Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s skipper Rajat Patidar. (ANI Photo)
BENGALURU: From being one of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s most dependable finishers to becoming a key figure in the backroom setup of the IPL defending champions, Dinesh Karthik has witnessed the franchise’s evolution from close quarters.In a freewheeling interview with TOI, the 40-year-old RCB mentor and batting coach spoke about the champions’ mindset within the squad, the emergence of captain Rajat Patidar as a calm leader, and coaching international stars. Excerpts:The mindset of a team defending the titleAt the outset, each player was given a structure outlining what they should be doing. In terms of results, there were bound to be ups and downs, so the key was to make sure we did the things we were good at very well and the things we could get better at. We are constantly addressing it and getting better at it, and that is a good way to look at this tournament. It is a long tournament, and it is important to stay fresh.Evolution of Patidar as a captainIt’s been heartwarming to see him remain the same person: cool, calm, and relaxed on and off the field. As a leader, he’s absorbed pressure well without showing it, which is commendable.He’s still the person he was before becoming captain, which says a lot about him. I’ve played with him and have a good relationship. Seeing him succeed as both a batter and a skipper makes me very proud.The coming of age of Devdutt PadikkalHe was always an extraordinary batter for Karnataka and across formats. But in IPL, I think he wanted to change certain areas of his game, which he addressed straight away, and we were happy enough to help as a group and you can see the results on the field, the confidence and the way he is batting. It’s always a good sign when a young boy like that understands what it takes to take his game to the next level and asks for suggestions and opinions, but he does it his own way. He’s a strong man. I believe he’s a superb talent and it’s great to see that talent evolving into something very special for the team.On the difference between coaching Indian and international playersYou have to adapt to international players differently. For example, Tim David is very different from Romario Shepherd, so you need to understand both and where they are coming from. They are very independent people, so you need to see what works for them, and sometimes less could be more, and I try and say very little if I am not required to do a lot of the talking. I have learned a lot from Andy (Flower) and Mo (Bobat) about how they handle different players and about their character traits. They are very different from the ones I have with the Indian players, but one steeped in respect.On being rated among the best coaches by Phil SaltPhil has obviously travelled the world and has worked with many coaches. It was nice to see him acknowledge that something I said helped him. My role was to understand what Phil was doing and help him enhance his game. He was open to discussing areas for improvement, which empowered me to provide useful feedback. Such open relationships with foreign players are always rewarding. The conversations you have with players on the bench. Being in the IPL’s top 11 or 12 doesn’t define you as a player. It’s about team combinations; if you’re not in, it doesn’t diminish your value. Avoid overthinking your selection status.On grooming the finishersThe finisher role is a niche role. It is a tough one because you end up not facing as many deliveries as the top order batters. So, you have to understand what it means to do well and accept certain ways in which you could get out. That is very important for being a good finisher because you are taking a high risk a lot of the time for a majority of the innings that you play. So you need to be very aware of what success means, being a finisher and at times how failures can actually be quite misleading. The challenge is to understand and treat them both equally. Also, the way you practice and get ready for a game is extremely important.
Major League Baseball owners have formally presented a salary cap proposal to the players’ association, a system the union has consistently vowed to reject.
This move sets the stage for a significant confrontation that could jeopardize the 2027 season and potentially beyond.
The last time baseball owners put forward a firm cap was in 1994, an initiative that triggered a 7 1/2-month strike and led to the cancellation of the World Series for the first time in 90 years.
The proposal would cap spending in 2027 at $245.3 million, with a salary floor of $171.2 million.
MLB spokesman Glen Caplin stated: “Our salary cap and floor proposal levels the playing field while sharing baseball revenue with the players 50/50 as we grow the game together. Further, by sharing media revenue equally as part of our proposal, we can address another top fan concern of local TV blackouts.”
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Juan Soto has a lucrative contract with the Mets (Getty)
Management argues that a cap is essential to enhance competitive balance and prevent affluent teams, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, from assembling rosters significantly more star-studded than their smaller-market counterparts.
However, players are advocating for expanded free agency and salary arbitration rights, a near-doubling of the major league minimum wage, increased revenue sharing among high-earning and less wealthy clubs, and penalties for teams that fall below payroll floors.
They contend that a cap would primarily benefit owners at their expense, and they remain steadfast in their refusal to accept one. Without a cap, MLB stars have secured lucrative, guaranteed contracts that often surpass those of top athletes in other US sports.
Juan Soto’s $765 million, 15-year contract with the Mets is believed to be the biggest ever in team sports and is far greater than the largest deals in the NFL (Patrick Mahomes at $450 million over 10 years) and NBA (Jayson Tatum at $314 million over five years).
The Dodgers, for instance, shattered MLB’s spending record with a combined $515 million in payroll and luxury tax last year en route to their second straight World Series title.
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Los Angeles’ total was seven times the $68.7 million payroll of the Miami Marlins, the lowest-spending team, and more than the payrolls of the bottom six clubs combined.
Other major US sports leagues operate under a salary cap. The NBA introduced a modern version in 1984-85, NFL players and owners adopted one for the 1994 season, and the NHL followed suit in 2005-06 after a lockout cancelled an entire season.
Baseball’s current five-year agreement, finalized in March 2022 after a 99-day lockout, is set to expire on 2 December. While a lockout next winter is widely anticipated, intensive negotiations are not expected until late February or early March 2027, when the prospect of losing regular-season games and revenue becomes imminent.
Should regular-season games be forfeited, the dispute could devolve into a test of endurance, with each side gauging its tolerance for economic loss.
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The 1994 MLB salary cap proposal also offered a 50-50 revenue split, requiring teams to maintain payrolls between 84-110% of the average. It aimed to eliminate salary arbitration and reduce the free agency threshold from six years of major league service to four, with a provision allowing a player’s former club to match any offer until they reached six years.
That offer was made on 14 June, leading to the players’ strike on 12 August. MLB eventually withdrew the proposal on 6 February the following year under pressure from the National Labour Relations Board.
The strike concluded on 31 March after US District Judge Sonia Sotomayor – now a Supreme Court Justice – issued an injunction reinstating the expired labour contract’s work rules. Owners accepted the union’s offer to return to work without an agreement two days later, with a deal not being reached until 1997.
Aspirant Detdet Pepito during the PVL Draft Combine Day 1. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Detdet Pepito is ready to step out of her comfort zone in the Premier Volleyball League after spending the past 11 years with the University of Santo Tomas.
Pepito, who had been with UST since high school, began the road to the pros as one of the 42 aspirants in the 2026 class for the PVL Draft Night on June 3 at Novotel.
“Honestly, I’m nervous because everything feels so different, even the faces I’m seeing now are new to me. But at the same time, I’m also really excited, especially since we’ve been able to train with different PVL teams,” Pepito told reporters after undergoing biometrics and drills on the first day of the Draft Combine at GameVille Ball Park.
“We’re getting exposed to different systems, different players, and veteran athletes. Even now, we’re already learning so much from them, so it’s been a really fun experience.”
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The UST captain admitted it hasn’t been easy adjusting to life outside España Boulevard and training with professional teams.
“Honestly, it’s been really hard. Even just the training schedule is a huge adjustment because most PVL teams train in the morning. In UST, we usually finished training late at night, so my body clock was really used to that,” said Pepito.
PVL Rookie Draft Aspirants during day 1 of the Draft Combine. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
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“Now I’m trying my best to adjust to morning training and to the overall PVL system. It’s difficult, but exciting too because after almost 11 years of training at night, now I’m training in the morning. Actually, I’ve noticed I become more productive after morning training because I still have the whole afternoon to do other things.”
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Still, Pepito said it’s an adjustment she is willing to embrace as she prepares for the next chapter of her career.
“That’s really how I show my leadership and personality. I move more freely and comfortably when I can just be myself and stay playful,” she said.
“I can offer leadership. And of course, I always try to give 101 percent, whether it’s during training or in actual games.”
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The two-time UAAP Best Libero is also eager to compete against and learn from some of the league’s top floor defenders, including Kath Arado of PLDT High Speed Hitters, Alyssa Eroa of ZUS Coffee, Justine Jazareno of Akari, Kyla Atienza of Creamline, and the duo of Thang Ponce and Dawn Macandili-Catindig.
“I’m super excited because before, I only watched them from afar. Now, I might actually get to compete against them. I think it’s even better because I’ll get to see firsthand how they move and play,” Pepito said. “I really want to learn from how they adjust, how they handle pressure, and bring those lessons with me so I can continue improving.”
A popular AEW star recently shared his thoughts on a recent alliance with Jon Moxley. The Death Riders leader is the current Continental Champion in the company.
Will Ospreay recently started training with Moxley and The Death Riders. Samo Joe wanted to recruit Ospreay for The Opps. However, the star’s refusal pushed Joe and his stable mates to attack Will. The Death Riders then showed up to make the save and Jon Moxley even suggested he would help Will become a better version of himself. The results were evident as the Aerial Assassin faced former AEW World Champion Samoa Joe in the quarterfinals of the Own Hart Cup. Ospreay defeated Joe in the hard fought battle.
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This week, Ospreay took to Twitter to posted some photos from a recent AEW Collision TV taping, showing his interactions and teamup with Jon Moxley. The two stars teamed up with PAC in a Trios match against The Rascalz Zachary Wentz, Dezmond Xavier and Myron Reed. The group won the encounter and even posed together in the ring. The Aerial Assassin added the caption “Starting to understand” signalling that he was finally understand the motto and work ethic of the Death Riders. Interestingly, the Death Riders had put Ospreay out of action last year, forcing the star to get neck surgery.
Kenny Omega warned Will Ospreay about Jon Moxley and the Death Riders
In the aftermath of his victory over Samoa Joe in the Owen Hart Cup, Will Ospreay spoke with Renee Paquette backstage. The 33-year-old star said that he was feeling great despite the physical battle. Ospreay noted that his body felt good before heading to the trainer’s room.
Kenny Omega was also in the trainer’s room, recovering after the chaotic Stadium Stampede match and offered Ospreay some ice. Omega congratulated him on advancing to the next round before shifting the conversation toward the Death Riders. The former AEW World Champion expressed concern about Ospreay trusting the group, reminding him that they had previously carried out every threat they made.
Omega pointed out that the faction had injured both of them in the past, including Ospreay’s neck injury. He questioned why the former International Champion never reached out to him for help, insisting he would have gladly stood by his side.
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The 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge continues on Friday with the second round at Colonial Country Club in Texas. You can find full Charles Schwab Challenge tee times for Friday’s second round at the bottom of this post.
Featured tee time for Round 2
J.J. Spaun struggled mightily to start the 2026 PGA Tour season. Through March, Spaun had played seven tournaments and missed the cut in four of them. His best finish was a T24.
It was a far cry from the form Spaun showed in 2025, which led to his first major victory at the U.S. Open and a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
But as the calendar turned to April, Spaun flipped the script, winning the 2026 Valero Texas Open for his third career PGA Tour victory. The win helped Spaun remain in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking (No. 9), which makes him the top-ranked player in the Charles Schwab Challenge field.
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After teeing off late on Thursday, Spaun will switch to a morning tee time and a 10th-tee start for Round 2. He tees off at 8:44 a.m. ET on Friday alongside Gary Woodland and Ludvig Aberg.
You can watch Friday’s second round of the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge from 4-7 p.m. ET on Golf Channel. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive early streaming coverage starting at 8 a.m. ET Friday, in addition to featured group and featured hole coverage.
Check out the complete Round 2 tee times and groupings for the Charles Schwab Challenge below.
With an ESPN+ subscription, you gain access to PGA Tour Live, where you can stream the best PGA Tour events live from wherever you want.
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2026 Charles Schwab Challenge tee times for Friday: Round 2 (ET)
Tee No. 1
8:00 a.m. – Matthieu Pavon, Austin Smotherman, Takumi Kanaya 8:11 a.m. – Camilo Villegas, Charley Hoffman, Eric Cole 8:22 a.m. – Erik van Rooyen, Tom Kim, Seamus Power 8:33 a.m. – Karl Vilips, Stephan Jaeger, Webb Simpson 8:44 a.m. – Billy Horschel, Lucas Glover, Matt Kuchar 8:55 a.m. – Michael Brennan, Matt McCarty, Davis Thompson 9:06 a.m. – Kevin Streelman, Mark Hubbard, Max Greyserman 9:17 a.m. – Lee Hodges, Bud Cauley, Sam Stevens 9:28 a.m. – Zecheng Dou, Adrien Saddier, Pontus Nyholm 9:39 a.m. – Kris Ventura, Kensei Hirata, Christo Lamprecht 9:50 a.m. – Jeffrey Kang, Marcelo Rozo, Mason Howell (a) 12:40 p.m. – Nick Dunlap, Kevin Kisner, Christiaan Bezuidenhout 12:51 p.m. – Max Homa, Lanto Griffin, Rasmus Højgaard 1:02 p.m. – Patton Kizzire, Mackenzie Hughes, Thorbjørn Olesen 1:13 p.m. – Ricky Castillo, Nico Echavarria, Harry Hall 1:24 p.m. – Ryan Gerard, Keegan Bradley, Brian Harman 1:35 p.m. – Hideki Matsuyama, Robert MacIntyre, Alex Smalley 1:46 p.m. – Justin Thomas, Russell Henley, Sungjae Im 1:57 p.m. – Andrew Putnam, David Lipsky, Hank Lebioda 2:08 p.m. – Brice Garnett, Dylan Wu, Jordan Smith 2:19 p.m. – Paul Peterson, Neal Shipley, John VanDerLaan 2:30 p.m. – Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Trace Crowe, Davis Chatfield
Tee No. 10
8:00 a.m. – Ryo Hisatsune, Chandler Phillips, Kevin Roy 8:11 a.m. – Joel Dahmen, Ryan Palmer, Beau Hossler 8:22 a.m. – Doug Ghim, Rico Hoey, Ben Kohles 8:33 a.m. – Ben Griffin, Rickie Fowler, Tom Hoge 8:44 a.m. – J.J. Spaun, Gary Woodland, Ludvig Åberg 8:55 a.m. – Brandt Snedeker, Akshay Bhatia, Tony Finau 9:06 a.m. – Sahith Theegala, Taylor Moore, Michael Kim 9:17 a.m. – Keith Mitchell, Patrick Rodgers, Johnny Keefer 9:28 a.m. – Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Zach Bauchou, Chandler Blanchet 9:39 a.m. – Haotong Li, Hayden Springer, Jimmy Stanger 9:50 a.m. – Dan Brown, A.J. Ewart, Albert Hansson (a) 12:40 p.m. – Nick Hardy, Zac Blair, Michael Thorbjornsen 12:51 p.m. – Vince Whaley, Max McGreevy, Danny Walker 1:02 p.m. – Chad Ramey, Ben Martin, Sudarshan Yellamaraju 1:13 p.m. – Andrew Novak, Joe Highsmith, Davis Riley 1:24 p.m. – Steven Fisk, Cam Davis, Chris Kirk 1:35 p.m. – Adam Schenk, Garrick Higgo, Kevin Yu 1:46 p.m. – William Mouw, Brian Campbell, J.T. Poston 1:57 p.m. – Emiliano Grillo, Adam Svensson, Sam Ryder 2:08 p.m. – Austin Eckroat, Pierceson Coody, Mac Meissner 2:19 p.m. – David Skinns, Jackson Suber, Keita Nakajima 2:30 p.m. – Alejandro Tosti, John Parry, Luke Clanton
Roll up, roll up – it’s time for BBC Sport’s first end-of-season football awards.
Voted for by our expert pundits, dedicated team of journalists, and specialist football programme makers, these awards celebrate the players who starred in the Premier League, Women’s Super League, Scottish Premiership and EFL in 2025-26.
Those voting include Chris Sutton, Danny Murphy, Dion Dublin, Glenn Murray, Pat Nevin, Nedum Onuoha, Shay Given, Theo Walcott, Ellen White and Fara Williams.
From the players who propelled their teams to glory, to those whose quality stood out in less successful surroundings, these are the men and women whose contributions on the pitch this season deserve to be recognised.
Ireland’s women won a silver medal at the European 10,000m Cup in La Spezia, Italy this evening.
The Irish women’s scoring team members of Niamh Allen (Leevale AC), Fiona Everard (Bandon AC), and Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (West Limerick AC) combined well in extremely hot conditions at the Centro Sportivo Alessandro Montagna Stadium.
In the Final (A), the Irish women finished second to hosts Italy, claiming only Ireland’s second-ever medal in the history of the event – the country’s only previous medial was Efrem Gidey’s individual gold medal in 2025.
Leevale AC’s Niamh Allen produced another outstanding performance to finish sixth in 32:15.79, securing the European Championships B standard in the process to continue her excellent run of international form.
Bandon AC’s Fiona Everard continued her impressive season with a personal best of 32:41.28 to place tenth. Everard has enjoyed an excellent six months of racing, which included a top-10 finish at the European Cross Country Championships, a top-25 finish in the World Cross Country Championships, and a recent 31:58 PB victory in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, France.
Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill of West Limerick AC marked her senior international debut in style, finishing 20th in the A race with a season’s best performance of 33:19.00.
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Women – Final A Results
5th Niamh Allen (Leevale AC) – 32:15.79 SB 9th Fiona Everard (Bandon AC) – 32:41.28 PB 20th Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (West Limerick AC) – 33:19.00 SB
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jauan Jennings speaks with reporters after OTA practice, May 27, 2026, at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota. Jennings discussed joining the Vikings, adjusting to a new offense, and the talent surrounding him as Minnesota continued its offseason program with organized team activities during the spring. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Jauan Jennings is the main newcomer at Minnesota Vikings organized team activities (OTAs) in terms of longevity, and he’s excited about his squad, so much so that he compared himself and his WR peers to the dynastic Golden State Warriors.
It’s big talk in May that Jennings and friends will have to back up in September.
Vikings New WR Trio Has Immediate Star Power Expectations
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings warms up before kickoff against the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 19, 2025, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Jennings prepared for another important offensive role as San Francisco entered the matchup looking to maintain momentum during the middle stretch of the regular season with several key contributors featured in the passing attack. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images.
Jennings: We’re a Big Three
The new Viking was all smiles on Wednesday, fresh off six years in San Francisco with the 49ers — hence the Warriors analogy — and reporters were anxious to ask about his mindset with the Vikings.
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“It’s awesome. I feel like Kevin Durant and the Warriors. Because it’s the big 3, man, you know what I’m saying? There’s a lot of talent over here, just top-down, head-bottom, lot of talent,” Jennings said.
Jennings once played with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk at the same time, but Minnesota’s current group evidently takes the cake.
The Vikings’ Deepest WR Group in Years — Because of Jennings
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One month ago, after the draft, Vikings fans looked at the wide receiver depth chart after no new rookies arrived at the position from Round 1 through 7, and thought, “What are they going to do at WR3? Is Tai Felton ready?”
The WR group felt stable because a unit with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison is never too far from prominence. Yet, at WR3, anxiety prevailed. Would the Vikings trust the responsibility to Felton?
Nope — they signed Jennings for $8 million, and instantly, the group became its deepest since the days of Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Jake Reed. The current trio isn’t quite as talented from head to toe as those three, but it’s not silly to suggest Jefferson-Addison-Jennings is the top trio since.
Overall, here’s the full WR setup at OTAs:
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Justin Jefferson
Jordan Addison
Jauan Jennings
Tai Felton
Myles Price
Jeshaun Jones
Dontae Fleming
Joaquin Davis
Dillon Bell
Luke Wysong
Marcus Sanders
Terrill Davis
Not bad.
FantasyLife‘s Adam Pfeifer on Jennings: “Over the past two seasons, Jennings has ranked 32nd and 16th in fantasy points per route, largely due to a 35% end-zone target share. He’s played 15 games in both seasons, while running a route on nearly 82% of dropbacks.”
“The Vikings are getting a tough, reliable player to complement Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Since 2024, Jennings’ 69 receptions on third down are the 10th most in the NFL, drawing a target on over 26% of third-down routes and accounting for 24.5% of San Francisco’s third-down targets.”
The Superteam Constructed to Stop LeBron James
In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from behind to complete a historic comeback and defeat the Warriors in the NBA Finals. Golden State led the series three games to one, but thanks to James and his co-pilot, Kyrie Irving, Cleveland pulled off the impossible.
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Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James stares toward Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry during Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Jun. 16, 2016, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. James helped power Cleveland to an 115-101 victory as the Cavaliers extended the series and continued their historic comeback attempt against the defending champions. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports.
How’d the Warriors, a 73-win team, respond? Signing Kevin Durant, who averaged 28 points per game on a 55-win Thunder team. That’s right: the only way to stop James’s second career prime was for one of the NBA’s leading scorers to join a 73-win team, stacking the odds in Golden State’s favor. The plan worked — the Warriors won two titles with Durant, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson assembled as an unstoppable force.
And that’s how Jennings sees this Vikings WR corps. It’s probably an exaggeration, but you can understand his excitement.
Murray and McCarthy on Jennings
Not only is Jennings excited about his cohorts, but his quarterbacks are also stoked about him.
J.J. McCarthy on Jennings: “I’m so happy to have that guy as part of the squad. Jennings has got great energy about him. I’ve been watching him for a long time. He’s been doing it at a really high level for a long time, and we’re blessed to have him as part of this group. It’s just building those on-time and on-rhythm passes for each concept, each route. It’s just tremendous to be around that guy every single day.”
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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings runs his route during second-quarter action against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sep. 28, 2025, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Jennings remained involved in San Francisco’s offensive attack as the 49ers looked to generate explosive plays and maintain control during an interconference matchup early in the 2025 regular season. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images.
Kyler Murray sang Jennings’s praises, too: “Jauan, honestly, getting to meet him now, it’s been great. I understand what type of competitor he is. He’s kind of given us fits for the past couple of years. Just really a dog, you know. Throw it his way, pretty, ugly, whatever way it gets done. That’s the type of energy and juice he brings to the team and the field.”
Jennings has logged 15 touchdowns in the last two seasons. Vikings fans hope that production will transfer to the Twin Cities.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Leinster v Lions URC Quarter-Final Preview: Team News, Stats And Betting Angle
James Lowe is set to make his 100th Leinster appearance as Leo Cullen names his side for Saturday night’s BKT United Rugby Championship quarter-final against the Fidelity SecureDrive Lions at the Aviva Stadium.
The game kicks off at 8pm and will be shown live on TG4 and Premier Sports 1.
Caelan Doris captains Leinster from number eight, with six changes to the matchday squad from the Investec Champions Cup final. Lowe returns to the side after equalling Shane Horgan’s all-time Leinster try-scoring record of 69 tries in his last outing.
Big Talking Point
Wow.
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Ciarán Frawley being left out of the 23 is a very strange call unless there is an injury issue involved. Someone at Leinster may end up regretting not giving him a proper run at 10 over the last two years.
The Lions should be a lot more confident after seeing this Leinster starting team. Leinster are still packed with quality, but with Sam Prendergast and Luke McGrath starting at half-back, and Frawley not involved, there is definitely a betting angle here.
The handicap is Lions +15, and that looks huge based on this team news.
Recent URC Form
Leinster Last Six URC Matches
Glasgow Warriors 38-17 Leinster
Leinster 36-19 Scarlets
Ulster 21-29 Leinster
Benetton 29-26 Leinster
Leinster 31-7 Lions
Leinster 68-14 Ospreys
Lions Last Six URC Matches
Lions 54-17 Edinburgh
Lions 42-26 Dragons
Lions 54-12 Glasgow Warriors
Lions 33-21 Connacht
Leinster 31-7 Lions
Munster 24-17 Lions
The Lions have lost their last two matches in Ireland, but before that they had put together a seriously impressive run, including big home wins over Glasgow, Connacht, Edinburgh and Dragons.
Head-To-Head
25 February 2022: Leinster 21-13 Lions
15 April 2023: Lions 36-39 Leinster
20 April 2024: Lions 44-12 Leinster
26 October 2024: Leinster 24-6 Lions
09 May 2026: Leinster 31-7 Lions
Leinster have won four of the five URC meetings between the sides, with the Lions’ only win coming in Johannesburg in April 2024.
Key Match Stats
This is Leinster’s eleventh successive appearance in the URC play-offs.
Leinster have won all five URC quarter-finals they have played, with all five taking place in Dublin.
Leinster’s only defeat in their last five URC matches was away to Benetton.
The Lions have reached the URC play-offs for the first time.
The Lions’ last eight URC matches have all been won by the home team on the day.
The Lions’ only victory in ten visits to Ireland was a 38-14 win over Connacht in March 2024.
The only away victory in this fixture was Leinster’s 39-36 win in Johannesburg in April 2023.
Top Scorers This Season
Leinster
Top try scorer: Joshua Kenny – 9 tries
Scott Penny – 5 tries
Tommy O’Brien – 5 tries
Top points scorer: Harry Byrne – 67 points
Sam Prendergast – 56 points
Joshua Kenny – 45 points
Ciarán Frawley – 27 points
Lions
Top try scorer: Ruan Venter – 7 tries
Henco van Wyk – 6 tries
Francke Horn – 5 tries
Sibabalwe Mahashe – 5 tries
Top points scorer: Chris Smith – 154 points
Ruan Venter – 35 points
Henco van Wyk – 30 points
Leinster Rugby Starting XV
1. A. Porter 2. D. Sheehan 3. T. Furlong 4. J. McCarthy 5. J. Ryan 6. M. Deegan 7. S. Penny 8. C. Doris (C) 9. L. McGrath 10. S. Prendergast 11. J. Lowe 12. J. Osborne 13. R. Ioane 14. J. O’Brien 15. H. Keenan
Replacements
16. G. McCarthy 17. A. Usanov 18. T. Clarkson 19. D. Mangan 20. J. van der Flier 21. J. Gibson-Park 22. H. Byrne 23. R. Henshaw
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Match Details
Fixture: Leinster Rugby v Fidelity SecureDrive Lions
Competition: BKT United Rugby Championship Quarter-Final
Venue: Aviva Stadium
Kick-off: Saturday, 8pm
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TV: TG4 and Premier Sports 1
Referee: Sam Grove-White
Verdict
Leinster should still win this game. Their pack is stacked, Doris captains the side, Lowe returns for a landmark 100th appearance, and the bench contains serious international quality in Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Harry Byrne and Robbie Henshaw.
However, this does not feel like a full-throttle Leinster selection. Frawley missing out is the eyebrow-raiser, and the Lions have enough power and attacking threat to stay within range if they start well.
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Prediction: Leinster to win, but Lions +15 looks a big handicap.
When Vaibhav Sooryavanshi attended the Rajasthan Royals trials back in the day, neither did he possess the pronounced back-lift nor the super-sonic bat speed that has now forced an entire bowlers’ industry to suffer from chronic nightmares. But with a gifted cricket brain and clarity to die for, Sooryavanshi often reminds Zubin Bharucha of a young Sachin Tendulkar, who had similar traits when he was 15. Bharucha, possibly one of the best modern day batting mentors in the country, who also worked with Sooryavanshi, gave a ringside view of the science in his batting and the elements that make him special.
“One of Vaibhav’s rare qualities is his ability to grow alongside the game. What people see today is not what existed when he was eight years old. This exaggerated backlift, for example, evolved progressively as the quality and pace of bowling improved around him,” Bharucha told PTI during an interaction.
In fact, Bharucha, who back then was associated with the Royals spoke about how the coaches worked on his bat speed before the start of the 2025 Indian Premier League.
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“Interestingly, at the trial he attended, he did not even possess the fastest bat speed amongst the group. This was identified and worked on diligently for a period of three months where we were able to improve it by another thirty percent,” the former Mumbai batter recalled.
So what exactly separates Sooryavanshi from other talented young batters who are coming through the ranks? “That ability to delay commitment, to almost suspend time for a fraction longer, is one of the defining traits of elite batting,” Bharucha replied.
Deconstructing Sooryavanshi’s technique
If one has watched Sooryavanshi, the footwork has been minimal where he has mostly stood and delivered with an amazing bat-speed armed with a high back-lift. But there is a slight trigger of the backfoot which allows him to use the depth of the crease.
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“A lot of that comes from his loading onto the backfoot and his back-lift. The back-lift is not merely a stylistic feature; it acts almost like a self-propagating depth-perception mechanism. As the ball travels, the body, hands, and eyes work together to create spatial awareness.
“Great batters do not just react to the ball, they seem to receive extra information from it. That is incredibly difficult to teach because it sits at the intersection of vision, timing, balance, and instinct,” said Bharucha.
While he is much younger compared to team’s senior players like Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel, his training routines haven’t been any different from them.
“Jurel. There is no radically different magic formula.” “The process is built around deconstruction and reconstruction — breaking the batting down into smaller components, identifying inefficiencies, and then rebuilding movements and decisions in a more repeatable way. The core objective is always risk reduction through fault reduction, while simultaneously enhancing scoring options.” What one has noticed in Sooryavanshi’s batting is the increase in scoring options. In 2025, his scoring chart was dominated by shots on the on-side but in this one year, he has developed shots on the off as well.
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“At the highest level, batting development is as much about adding range as it is about removing weaknesses and increasing clarity under pressure.
“What is interesting is that his practice routines between IPL seasons have not dramatically changed. He has been hitting roughly the same volume of balls for the last couple of years.
“With elite sport, people often search for some secret technical breakthrough, but more often than not the biggest shift is belief,” Bharucha said, relating from his decades of coaching young talent, who come up through the system.
So what has been the difference between Sooryavanshi of 2025 and Sooryavanshi of 2026? “The difference now is that his confidence has multiplied,” Bharucha answered.
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“Earlier, he knew he could dominate U19 bowlers. Now he believes the same methods, the same tempo, and the same instincts can work against international bowlers as well. That internal shift is enormous. Talent gives players a ceiling, but belief is often what allows them to actually reach it.” Sooryavanshi is enjoying a high but obviously there will be low phases like it happens with every player. The noise around him will increase exponentially but Bharucha feels that after Tendulkar, he hasn’t seen any teenager with such clarity.
“In that sense, he reminds me very much of a young Sachin Tendulkar. Not necessarily stylistically, but in terms of maturity and clarity. Some players arrive young in age but already old in understanding. He is one such,” said Bharucha.
“It would be unrealistic to suggest that he will somehow be immune to the struggles every cricketer experiences. Failure, scrutiny, and the weight of expectation are unavoidable parts of any sporting career, particularly in India but what stands out, though, are some of the qualities he possesses beyond pure skill.
“His leadership instincts and his cricket intelligence are unusually advanced for someone so young. He processes situations quickly and has a natural awareness of the game around him.” While there are people skeptical about how he will fare in red ball cricket, Bharucha won’t mind if selectors throw him towards the deep end of the pool.
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“So if the belief is that he has the capability, then there is also an argument that throwing him into the deep end may actually accelerate his learning. Great players often adapt quicker against the highest standard because their learning curve sharpens under pressure.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Legendary NFL agent Leigh Steinberg, who has represented a record eight first-overall draft picks and is the subject of the hit sports movie “Jerry Maguire,” has revealed his judgment on Jaxson Dart’s decision to introduce President Donald Trump at a recent rally.
Steinberg also revealed he once helped with a coalition called “Athletes for Obama,” but it was canceled before it was even announced, and why.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart greets President Donald Trump during a Fighting For American Workers event in Suffern, N.Y., on May 22, 2026.(AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Steinberg agreed that the recent backlash against Dart by the mainstream media is “overblown.”
“I do, because again, there’s a long history of athletes backing Democratic candidates,” Steinberg said when asked if he believed the backlash was “overblown.”
“Athletes like LeBron James and Stephen Curry have openly backed Democratic candidates, with little comparative comparable backlash.”
Dart’s presence at the Trump rally was limited to the quarterback leading a simple “Go Big Blue!” chant and then introducing Trump with the phrase, “I’m grateful, I’m honored, I’m pleasured to introduce the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America, President Donald J. Trump!”
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Dart did not make any political statement at the rally. Steinberg believes that making a political statement is a line that Dart was smart not to cross.
“If he had gotten up and done a partisan speech, that would have been a step too far… we like athletes to be accessible to people of all political persuasions,” Steinberg said.
NFL quarterback Jaxson Dart hugs President Donald Trump during a Fighting For American Workers event in Suffern, N.Y., on May 22, 2026.(Ryan Murphy/AP)
“Traditionally, the president of the United States has various roles. On the one hand, he is partisan and, on the other hand, he is apolitical, he is the representative of our country. If the president is not partisan in the event, then it is particularly appropriate to introduce him.”
Steinberg was only concerned for Dart at a moment during the event when Trump was speaking, and invoked Dart in a bit that appeared related to the issue of trans athletes in women’s sports.
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Trump asked Dart how he would fare competing against women, before saying “this is not a good thing for women,” during the speech.
“The president evidently talked about transgender issues, and that’s another particularly polarizing issue,” Steinberg said. “I would not want Jaxson Dart to be in the middle of a controversy about transgender athletes.”
Ultimately, from a business perspective, Steinberg believes that Dart’s introduction of the president can be advantageous to the quarterback’s brand and marketing potential.
“He’s making friendships, making contacts, meeting business people, doing a variety of things,” Steinberg said.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart as he arrives to speak at Rockland Community College in Suffern, N.Y., on May 22, 2026.(Alex Brandon/AP)
“There’s endorsements that can come because of elevated profile. There are plenty of people who backed the president who owned businesses that could he could have equity in or own or do endorsements with.
“And public speaking is always the skill and being able to connect with the crowd, and so there are a lot of ways in which you could help him.”
‘Athletes for Obama’
Steinberg said that back in 2008, as an NFL super agent, he was helping to organize an interest group called “Athletes for Obama.”
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However, after Obama’s Republican opponent, the late John McCain, began using campaign tactics to portray Obama as a “celebrity” candidate, the interest group was canceled, per Steinberg.
“They never announced the organization because it came at a time where McCain kept making the point that he was a ‘celebrity,’” Steinberg said. “They never announced it because McCain made a big political issue out of the fact that this was a ‘celebrity’ candidate, that he wasn’t serious about stuff.”
However, Steinberg said that each of the athletes that originally committed to “Athletes for Obama” ended up endorsing Obama individually anyway.
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“There were a whole lot of athletes who endorsed Obama when he ran for president. Of course, he was the perfect athletic candidate, because he was Black, he was young, he was athletic himself,” Steinberg said.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
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