Rugby Special pundits John Barclay and Sam Warburton have delivered their verdict on the Six Nations so far, debating whether England are currently performing worse than Wales.

The northern hemisphere’s premier tournament has reached its midway point with three rounds of action completed.

Former captains Barclay and Warburton joined the programme to assess the runners and riders.

The duo tackled the pressing issue of form, specifically debating the relative struggles of the English and Welsh squads.

Assessing the struggle

A key talking point of the analysis focuses on whether England’s campaign has fallen below the standards set by their rivals across the Severn Bridge.

Both nations have faced significant challenges in the opening weeks of the championship.

Warburton, a two-time British and Irish Lions captain, offers his insight into the development of the Welsh camp.

Meanwhile, his Scottish counterpart scrutinises the tactical evolution and performance levels of the Red Rose.

The debate raises difficult questions about the trajectory of both teams as they navigate a transitional period.

Predictions for the run-in

Beyond the immediate comparison, the pair have dished out report cards for every team in the competition.

They also looked ahead to the deciding fixtures in the final two weeks.

The closing rounds will determine the destination of the title and the recipient of the dreaded Wooden Spoon.

Fans can watch the full analysis and see the final grades in the video report.

England captain Harry Brook struck a magnificent century after being promoted to number three to secure a two-wicket victory over Pakistan and a place in the T20 World Cup semi-finals.

McCullum’s tactical gamble pays off

The Yorkshireman smashed a 50-ball hundred having been elevated from the middle order by head coach Brendon McCullum.

McCullum faced heavy criticism following a 4-1 Ashes defeat earlier in the winter, but his strategic intervention in Pallekele proved decisive.

“Baz [McCullum] was the mastermind there,” said Brook.

“He had the discussion with me this morning about going up the order and trying to maximise the powerplay.”

Brook added: “Thankfully, it paid off.”

New role for the skipper

The decision to move the right-hander up the order allowed England to navigate a tricky chase despite Phil Salt falling for a golden duck.

It is a move that had been suggested by team-mate Moeen Ali, with Brook previously batting exclusively at number five in T20 internationals during 2026.

The shift appeared vital with opener Jos Buttler struggling for runs at the top of the order.

Will Jacks has subsequently taken over the finishing duties in the middle order, a role he performed admirably to support the captain.

Brook dominates spin attack

Brook arrived at the crease in the first over and immediately seized control, striking 10 fours and four sixes.

The 27-year-old displayed impeccable footwork against the spin trio of Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan.

He utilised the crease intelligently, moving deep to pull shorter deliveries while skipping down the track to drive through the covers.

Victory ensures England’s progression to the last four, where they will face New Zealand on Friday.

Pakistan secured a dream start against England as Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed opener Phil Salt for a golden duck on the very first delivery.

The left-arm pacer produced an immediate breakthrough to put the visiting side on the back foot instantly.

Salt, attempting to assert dominance early, was caught by Usman Khan to hand the hosts a vital advantage.

Immediate impact

It was exactly the opening the home side had targeted in their bid to dismantle the English top order.

The dismissal of such a dynamic ball-striker without a run on the board disrupts the tourists’ powerplay strategy significantly.

Shaheen has long held a reputation for taking wickets in the opening over, and he delivered once again with clinical precision.

England under pressure

Usman Khan made no mistake in the field, taking a sharp catch to silence the opener.

The jubilant celebrations from the Pakistan camp highlighted the massive importance of removing the Lancashire wicketkeeper-batter so cheaply.

England now face the task of rebuilding their innings after suffering the worst possible start to the contest.

The 14th Winter Paralympics are set to get under way in Milano Cortina, Italy, with elite competition scheduled to run officially from 6 March.

It marks the second time the nation has staged the Games, having previously hosted the event in Torino in 2006.

While the opening ceremony takes place on Friday, competitive action begins two days earlier with the wheelchair curling.

Great Britain face Estonia in their opening mixed round-robin fixture on 4 March.

Fitzpatrick leads British charge

Menna Fitzpatrick, the country’s most decorated Winter Paralympian, headlines the squad in the alpine skiing.

The six-time medallist competes alongside guide Katie Guest just three months after sustaining a serious knee injury.

Her sole gold medal to date came in the slalom at Pyeongchang 2018.

Sam Cozens also features in the alpine discipline with guide Dominic Allen.

The visually impaired skier, who was born with nystagmus, secured two third-place finishes in the giant slalom on the European circuit during the 2025-26 season.

Meanwhile, snowboarder Davy Zyw is set to make history in Italy.

The Scot becomes the first man with Motor Neurone Disease to compete at the Winter Paralympics.

Host venues and schedule

The Games are distributed across three main clusters: Milan, Cortina D’Ampezzo and Val di Fiemme.

The opening ceremony will be staged at the first-century Arena di Verona amphitheatre.

Proceedings conclude on 15 March at the Cortina Curling Stadium, which previously hosted the opening ceremony of the 1956 Winter Olympics.

The key venues for the sporting action include:

Edinburgh snowboarder Davy Zyw has been named in the Team GB squad for the Milan-Cortina Games, set to become the first snowsport athlete with motor neurone disease to compete at a Winter Paralympics.

The 38-year-old has defied medical expectations to secure his spot on the team for the event beginning on 6 March.

Zyw was diagnosed with the incurable life-shortening condition in 2018 and was initially given a prognosis of just two years.

‘Accepting the impossible’

The Scot works as a wine merchant and funded his bid for the Games through crowdfunding and employer support.

Speaking in a video released by Team GB, he described the journey as a battle against the odds.

“Essentially, I was told I had two or three years to live,” Zyw said.

“I’m seven years on and I’ve just fought my way up the ladder to get on the team at the Paralympics.”

He believes his selection sends a powerful message about resilience.

“I’ve had to accept the impossible, accept my fate,” he added.

“But, within that, there was a freedom. A freedom that nothing is impossible and that’s the message I want people to take away.”

A tragic beauty

A knee injury had previously curtailed Zyw’s hopes of an able-bodied career after he started on dry slopes near Edinburgh as a teenager.

He admits there is a profound irony in his path to the Milan-Cortina Games.

“The fact my diagnosis of being with an incurable degenerative neurological condition has brought me back to my childhood dream of being a snowboarder,” he said.

“There’s like a tragic beauty in this situation.”

Focus on the slopes

Zyw only decided to formally put himself forward for selection in the winter of 2024.

Despite the daily physical challenges of MND, he finds release when competing.

“Above all, what I love about being on my board… the daily challenges of MND, of living with this disease are gone,” he explained.

“When I’m dropping in, when I’m strapping, when I’m in the starting gate, MND is, it might be the reason I’m there, but it couldn’t be further removed from what I’m thinking about in that moment.”

“I’m thinking about the course in front of me and how I’m going to rip down it the best I can.”

Conor McGregor has expressed frustration with the UFC regarding his long-awaited comeback, claiming he has been waiting more than two weeks for a contract after verbally accepting a fight.

The former two-weight world champion took to social media to state he is currently on “day 15” of waiting for paperwork after agreeing terms for a return.

McGregor has not competed inside the octagon since suffering a broken leg during his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier nearly five years ago.

Conflicting narratives

While the Irishman suggests a deal is agreed in principle, UFC chief executive Dana White appeared to downplay the status of negotiations following a recent event.

“If it was done and he accepted, I would announce it.”

White told reporters when pressed on the situation at a press conference last weekend.

The delay has clearly agitated the 36-year-old, who posted the message “Day 15 of ‘I accept, send the contract'” to his followers online.

Financial hurdles and broadcast deals

Negotiations appear complicated by the promotion’s new broadcast agreement with Paramount+, which McGregor believes impacts his existing terms.

The sport’s biggest star claims his current deal is essentially void as it was heavily weighted towards pay-per-view revenue, a model altered by the organisation’s new $7.7bn (£6bn) rights package.

McGregor has previously stated he intends to renegotiate his position to reflect the company’s increased profitability.

Targeting a White House return

Speculation is mounting that the Dubliner is targeting a return on the historic card scheduled for the White House on 14 June.

That event is being organised to celebrate Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the United States.

While the fight card for the summer showcase has been agreed, no official bouts have been announced, though featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is expected to feature.

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are set to meet in a professional rematch at the Sphere in Las Vegas this September, 11 years after their historic first encounter.

The veteran rivals will square off on 19 September in the same city that hosted their lucrative 2015 showdown.

Netflix has secured the rights to broadcast the event live, continuing the streaming giant’s recent expansion into live sports.

Icons return to the ring

Despite their combined age approaching a century, reports indicate this contest will be a sanctioned professional bout.

Mayweather, who retired with a perfect 50-0 record, turns 48 on Tuesday.

His Filipino counterpart is currently 47 years old and has remained active on the exhibition circuit since stepping away from professional competition.

The pair previously met in May 2015 in a bout billed as the “Fight of the Century”, which shattered pay-per-view records.

On that night, the American defensive master secured a unanimous decision victory at the MGM Grand.

A new stage in Vegas

The rematch will take place at the Sphere, marking a high-profile sporting debut for the immersive entertainment venue.

Before they share the ring again, both men are expected to compete in separate exhibition matches this spring to prepare.

This event follows the recent trend of exhibition and veteran bouts drawing significant global audiences on streaming platforms.

Italian cricket has been plunged into turmoil following a sexual assault allegation against a senior official just days after the men’s team made their T20 World Cup debut.

Prabath Ekneligoda, the women’s cricket co-ordinator for the Federazione Cricket Italiana (FCRI), was the subject of a criminal investigation regarding the incident.

The 57-year-old is alleged to have inappropriately touched a member of the Azzurri women’s national team.

BBC Sport understands that multiple board members have resigned over the handling of the case and wider governance issues.

Allegations of abuse of power

A player, whose identity is legally protected, filed a complaint with police in Rome in March last year.

She alleged the assault occurred during a massage on a knee injury at a training session.

The accuser reportedly feared reporting the incident earlier due to concerns it would cost her a place in the squad.

A Rome prosecutor concluded an investigation in November 2025, with a decision now pending on whether to proceed to trial.

Ekneligoda’s lawyer stated his client denies the allegations, claiming there are “ulterior motives” and citing a witness who supports his version of events.

Presence at World Cup despite suspension

The FCRI confirmed to BBC Sport that it “noted proceedings are currently under way” and pledged to cooperate with authorities.

“The Italian Cricket Federation reiterates that its conduct is guided by principles of fairness, transparency and the protection of its registered members, as well as by the ethical and civic standards that underpin the sporting system.”

FCRI Statement

Despite being suspended from his role in November, the Sri Lankan-born official has remained visible within the national setup.

Ekneligoda is the partner of FCRI president Maria Lorena Haz Paz and accompanied her to India for the men’s T20 World Cup.

BBC Sport has seen evidence of him attending Italy’s matches wearing official accreditation alongside the FCRI party.

He was also present at official events, including a reception at the Italian consulate in Kolkata.

It is understood that the federation and its safeguarding officers were fully aware of the serious nature of the claims before traveling to the tournament.