against them, as the side has not recorded a Six Nations victory in Dublin since 2012.
WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley has promised Tyson Fury a shot at the world title providing the former king of the division defeats Arslanbek Makhmudov in his return to the ring this April.
Wardley insists he will be "ready and waiting" to face the 36-year-old if the comeback goes according to plan.
The "Gypsy King" is scheduled to end a 17-month hiatus from the sport when he faces Russian heavyweight Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 11 April.
It marks the start of a fifth unretirement for Fury, who walked away from boxing at the start of 2025 following back-to-back defeats against Oleksandr Usyk.
Wardley looks past Dubois
Before any potential super-fight can be agreed, Wardley must defend his newly acquired belt against Daniel Dubois in Manchester on 9 May.
The Ipswich-born fighter was elevated to world champion status after undisputed king Usyk vacated the strap.
Despite the formidable challenge posed by Dubois, the unbeaten champion (20-0-1) is already eyeing a massive domestic showdown with Fury.
"I had an open invitation to him at the start of the year before he signed up for his fight with Makhmudov and before I even signed my fight with Daniel," Wardley told Sky Sports.
"I said look if you want to go straightaway we can go straightaway, it’s no bother."
"But if he wants a little warm-up and he wants to get through that and see how he feels, then cool, no bother to me. I’ll still be ready and waiting after I’m done with Daniel for a massive fight."
The road to redemption
Fury (34-2-1) has been preparing for his latest resurrection in Thailand and will enter the ring as a firm favourite.
His opponent, Canada-based Makhmudov (21-2), arrives at the contest following a gritty victory over Dave Allen in Sheffield.
While Wardley offers a clear route back to world honours, other potential avenues for Fury have closed.
A long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua had been mooted for late 2026, but those plans are now indefinitely on hold.
Joshua has paused his boxing career following a tragic car accident in Nigeria earlier this year which resulted in the loss of two close friends.
Floyd Mayweather will face kickboxer Mike Zambidis in an exhibition contest in Athens this June as a warm-up for his professional return against Manny Pacquiao.
The 49-year-old American is set to end his retirement to meet his long-time Filipino rival in a licensed bout in Las Vegas this September.
Before that lucrative rematch, the five-weight world champion will travel to Greece for a spectacle against Zambidis.
“2026 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for me,” Mayweather said.
“Europe, I’m on the way to entertain.”
Zambidis bout precedes Las Vegas return
Zambidis, known as ‘Iron Mike’, is a 45-year-old former kickboxing champion who retired from his primary discipline over a decade ago.
The Greek fighter briefly competed in professional boxing in 2019 but has been largely inactive since.
Mayweather’s return to the paid ranks will mark the fourth time he has reversed a decision to retire.
The defensive master last fought professionally in 2017, stopping UFC star Conor McGregor to extend his perfect record to 50-0.
Fourth retirement reversal for Pacquiao clash
His first encounter with Pacquiao in 2015 remains the richest fight in history, generating record gate receipts of £53.1m.
That bout also set an all-time pay-per-view record with 4.6 million buys, despite criticism regarding the excitement levels of the contest.
The veteran superstars are scheduled to meet again at the Sphere on 19 September, 11 years after their initial meeting.
Jon Jones has confirmed he is in negotiations with the UFC regarding a sensational return from retirement to feature on the proposed White House card.
Talks underway for historic event
The 38-year-old has been retired since June following his victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
He stepped away from the sport after facing criticism for refusing to unify the heavyweight belt against Tom Aspinall.
However, the prospect of competing at the executive mansion this summer appears to have tempted the former two-division champion back into the fold.
Jones explicitly stated his desire to represent his country on such a unique stage.
“I’m in negotiations with the UFC about this White House thing.”
“I’m a very, very, very proud American and I cannot wait to represent one more time, so let’s see what happens,” Jones added.
UFC president Dana White indicated on Friday that matchups for the event “should” be announced later this week.
Pereira speculation mounts
The timing of these talks coincides with Alex Pereira vacating his light-heavyweight title without immediate explanation.
That decision has fuelled rumours that ‘Poatan’ is preparing for a move to heavyweight to face the American legend.
Jones has previously expressed significant interest in a super-fight against the Brazilian knockout artist.
Alternatively, Pereira could be placed in an interim title bout, potentially against Ciryl Gane.
Aspinall injury update
Reigning heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall remains sidelined with a serious eye injury sustained against Gane in October.
The Briton’s fighting future is currently uncertain following multiple surgeries to repair the damage.
England’s most-capped men’s player Ben Youngs has confronted the reality of brain injuries and concussion in rugby union during an emotional new BBC documentary.
The toll on legends
The Leicester Tigers icon admitted he broke down in tears while filming with former team-mate Lewis Moody.
Moody, affectionately known as ‘Mad Dog’ during his playing days, recently discussed his diagnosis of motor neurone disease (MND).
While there is no definitive scientific evidence linking MND to repeated concussion, the encounter forced a re-evaluation of the sport’s physical toll.
The 35-year-old confessed he had to step away during the filming to compose himself after seeing his friend.
Asking difficult questions
Youngs initially felt sceptical about peering “behind the curtain” of the game he has played professionally for nearly two decades.
He found himself questioning whether the sport his son plays every Sunday remains safe enough.
However, the scrum-half realised he could not let his love for rugby blind him to the necessity of investigating long-term health issues.
The programme, Ben Youngs Investigates: How Safe Is Rugby?, aims to uncover what the sport is doing to combat these risks.
Cheating the system
The documentary highlights the evolution of player welfare but also exposes past failures in protocol.
Former England wing Anthony Watson makes a startling admission regarding the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour.
Watson reveals he “cheated” the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) system to return to the field during the second Test.
The back-three player memorised the specific words he knew he would be asked to repeat to pass the exam.
The World Cup confession
Attitudes are shifting, evidenced by Ireland’s Garry Ringrose withdrawing himself from a 2025 Lions Test due to symptoms.
However, Youngs admits that during his own career peak, he would not have taken such precautions.
When asked by former flanker Tom Croft about the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, the veteran half-back gave an honest answer.
He confirmed he would not have pulled out of the biggest game of his life if he had felt concussion symptoms.
“I would have dealt with the consequences afterwards,”
Youngs is now left wrestling with the difficult question of whether his generation’s attitude was part of the problem.
Former England captain Lewis Moody has opened up about the emotional reality of his motor neurone disease diagnosis in a candid discussion with former team-mate Ben Youngs.
The 2003 World Cup winner speaks extensively about his condition in a new documentary investigating player welfare.
Moody admits that "emotions are always close" as he navigates the challenges of life following the discovery of his illness.
Rugby safety in the spotlight
The conversation features in Ben Youngs Investigates: How Safe Is Rugby?, available now on BBC iPlayer.
Youngs, England’s most-capped male player, is examining the long-term impact of the sport on physical and neurological health.
The Leicester Tigers scrum-half shares a close bond with the former flanker, having played alongside him for both club and country.
Motor neurone disease has become a significant topic within the sport following the high-profile diagnoses of Rob Burrow, Doddie Weir, and Ed Slater.
Confronting the future
In the footage, the 46-year-old reflects on how the diagnosis has altered his perspective on daily life.
Moody earned 71 caps for his country and was known for his fearless and physical style of play during his career.
The programme explores the balance between the physicality of rugby union and the necessity of making the game safer for future generations.
Peter Fury has confirmed he will train kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven for his shock WBC heavyweight title fight against Oleksandr Usyk in Egypt.
The highly decorated Dutch fighter challenges the unified world champion on 23 May at the Pyramids of Giza.
Fury, the uncle and former trainer of Tyson Fury, will oversee the transition from kickboxing to the squared circle for the challenger.
Championship pedigree
Verhoeven has dominated the kickboxing scene, holding the Glory heavyweight belt for more than 11 years.
However, the bout against Usyk represents only the second professional boxing contest of his career.
His debut came in April 2024, where he secured a second-round knockout victory over Janos Finfera.
He now faces a monumental step up in class against the undefeated Ukrainian southpaw.
Fury’s confirmation
The veteran coach revealed the partnership on social media after arriving back in the UK from a previous camp.
“Quick update. Just arrived here in London. Going home and then back to work,” Fury said.
“Been away for three months in training camps and now we’re off again to the biggest training camp, which is Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven in Egypt at the Pyramids.”
Fury acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge facing the novice boxer against the pound-for-pound king.
“It’s going to be a great night, a lot of hard work to be done. Two great people, two great champions in their own right, what a privilege.”
Usyk’s dominance
Usyk enters the ring for the first time since retaining his undisputed status against Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium last July.
The three-time undisputed champion previously defeated Tyson Fury twice in 2024 to solidify his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
The WBC has sanctioned this voluntary defence, temporarily delaying a mandatory bout against undefeated contender Agit Kabayel.
Kabayel earned his shot by stopping Damian Knyba in January, extending his perfect record to 27-0.
Alyssa Healy brought the curtain down on her one-day international career with a magnificent innings of 158 to guide Australia to a comprehensive series sweep over India.
A record-breaking farewell
The Australia captain is set to retire from all formats of the game following the conclusion of this multi-format series.
She reached her century in just 79 balls before accelerating to the 150-run mark only 16 deliveries later.
The wicketkeeper-batter struck 27 fours and two sixes before eventually being bowled by Sneh Rana.
Her 158 from 98 balls stands as her second-highest ODI score, trailing only her 170 against England in the 2022 World Cup final.
Healy found able support in Beth Mooney, who contributed a fluid 106 off 84 deliveries.
Their combined efforts propelled the hosts to 409-7, their highest total on home soil and the eighth highest in women’s ODI history.
“What a ridiculous sport we play that it can kick you down so many times and then give you opportunities like it has today,” said Healy.
“I’ve hated every milestone match so today was just an opportunity to go out and enjoy it and it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had.”
“It’s a nice way to sign off in yellow.”
India struggle in huge chase
In response, the tourists were dismissed for 224 inside 46 overs.
Rana top-scored for India with 44, while Alana King proved the destroyer-in-chief with figures of 4-33.
The victory ensures Australia lead the points-based multi-format series 8-4 after sweeping the 50-over leg.
India had previously claimed the T20 series 2-1.
One final Test awaits
The tour concludes with a Test match worth four points at the WACA in Perth.
Australia are now guaranteed to at least draw the series regardless of the result in Western Australia.
“To put ourselves in a position where we don’t have to win is a great sign for the series, but we are going [to the Test match] to win,” Healy added.
The Test, beginning on 6 March, will mark Healy’s final appearance in international cricket.