MEDINAH, Ill. — My email friend Sam wants me to start a movement. 

Here’s what he wrote a couple of weeks ago:

Hi, Mr. Piastowski. 

Week after week during the golf season as we watch the LPGA tournaments, we mostly see players from Korea, Thailand, Japan and China dominate the leaderboard. 

When Nelly Korda plays, we will almost always see she is among the top three or five. Other than Nelly, there are not many others from the U.S. or Europe to challenge the players from the above countries.

Well-recognized journalists like you should start a movement to encourage the LPGA Tour to organize a new Cup that will pit the best of the Asia-Pacific and other parts of the world against U.S./Europe. 

Undoubtedly, the Solheim Cup has a long history and is a well-promoted event. But that does not change the fact that many of the best women players today come from elsewhere.

So let’s start a movement. OK, what do we need? First the truth, which is this:

Have you freaking seen what a women’s international team would look like? It doesn’t just include players from the world rankings. It is the world rankings. Below is a potential 12-woman roster, plus a sub (who’s included for a reason, which we’ll get to in a sec):

Jeeno Thitikul, Thailand, world No. 2
Haeran Ryu, Korea, world No. 3
Hyojoo Kim, Korea, world No. 4
Miyu Yamashita, Japan, world No. 5
Ruoning Yin, China, world No. 6
Sei Young Kim, Korea, world No. 9
Hannah Green, Australia, world No. 10
Brooke Henderson, Canada, world No. 11
Lydia Ko, New Zealand, world No. 12
Shiho Kuwaki, Japan, No. 13
Gaby Lopez, Mexico, world No. 14   
Minsol Kim, Korea, world No. 15
Minjee Lee, Australia, world No. 16

Tuesday afternoon, I scribbled out that list on a notepad and showed it to Ryan Fox of New Zealand. 

“No. 16 being the worst?” Fox said. “That would be the strongest team on paper of any of the teams — U.S. team, U.S. men’s team, whatever. 

“Maybe that’s why they won’t do it.”

Maybe. Thing is, there is an International team — an International men’s one. This week at Medinah Country Club, Fox and 11 other of the best golfers outside of Europe are playing their event, the Presidents Cup, where they’ll meet a dozen of the best Americans. And there’s also the Solheim Cup, which pits 12 U.S. women against 12 European women — and it had its latest playing two weeks ago, leading to Sam’s email. But there’s no 12-woman International team. Because there isn’t a 12-woman International women’s event. 

There is a four-woman, eight-team event with international players — the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown, and next year, it will be played at Lake Merced Golf Club in California. But why no International version of the Solheim? One answer may come from TV ratings — after all, this year’s Solheim, according to the Sports Business Journal’s Josh Carpenter, attracted just 179,000 viewers to Golf Channel on Saturday and 170,000 on Sunday (By comparison, Sunday singles at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black peaked at 5.3 million viewers). But it was also played in the Netherlands, which is six hours ahead of the East Coast, and it was played on week one of the NFL season, which dominates all. You’d also have to think, though, that an International women’s event would go over well in the golf-mad countries of the international side.   

What about a mixed — six men and six women — International event? It’s a good idea, and it’s occasionally suggested during Presidents Cup years, due to lopsided results (the Internationals have won just once in 15 tries.) I actually asked my email friend Sam about that, and he thought it could work, before adding: “It may be a disservice to those women players. They need to showcase their talents on a one-on-one against the Europe/USA women. That will get lost when you mix it up with men.” International men’s team members will also say, of course, they believe they can close the gap on the record on their own.

But what our movement really needs is high-profile support, and here at Medinah we got that over and over. 

From Fox. From Corey Conners. From Adam Scott. From Nick Taylor. From Si Woo Kim. From Tom Kim. From those players’ International captain this week, Geoff Ogilvy. To save you time, trust us that Si Woo Kim’s thought on a potential women’s team reflected everyone else’s: “These are a beast.” 

But what about the brother of the 13th woman on the list? I also showed the roster to Min Woo Lee of the Internationals. 

“That’s a pretty — yeah, I mean the worst player is my sister, and she’s 16th in the world,” he said. 

“Yeah, it would be a pretty good team.”

Even the Americans were on board. Xander Schauffele said he thought sponsors would buy in. Speaking of selling … 

What our movement really needs is a bit of spice. 

And we got that, too. 

I showed the list to Wyndham Clark of the U.S.

“Yeah, we’d have stress,” he said. “I mean, it’s basically two through 16 [in the world]. Yeah, that would be tough. 

“Maybe we shouldn’t do it because we’d probably lose.” 

“>

The Eagles’ final drive against Tennessee had the ingredients of a movie. Now the team has delivered it.

Philadelphia shared a cinematic look at Jalen Hurts‘ late comeback after he led the Eagles 65 yards in nine plays with no timeouts. The possession took 1 minute, 47 seconds and ended with Hurts finding Darius Cooper over the middle for a 3-yard touchdown with nine seconds remaining. Jake Elliott’s extra point gave Philadelphia a 24-20 win and a 2-0 start.

Advertisement

The ending carried more weight because of what came before it. Hurts threw two interceptions, including one Amani Hooker returned for 92 yards, putting the Eagles in an early hole. Saquon Barkley left briefly with a stinger, and Dallas Goedert exited with a knee injury. Philadelphia still had one chance to take the lead when its offense got the ball back.

Ladd McConkey, Jalen Coker and Josh Downs are among the wide receivers positioned to deliver strong Week 3 performances

Advertisement

Sep 23, 2026

at

7:19 pm ET

•

1 min read

A new Olympic-standard boxing ring recently acquired by the Akwa Ibom State Government made its competitive debut on Wednesday, September 23, as boxing action got underway at the 2026 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival.

The new ring provided the setting for the first bout of the day, with Peter of Eket facing Sylvester of Ibiono Ibom.

After an exciting contest, Sylvester emerged victorious to record the first win on the newly acquired ring.

The bout was one of several boxing contests held on Wednesday, with athletes from across the 31 Local Government Areas competing for honours at the ongoing Sports Festival.

The competitive debut of the ring adds another milestone to the state’s investment in sporting infrastructure and equipment.

The ring was officially unveiled on April 10 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, during a colourful ceremony organised by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Sports.

The customised Olympic-standard ring was acquired as part of a wider range of sporting equipment procured by the ministry to improve athletes’ training and enable the state to host more competitions.

Excitement Around The Ring

The new ring attracted considerable attention from athletes, officials and spectators at the Sports Festival venue.

One of the spectators, Eno James, praised Governor Pastor Umo Eno for the investment in sports equipment and facilities.

> “This is something we should be proud of as Akwa Ibom people. The Governor has shown that he wants our athletes to have the right equipment to train and compete. Seeing this new ring being used today is a clear sign that the investment is beginning to have an impact.”

For 16-year-old Mfoniso Jeremiah from Udung Uko, being at the venue and seeing the new ring up close was an experience he will remember.

> “It was a delight for me to see the ring and even step on it. I have watched boxing on television, but seeing a standard ring like this physically was exciting for me. I am happy that Akwa Ibom now has equipment like this.”

Supporters from different parts of Akwa Ibom also expressed excitement as the ring hosted its first competitive bouts, with many praising the state government for providing modern equipment for athletes.

The boxing ring is one of several pieces of sporting equipment acquired by the state and now being put to competitive use.

Akwa Ibom’s boxing team recently returned from the Niger Delta Games in Edo State with two gold and two bronze medals. The team also won one gold, one silver and one bronze medal at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

More boxing bouts were held at the 2026 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival on Wednesday, with the results of the remaining contests expected to be released subsequently.

Barcelona rule out Alvarez signing from Atletico Madrid, Liverpool will not allow Wirtz departure, and Chelsea target English midfield duo.

Barcelona have ruled out signing Argentina forward Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid in January, with the 24-year-old waiting to see whether Paris St-Germain or Arsenal make a bid for him, or whether he should stay put. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

Liverpool will not countenance selling Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz, 23, to Bayern Munich in the January transfer window, while the German giants would only consider making a move next summer if France winger Michael Olise, 24, turns down a new deal. (Christian Falk – Bayern Insider/Bild), external

Bournemouth‘s Alex Scott, 23, and Crystal Palace and England’s Adam Wharton, 22, are Chelsea‘s primary midfield targets, with the West London club no longer interested in Monaco and Senegal’s Lamine Camara, 22. (CaughtOffside, external)

Aston Villa are keen to tie Argentina midfielder Emi Buendia, 29, to a new contract as a reward for his outstanding form (Mail), external

England left-back Luke Shaw, 31, could leave Manchester United when his present deal expires with the club next summer. (Teamtalk), external

Udinese are set to sign Austria defender David Alaba, 34, who left Real Madrid in the summer. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Sep 19, 2026; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up before a game against the UTSA Roadrunners at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Our Current Best Offers

Channel debug: football

Our Current Best Offers

Channel debug: football

If you are following Ireland into November, you have plenty to look forward to as the 2026 Nations Championship reaches its second phase, with interest around each Test.

Ireland are scheduled to face Argentina at Aviva Stadium on 6 November, Fiji on 14 November and South Africa on 21 November, giving you three different Tests to assess in Dublin.

These fixtures also have added significance, as the Nations Championship forms part of World Rugby’s revised international calendar. Ireland enter November with two wins and one defeat from the opening July block, having beaten Australia 33-31 and Japan 36-20 before losing 40-21 to New Zealand. That record gives you useful form data before November.

Understanding rugby betting markets

If you are new to rugby betting, it helps to understand what each market is actually measuring before you look at prices. Match-result markets focus on the winner while handicap markets adjust the starting margin between the teams. Total-points markets concern the combined score while player markets can focus on tries or other individual statistics where available.

You can compare recent performances, home advantage and each opponent’s tactical profile before considering any market. Ireland’s November opponents offer three contrasting tests, so one recent result tells you little on its own. Argentina finished the July block with one win and two defeats, Fiji lost all three matches while South Africawon all three and currently lead their half of the competition.

Look closely at recent form

Recent form gives you a useful starting point, but you need to look beyond the final score. Ireland’s 33-31 victory over Australia showed their ability to win a close contest, while the 36-20 success against Japan produced a more comfortable margin. The 40-21 defeat to New Zealand highlighted the challenge posed by a side capable of creating repeated attacking opportunities.

Argentina also produced mixed results, losing to Scotland and England before beating Wales, while Fiji struggled across their three matches. South Africa provide the strongest recent record, as they beat England, Scotland and Wales in the July Nations Championship block before defeating New Zealand twice in August and September. Those results give you useful context when you examine rugby betting around Ireland’s November fixtures.

Consider the match-up

Team rankings and win-loss records are useful, but rugby is built around specific tactical contests, so look at how strengths and weaknesses interact. Ireland’s ability to control possession, protect the ball and create pressure through phases can look different against Argentina’s physical approach, Fiji’s open attacking style or South Africa’s powerful forward game.

Set-piece performance also deserves attention, as scrum stability and lineout efficiency can influence territory and scoring opportunities. You can also examine defensive numbers, turnover rates and points conceded across recent matches. World Rugby’s current Nations Championship table has South Africa and New Zealand unbeaten after three matches, as Ireland sit on two wins from three. That wider picture gives your rugby betting research more substance than a ranking comparison.

Selection and injuries matter

You should also keep an eye on team selection as November approaches because international rugby squads can change significantly between matches. A new half-back pairing can alter tempo, while front-row changes can affect scrum performance. Ireland already rotated heavily during the July campaign, with Andy Farrell resting several established players against Japan before recalling many of them for the New Zealand match.

That approach showed how selection can depend on fixture sequence and player workload. For rugby betting, confirmed starting XVs ultimately provide more useful information than early assumptions about who will take the field. Injury updates matter too, as one late withdrawal can alter a team’s balance before kick-off.

Home advantage and scheduling

Playing three November Tests at Aviva Stadium gives Ireland a familiar setting although each opponent arrives with different preparation and travel demands. Argentina’s visit comes first on 6 November, Fiji follow eight days later and South Africa arrive one week after that, so the sequence creates a demanding run of matches.

South Africa also have their own autumn schedule, with Ireland travelling to Cape Town on 24 October before the Dublin meeting later in November. That earlier fixture provides another reference point for rugby betting, as you can compare both meetings without treating either result as definitive. Scheduling can affect selection, recovery and tactical planning, so consider the full calendar when assessing November internationals.

Responsible rugby betting

Rugby betting is best approached as entertainment with financial risk, so you should decide what you are comfortable spending before placing any wager. Strong rugby knowledge does not remove uncertainty, as injuries, refereeing decisions and tactical changes can alter a match quickly.

If you notice that gambling is becoming difficult to control, support is available in Ireland through services such as Problem Gambling Ireland, while the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is the statutory regulator for gambling in the Republic. Keeping spending separate from essential household costs can help you maintain perspective throughout the international window. The November Tests offer plenty to analyse, so the sport remains the focus. 18+ only.