Holly Aitchison will start at fly-half as England face Ireland in their Women’s Six Nations opener at Twickenham, marking the team’s first match since winning the 2025 Rugby World Cup.

John Mitchell’s side return to the scene of their September triumph in front of an expected crowd of over 75,000 at Allianz Stadium.

Uncapped 19-year-old Loughborough Lightning forward Haineala Lutui is named on the bench and could make her international debut.

Rowland and Jones form new midfield partnership

Versatile back Helena Rowland lines up alongside new captain Meg Jones in the centre following an injury to Tatyana Heard.

On the wing, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald replaces the retired Abby Dow and is set to face her wife, Irish hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald.

A major opportunity awaits 22-year-old Lilli Ives Campion in the second row.

The highly-rated lock steps in for pregnant trio Zoe Stratford, Abbie Ward and Rosie Galligan.

Mitchell looks to build on World Cup legacy

The head coach has largely stuck with his world-conquering squad, though selecting Aitchison over Zoe Harrison hints at a desire for greater attacking expansion.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to be returning to Allianz Stadium in front of our fans for the first time since the 2025 Rugby World Cup final.

John Mitchell

The players relish, and absolutely deserve, the opportunity to perform in front of record crowds, but they also understand the responsibility that comes with that stage.

John Mitchell

Hooker Connie Powell returns to the matchday squad among the replacements, having missed out on selection for last year’s global tournament.

Veteran flanker Marlie Packer is omitted from the matchday 23 entirely.

Perry set to face former teammates

For the visitors, flanker Erin King returns from injury to captain a relatively settled lineup named by head coach Scott Bemand.

Dannah O’Brien retains the number 10 shirt as the away side look to cause an upset in London.

Prop Ellena Perry will make her first tournament appearance for the girls in green after previously winning 11 caps for the Red Roses prior to switching allegiance.

Eilis Cahill is also among the potential debutants on the bench for the visiting team.

Tiger Woods has been officially charged with driving under the influence following a two-vehicle rollover crash in Florida last month.

The 15-time major champion faces a potential prison sentence and fines if convicted of the charges stemming from the March 27 incident near his Jupiter Island home.

Police confirmed the golfing icon was driving a Range Rover that overturned after striking a trailer towed by a pickup truck.

Details of the Florida collision

Local sheriff John Budensiek stated the American was travelling at an unsafe speed when he attempted a late overtaking manoeuvre.

The collision caused his vehicle to roll onto its side, preventing the other driver from fully exiting the roadway.

Following the crash, the former world number one was detained for a mandatory eight-hour period before a close friend posted his bail.

Potential legal consequences

Authorities formally charged him on Wednesday with a DUI and refusing to submit to a chemical or physical test of his breath or urine.

Under state law, a first-time DUI conviction carries a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000.

Despite a previous arrest in 2017 on suspicion of drink-driving, he avoided a custodial sentence at the time by pleading guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving and completing a diversion programme.

Prison time considered unlikely

Legal experts suggest that while the charges are severe, a custodial sentence remains highly improbable for the 50-year-old.

“Do I think he’s going to be facing jail time? It’s probably unlikely because he’s Tiger Woods,” Palm Beach criminal defence lawyer Michelle Suskauer told the New York Post.

“What is a reasonable sentence in this case, probably probation.”

In the meantime, a Florida judge has granted the veteran athlete permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, with his private jet recently tracked arriving in Zurich.

Champion two-year-old and major 2,000 Guineas contender Gewan has died after suffering a fatal accident during a morning gallop at Kempton on Thursday.

The Dewhurst Stakes winner was undertaking a routine racecourse exercise under jockey James Doyle when the tragic incident occurred.

Veterinary staff attended to the top-rated juvenile immediately on the all-weather track, but the animal sadly could not be saved.

Doyle fortunately escaped the distressing incident without sustaining any physical injuries.

A devastating loss for European racing

Trained by Andrew Balding, the promising colt had recently topped the European rankings following a stellar, Group 1-winning campaign last year.

He was widely considered one of the foremost hopes for the first Classic of the upcoming season, entering the betting markets as third favourite at a short price of 13-2.

The prized thoroughbred was being prepared to represent Forz Europe, a prominent syndicate operating under major owner Zhang Yuesheng’s global racing umbrella.

Balding pays tribute to a brilliant talent

In an emotional statement, the Kingsclere handler expressed profound sadness over the unexpected loss of his stable star.

“It is with extreme sadness that we report that Gewan, champion two-year-old of 2025, has suffered a fatal accident whilst having a racecourse gallop this morning,” Balding said.
“The vets were on site and attended to the horse immediately but sadly he could not be saved.”
“Our thoughts are with Mr Zhang and his family who owned Gewan, James Doyle who was riding the horse and is luckily uninjured and Marie Perrault who has looked after the horse since he arrived at Kingsclere and rides him every day.”

The veteran trainer reflected on the horse’s most famous triumph, noting the immense anticipation surrounding his three-year-old career.

“We will never forget his brilliance when taking the Dewhurst in such impressive style and we were so looking forward to seeing what he could achieve.”
“Racing is full of high days and low days and unfortunately this is very much one of the latter.”

More than 30 former North Carolina State athletes have detailed allegations of sexual abuse by former sports medicine trainer Robert Murphy under the guise of medical treatment.

Eleven men who represented various university teams between 2013 and 2024 have spoken out about their harrowing experiences.

Most of the accusers have chosen to remain anonymous as part of an ongoing civil case against the academic institution.

The alleged misconduct involved inappropriate touching and highly irregular, near-nude drug testing procedures.

Inappropriate medical consultations

One former student detailed a consultation for back pain that resulted in egregious and unwelcome physical contact.

The athlete, identified only as John Doe 1 in the lawsuit, described freezing in shock during the distressing encounter.

I don’t even know how I got out of it. I think I just kind of made a sound or something and I just grabbed my stuff.

The distressed victim recalled returning home to shower instead of using the training facility, questioning whether the incident had actually occurred.

Breaking the institutional silence

Many affected individuals avoided discussing the trauma until a formal complaint was lodged by former soccer player Ben Locke.

His report to campus police triggered a Title IX investigation in 2022 and paved the way for a broader civil lawsuit.

Thirty additional former collegiate competitors have since joined the legal action against the university.

A separate state criminal investigation into the former medical staffer is also currently active.

Missed warnings and cultural barriers

University officials were reportedly aware of concerns surrounding the medical professional as early as 2014 but failed to act decisively.

A university spokesperson issued a statement maintaining that the health and safety of their student-athletes remains paramount.

The North Carolina institution declined to comment further on the specifics of the pending legal matter.

Locke explained that profound cultural barriers often prevent men from speaking out about sexual violence.

Then you add in, ‘You’re a Division 1 college athlete, you’re strong, you’re fit, you’re all the things.’

The former sportsman noted a societal expectation that physically strong men should be able to defend themselves against such abuse.

Ronnie O’Sullivan begins his quest for a record-breaking eighth World Snooker Championship title at the Crucible Theatre on 18 April.

The 50th edition of the iconic Sheffield tournament runs until 4 May and features a highly anticipated title defence from China’s Zhao Xintong.

The reigning champion returns to the baize as the top seed and faces the daunting task of overcoming the infamous Crucible Curse.

Zhao bids to break Crucible Curse

No maiden winner has successfully defended the prestigious trophy, with 21 players trying and failing since 1980.

The trailblazing Chinese star will open proceedings on the first morning, playing to a conclusion during the evening session.

He will be joined in the opening day’s action by leading contenders including Mark Allen, Mark Williams and Barry Hawkins.

O’Sullivan’s pursuit of history

The legendary Englishman makes an unprecedented 34th consecutive appearance at the famous venue this year.

Seeded 12th for the 2026 event, the seven-time world champion gets his campaign under way during the afternoon session on 21 April.

Should the veteran progress past his opening-round qualifier, a mouth-watering last-16 clash against historic rival John Higgins could await.

Trump leads fierce chasing pack

World number one Judd Trump enters the competition as the second seed and begins his challenge for a second world crown on 21 April.

The top five automatic seeds for the tournament feature heavily decorated former champions and recent finalists.

The remaining 16 spots in the main draw will be randomly drawn against the top seeds following the conclusion of the qualifying rounds on 16 April.

Erin King will make her first international appearance in a year as she captains Ireland in Saturday’s Six Nations opener against England.

The 22-year-old flanker has been sidelined since sustaining a knee injury during a defeat by the Red Roses in the 2025 tournament.

That severe setback forced the newly appointed skipper to miss last year’s Rugby World Cup entirely.

She now returns to lead her country into the 2026 edition against an English side chasing an unprecedented eighth consecutive title.

Perry makes debut and Wafer returns

Former England prop Ellena Perry is set to make her Irish Six Nations debut this weekend.

The front-row forward switched her international allegiances ahead of the recent global tournament.

Elsewhere in the back row, the returning captain is joined by Brittany Hogan and the dynamic Aoife Wafer.

Wafer was crowned the Six Nations Player of the Championship in 2025 but has also endured a frustratingly injury-hit year.

Ireland starting XV and replacements

The starting lineup features a blend of established talent and returning stars as the visitors aim to disrupt the defending champions.

Replacements: Neve Jones, Niamh O’Dowd, Eilis Cahill, Ruth Campbell, Grace Moore, Katie Whelan, Nancy McGillivray, Anna McGann.

Conor Benn believes Zuffa Boxing will receive maximum value from his £11.19m one-fight contract when he faces Regis Prograis at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

The 29-year-old makes his highly anticipated Netflix debut on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s heavyweight clash with Arslanbek Makhmudov.

He returns to the ring for the first time since securing a dominant points victory over domestic rival Chris Eubank Jr in November.

Lucrative new partnership

The undefeated welterweight shocked the boxing world in February by leaving long-term promoter Eddie Hearn to sign with the newly formed promotional entity.

Zuffa Boxing represents a powerful joint venture between UFC chief executive Dana White and Saudi Arabian advisor Turki Alalshikh.

This unprecedented financial agreement currently expires immediately after the 150lbs catchweight contest against former two-time world champion Prograis.

However, the London-born fighter has strongly hinted that his relationship with the promotional powerhouse could extend further.

“Zuffa wanted to make noise – and that’s exactly what they’ve done,” said the British fighter.

“I don’t see much bigger announcements that have gone so viral off an announcement of a signing, not even a fight.”

“After Saturday I’ll be a completely free agent, but obviously Zuffa are in the driving seat because of the way they’ve looked after me so well.”

Healing the Matchroom rift

The sudden departure created significant tension with Matchroom Boxing chairman Hearn, who had carefully guided the fighter’s entire professional career.

Hearn previously described the email notification of the split as a “dagger in the heart” after supporting his client through a high-profile doping suspension in 2022.

Despite the acrimonious exit and a public dispute over a £550,000 loan, the boxer insists the generational wealth on offer was simply impossible to refuse.

“What I do know, what I can say, is my kids are set up for life. What I can say is this changes my kids’ kids’ lives.”

“What I can say is this an opportunity I couldn’t turn down, irrelevant of all the noise, irrelevant of everything.”

The ambitious contender now hopes to secure a world title shot against WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia in September.

Before looking ahead to future challenges, he remains completely open to reconciling with his former promoter in London this weekend.

“Hopefully we can sit down and I hope he does knock on my changing room door, because I love Eddie,” he added.

Rory McIlroy returns to Augusta National this week to defend his Masters title with renewed motivation after completing the career Grand Slam last year.

The Northern Irishman ended an 11-year major drought in dramatic fashion 12 months ago, defeating Justin Rose in a tense play-off to secure the iconic Green Jacket.

That historic victory made him just the sixth male player to win all four of golf’s modern major championships.

A new era of motivation

Many observers questioned whether conquering his ultimate golfing Everest would diminish his competitive drive.

However, the defending champion insists he has embraced the unique pressure of returning to the first tee as the reigning title holder.

McIlroy arrived at the prestigious Georgia venue earlier than usual to fulfil his new obligations, including his debut as host of the traditional Champions Dinner.

“It has been a little bit of a mix of business and pleasure, I would say,” McIlroy said.

Enjoying the ultimate privilege

The former world number one admitted he previously feared he might never earn a place at the exclusive Tuesday evening gathering of past winners.

“All of us in that room were the envy of the sports world,” he added.
“Everyone else would love to be in that room, and I certainly don’t ever want to take it for granted.”

Determined to savour the moment, the grand slam chaser approached the elite gathering with a highly grounded perspective.

“I tried to treat it as if it was the only time I would host a dinner. Hopefully it’s not but, if it is, I tried to do it the right way.”

Finding the next destination

Prior to last year’s triumph, McIlroy had openly viewed an Augusta victory as the final destination of his illustrious career.

Having now joined an elite club alongside the likes of Tiger Woods, his focus has shifted towards defining his ongoing legacy.

His refined preparation strategy now blends meticulous course reconnaissance with a conscious effort to enjoy the tournament atmosphere.

“I’m just going to try to keep enjoying my week, but I know to do that I just have to go out there and play good golf – that’s what I’m focused on.”