Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey and Scotland winger Kyle Steyn have been shortlisted for the 2026 Six Nations Player of the Championship award.

Italy centre Tommaso Menoncello and France wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who claimed the accolade last year, complete the four-man nomination list.

The winner of the prestigious prize will be determined by a public vote that closes on Thursday, 26 March.

McCloskey shines after injury setbacks

Following an injury-impacted autumn campaign, McCloskey was instrumental in helping his country secure their fourth Triple Crown in five years.

The 33-year-old orchestrated the Irish attack brilliantly, registering a tournament-high six try assists alongside eight crucial turnovers won.

The robust Ulster midfielder also topped his national side’s statistical charts for carries, offloads, defenders beaten and post-contact metres.

His stellar domestic form for a club currently sitting third in the United Rugby Championship clearly translated to the international stage.

Steyn stars in impressive Scottish campaign

Steyn was an ever-present figure for the Scottish squad, starting all five matches as the team secured a commendable third-place finish.

Two of the 32-year-old’s three tournament tries came during a thrilling 50-40 victory over eventual championship winners France at Murrayfield.

The prolific wing becomes the first Glasgow Warriors player to be nominated for the individual accolade since 2017.

Team of the Championship representation

Both nominees have unsurprisingly been named in the official Six Nations Team of the Championship.

The Irish contingent is heavily represented up front, with Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris and Jack Conan joining their influential back-line star in the select XV.

Meanwhile, the Scottish flyer lines up alongside instrumental team-mates Finn Russell and Rory Darge in the elite squad.

American sprinter Jordan Anthony has developed a severe blood clot in his arm following a botched anti-doping test at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland, but still managed to win his opening 60m heat.

The 21-year-old arrived in Torun as the overwhelming favourite for the men’s 60m title after setting a world-leading time of 6.43 seconds earlier this year.

However, his preparations were severely disrupted when a pre-competition blood draw went drastically wrong.

‘The size of a football’

An official administering the routine test failed to correctly locate a vein, leaving the athlete with significant swelling and requiring heavy strapping on his left arm.

“Yesterday I had drug testing, they took blood, but he didn’t stick my vein, he stuck outside,” the sprinter told reporters in Poland.

“I got a clot, the size of a football. Luckily, I’m still running.”

Remaining focused on gold

Despite restricted mobility in his arm, the former Arkansas collegiate star comfortably won his opening heat in 6.54 seconds to advance to the semi-finals.

The sprint sensation recently claimed the United States title, defeating Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles and Trayvon Bromell in the process.

It was Lyles who provided vital advice to his younger compatriot ahead of the global event.

“Noah told me before I got here, ‘get used to the unexpected, you never know what might happen’, this is the unexpected,” he added.

“But it’s not going to stop me. Nothing is going to affect me from winning a gold medal for Team USA.”

The American remains the primary contender for gold, though Great Britain’s defending champion Jeremiah Azu and Jamaican Kishane Thompson pose significant threats to his campaign.

Teenage amateur wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi has been publicly executed in Iran on Thursday following allegations of his involvement in anti-government protests.

State media confirmed the 19-year-old was put to death in the northern Qom province.

The execution was carried out after the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence alongside two other men, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported the trio were found guilty of killing two police officers during separate attacks.

Authorities also convicted the men of “moharebeh” – a charge translating to waging war against God that is frequently used against political opponents.

Amnesty International condemn compromised trial

Human rights organisations have heavily criticised the judicial process leading to the young athlete’s death.

Amnesty International stated the amateur competitor was sentenced following a severely compromised trial based on coerced testimonies.

Reports indicate the teenager was forced into making self-incriminating confessions during the initial investigation phase before retracting them in court.

Despite testifying that his admission of guilt was obtained under severe torture, the presiding judge dismissed his claims.

The court allegedly relied on statements made during a staged crime scene reconstruction and disputed eyewitness accounts.

He had been sentenced to death following an unfair trial, based on confessions obtained under torture.

Amnesty International

Broader crackdown on civilian protests

The wrestler’s execution occurred just 24 hours after Iranian-Swedish national Kouroush Keyvani was hanged on espionage charges.

Widespread anti-government demonstrations have recently swept across 180 cities in all 31 Iranian provinces.

Public anger was initially sparked by a devastating collapse of the national currency and a soaring cost of living.

A near-total shutdown of internet services has severely restricted the flow of information regarding the ongoing civil unrest.

The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency estimates that over 7,000 individuals lost their lives during January’s demonstrations.

Six-time Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy has revealed how his terminal prostate cancer diagnosis shifted his focus from creating a bucket list to appreciating the small moments in life.

The Scottish sporting icon shared his deeply personal perspective while launching registration for this year’s Tour de 4 charity cycling event.

He publicly disclosed in October 2024 that doctors had given him between two and four years to live.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast, the former track cyclist admitted it took time to process the devastating news.

“You have to look for the positives, you have to look for the opportunities in any situation.”

Finding peace in the present

The Olympic legend explained that becoming acutely aware of his own mortality brought his entire world into sharp focus.

“Tomorrow’s not a given for anybody. It’s trying not to sweat the small stuff.”

He noted that he now excels at letting go of minor frustrations that would have previously caused him annoyance.

His initial reaction to the prognosis involved rushing to complete unfulfilled ambitions, but that mindset quickly evolved.

“When the dust settled I realised that the important things I wanted to do were the small things, the things that we often glaze over, that we don’t even reflect on.”

Family support and charitable goals

The revered athlete highlighted the immense joy of spending time with his children and loved ones.

He described finding peace in simple acts, such as enjoying a morning coffee as the sun rises.

“You may as well just enjoy the moment. If you worry about something you suffer twice.”

The diagnosis period was compounded by further heartbreak when his wife, Sarra, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis shortly afterwards.

He praised her as a remarkable person who has kept him centred and anchored during chaotic times.

Changing perceptions

Now, the primary focus for the British cycling great is the Tour de 4, an initiative designed to change perceptions surrounding stage four cancer.

The inaugural ride last September attracted 5,000 participants across Glasgow and the Campsie Hills.

That massive turnout successfully raised £3.1m for various cancer charities.

“This is not just for serious cyclists in lycra and expensive bikes – this is for anybody.”

Ronnie O’Sullivan has made snooker history by hitting the highest-ever professional break of 153 against Ryan Day during their World Open quarter-final in Yushan, China on Friday.

The seven-time world champion capitalised on an early free ball to execute a flawless 16-red clearance in the opening frame.

The 50-year-old potted the green as his extra red before methodically clearing the table, occasionally flirting with the prospect of a mythical maximum 155.

A slight positional error forced the veteran to take pink instead of black at a crucial stage, narrowly missing out on the ultimate snooker milestone.

Shattering a two-decade record

Despite that minor setback, the snooker icon sank a difficult final black along the top cushion to eclipse Jamie Burnett’s previous benchmark of 148, which was set in 2004.

The astonishing feat left both the crowd and his opponent stunned, with the Welshman graciously applauding the achievement from his chair.

Fellow professional and commentator Neal Foulds was equally amazed by the historic clearance.

“Ronnie O’Sullivan has just made a breaking 153 in the opening frame of his World Open match. Mindblowing.”

Surging towards the semi-finals

Prior to this magical moment, the 2025/26 campaign had been relatively frustrating for the former world number one.

However, he has rediscovered his masterful touch in Asia this week, previously dispatching Matthew Selt and Shaun Murphy to reach the last eight.

Following his record-setting opening frame, ‘The Rocket’ quickly established a commanding 4-0 advantage in the best-of-nine encounter.

A full inquest has been scheduled for March 2026 to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of former two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton, who was found dead at his Greater Manchester home last September at the age of 46.

The 46-year-old was discovered unresponsive at his property in Hyde by his long-time manager, Paul Speak, on Sunday, 14 September 2025.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed at the time that there were no suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement.

During a brief preliminary hearing at Stockport Coroner’s Court in October, a provisional cause of death was recorded as hanging.

Final hours and discovery

The beloved Manchester fighter had been scheduled to fly to Dubai to promote an upcoming exhibition bout.

However, concern grew when he failed to attend a separate scheduled event on the Saturday prior to his death.

He was last seen by his family two days earlier and was reported to be in good spirits.

City mourns a sporting icon

The loss of the popular light-welterweight star triggered an immense outpouring of grief across the sporting world.

Thousands of fans lined the streets for his funeral procession to Manchester Cathedral on 10 October.

Honouring his deep connection to Manchester City, the cortege made a poignant final stop at the Etihad Stadium.

The comprehensive inquest on 20 March 2026 will examine all available evidence to provide a formal conclusion.

Four Ireland players have been voted into the Men’s Six Nations Team of the Championship by fans, while no England representatives made the final selection.

France boast four inclusions after retaining their title in dramatic circumstances against the English in Paris.

Italy and Scotland each have three players in the composite XV, with a solitary Welshman completing the line-up.

Record-breaking French wing leads the champions’ contingent

Prolific try-scorer Louis Bielle-Biarrey is joined by legendary scrum-half Antoine Dupont, full-back Thomas Ramos and second-row Mickael Guillard.

The lightning-fast winger set a new competition record by crossing the whitewash nine times.

Four of those tries came in the decisive victory over England, which allowed the French side to edge out Ireland for tournament success.

Ramos demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the campaign and crucially kicked the winning points in stoppage time during the final fixture.

Irish forward dominance recognised after Triple Crown success

The men in green secured their fourth Triple Crown in five years, an achievement reflected by their strong pack presence.

Back-row duo Caelan Doris and Jack Conan are named alongside lock Tadhg Beirne, with centre Stuart McCloskey taking a spot in the midfield.

Scotland recovered from an opening loss to Italy to claim third place overall with three wins.

This resilience earned fan call-ups for wing Kyle Steyn, fly-half Finn Russell and flanker Rory Darge.

Historic low for an omitted English squad

The Azzurri recorded two victories to finish fourth in the table, resulting in selections for hooker Giacomo Nicotera, prop Simone Ferrari and centre Tommaso Menoncello.

Prop Rhys Carre is the sole representative from Wales, who ended their campaign on a positive note by securing a victory over the Italians.

England’s historically poor campaign ended with a fifth-place finish and just eight points.

Their only victory of the tournament came against Wales in their opening game, explaining their total absence from the fans’ chosen team.

Six Nations Team of the Tournament

Team GB stars Keely Hodgkinson and Josh Kerr will lead the British medal charge at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun.

The three-day event in Poland takes on added significance this year given the absence of an Olympic Games or outdoor World Championships in the 2026 calendar.

Kerr renews rivalry with Hocker

Scottish distance runner Kerr will be determined to defend his 3,000m crown after a memorable victory in Glasgow two years ago.

The reigning world indoor champion faces a monumental challenge against Cole Hocker, his 1,500m nemesis from the Paris Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, Jeremiah Azu arrives in Torun looking to replicate the stunning 60m victory he secured in Nanjing last year.

The British sprinter must navigate a formidable field featuring Jamaican powerhouse Kishane Thompson alongside American duo Jordan Anthony and Trayvon Bromell.

Hodgkinson seeks 800m supremacy

Olympic gold medallist Hodgkinson is widely expected to dominate the women’s 800m event on the tight indoor track.

Her compatriot Georgia Bell will also be eyeing a podium finish when she lines up in a highly competitive women’s 1,500m field.

However, the British squad will be without 400m specialist Amber Anning, who has opted to skip the championships to prioritise the upcoming Commonwealth Games and European Championships.

Key schedule highlights

The action commences on Friday, 20 March, with a packed morning session featuring the early rounds of the heptathlon and 60m sprints.

Several major finals will be contested under the evening lights across the opening two days of competition.