Northampton Saints will treat playing Saracens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as if it was a cup final, according to prop Manny Iyogun.

Saturday’s Prem fixture will be the second part of a women and men’s double header, titled Showdown VI, at the 62,850-capacity stadium.

Advertisement

Last week Saracens reported that 40,000 tickets had already been sold for an event which will also see Dizzee Rascal perform live between the two games.

“It’s got a bit of a finals vibe to it and games like this prep you for finals in knockout rugby and that’s exactly how we’re approaching it,” Iyogun told BBC Radio Northampton’s Saints Show.

Saints are two points clear at the top of the Prem table following their narrow, below-their-best win over Newcastle Red Bulls – and have already beaten Saracens twice this season in league and cup.

Sarries, meanwhile, returned to Prem action last Friday with a heavy 62-point defeat at Bath, leaving them in sixth place, eight points outside the play-off spots.

Iyogun’s team-mate Tom Lockett believes they will be playing at the “best new stadium in the UK”.

Advertisement

“To get a chance to play in it is pretty cool, something we’re all pretty excited for but ultimately we’ve still got to perform as if it’s the Gardens or any stadium,” second row Lockett said.

“We’ll go down on Friday and get a feel for the stadium and then hopefully put that to the back of our mind and go and do the job.

“We’ve got better at that over the years, playing in big environments and finding out what works and what doesn’t work and how we get back on script when things aren’t going to plan.

“Obviously we want to be involved in as many big games as possible so it can only be a good thing [to play there].”

Advertisement

England lock Alex Coles could again be absent because of injury suffered on Six Nations duty so 23-year-old Lockett may again inherit the key role as line-out routines caller.

“Colesy is huge for us not only in terms of how he plays but also how he leads that line-out area,” Lockett added.

“I’ve taken so much from him over the past five or six years. I like to think I’m in a good position now where I’ve got enough experience to take that mantle from him.”

Asked how many different routines Saints have, he replied: “It’s basically a language and you have to be fluent in that language to know all the different moves you could run.

Advertisement

“If you put a number on it, it would be well into the thousands. Colesy’s coming up with new stuff all the time.”

So, are there any Tottenham supporters in the Saints dressing room? Not according to Iyogun.

“It’s a very tough time [to be a Spurs fan] and playing at Tottenham probably wouldn’t be the best experience [if you were],” he said.

“I’m Chelsea fan so me and [strength and conditioning coach] Tommy Buller – he’s a Man City fan – have a bit of a natter about it. There’s a lot of football fans, Colesy’s an Arsenal fan, so there’s a bit of rivalry.”

Shivam Dube in action during T20 World Cup© AFP

Harry Maguire was stepping onto a late afternoon flight to Bournemouth with his Manchester United teammates when a WhatsApp message pinged his phone. It was the England manager, Thomas Tuchel, asking if they could talk that evening.

Butterflies fluttered. Maguire hadn’t played for England for nearly two years, since he appeared in a Nations League game against Ireland in 2024. He had never played for Tuchel and there had been very little contact from the manager since he took the job last January. “I knew if I missed this camp, I don’t think I would have been back in the England setup,” Maguire admitted.

The defender has endured a mixed season. He struggled for form and fitness under Ruben Amorim and felt inhibited by the manager’s beloved back-three formation. But a run of games in Michael Carrick’s transformed United side have kindled faint hopes of playing in a third World Cup, at the age of 33.

Sitting on the plane, Maguire turned to fellow England prospect Kobbie Mainoo. “I asked Kobbie if he’d got a text as well and he said, ‘yeah’,” Maguire smiles. That offered some reassurance and, two hours later, Tuchel rang to confirm he was finally back in the England squad for World Cup warm-up games against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley.

Maguire rang round his family to share the news. His mum cried, though she was on holiday in Spain at the time and he suggests the tears may have been helped along by a few Sangrias. “It felt a bit like my first call-up,” he says. “I’ve played 60-odd games for England and been to three major tournaments, but when you’re playing every game, you don’t want to take it for granted, but you get comfortable with the setup. And then when it’s taken away from you all of a sudden, it hurts.”

Maguire is speaking in a quiet room at England’s second home, St George’s Park, in Burton-upon-Trent, back where he feels he belongs. He spent seven years as a mainstay under Gareth Southgate, first on the left side of a back three and later in a pairing with John Stones. Over the past two years he had to get used to watching England as a fan again, taking his career full circle, back to when he was a Hull City player travelling around France with friends watching Euro 2016 from the stands.

“It did hurt [to watch England] but I still wanted them to win,” he says. “I have a lot of friends here. There are times when you feel like you should be in the squad and then that probably hurts a little bit more, but the last three camps I wasn’t fit, I wasn’t playing every game for Manchester United, I was in and out, I was playing three games and getting injured. When you don’t build up that rhythm, you don’t really have an excuse.

“It hurt more when I watched them in the final against Spain, losing that game [Euro 2024 final].”

Away from England, Maguire focused on performing for his club. He enjoyed working with Amorim but felt the central role in a back three limited his best attributes, consigned to be a sweeper when he wanted to roam and charge and challenge opponents physically. His freedom to carry the ball upfield was clipped, and it all added to the narrative that he was a fading force.

“When you’re playing in a back five and you’re playing that middle one, automatically people think you’re a little bit older and can’t move as much. I’ve always said I much prefer playing in a back four. I feel like I can play more aggressive, play more on the front foot and I feel like that’s a big part of my game.”

Amorim will be a great manager, Maguire insists. It just didn’t click. “I really like Ruben, I think he’s got great ideas. Those ideas just didn’t work at Manchester United. I do believe he’ll go on and have an amazing career. At his next club he’ll probably go and win many, many football matches.”

Carrick’s reign has been transformational. Maguire has enjoyed the freedom of a back four as United have climbed the table to third, in a strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League with seven games to go. Surely the players want him to stay beyond the summer?

“Listen, Carrick coming in, he’s been amazing. He speaks really, really well. He’s tactically very, very good. He’s brought in some amazing staff, [such as] Steve Holland. [But] it’s not up to us. I think we’ve got to finish the season strong, and then I think he should go right into the mix with the other candidates.

“It’s going to be a big summer. We know that for Manchester United. We need bodies in to help the squad. It’s going to be a big recruitment in the management department, and I’m sure the hierarchy will get it right.”

Maguire has stayed fit and found form in recent weeks, ironically right up until Tuchel’s phone call. The next night he scored a goal at Bournemouth, but was sent off as United settled for a draw – “a harsh” red card, he says.

A one-game suspension means he won’t play for United again until 18 April at the earliest, when they travel to Chelsea. That time off will at least offer a window to speak to the club about his future, with his contract expiring at the end of the season. Maguire wants to stay, and the way he talks suggests that something might almost be agreed.

“What that agreement is, I’m sure you’ll find out over the next few weeks,” he says. “I think it’ll get sorted sooner rather than later, whether I stay or leave. I love this club, but it’s got to be right for myself, it’s got to be right for the club as well. I don’t want to be staying on a sentimental value. I want to be staying because I want to be there and the club want me to drive the club forward still, and they feel like I’ve got a big part to play in it.

“[I want to be] playing games and helping the team on and off the pitch. I want to be important to the club. So we need to sit down and speak – and I’ve got a long time off now with the red card.”

Only three months ago, Maguire’s international and club careers appeared to be in their winter days. Suddenly they are in full bloom again. He never gave up hope of travelling to North America to experience one more World Cup as a player, rather than a fan, when summer comes around. “I kept it free, just in case.”

Former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko will captain Bosnia-Herzegovina against Wales in their World Cup play-off semi-final

As Wales prepare to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in their World Cup play-off semi-final, the visitors’ captain Edin Dzeko is set to fight for what is likely his last opportunity to compete in a major tournament. The veteran’s life hasn’t been without incident since he left Manchester City – and a run-in with Andre Onana is just part of the picture.

Dzeko, 40, will lead his nation at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday evening as he returns to the UK. However, earlier in the qualifying campaign, he risked upsetting his country’s FA with strong remarks about fan access.

Ahead of a November double-header against Romania and Austria, Bosnia were aware that two victories could secure direct qualification, whilst a solid performance would guarantee a play-off position. But controversy arose prior to the home match against Romania due to two fan groups being unable to buy tickets for the game in Zenica.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

BHFanaticos and Ljuti Krajišnica were both prevented from purchasing tickets by the country’s FA, prompting Dzeko to intervene and demand the decision be overturned. “On behalf of my teammates and on my own behalf, I DEMAND the Federation to reconsider its decision and, as before, to provide tickets for fan groups that have been cheering on the BiH national team for years!” he posted on social media.

“With loyal fan support from the stands, which we really need at this important moment for the national team, the players will do their best on the field to achieve a favourable result! We are all going to defend the colours of our homeland on our front.”

When the match against Romania kicked off, over 11,000 fans were present at the 15,000-capacity Bilino Polje Stadium. However, by half-time, a goal from Daniel Birligea had put the visitors ahead, leaving Dzeko and his colleagues with a task on their hands.

The captain led from the front, equalising less than five minutes into the second half. Esmir Bajraktarevic then put Bosnia-Herzegovina ahead with just 11 minutes left, but the points weren’t secured until Haris Tabakovic added a clincher at the death.

Tabakovic scored again in the final group match in Vienna, putting Sergej Barbarez’s team on the brink of a World Cup spot. However, a second-half equaliser from Michael Gregoritsch meant Austria progressed as group winners and left Bosnia-Herzegovina needing to come through a match against Wales and a potential play-off final against Italy or Northern Ireland.

Dzeko was part of the squad in 2014, the only previous occasion the country have qualified for a World Cup. Sead Kolasinac is the only other member of that group who is in the squad to face Wales on Thursday.

The striker, who was a Premier League champion with City in 2012 and 2014, spent ten years in Italy and Turkey after departing the Etihad Stadium. He transferred to his current club Schalke in January and has netted six goals in eight matches for the 2. Bundesliga leaders.

A stint at Inter Milan was among the highlights of his post-City club career. He was part of the team which reached the Champions League final in 2023 but had a much-publicised falling out with team-mate Andre Onana along the way.

Onana, who would later leave Inter for Manchester United, was seen screaming at Dzeko and telling him to shut up during a round of 16 victory over Porto. Colleague Hakan Calhanoglu felt compelled to step in but the goalkeeper played down the incident after the 1-0 win.

“These things happen in the game, everyone has a right to think what they want,” Onana told Sky Sport Italia. “If the adrenaline that makes us angry also helps us to win games the way we did tonight, then it’s welcome!”

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Various Prices

England Official Store

Advertisement

Buy Now on England Official Store

England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL

Here is a list of the all-time overall records for the top college football programs in the West through the 2025 season.

The list includes wins, losses, ties, win percentage, and years played.

USC leads the way with 891 total wins followed by Washington with 790, Colorado with 735, Utah with 735, and Oregon with 731.

The records parallel those of the NCAA, reflecting official wins and losses, less any vacated victories or forfeits.

Wednesday night, the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants opened the 2026 MLB season at Oracle Park. It’s the only game on Wednesday’s schedule. The other 28 teams are enjoying one last off-day before they begin their seasons Thursday and Friday.

The Yankees and Giants battled on the field Wednesday night, and three decades ago they battled in free agency for the game’s best player. Both clubs pursued Barry Bonds as a free agent during the 1992 offseason, and, of course, Bonds ultimately went home to the Bay Area, signing a six-year deal worth just under $44 million with the Giants. It made him the game’s highest-paid player.

During a visit to the Netflix broadcast booth on Wednesday, Bonds said late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was willing to make him baseball’s highest-paid player, but he put a deadline on the offer. That pushed Bonds to San Francisco. Here’s the story:

“George isn’t here anymore, so I can tell the truth, right?” Bonds started. “I would’ve been with the Yankees, but Steinbrenner got on the phone and called us and told me, ‘Barry, we’re going to give you the money — the highest-paid player at that time — but you got to sign the contract by 2 o’clock this afternoon. And I said, ‘Excuse me?!’ And I just hung the phone up. 

“And I went to go get lunch, and Dennis Gilbert, my agent, they were like, ‘Do you know what you just did?!’ I’m like, ‘Did you know what he just said?!’” Bonds continued. “I just said, ‘Forget it.’ By the time I walked down the street to go get lunch, I said, ‘Let me just think about this.’ The Giants called me, and I said, ‘I’m going home.’”

Back in 1992, the New York Times reported the Yankees gave Bonds two days to accept the offer, not until 2 p.m. Also, a sixth year was said to be the sticking point, not the deadline. The Yankees held firm at five years. The Giants put a sixth year on the table and that pushed it across the finish line.

Bonds enjoyed 15 very successful seasons with the Giants, winning four MVPs and eventually becoming the all-time home run king. The Yankees did just fine without him. They won the World Series in 1996, four years after losing out on Bonds, then won three more titles in 1998, 1999, and 2000.