England flanker Tom Curry has been ruled out of the Six Nations clash against Italy after suffering a significant injury during the pre-match warm-up.
The back-row forward required support from two medics to help him down the tunnel at the Stadio Olimpico.
Curry appeared to sustain a leg issue while preparing to start on the openside flank in Rome.
Underhill promoted to start
Sam Underhill has been moved from the bench into the starting XV as a direct replacement.
Chandler Cunningham-South joins the matchday squad to fill the vacancy among the substitutes.
Head coach Steve Borthwick has maintained his strategy of keeping six forwards on the bench for the encounter.
Late disruption
The withdrawal serves as a major blow to England following successive defeats against Scotland and Ireland.
Borthwick had already made an unprecedented nine personnel changes to his starting side, with Underhill’s late inclusion marking a tenth alteration.
Despite the disruption, England hold a formidable record having never lost to Italy in 32 previous meetings.
Tadej Pogacar has secured a record-breaking fourth victory at Strade Bianche after launching a stunning solo attack with 78km remaining in Tuscany.
The world champion produced a dominant performance to open his 2026 season, distancing his rivals on the Monte Sante Marie gravel sector.
It marks a third consecutive win at the Italian classic for the Slovenian, who moves clear of Fabian Cancellara’s previous record of three titles.
A history-making solo break
Pogacar, sporting a new bleach-blonde hairstyle, repeated his tactics from 2024 by attacking from distance.
French teenager Paul Seixas was the only rider capable of initially following the surge, briefly clawing his way back to the 27-year-old’s wheel.
However, the UAE Team Emirates leader accelerated again to drop the 19-year-old and ride clear for a comfortable victory.
Unlike last year’s bloodied battle following a crash, this was a serene procession for the cycling superstar.
He had time to bow theatrically to the crowd in Siena’s Piazza del Campo before punching the air in delight.
‘Young bullets’ impress
Seixas held on to finish second, one minute behind the winner, dropping Pogacar’s teammate Isaac del Toro on the steep Via Santa Caterina climb.
Del Toro, the runner-up at last year’s Giro d’Italia, finished nine seconds further back to complete the podium.
It was a tactical masterclass from UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who placed three riders in the top six.
“Chapeau to the teammates today, everybody did an incredible job,” said Pogacar.
“Also the young bullets, Jan [Christen] and Isaac, what a job for them. It was an honour to ride with such a team today and to deliver the win, so I’m super happy.”
On the moment he broke away, Pogacar added: “I saw that [Seixas] was chasing really hard on the steepest part of the climb on Sainte Marie, but I said to myself I would go all out to the top and then see if he can bridge.
“Either he will come to my wheel or he will explode. In the end I saw it’s enough.”
Pidcock’s mechanical frustration
Tom Pidcock, the 2023 winner, endured a difficult day plagued by mechanical issues.
The British rider dropped his chain just as the decisive move was made on the Monte Sante Marie, preventing him from following the leaders.
Despite fighting back into the chasing group, the Ineos Grenadiers rider faded on the final climb to finish seventh, more than two minutes adrift.
Ryan Gravenberch has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool that will keep the midfielder at Anfield until 2032.
The Netherlands international was instrumental in Arne Slot’s debut campaign, helping the Reds secure the Premier League title last season.
He has remained a permanent fixture in the side this term, starting all but two of the club’s league matches.
Gravenberch commits future to Anfield
Speaking to the club’s official website, the 23-year-old expressed his delight at committing his future to the Merseyside club.
“I feel really, really good,” Gravenberch said.
“I was really proud to extend my contract at such a big club. So, I’m really happy that I can stay for many more years.”
The former Ajax and Bayern Munich playmaker admitted the decision was straightforward due to the trust shown by Slot.
“I felt directly the trust from the club, also from the manager. The decision for me was easy to make,” he added.
“My family is also happy here. We are now here almost three years, so I know everything already.”
Focus on future silverware
While Liverpool’s hopes of retaining their Premier League crown have faded this season, the midfielder remains focused on finishing the campaign strongly.
“For the short term, [my aim is to] end the season as good as possible,” Gravenberch explained.
“And for the long term: win many more trophies with Liverpool.”
The Dutchman also highlighted his connection with the Anfield faithful as a key factor in his development.
“I have a really nice relationship with [the fans],” he said.
“I’m really grateful for the supporters because without them we would not be where we are now. In the future, we want to give them many more [trophies], so hopefully we can get that done.”
Roma striker Evan Ferguson will miss the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup play-off campaign after being ruled out for the remainder of the season with a significant ankle injury.
The 21-year-old’s loan spell in Serie A is set to end prematurely as he returns to parent club Brighton & Hove Albion to undergo surgery.
It serves as a major blow to manager Heimir Hallgrimsson’s plans ahead of the crucial semi-final tie against the Czech Republic next month.
Season cut short by surgery
Ferguson has netted five times in 22 appearances during his time in Italy, though his progress has been disrupted by recurring fitness issues.
Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed the forward would play no further part in the current campaign before Sunday’s fixture against Genoa.
“It is now clear that he will finish the season here and will have surgery on his ankle,” said Gasperini.
“He will no longer have time to recover even in the end of the season.”
Ireland’s route to the World Cup
The Republic of Ireland are scheduled to face the Czech Republic in Prague on 26 March.
Should they navigate that semi-final, they will face either Denmark or North Macedonia for a place at the tournament.
The Brighton loanee was instrumental during the qualifying phase, scoring three goals for his country.
However, fitness struggles forced him to miss notable victories over Portugal and Hungary which secured this play-off opportunity.
If Hallgrimsson’s side qualifies for a first World Cup since 2002, they will join co-hosts Mexico, South Korea, and South Africa in Group A.
Max Verstappen has revealed he told late Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz of his intention to remain with the team “forever” shortly before the Austrian’s death.
The four-time world champion has opened up on his deep sense of loyalty to the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Despite intense speculation linking him with a move to Mercedes, the Dutchman has reaffirmed his commitment to the team where he secured his title success.
His current contract runs until the end of the 2028 season, by which time he will have spent over a decade with the constructors.
A promise to Mateschitz
The 28-year-old disclosed a sentimental pact made with Mateschitz before the businessman passed away in 2022.
Verstappen told The Times: “It’s always been the intention. I remember when Dietrich was still alive… I told him my dream – and his dream – was that I would stay here forever, as long as my career lasts.”
The former Toro Rosso graduate admitted that fulfilling that shared vision remains a primary motivation in his career.
“I’m very happy that before he passed away, I said that my intention is still to fulfil that dream, and so far that is going quite well,” he added.
Loyalty over performance
While Red Bull have faced turbulence with key personnel departing, their lead driver insists stability is crucial to his mindset.
Verstappen emphasised that feeling comfortable in his environment often outweighs the pursuit of pure performance elsewhere.
“I stayed loyal to the team for a long time; they know that loyalty, for me, is a very big thing, and that’s not always a given in Formula 1,” he explained.
“You always try to build the strongest team around you, but when you have a lot of success, it’s normal that people get poached and people leave, that’s how sport works.”
Life after Formula 1
Despite his long-term commitment, the prolific race winner has also hinted that his time in the sport may not extend far beyond his current deal.
Speaking to the Up To Speed podcast, he expressed frustration with upcoming regulations and a desire to prioritise life outside the paddock.
“I definitely see myself nearing the end,” he admitted.
“I want to live my life; you only live once, and I don’t want to spend 25 years driving a car.”
Verstappen is set to enter his 13th season in F1 in 2026, continuing a significant era of dominance with the energy drink giant.
England beat Iceland in World Cup qualifier thanks to Bronze and Stanway
England secured back-to-back wins in their Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign as goals from Lucy Bronze and Georgia Stanway sealed a 2-0 victory over Iceland.
Bronze marked a personal milestone with the opening goal after earning her 145th cap for the Lionesses.
The appearance moves the defender up to third in the nation’s all-time rankings.
Sarina Wiegman’s side were dominant throughout at a sold-out City Ground but were forced to wait to make the game safe.
Lionesses lack clinical edge
The hosts controlled the tempo from the first whistle in Nottingham.
Despite enjoying the majority of possession, England held only a slender 1-0 lead at the interval.
The European champions registered 31 shots during the contest but struggled to replicate the ruthlessness shown in their six-goal demolition of Ukraine just four days earlier.
That lack of a clinical edge almost allowed the visitors a route back into the match.
Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was called into action on the hour mark to deny Sandra Jessen from equalising.
It was Iceland’s only shot of the entire game but served as a warning to the dominant home side.
Stanway secures the points
The tension was finally lifted when Stanway doubled the advantage.
The Bayern Munich midfielder fired home her 32nd international goal to ensure the result matched the performance.
Victory means England maintain a 100% start to their qualifying campaign.
Ferrari hope to exploit Formula 1’s revised race start procedures to challenge a Mercedes front-row lockout as a new era begins at the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.
The 2026 season opener features completely overhauled chassis and aerodynamic regulations.
However, revised hybrid engines have created a new variable for the 58-lap contest in Melbourne.
New demands on drivers
Drivers must now rev their engines higher and for longer before the lights go out compared to previous seasons.
To accommodate this technical shift, the FIA has introduced a five-second ‘pre-start’ procedure following the formation lap.
Pre-season favourites Mercedes secured the front row in qualifying with George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli.
Yet Ferrari believe their specific engine architecture could offer a crucial getaway advantage off the line.
Leclerc eyes launch opportunity
Charles Leclerc starts fourth, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton lining up seventh.
The Scuderia’s power unit features a smaller turbo than their rivals, allowing it to spin up faster to the required level.
“It is kind of easy for us to reach that optimal window for the start,” Leclerc told Sky Sports F1.
“I believe it is harder for others to reach that optimum window, so it might be more tricky for them.”
The Monegasque driver dismissed suggestions of the chaotic scenes witnessed during testing in Bahrain.
However, he remains confident that finding the performance sweet spot will be simpler for the Italian team.
Button predicts turn one drama
Former world champion Jenson Button believes the run to the first corner could be decisive.
Button noted that the Maranello-based squad showed a distinct advantage off the line during winter testing.
“The start is going to be exciting,” said Button. “They could be five abreast into Turn One.”
Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar shares the second row with Leclerc, adding further intrigue to the sprint down to the first braking zone.
If rivals execute their procedures perfectly, Leclerc admits the performance gap will narrow significantly.
Puerto Rico brushed aside pre-tournament controversy to defeat Colombia 5-0 in their World Baseball Classic Pool A opener at a vibrant Estadio Hiram Bithorn on Friday.
The hosts put weeks of administrative turmoil behind them to deliver a dominant performance in San Juan.
A capacity crowd of 18,793 had initially feared the absence of key stars would derail the campaign before a pitch was thrown.
However, the atmosphere transformed from resentment regarding insurance complications into a carnival of rhythmic percussion once play began.
Overcoming red tape
Notable absentees included Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa after insurance providers tightened regulations following the previous tournament.
Those stricter rules were influenced by the season-ending injury suffered by closer Edwin Díaz while celebrating a win over the Dominican Republic during the last iteration of the classic.
Despite threats from the local federation president José Quiles to withdraw the team entirely in January, the two-time runners-up proved they possess depth beyond their headline icons.
The frustration regarding the missing Major League Baseball talent dissipated as the Caribbean nation took control of the game.
Trusting the youth
Manager Yadier Molina insisted the squad remained focused on the field rather than the boardroom politics.
“We’re not going to bow our heads,” the Puerto Rico boss said.
“We trust our talent, we trust our pitching, we trust the defense. We’re going to score. We’re going to run the bases.”
The squad have continued the ‘Team Rubio’ tradition, bleaching their hair blond in a nod to the 2017 finalists.
While lacking some high-profile names, the group is heavy on young prospects seeking to establish a foothold at the sport’s highest level.
“We believe that these guys are ready for this event,” added Molina.
Chasing a historic title
Puerto Rico hold the second-most wins in the history of the competition but have yet to lift the trophy.
Having finished as runners-up in both 2013 and 2017, the team arrived in San Juan with a familiar objective.
Edwin Díaz, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, compared the current hunger within the dressing room to previous successful campaigns.
“I compare this team to the team in 2017, which was the first tournament for many of us, and we were able to do big things,” said the closer.
“I believe that all of us, including myself, have the same hunger to win.”