England leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed made a sensational start to his campaign by dismissing Rachin Ravindra with his very first delivery at a T20 World Cup.

The Leicestershire youngster was introduced into the attack and made an immediate breakthrough against the Black Caps.

Immediate impact

It was a dream introduction for the spinner as he began his spell on the global stage.

Ravindra fell victim to the talented bowler’s very first legal delivery in the competition.

The wicket provided a significant lift for Jos Buttler’s side during the encounter.

History made

Ahmed’s instant success places him in a select group of bowlers to strike immediately upon their tournament debut.

His ability to deliver under pressure validates the management’s faith in his selection for the squad.

England captain Jos Buttler’s struggles at the T20 World Cup have deepened after he was dismissed for a two-ball duck against New Zealand.

The wicketkeeper-batter was caught behind early in the Super 8s clash, extending a worrying sequence of low scores for the defending champions.

It marks the fifth consecutive innings in which the 33-year-old has failed to reach double figures with the bat.

A captain under pressure

Buttler looked on in disbelief as he edged the delivery, with his dismissal leaving England in a precarious position early in the innings.

Commentators described the current run of form as "miserable" as the white-ball skipper walked back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

The dismissal against the Black Caps adds further scrutiny surrounding his output at the top of the order during a crucial stage of the tournament.

Super 8s significance

England are looking to secure a vital victory to boost their hopes of reaching the semi-finals in the Caribbean.

However, the lack of runs from their experienced leader remains a significant concern for the management team.

Buttler will be hoping to turn his fortunes around quickly if England are to retain their global crown.

Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has told fans to expect a major announcement “very soon” following a turbulent week of news in the sport.

The Ukrainian took to social media on Friday to promise an update, fueling intense speculation regarding his next move inside the ring.

“Very soon, everyone will learn what they’ve been waiting for… Don’t miss it,” Usyk wrote on X.

Earlier in the week, the unbeaten 39-year-old had posted a similarly cryptic message, stating he was “getting ready for something big”.

Rumours of Zuffa deal dismissed

This tease comes shortly after Usyk’s camp moved to quash rumours linking him with Zuffa Boxing.

Speculation had intensified after Conor Benn left Eddie Hearn to join Dana White’s new venture, but Sergey Lapin, Usyk’s team director, firmly rejected reports of a similar switch.

“Friends, there are reports circulating in the media, claiming that Oleksandr Usyk has allegedly signed a contract with Zuffa Boxing,” Lapin stated.

“This information is not true. We ask that you rely exclusively on official statements from our team.”

A seismic week for boxing

Usyk’s comments arrive during a period of significant upheaval and headline-grabbing stories within the boxing world.

Alongside Benn’s promotional shift, Frank Warren has reportedly launched a substantial lawsuit regarding lost income against Zuffa’s owners.

Furthermore, a rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao has been confirmed, more than a decade after their record-breaking initial encounter.

Usyk’s recent dominance

The former cruiserweight king has been out of action since July, when he stopped Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.

That victory cemented his status as a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.

Usyk subsequently vacated his WBO title in November, allowing Fabio Wardley to be elevated from interim holder to full champion.

Wardley is now scheduled to defend that belt against Dubois in Manchester on 9 May.

Traditional promotion and relegation within the Premiership will be scrapped from the start of the 2026-27 season following a vote on landmark changes to the structure of English rugby.

The current system, which offers the second-tier Championship winner a route to the elite level via a play-off provided they meet minimum standards, is to be dismantled.

Instead, ambitious clubs hoping to join the top flight will submit applications to be judged on a specific range of criteria.

Expansion plans and criteria

Bids from potential new entrants will be assessed based on their standard of play, financial health, and investment potential.

Infrastructure and the ability of a club’s geographical location to broaden the competition’s appeal will also be key factors in the selection process.

English rugby’s top tier currently operates with 10 teams but aims to expand to 12 sides for the 2029-30 campaign.

‘Proof will be in delivery’

The decision moves the domestic game closer to a franchise model, prioritizing economic viability over purely sporting merit.

Mike McTighe, chair of the Men’s Professional Rugby Board, insists the old structure failed to provide necessary security.

“It’s long been clear that the previous system was not delivering the financial sustainability or long-term confidence the professional game needs.”

Mike McTighe, Chair of the Men’s Professional Rugby Board

McTighe acknowledged that the move to effectively ring-fence the league would likely face questions regarding sporting integrity.

“We know there will be scrutiny, and rightly so. The proof will be in delivery: in improved stability, in renewed investor confidence, in tangible benefits to the women’s game and in sustained support for community rugby.”

Georgia Voll struck a sparkling century to guide Australia to a five-wicket victory over India in Hobart, securing the ODI series with a game to spare in Alyssa Healy’s final campaign.

The hosts chased down the target of 252 in just 36.1 overs, powered by the 22-year-old’s aggressive 101 from 82 deliveries.

Voll struck 13 boundaries and a six during her innings, marking her second international hundred in commanding fashion.

However, the Queenslander rode her luck significantly, capitalizing on a dismal display of fielding from the visitors.

India rue missed chances

The opener was handed a reprieve on 19 by Kranti Gaud before Smriti Mandhana put down another chance when the batter was on 53.

Even reaching three figures involved good fortune, as a fumble from wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh allowed Voll to scramble through for a single while on 99.

These errors proved costly as Voll combined with Phoebe Litchfield to break the back of the chase.

Litchfield shines in dominant stand

Litchfield smashed a blistering 80 off 62 balls, combining with the centurion for a match-winning 119-run stand for the second wicket.

The partnership steadied the innings after captain Alyssa Healy was bowled for six by Kashvee Gautam early in the chase.

The victory was particularly poignant as it sealed the series triumph during Healy’s final stint in charge before her retirement.

Voll added a further 82 runs alongside Beth Mooney before eventually falling to Gautam in the 31st over.

Ash Gardner completed the job with more than 13 overs remaining after Mooney and Annabel Sutherland fell to Deepti Sharma.

Kaur anchors India innings

Earlier in the day, India had looked well-placed after an opening stand of 78 between Pratika Rawal and Mandhana.

Rawal made a patient 52 off 81 balls, but a sudden middle-order collapse saw four wickets fall in the space of 7.4 overs.

Slumping to 103-4, the tourists required a captain’s knock from Harmanpreet Kaur to stay in the contest.

Kaur steadied the ship with an anchoring 54 off 70 balls to drag her side to a competitive total of 251-9.

Australia’s bowling attack shared the workload effectively, with Gardner, Sutherland and Alana King claiming two wickets apiece.

Max Holloway will defend his BMF title against Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 in Las Vegas this weekend, 11 years after their first meeting ended in unusual circumstances.

A decade in the making

The two former world champions collide at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, 7 March.

Holloway, the former featherweight king, puts his symbolic ‘Baddest Motherf*****’ strap on the line.

He faces Oliveira, an ex-lightweight titleholder, in a contest expected to deliver high-octane action.

This bout marks a significant rematch more than a decade after their initial encounter in 2015.

That featherweight meeting ended abruptly when the Brazilian suffered a bizarre neck injury.

Oliveira’s team remains unsure of the exact nature of the issue that halted that first fight.

Chasing undisputed gold

Both men have forged Hall of Fame-worthy legacies in the intervening years.

Stakes are particularly high for the 34-year-old Holloway as he eyes a return to undisputed glory.

Victory could propel the Hawaiian towards a showdown with Ilia Topuria.

Topuria, the reigning lightweight champion, holds recent knockout wins over both combatants.

Many observers believe Holloway has earned a claim to a second crack at the Georgian-Spaniard in this new weight class.

TV channel and start time

UK viewers can watch the main card live on TNT Sports and via discovery+.

Coverage of the main card is scheduled to begin at 02:00 GMT on Sunday.

The early prelims will be available on UFC Fight Pass from 22:00 GMT on Saturday.

UFC 326 Fight Card

Main Card

Prelims

England head coach Steve Borthwick has pledged to raise training standards after admitting his side lacked their trademark physical intensity during the record defeat by Ireland.

Addressing the slump

The Red Rose’s hopes of a first Six Nations title since 2020 were extinguished following consecutive losses to Scotland and the heavy 42-21 reverse at Twickenham.

Despite the alarming slide, the head coach remained defiant at the team’s Bagshot base while addressing the root causes of the downturn.

Borthwick identified three critical failings that were exposed in London: wasted chances in the opposition 22, cheap turnovers, and a significant drop in aggression.

‘A trademark of the team’

The 44-year-old was candid in his assessment that England failed to meet the physical benchmarks they had previously set during a 12-match winning streak.

“The intensity that has become a trademark of the team – it wasn’t at the level we have set for ourselves,” Borthwick admitted.

He believes the failure to convert early pressure created a “snowball effect” which allowed the reigning champions to dominate proceedings.

“We had plenty of chances to score in the first 20 minutes,” the former Leicester Tigers boss added.

“If you don’t take your chances in Test match rugby it can be very cruel.”

Targeting a response in Rome

With remaining fixtures against Italy and France, the focus has shifted to sharpening the attack and eliminating the uncharacteristic errors plaguing the squad.

The aerial game has faltered, while decision-making under pressure has regressed significantly compared to earlier performances.

Borthwick insists the solution lies in pushing the players harder during preparation for the upcoming showdown in Rome.

“We have discussed all aspects of the preparation with the players,” he said.

“We need to drive even further what we are doing in training, and how hard we train.”

Former internationals Alix Popham and Kat Merchant have detailed the severe impact of brain injuries on their lives as rugby union confronts a major legal challenge regarding player welfare.

Popham, who won 33 caps for Wales, was diagnosed with early-onset dementia six years ago.

Medical experts estimate the retired back-rower sustained more than 100,000 sub-concussions during a 14-year professional career.

The 44-year-old now utilises a hyperbaric chamber daily and strictly limits his working hours to manage his symptoms.

Living with a ‘Nokia battery’ brain

The former Newport Gwent Dragons star describes his cognitive limitations vividly, comparing his energy levels to obsolete technology.

“I look at my brain as an old Nokia battery – I’ve only got so much bandwidth,” Popham explained.

“I’ve had to pull back and recognise that. Before that, I didn’t know I had this issue, so I’d just plough on, and that would be where I’d have this explosion.”

Popham admits that while understanding his condition has helped, his daily reality remains far from perfect.

Merchant’s fight after 2014 triumph

Kat Merchant, a World Cup winner with England in 2014, retired from the sport immediately following that tournament victory.

The former Worcester winger suffered her first significant concussion as a 16-year-old in the Premiership.

However, a seizure during a match in 2013 marked a terrifying turning point for the English speedster.

“My family were there and I didn’t recognise them,” Merchant said regarding the incident.

“I was completely all over the place. I didn’t see it, so didn’t know and didn’t get the magnitude of it.”

Following that injury, it took Merchant nearly four months to be physically able to exercise again.

Legal action looms over the sport

These personal testimonies emerge as rugby authorities prepare for a high-profile court case involving hundreds of former players.

Claimants are arguing that the sport’s governing bodies failed to take reasonable action to protect players from permanent injury caused by repetitive concussive blows.

Current protocols have since been tightened, with mandatory stand-down periods for players who fail Head Injury Assessments (HIA).