European captain Luke Donald has expressed his delight that Jon Rahm will be eligible for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor following the resolution of his DP World Tour dispute.

The two-time major champion had faced missing the biennial contest in Ireland due to ongoing conflicts surrounding his lucrative move to LIV Golf.

However, a recent agreement ensures he retains his traditional tour membership, mirroring a deal signed by eight other breakaway players in February.

Donald is thrilled to have the powerful ball-striker at his disposal as Europe looks towards future campaigns.

Resolving tour tensions

Rahm previously accused the DP World Tour of extortion regarding heavy fines levied against him.

Despite those inflammatory comments, the European skipper believes any lingering tension within the team room can be easily resolved.

“I think time is certainly on our side. It’s 18 months until the Ryder Cup,” Donald explained ahead of the US PGA Championship.

The former world number one noted that finalising an agreement early removes pressure and allows relationships to mend naturally.

“When it comes to the Ryder Cup in the team room, I think they’re all pretty aligned,” he added.

“I like to use the phrase ‘Even brothers fight sometimes’. But deep down, they love each other and the mission is pretty clear.”

Uncertainty surrounds LIV Golf

The wider qualification landscape remains clouded by the precarious future of the Saudi-backed LIV circuit.

Recent reports suggest Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund intends to withdraw financial backing from the breakaway tour by the end of the year.

Consequently, the English captain is delaying any firm decisions on future selection criteria until the summer.

“We don’t really know what’s going to happen with LIV. I don’t try and make decisions on things that are unknown,” Donald stated.

A serendipitous captaincy

Donald is currently preparing for a third stint leading the European side after being persuaded by his players to return.

He originally inherited the prestigious role in 2023 only after Henrik Stenson was stripped of the position for defecting to the LIV setup.

Reflecting on his journey, the 46-year-old acknowledged the unique circumstances that led to his highly successful tenure.

“I’m a big believer that things happen for a reason. I know there was a lot of people probably in line in front of me that went to LIV and obviously gave up that opportunity,” he concluded.

Former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is orchestrating a return to mixed martial arts against Gina Carano in a bid to rewrite the bitter conclusion of her fighting career.

The Olympic judo medallist has lived a quiet life on a farm in Riverside, California, since her devastating defeat by Amanda Nunes in December 2016.

That 48-second demolition at UFC 207 appeared to mark the definitive end of a trailblazing era in women’s combat sports.

However, the 37-year-old is now engineering her own farewell event against pioneer Carano to find ultimate closure.

Bitter Octagon Departure

The American’s departure from the cage was notoriously fraught and heavily scrutinised.

A shocking head-kick knockout by Holly Holm in November 2015 originally shattered her seemingly invincible aura.

Toxic training camp dynamics further alienated the Californian, prompting a complete withdrawal from the public eye.

It was all messed up. It was like one of those popup books over there, refusing to close.

Ronda Rousey

Mutual resentment quickly settled in between the trailblazer and the sport’s passionate fan base.

She believed she sacrificed pieces of herself for the sport without receiving adequate appreciation in return.

Seeking Ultimate Closure

For nearly a decade, the sports icon removed all physical traces of martial arts from her family home.

Husband and former heavyweight contender Travis Browne helped the family heal away from the media spotlight.

Close friends noted that a deep resentment remained whenever fighting was even casually mentioned.

Now, the inaugural women’s champion wants to step back into the arena entirely on her own terms.

Facing Carano offers a unique opportunity to replace lingering animosity with a fitting final chapter.

The Japanese Rugby Football Union has suspended head coach Eddie Jones for four matches and reduced his salary after he verbally abused match officials.

The former England and Australia boss received the sanction following incidents that occurred during an Under-23 tour to Australia in April.

He has also been handed a comprehensive six-week ban from all rugby activities.

Nations Championship absence

The suspension means the 66-year-old will miss the beginning of Japan’s Nations Championship campaign.

That block of four international fixtures begins with a clash against Italy in Tokyo on 4 July.

The veteran Australian coach issued a formal apology after the disciplinary measures were confirmed.

I accept the disciplinary action of the JRFU relating to the U23 Japan National Team tour of Australia.

Some inappropriate remarks that I made caused discomfort to local match officials and other related parties.

I deeply regret my behaviour and words and will make every effort to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.

Eddie Jones

World Cup preparations disrupted

This disciplinary action serves as a significant setback as the Asian nation prepares for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Their squad have been drawn in Pool E for the global tournament alongside France, the United States and Samoa.

The experienced manager returned for a second spell in charge of the team at the start of 2024.

He previously masterminded their historic upset victory over South Africa at the 2015 tournament.

Following that success, the highly-regarded tactician spent a lengthy tenure with England, guiding them to the 2019 World Cup final.

Alex Pereira has commenced sparring with heavyweight Tallison Teixeira ahead of his historic interim title bout against Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 in Washington D.C. this June.

The 38-year-old will face the Frenchman on 14 June as he attempts to become the first fighter to win UFC world titles in three separate divisions.

Stepping up to the 265lb weight class requires the former middleweight and light-heavyweight champion to add significant muscle mass to his frame.

Training with heavier opponents

To adapt to the physical demands of his new division, the Brazilian martial arts icon has enlisted the help of heavyweight prospect Teixeira.

Recent footage shared on social media shows the two South American fighters exchanging heavy strikes during an uncompromising gym session.

Standing at 6ft 7in and weighing approximately 259lbs, the imposing training partner possesses a larger physical profile than Gane.

This distinct size disparity is designed to ensure the 6ft 4in challenger is fully acclimatised to the raw power of natural heavyweights before entering the Octagon.

Contrasting momentum heading into Washington

The two headliners approach this landmark event at the White House with vastly different recent track records inside the cage.

The multi-division title hopeful vacated his 205lb belt earlier this year after avenging a loss to Magomed Ankalaev with a first-round stoppage at UFC 320.

Conversely, his upcoming opponent has not recorded a victory since a narrow points decision over Alexander Volkov 18 months ago.

The former interim champion from Paris saw his most recent outing against Tom Aspinall end in a no-contest last October following an accidental eye poke.

Victory in the US capital would complete an unprecedented hat-trick of UFC division championships and cement an extraordinary legacy in mixed martial arts.

Kenyan world record holder Sabastian Sawe has confirmed he will defend his Berlin Marathon title on 27 September following his unprecedented sub-two-hour finish in London.

The 31-year-old made athletics history last month by completing the London Marathon in a groundbreaking one hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds.

He will now return to competitive action in the German capital to race on what is widely considered one of the fastest marathon courses on the planet.

Targeting another historic milestone

The famously flat Berlin route provides optimal conditions for record-breaking performances in global endurance running.

An incredible nine men’s world records were established at the prestigious European event between 1998 and 2022.

The pioneering distance runner previously conquered the Berlin race in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds, despite battling energy-sapping temperatures up to 25 degrees.

“After my victory in London and my sub-two-hour performance, I can only say that I will – as always – prepare as well as possible,” Sawe stated.

“[I will] come to Berlin to honour this great event and the organisation that invited me, and aim to run as well and as fast as I can.”

Following in legendary footsteps

Fellow compatriot Eliud Kipchoge currently retains the official course record in the German metropolis.

The revered Olympic champion clocked a staggering 2:01:09 during the 2022 edition to set what was then a new global standard.

The defending Berlin champion remains deeply focused yet pragmatic about his chances of producing another monumental time on the asphalt.

“We’ll see what happens on race day,” he added.

Organisers are preparing for a spectacular showcase, expecting nearly 60,000 athletes from 160 different countries to line up at the start.

England have dropped opener Zak Crawley and called up three uncapped players in a revamped 15-man squad for next month’s first Test against New Zealand.

The sweeping changes come as the national side prepares for their first red-ball action since a bruising 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia.

Managing director Rob Key has opted for a blend of established internationals and promising domestic talent to refresh the group.

Kent batter Crawley is the highest-profile casualty following a string of poor returns in the County Championship.

Robinson returns as uncapped trio get the nod

Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson has earned a recall to the senior setup for the first time since February 2024.

He is joined by Durham top-order batter Emilio Gay, who has been rewarded for prolific early-season domestic form.

Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Baker and Somerset wicketkeeper James Rew complete the cohort of fresh faces stepping up to international level.

Bowlers Rehan Ahmed and Matthew Fisher have also been drafted back into the fold by the selectors.

Archer absence explained

Fast bowler Jofra Archer remains unavailable for the series opener due to his ongoing Indian Premier League commitments.

The management team is prioritising a careful buildup of his red-ball workload following an extensive period travelling on the road.

Explaining the selection, Key highlighted the impressive domestic form of the new additions.

“Emilio, James and Sonny have all earned their opportunities through consistent performances and have impressed us not only with their talent, but with the way they’ve gone about their cricket in high-pressure situations.”

The managing director also expressed enthusiasm over the returning pace and spin options.

“It’s also great to welcome back players like Rehan, Matt and Ollie, who all bring different qualities and experience to the group.”

First Test squad in full

Ben Stokes will continue to captain the side when they convene for a training camp in Loughborough on May 24.

Ethiopian long-distance runner Yebrgual Melese has died at the age of 36 following a sudden medical emergency during a routine training session in Addis Ababa on Tuesday.

The national athletics federation confirmed the tragic news regarding the former Houston and Prague marathon champion.

She had been actively preparing for an upcoming road race in Ottawa scheduled for late May before falling unexpectedly ill.

Local media reports indicate that the experienced athlete was immediately rushed to a hospital in the Ethiopian capital.

Medical efforts in vain

Despite the swift response and best efforts of medical staff at the facility, she passed away shortly after her arrival.

Authorities have not yet made any further clinical details public regarding the exact cause of the fatal incident.

“The Ethiopian Athletics Federation expresses its deep sorrow over the sudden passing of this heroic athlete and offers condolences to her family, friends and fans.”

The governing body released the official statement to mourn the profound loss to the global sporting community.

A decorated international career

The 36-year-old enjoyed a highly successful career on the international road racing circuit.

Her standout competitive year came in 2015 when she secured prestigious victories at both the Houston and Prague marathons.

That same phenomenal season culminated in a second-place finish at the Chicago Marathon, marking her best ever result in one of the seven World Marathon Majors.

The East African talent also won the Shanghai marathon, while her most recent professional outing occurred at the Beijing marathon in May last year.

Jon Rahm insists he has no regrets over joining LIV Golf, despite Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrawing financial support for the breakaway circuit at the end of the year.

The long-term survival of the Saudi-backed venture remains in serious doubt after its primary benefactors announced plans to end their massive financial backing.

However, the Spaniard says he will not rewrite history regarding his controversial choice to leave the traditional establishment.

“I would say I’ve made a lot of decisions in my life and I’ve never gone back thinking ‘Oh, had I known this again, I would do X and Y different’,” said Rahm.

“If I lived my life like that as a golfer, I would be a very pessimistic person.”

Speculating on what could have been different makes little sense to the 31-year-old, who remains firmly focused on what he can control.

Securing his Ryder Cup future

While five-time major winner Brooks Koepka successfully negotiated a return to the PGA Tour following a December rule change, his fellow rebel opted to remain under his lucrative long-term contract.

Instead, the two-time major champion recently secured an agreement with the DP World Tour.

This crucial deal ensures he retains his European membership and vital eligibility for next year’s Ryder Cup.

With his immediate team future secured, the former world number one is eager to concentrate on claiming a third major title at this week’s US PGA Championship.

“It is something we’ve had to deal with but it’s just some things that are out of my control,” he added regarding the boardroom uncertainty.

He admits that fixing a struggling business is not among his talents, leaving that responsibility entirely to the executives in charge.

“I have faith in the work that they’re doing. I have faith that they’re going to come up with a good plan.”

Jon Rahm

McIlroy welcomes changing landscape

The sudden withdrawal of Saudi funding, which has exceeded £4bn since 2022, has drawn varying reactions from the sport’s biggest names.

Rory McIlroy, a staunch traditionalist and outspoken critic of the rebel league, expressed relief at the dramatic shift in professional golf.

The Northern Irishman openly admitted he was glad to be wrong about his previous calls for the PGA Tour to strike a compromise deal with their rivals.

“I think everyone knows, like with everything that’s happening in the Middle East, that had a lot to do with it,” McIlroy noted.

He added that tying the sport’s financial future to a volatile geopolitical landscape was always going to be a risky endeavour.

“Whenever you have funding tied so much to the geopolitical landscape in the world, that’s a tricky road.”