Trimming down a big-league roster to 26 players is no simple task, particularly when dealing with a squad that advanced to the World Series the year before.
Such was the dilemma Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins ran into when cutting down the team’s roster for Opening Day (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, Friday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT), forcing him to make tough decisions such as cutting infielder Leo Jimenez and pitcher Angel Bastardo.
The decision to cut Jimenez was a particularly tough one, as, according to Atkins, it came down to a battle between Jimenez and fan favourite Davis Schneider.
“The decision to DFA Leo is a very difficult one because he’s a very good player that provided another layer for us. Not just depth, he can make an impact on a major-league team. So that’s a very difficult one for us,” Atkins said on Thursday at the Blue Jays’ media day availabilities before Opening Day.
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“But Davis has proven that he belongs here and was integral to last year’s success. Felt like he was too important to not have in an everyday lineup at this point, or just a part of every day’s game, at this point.”
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Jimenez, who the Blue Jays signed as a free agent back in 2017, was designated for assignment when the team released its official opening-day roster on Wednesday.
In sporadic appearances across two major-league seasons, the Panamanian middle infielder batted .207 with a .635 OPS and five home runs in 81 games.
While he continued to play solid defence for the Blue Jays at spring training, the 25-year-old batted .231 with a .541 OPS in 14 games.
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Schneider, meanwhile, has a .217 batting average and a .736 OPS with 32 home runs over three seasons with the Blue Jays — enough for Atkins to feel he had “earned this right.”
Also factoring into the choice to keep Schneider was the team’s organizational depth in the minors in the infield, with Atkins feeling as though the team was covered enough across the positions to prioritize the outfield depth Schneider can provide.
“Fortunately, we do have some players in triple-A. Kasevich performed very well in spring training; we do have some confidence in him,” Atkins said. “We will be active in trying to acquire depth in that area as well. We also have versatility in our current roster. We feel that we’re covered, but we’re never gonna stop working and trying to have a little bit more depth there.”
Atkins also touched on the choice to roll with righty Spencer Miles — a recent Rule 5 Draft pick — calling the decision “pretty straightforward.”
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“He earned it. We’re gonna give him some runway and see how he does,” Atkins said of the 25-year-old. “Excited about the stuff, the power, the ability to spin the ball, the ability to attack both sides of the plate. … Looking forward to seeing how that goes.”
The Blue Jays selected the reliever from the San Francisco Giants in December’s Rule 5 Draft, and he had been competing with fellow righty Chase Lee for the final bullpen spot throughout spring training. Lee was optioned to triple-A on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old Miles was sidelined in 2025 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.
He spent the 2024 season in the Arizona Complex League, pitching to a 4.91 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings.
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Through 9.2 spring-training innings with the Blue Jays, Miles has a 3.72 ERA with 11 strikeouts and five walks.
The Blue Jays kick off their season on Friday with a showdown against the Athletics.
Feb 21, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The rich got even richer this past offseason when the Los Angeles Dodgers bolstered both their starting lineup and their bullpen in moves that caused many of the sport’s aficionados to cry foul.
After a World Series title in each of the last two seasons, the Dodgers appear to be even bigger championship favorites this season with the additions of right fielder Kyle Tucker and right-handed closer Edwin Diaz.
The prohibitive favorite tag suggests that nobody can touch the Dodgers’ combination of unlimited financial resources and immense roster talent. And yet the past two seasons show that the gap might not be as wide as it appears.
In 2024, the Dodgers barely got past the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series, needing to win the last two games of the five-game matchup just to advance. The Dodgers then rolled past the New York Mets and had their way with the New York Yankees in the World Series.
In 2025, the Dodgers did not have MLB’s best record in the regular season. That belonged to the Milwaukee Brewers at 97-65, who were operating with a payroll more than $200 million less than the $321 million the Dodgers were spending. The Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays and Yankees also finished with better regular-season records last year.
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The Phillies were on the cusp of forcing a deciding game in the division series, which would have been at home, before a befuddling fielding miscue cost them in Game 4. In the World Series, the Blue Jays outplayed the Dodgers in plenty of areas, only to fall in Game 7 when L.A. stuck out its nose at the wire to win it.
Is there a team that can put a similar scare into the Dodgers in 2026? There are 29 options for knocking the king from its throne.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
After almost doing what was believed to be the unthinkable last postseason, the Blue Jays are poised as the team that appears to be the most capable of delivering a change at the top of the MLB hierarchy.
Vladimir Gurrero Jr. had the Dodgers’ full attention last fall and Ernie Clement’s profile in Los Angeles was raised exponentially after he put a scare into all of Los Angeles. If Addison Barger’s bat continues to emerge and the pitching staff can thrive once Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios return from injuries, Toronto could be poised for another deep October run.
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NEW YORK YANKEES
Sep 12, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) reacts after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
There are no significant departures from a team that was tied with the Blue Jays for best regular-season record in the American League at 94-68. Cody Bellinger is back in the fold and Aaron Judge continues to lead the way with an AVERAGE of 52.5 home runs over the past four seasons.
Will Giancarlo Stanton, Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon make significant contributions? Jasson Dominguez is poised to be a difference maker. Max Fried will try to hold things together at the top of the rotation while waiting for Gerrit Cole (elbow) and Carlos Rodon (elbow) to return at some point in the first half.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
While the Blue Jays or Yankees can only deliver a knockout blow to the Dodgers in the World Series, the Phillies can take care of business much earlier if they can find their late-season form from a season ago. Sure Philadelphia fell 3-1 to the Dodgers in the NL Division Series, but the matchup was closer than it now appears.
The Dodgers clinched the series in the 11th inning of Game 4 but only because of a mental blunder on defense by pitcher Orion Kirkering. The Phillies were that close to heading back home for a deciding Game 5 with a full head of steam. Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber form a formidable offense.
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NEW YORK METS
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) works during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
There were big changes in Queens this offseason as Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr. and Marcus Semien all were significant roster additions with departures of the likes of Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte.
The painful departure was Diaz to the Dodgers. Can Brett Baty and/or Mark Vientos deliver the kind of production that has been expected? Like the Dodgers, the Mets have a free-spender in owner Steve Cohen, who is going to figure it out eventually, just as long as his big-spending ways year after year do not make him queasy. The Mets took two games off the Dodgers in the 2024 NLCS but flopped at 83-79 last season.
SEATTLE MARINERS
Unable to advance to the World Series at any point in their history, the Mariners were at the door of the Fall Classic when they lost to the Blue Jays in Game 7 of last year’s ALCS. Cal Raleigh, with his 60-homer season, has supplanted Julio Rodriguez as the team’s offense anchor.
Perhaps that relief alone will help Rodriguez to get off to an elusive fast start. Josh Naylor is back at first base and Brendan Donovan has arrived to put a charge into the top of the order. Seattle was supposed to have an all-pitch, sporadic-hit personality last season only to have Raleigh flip the script with the most home runs ever from a catcher and a switch hitter. If the Seattle pitchers have their way this season, perhaps baseball will be spending the fall in the Pacific Northwest.
The mega valuation that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) generated as they changed hands ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has seen the world take note of the T20 competition. A consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group (ABG) on Tuesday acquired a 100 percent equity stake in RCB for a whopping USD 1.78 billion (approximately Rs 16,706 crore) from its current owner, United Spirits Limited. RR was acquired by a US-based Kal Somani-led consortium for USD 1.63 billion (approximately Rs 15,290 crore). The Somani-led consortium includes Rob Walton from the Walmart family and the Hamp family (Ford Motor Company). Combined, the teams are now valued at over Rs 31,000 crore.
Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal believes the valuation will only rise in the coming years. His bold declaration is that each team will be worth USD 4 to 5 billion (Rs 37,600 crore to Rs 47,000 crore) in the next decade.
“In both the deals, whether it was Rajasthan Royals or RCB, it was an unbelievable valuation. I entered the IPL in 2019 when I took a 50 percent stake in the then Delhi Daredevils, which is now the Delhi Capitals. I had a tough time convincing my father that we should spend Rs 550 crore for a 50 percent stake. Now I look like a genius,” Parth Jindal said at a forum.
“When the last media rights went for Rs 50,000 crore, that was the moment IPL truly arrived. The viewership numbers are there for all to see. If any media company wants to play in India, they have to play the IPL. If any brand wants to play in India and gain visibility, they have to play the IPL. The advent of the WPL was a watershed moment for the sport. The thing about sports is that it is almost seen as a safe asset today. Today, consistency in viewership can only be achieved through the IPL; hence it has become a very attractive property. This is a scarce asset, and there are only 10 IPL teams. Everybody would want a piece of it. I won’t be surprised if each IPL team in the next decade is worth USD 4 to 5 billion.”
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The mega deal for RCB from the consortium – which also includes Blackstone’s perpetual private equity strategy, BXPE (with Viral Patel as CEO), Bolt Ventures owned by American investor David Blitzer, and media conglomerate Times of India – makes it the costliest IPL team ever.
Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill did not hold back while giving his opinion on the Impact Player rule in IPL. The GT skipper said that he does not like the rule because in his view, the Impact Player takes the skill out of the game and makes it a more batter-friendly sport.
At the pre-season press conference of Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, Shubman Gill was asked about his thoughts on the Impact Player rule. Ahead of IPL 2026, reports surfaced claiming that a few captains were not happy with the existing Impact Player rule.
It seems like Gill was one of those few names because here’s what he had to say about the Impact Player rule:
“Personally for me, I don’t think there should be Impact Player. I think cricket in general is an 11-player game, and on wickets where we play, on the grounds that we play, adding an extra batsman is, I think, it takes the skill out of the game.”
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Gill further commented that chasing 160 or 180 without an Impact Player on tricky pitches leads to more exciting matches than the ones where 220-240 are chased down easily on flat decks with an Impact Player. He thought the Impact Player rule made the game more one-dimensional.
“So I mean it’s going to be there till 2027, it’s something that we also spoke about in the captains’ meeting yesterday,” Gill added.
Impact Player rule was introduced in the year 2023. Since then, the run rate in IPL matches has increased significantly, with teams chasing down 200+ targets successfully without breaking much sweat.
“I don’t like it that much”- Shubman Gill gives his honest take on the Impact Player rule
At the same press conference, Shubman Gill said that although the Impact Player rule makes the game more entertaining for the spectators, he does not it like it much.
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“I understand it makes the game bit more entertaining but let’s see, it’s there, it’s up to them what the BCCI is going to take their decision but personally I don’t like it that much,” Shubman Gill concluded.
The Impact Player rule is here to stay in IPL 2026. It will be interesting to see how captain Gill uses the Impact Player while leading the Gujarat Titans in IPL matches this year.
Adelaide Oval will play host to Sunday’s
Round 3 AFL game between Port Adelaide Power and
West Coast Eagles. The game kicks off at 12:30 pm with Port Adelaide Power heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Port Adelaide Power vs.
West Coast Eagles
game and give you our free tips and bets.
West Coast and Port Adelaide meet in a contest featuring two sides looking to exceed expectations. The Eagles showed promising signs in their win over North Melbourne, with emerging talents leading the way and improved midfield performance proving decisive. Port Adelaide also impressed in a dominant victory over Essendon, though the loss of Connor Rozee presents a challenge. The midfield battle shapes as crucial, with West Coast’s ability to generate forward entries a key strength. While still early in their development, the Eagles’ recent performance offered optimism, setting up a competitive encounter against an experienced Port lineup.
Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua has been sued for assault and battery by a woman who claims he made an antisemitic remark and bit her on the shoulder on New Year’s Eve.
According to TMZ, the civil lawsuit was filed this week in Los Angeles. The suit also cites gender violence and negligence.
Plaintiff Madison Atiabi and her attorney, Joseph Kar, claim Nacua made an antisemitic comment that emotionally distressed her when they were together in Century City.
She claims Nacua bit her and left teeth marks on her shoulder when they were in a van together later in the night, and she says Nacua also bit her friend’s thumb.
Nacua’s attorney, Levi McCathern, has already strongly denied Nacua made any antisemitic statements. He described the bites as “horseplay.”
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Nacua is accused of biting a woman on her shoulder (AP)
Nacua had previously issued an apology last December after performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes while appearing on an internet livestream.
In his apology on Instagram, Nacua wrote: “I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people,” he stated.
“I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions as I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotry or hate of another group of people.”
Nacua has been one of the most productive receivers in NFL history over his first three seasons with the Rams, who drafted him out of BYU in 2023 with the final pick of the fifth round.
He led the league with 129 catches last season while racking up 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns before leading the NFL again with 24 catches for 332 yards and two TDs in the playoffs.
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Nacua is eligible to sign a contract extension with the Rams this offseason that undoubtedly would make him one of the highest-paid receivers in NFL history, but the Rams haven’t announced any progress on a new deal.
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) turns upfield after securing a catch, gaining yards as Minnesota cornerback Fabian Moreau (23) closes in during first-quarter action on Nov. 16, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis as Chicago worked through an early offensive drive. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
One little secret about 2025 Minnesota Vikings football? Veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau held up quite nicely when Jeff Okudah sustained two concussions (and generally stunk) in the CB3 role. Now, according to Pro Football Network, Moreau might be a fit for the Dallas Cowboys in 2026.
Minnesota has a few cornerback questions left to solve, and last year’s solution could head to Dallas.
Moreau is not an overly hot NFL commodity, but when the dust settles on roster-building after the draft, PFN’s Alex Kennedy claimed the Cowboys could come calling.
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The Cowboys Could Peek at FA CB Fabian Moreau
Moreau has a few seasons left in the tank.
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Fabian Moreau (23) lines up in coverage against the Los Angeles Rams, with the moment unfolding on Jan 13, 2025 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale during an NFC wild card matchup, as he tracks routes and reacts to passing concepts in a high-stakes playoff environment overall performance. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
PFN: DAL Makes Sense for Moreau
Somehow, Moreau made Kennedy’s list of the NFL’s best remaining free agents. Moreau doesn’t typically earn that kind of respect in 2026.
Kennedy explained nevertheless, “Projected Contract: 2 years, $9.4 million AAV. In his last two years as a Viking, Fabian Moreau hasn’t started a game, serving in a heavily rotational role for Minnesota’s secondary. That said, he’s provided quality depth as an outside cornerback for their defense, allowing a passer rating of just 57.6 in 2025.”
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“Moreau’s ball production doesn’t jump off the page because of his smaller sample size compared to other cornerbacks on this list. But he’s been quite efficient on the field, adding a No. 33-ranked 79.5 CBi score in 2025. He’s a high-level depth piece who could slide into a stopgap starting role if need be. Potential Landing Spots: Vikings, Cowboys.”
To date, there have been no serious rumors or steam about Moreau returning to Minnesota after spending the 2024 and 2025 campaigns on Kevin O’Connell’s team.
The Cowboys’ CBs in Late March
Dallas added Cobie Durant as its free-agency splash this month at cornerback, but may still need oomph, including exploring another player at the position in the draft. Here’s the full CB group right now on Jerry Jones’s team:
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Daron Bland
Cobie Durant
Shavon Revel Jr.
Caelen Carson
Trikweze Bridges
Reddy Steward
Josh Butler
Derion Kendrick
Corey Ballentine
Zion Childress
The Cowboys notably cut ties with Trevon Diggs last year, who remains a free agent, and he held down the CB room for years.
Moreau in 2025
Entering the 2025 season, Minnesota’s cornerback depth was a concern. Isaiah Rodgers, Byron Murphy Jr., and Jeff Okudah headlined the position, while Dwight McGlothern and rookie Zemaiah Vaughn were on the practice squad, their potential still largely unknown.
Moreau was also on the roster at the start of the season. When Okudah suffered a concussion, the Vikings elevated Moreau from the practice squad rather than McGlothern.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) secures a touchdown catch over Minnesota Vikings cornerback Fabian Moreau (23), with the play occurring on Dec 1, 2024 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis during third-quarter action, as Moreau contests the pass and attempts to disrupt the scoring grab in tight coverage near the end zone. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Moreau then performed exceptionally well, earning a 70.9 PFF grade and allowing a mere 47.4 passer rating on 19 targets. In essence, he provided solid, dependable play at a position that appeared problematic in August. Although his playing time was limited, he consistently performed well when given the opportunity.
That performance could be valuable heading into 2026. While Moreau is 31, he remains capable of handling CB3 or CB4 duties, either in Minnesota or elsewhere.
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Ultimately, Moreau provided the Vikings with exactly what they needed from a depth cornerback: calm, reliable coverage that provided stability amidst injuries.
The Vikings’ Plan without Moreau
Moreau could still rejoin the Vikings sometime this spring or summer, but for now, the club has given his CB3 roster spot to a new man, free-agent James Pierre from the Pittsburgh Steelers. At 6’2″ and 190 pounds, Pierre is the tallest veteran cornerback expected to get playtime for the Vikings in 2026, which is a big change from the team’s smaller cornerback lineups of the past few years.
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Fabian Moreau (22) secures a football during pregame warmups ahead of a matchup with the Miami Dolphins, with the scene taking place on Oct 24, 2021 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, as he prepares mentally and physically while going through routine drills before kickoff each day. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports.
Besides his size, Pierre’s got some connections, too. He’s Lamar Jackson’s cousin, and Brian Flores adjacently coached him back in 2022 when Flores was the linebackers coach in Pittsburgh. Having spent most of his career with the Steelers, Pierre brings a solid foundation of trust and familiarity.
The Vikings, too, may draft a corner early in the draft; players like Avieon Terrell (Clemson) and Jermod McCoy (Tennessee) are no strangers to the purple mock-draft process.
The Cowboys’ defense ranked 32nd in the NFL last year per EPA/Play. Dead last. Most mock drafts currently connect Dallas to LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, the aforementioned McCoy, safety Dillon Thieneman of Oregon, and CJ Allen, a linebacker from Georgia. The Cowboys have two 1st-Rounders from the Micah Parsons trade.
Reigning world indoor 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson is among Manchester United’s high-profile fans in other sports
Olympic champion and Manchester United supporter Keely Hodgkinson has taken a pop at West Ham United over a stadium dispute. The Hammers play at the London Stadium, site of the athletics portion of the 2012 Olympics, with their stewardship reportedly standing in the way of the UK’s hopes of hosting the World Championships.
The worlds could return to Europe in 2029 after back-to-back championships in Asia. Tokyo hosted the 2025 edition, while it will go to Beijing next year.
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However, this could be scuppered by the Hammers’ reluctance to allow their stadium to be used for athletics during the football season. The World Championships have been held in September in recent years, potentially clashing with the London club’s league and cup commitments.
Hodgkinson, who recently won 800m gold at the World Indoor Championships in Poland, joked about the relative successes of Team GB and West Ham when commenting on the matter on social media. “The GB team will bring back more medals to that stadium than West Ham have seen in their entire history,” the 24-year-old wrote.
Hodgkinson’s response got a mixed reception, with one suggesting she was “going in Marco Boogers style” – a reference to a West Ham striker famously shown a red card against United. “As a West Ham fan I am deeply offended by the truth in your comment,” joked another.
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Not all of the comments were positive, though. “Show some respect to West Ham which is a fine institution with the decent folk who support them. Cheap laugh and not a good look,” one football fan wrote.
“Not sure what your point is? West Ham have every right to say no,” wrote another.
West Ham moved into the London Stadium in 2016, four years after the London Olympics. The stadium hosted the World Championships in 2017, with the competition held in early August and not clashing with the football season, though IAAF president Sebastian Coe played down suggestions the World Championships could be moved to earlier in the year in 2019.
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“I can’t speculate about that. That would then be a council judgment. We have a pretty clear, stated position that we want our world championships to finish as the conclusion of a season,” he said, per The Guardian “Why did we do that? Well, the reason is that, for a lot of our fans, it was confusing.
“They didn’t quite know why somebody would come out of a world championships or an Olympic Games and then go: ‘OK, I know they won whatever it is, in the world championships, and then four days later they’re in the Diamond League final.’ And particularly when you have a very cluttered sporting calendar across winter and summer sports, we just felt we needed to do everything just to make our sport a little more understandable.”
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
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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
Prem Rugby clubs will be required to meet a minimum salary cap spend of £5.4m under new plans to expand the league’s commercial profile and competitiveness.
The English top-flight is moving away from a traditional promotion and relegation model to an expansion league, with expressions of interest and a tender process opening next season as it works towards a goal of adding two new teams by 2030.
As part of that move, the existing 10 clubs in the Prem will have to meet a “salary floor” in a drive to ensure close competition across the division while ensuring financial sustainability.
The move comes with the Prem actively seeking investment into both existing sides and possible new franchises, and follows major moves by Red Bull at Newcastle and James Dyson at Bath in recent months.
The salary cap is currently set at £6.4m, with a number of credits and exclusions meaning clubs can spend up to £7.8m plus one excluded player salary. While a number of clubs in the league spend close to the cap, some others are understood to currently fall short of the £5.4m figure.
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While the salary floor still needs regulatory approval, it has been approved in principle by clubs following a consultation process. It will be introduced next season, although clubs will not be punished for failing to meet it until the 2029/30 season.
Any new club into the Prem shall be permitted a transition year whereby it shall be permitted to spend 25 per cent on the condition that it can present a clear plan to spend at least the full in its second Prem season.
Simon Massie-Taylor, the Prem Rugby chief executive, cautioned that the league are not necessarily looking to increase the cap in the near future.
Bath will bid to defend their Prem Rugby title this season (Getty Images)
“Our vision is to be the best league in the world,” Massie-Taylor explained.
“We are on a journey to define exactly what that means, but it doesn’t mean we are going to spend beyond everyone else and create wage inflation around the world, paying so all the Galacticos turn up. There are other aspects in terms of how we can define ourselves as the best league in the world for fans and players. Once distributions from Prem Rugby get to a certain level, then that will allow us to increase that in a sustainable way.”
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The Prem’s plans were unveiled ahead of their “Big Match Bonanza” this weekend, with games being held at the Principality Stadium, Villa Park and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
The hope is to hold up to 10 of these spread across the season in the future, with the possibility of taking the league’s semi-finals to larger, neutral venues by 2029.
Saracens will return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend (Getty Images)
“Big games are really important, as they make games bigger, and appeal to a wider fanbase.” Massie-Taylor added. “Our ambition is to have ten big games by 2030, and that includes the final and the potential for neutral playoffs.
“We see that adding to the narrative, and the general scale of the league. Big games are hard to do, so we as a league need to provide more support on that and to help market it to a wider audience. We need to manage the calendar of big games too.
“The reason you do it is because of scale. They are big games and you want to make them bigger. France do it. They’ve created a moment there and we want to explore it. It allows us to take the game on the road, and that’s what we’re seeing with Gloucester hosting a game in Birmingham this weekend, it’s a big undertaking but a big step in building a new market.
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“England have a game against Fiji at the Hill Dickinson Stadium up in Liverpool, which is a great new 55,000 seater stadium, and in an area where there is clearly demand, as people are buying tickets to England-Fiji. Is that a good example of where we could host a playoff event? Maybe. There are lots of options. We’re intending to do this in 2029, deliberately because it takes time to secure venues, and find the right spot and build demand.”
Transgender women athletes are now excluded from women’s events at the Olympics after the IOC agreed to a new eligibility policy on Thursday which aligns with US President Donald Trump’s executive order on sports ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“Eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females,” the International Olympic Committee said, to be determined by a mandatory gene test once in an athlete’s career.
It is unclear how many, if any, transgender women are competing at an Olympic level. No woman who transitioned from being born male competed at the 2024 Paris Summer Games, though weightlifter Laurel Hubbard did at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 without winning a medal.
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The eligibility policy that will apply from the LA Olympics in July 2028 “protects fairness, safety and integrity in the female category,” the IOC said.
“It is not retroactive and does not apply to any grassroots or recreational sports programs,” said the IOC, whose Olympic Charter states that access to play sport is a human right.
After an executive board meeting, the International Olympic Committee published a 10-page policy document which also restricts female athletes such as two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya with medical conditions known as differences in sex development, or DSD.
The IOC and its president, Kirsty Coventry, have wanted a clear policy instead of continuing to advise sports’ governing bodies who previously have drafted their own rules.
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“At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat,” Coventry, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, said in a statement. “So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category.” She set up a review of “protecting the female category” as one of her first big decisions last June as the first woman to lead the Olympic body in its 132-year history.
Female eligibility was a strong theme in a seven-candidate IOC election last year – held after a furor around women’s boxing in Paris – when Coventry’s main rivals pledged a stronger policy to leading on the issue.
Before the 2024 Paris Olympics, three top-tier sports – track and field, swimming and cycling – excluded transgender women who had been through male puberty. Semenya, who was assigned female at birth in South Africa and has high natural testosterone levels, won a European Court of Human Rights judgment in her years-long legal challenge to track and field’s rules which did not overturn them.
The IOC document details its research that being born male gives physical advantages that a working group of experts believes are retained.
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“Males experience three significant testosterone peaks: In utero, in mini-puberty of infancy and beginning in adolescent puberty through adulthood,” the document said.
It added this gives males “individual sex-based performance advantages in sports and events that rely on strength, power and/or endurance.” The IOC said its expert group agreed the current gene test is “the most accurate and least intrusive method currently available.” It screened for “the SRY gene, a segment of DNA typically found on the Y chromosome that initiates male sex development in utero and indicates the presence of testes/testicles.” Still, the mandatory gender screening – already conducted by the governing bodies of track and field, skiing and boxing – is likely to be criticized by human rights experts and activist groups.
One of the two women’s boxing gold medalists at the center of the gender controversy in Paris, Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, has passed her gene test and can return to competition, the World Boxing governing body said last week.
In the U.S., President Trump signed the executive order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” in February last year, and pledged to deny visas to some athletes attempting to compete at the L.A Olympics. The order also threatened to “rescind all funds” from organizations that allowed transgender athletes to take part in women’s sports.
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Within months the US Olympic body updated its guidance to national sports bodies citing an obligation to comply with the White House.
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