Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has praised the “grit” shown by his side in grinding out a 28-24 win over Ospreys in Saturday’s European Challenge Cup last-16 tie at a windswept Affidea Stadium in Belfast.
Cormac Izuchukwu, David McCann, Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney all scored tries as the Irish province defied the difficult conditions to book a quarter-final against French side La Rochelle in Belfast on Friday.
The Welsh side led 17-14 at half-time but with the wind in their favour after the break, Murphy’s team battled back to claim victory.
The hosts survived a scare in the dying minutes when Kieran Hardy’s potential match-winning try was ruled out because of a forward pass in the build-up after consultation with the Television Match Official [TMO].
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“A little bit of relief definitely. It never was going to be easy and the conditions obviously made it very difficult,” said Murphy after the game.
“We created quite a few opportunities in the first half but didn’t quite pick the right pass.
“That put us under a little bit of pressure and we conceded a couple of early scores to them and defensively we were just a little bit off but we are in the last eight, we’ve got work to do and we’ve got a week’s prep now to lead into La Rochelle which will be really exciting.”
The Ulster head coach added that some handling errors were inevitable given the weather conditions, which he described as the worst he had witnessed for a game during his tenure.
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“We showed a nice bit of grit, we stuck at it and we got over the line.
“Created the opportunities, didn’t take them, so next week we’ve got to work on our skills in training and make sure we take them next time,” he reflected.
Murphy says the prospect of taking on Ronan O’Gara’s team next week is an exciting one.
“It’s a massive game for us, it’s at home. I know they have had a tough enough season but they’re one of the top teams in Europe and when they come to town it’s really exciting.
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“We’ll brush ourselves down, we’ll review really hard on Monday and get back to work and make sure we turn up a little bit more polished, a little bit more tidy in and around our decision making.
“If we can do that we can cause any team a threat so we’re excited about what’s ahead.”
Errol Spence Jr is on the brink of his long-awaited return after nearly three years out of the ring.
The Former unified welterweight champion hasn’t fought since his undisputed showdown with Terence Crawford back in July 2023.
Heading into the bout, it was seen as a 50-50 affair, with Spence arguably even a slight favourite, but instead it was Crawford who earned a dominant ninth round stoppage win to claim all four world titles at 147lbs.
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A number of factors have kept Spence out of action since then, including injuries and failed negotiations with other fighters, but now his imminent return has moved a step closer after his planned next opponent won his interim bout over the weekend.
Former WBO super-welterweight champion Tim Tszyu is the man in question, as he secured a one-sided unanimous decision win over Denis Nurja, and then had a callout for Spence immediately after the contest.
“Me and Errol is going to be one hell of a fight, it’s a banger. You know how I am, I don’t take a backwards step. If he wants to meet me at the front, bring it on. You know what they say, catch the big fish. Let’s go fishing.”
It didn’t take Spence long to respond, as posting on social media, he promised to deal with Tszyu convincingly.
“You think sh*t sweet [I’mma] do you so bad!”
The clash between Spence and Tszyu had reportedly been lined up to take place in June, but the Australian did suffer a cut in his bout against Nurja, which could potentially delay proceedings.
Q: Dear Chef, I’m struggling with the chipping yips. Any easy remedies? —Kyle M., Wilmette, Ill
Kyle, I feel for you. The chipping yips are a huge bummer and can happen to anyone. Even Tiger Woods suffered from them for a while, back in 2015. But he bounced back, and so can you!
Try this simple solution: Next time you’re hitting shots around the practice green, add a toe tap with your lead foot before you swing through to impact. You can do this in a variety of ways, even pausing your swing at the halfway point. The goal is to make sure you’re getting that toe tap in before you start your through swing to impact.
Not only does thinking about the toe tap help you get out of your head and ease the anxiety of the impending strike, it also encourages you to have your weight properly positioned throughout the swing.
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The Houston Astros have placed right-handed starting pitcher Hunter Brown on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 2, with a right shoulder strain, the team announced Sunday. There’s no word just yet as to the severity of the injury, but anything about the shoulder is always at least slightly worrisome with pitchers.
Brown is, of course, quite important, too. The Astros entered Sunday with a 6-3 record, good for first place in the AL West here in the very early going. Brown is their ace and Opening Day starter who finished third in AL Cy Young voting last season after going 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 206 strikeouts in 185 ⅓ innings.
The 27-year-old pitcher first felt something while throwing a bullpen on Friday, manager Joe Espada told reporters Sunday (via MLB.com).
So far this season in two outings, Brown is 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 10 ⅔ innings. For whatever it’s worth, his velocity was down a bit last start, but it was nothing that would’ve raised any obvious red flags. It was fractional.
This marks the first time Brown has been on the IL in his major-league career.
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Brown entered Sunday fourth on the odds board for the American League Cy Young, via Caesars.
As for the Astros, the remainder of their rotation at present is Mike Burrows, Cristian Javier, Tatsuya Imai and Lance McCullers Jr. Spencer Arrighetti and Jason Alexander are in Triple-A and are reasonable options to replace Brown. Brown was lined up to start Monday, however, and Arrighetti just pitched on Friday. Alexander, meanwhile, went on Wednesday and would be on regular rest Monday — meaning Alexander fits perfectly for now and if the Astros would prefer Arrighetti they could reconfigure things later. All of that is likely dependent on how just how long Brown is expected to be out.
Right-hander Christian Roa was recalled from Triple-A to take Brown’s roster spot.
A bogey at the 18th left Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre with the narrowest of advantages after the third round of the weather-interrupted Texas Open on Sunday.
The world number 11 had seen his lead reduced from four shots to two by Swedish playing partner Ludvig Aberg through six holes when storms caused the third round to be suspended on Saturday.
When action resumed in San Antonio with players to complete both their third and fourth rounds, MacIntyre picked up a shot at his opening hole to give him a bit of breathing space over his rivals, only to drop a shot at the ninth.
The 29-year-old had looked on course for a two-shot advantage thanks to some solid play, but dropped another shot at the last for a round of 72 to see his lead down to one.
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Aberg resumed with two bogeys in his first three holes but timely birdies at the 14th and 17th kept him in contention.
Also on the same mark are American Michael Kim, who shot a third round of 66 and his compatriot Andrew Putnam and Ryo Hisatsune who had 67s.
England’s Matt Wallace moved into contention with a round of 64 as he chased a second PGA Tour career win.
Sue Bird, a Basketball Hall of Famer and WNBA legend, dismissed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) assertion that its policy change was to protect women’s sports.
Bird agreed with American Olympic runner Nikki Hiltz, who identifies as transgender nonbinary and wrote that the IOC was “not solving a problem that exists.” The former Seattle Storm star said the policy was just “fearmongering.”
Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird pose for a photo during the 2025 WNBA All Star Skills Challenge at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on July 18, 2025.(Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
“That kinda sums it up for me because what’s being presented as this huge issue that we have to protect women. It’s not,” Bird said speaking to Megan Rapinoe on their “A Touch More” podcast. “What it is is fearmongering, and you brought up the (Trump) administration, for them to get votes. That’s all this is. It’s all that it’s ever been in my opinion.
“I think the other part is a reminder. What we have always talked about and focused on is, if you open this door, if you crack this door open, it gets blown open and you’re not policing women’s bodies across the board. I feel very sad about this. So, to kind of circle back to how we started, just want to send so much love to the trans community.”
IOC President Kirsty Coventry speaks to volunteers, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Daniele Mascolo/Pool Photo via AP)
The IOC said “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, determined on the basis of a one‑time SRY gene screening.”
The organization added that the policy was “evidence-based” and “expert-informed.” The testing can be conducted via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample.
A presentation at a World Athletics panel in Tokyo in September revealed that 50 to 60 athletes with male biological advantages have been finalists in the female category at global and continental championships since 2000.
Retired United States soccer player Megan Rapinoe looks on before a SheBelieves Cup match against Colombia at Sports Illustrated Stadium on March 7, 2026 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
The panel was led by the head of the World Athletics Health and Science Department, Dr. Stéphane Bermon, who said sex tests were necessary because of an “over-representation” of DSD (differences of sex development) athletes among finalists, per multiple reports.
Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 16: Jannik Sinner of Italy speaks during a press conference ahead of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 16, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
Jannik Sinner gave fans a different side of himself in a recent vlog with coach Darren Cahill, mixing humor with honest reflections on his journey.
The light moment came when Cahill pressed him about his motorbike test:
Darren: “How many times have you failed your motorbike license?” Jannik: “Why do you bring this up?” Darren: “How many times?” Jannik: “We have to be specific” Darren: “How many times?” Jannik: “3 times”
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Away from the jokes, Sinner also spoke about what his life could have looked like outside tennis.
“Realistically, I would maybe work in a kitchen with my dad. He’s a cook, he used to be a cook. I couldn’t see myself being a pro ski racer because of certain reasons. I believe something realistic could be working in the kitchen with my dad & having bigger ambitions there.”
He then reflected on the moments that have defined his career so far.
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“For me there are two moments. One when I reached #1 in 2024. The other one was when I won Wimbledon. That for me, it was not even a dream. It was unrealistic when I was young to win such a big tournament. The more you go on, you believe in yourself, you try to do better. Winning that title with my parents there, my brother, great friends… it was for sure the happiest moment I’ve ever had on a tennis court.”
More drama at the London Stadium: Taty Castellanos has the ball in the back of the net after a howler from Lucas Perri, but the West Ham striker was just leaning offside in the build-up as he pursued a high hoist! My oh my.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 April 2026 18:44
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OFF TO EXTRA TIME! West Ham 2-2 Leeds
West Ham just can’t escape extra time in this competition – for the fourth straight round, they are off for some more football.
Leeds looked to have it done and dusted. Two stoppage-time goals, though, and you’d have the hosts now as slight favourites…
(Getty Images)
Harry Latham-Coyle5 April 2026 18:36
Leeds 2-2 West Ham
Remarkable. There’s a long VAR check to look at if Axel Disasi had been endangering an opponent with a high boot but the goal STANDS. Extra time beckons – unless…
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(AFP via Getty Images)
Harry Latham-Coyle5 April 2026 18:31
West Ham level!
Would you believe it? West Ham are level! Axel Disasi scores the equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time!
Harry Latham-Coyle5 April 2026 18:29
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West Ham get one back!
I may have been hasty…West Ham have narrowed the deficit! Jarrod Bowen rattles the woodwork from 20 yards and Mateus Fernandes is there to tap home the rebound.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 April 2026 18:25
Leeds and West Ham into added time
ELEVEN minutes added on at the London Stadium, where it remains 2-0 to Leeds. Hope for West Ham? (Probably not).
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(REUTERS)
Harry Latham-Coyle5 April 2026 18:23
Leeds edging closer
Full credit to Daniel Farke, by the way – it looked earlier in the season as if he’d struggle to survive with Leeds languishing in the table, but he now appears to have got them into an FA Cup semi-final and fighting hard in the Premier League.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin sent Alphonse Areola the wrong way (Action Images via Reuters)
Harry Latham-Coyle5 April 2026 18:18
Leeds on their way through?
Over at the London Stadium, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has doubled the Leeds lead from the penalty spot after a foul from Max Kilman. It’s 2-0 with 14 minutes to go – a first FA Cup semi-final since 1987 is within reach.
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(Action Images via Reuters)
Harry Latham-Coyle5 April 2026 18:08
Chelsea swat Port Vale aside as Liam Rosenior provides Enzo Fernandez update
Liam Rosenior said things are “not what people think” between him and Enzo Fernandez after the midfielder watched from the stands as Chelsea beat Port Vale 7-0 to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.
The agent of the World Cup winner, Javier Pastore, on Friday described as “completely unfair” Rosenior’s decision to remove Fernandez from the team for two matches following comments made during the international break in which he appeared to court Real Madrid.
The 25-year-old will also miss next Sunday’s Premier League game against Manchester City, which could prove to be a warm-up for a cup meeting between the teams at Wembley later in April.
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Harry Latham-Coyle5 April 2026 18:05
Christian Norgaard says Arsenal will not dwell on shock FA Cup exit
Christian Norgaard says Arsenal cannot afford to overthink their shock FA Cup exit at Southampton as the Premier League leaders look to bounce back in the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s men suffered an almighty shock at St Mary’s on Saturday evening as the Championship play-off hopefuls’ intensity and courage paid dividends in a famous 2-1 quarter-final triumph.
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Substitute Shea Charles’ late strike sent Southampton to the semi-finals and left Arsenal with some soul searching as the shock defeat compounded their Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City a fortnight ago.
Chris Waller proclaimed Joliestar a perfected athlete after her win in the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) during Saturday’s Royal Randwick meeting, bringing her Group 1 count to five.
Performing at peak level, the durable mare withstood Giga Kick’s late surge to cap an unblemished three-race Sydney autumn slate, incorporating prior wins in the Expressway Stakes and Canterbury Stakes.
“Joliestar just showed the difference between her this year compared to last year,” Waller said.
“Last year she could pull out a belter of a run but wide draws and luck in running could get her beaten, too.
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“But she is a more complete racehorse now and is at the very peak of her form.”
The $3.90 favourite Joliestar furnished Waller and premier jockey James McDonald with back-to-back Group 1 scores, holding Giga Kick ($4.60) at bay by half a length, Skybird ($41) third by a neck.
Waller reached 15 Group 1 winners for 2025-26, with stable earnings hitting $61.06 million – a record still growing with time left in the season.
His career Group 1 ledger shows 195 successes, inching toward 200, a mark held solely by Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings.
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Waller and McDonald claimed their fourth TJ Smith Stakes, extending the legacy of Nature Strip’s three-peat from 2020-2022.
Inspired by Nature Strip’s Royal Ascot feat, Joliestar’s handlers are gearing up for abroad action.
“The dream of Royal Ascot is very exciting, and no doubt she’ll be a force to be reckoned with,” McDonald said.
“She has had her doubters before, but they have no leg to stand on now, she is a Grand Final winner.”
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This season, McDonald has piloted 12 Aussie Group 1s and three major overseas wins on Romantic Warrior.
Four men entered the ring at Stand & Deliver but only one left as the NXT champion on Saturday night.
Joe Hendry had one of his biggest challenges yet. He had to defend the NXT Championship in a fatal four-way match against Tony D’Angelo, Ricky Saints and Ethan Page. Hendry came into the match as the fan favorite as the crowd in St. Louis, Missouri, was singing his entrance music. But he faced three other hungry challengers.
Tony D’Angelo celebrates in the ring during NXT: Stand and Deliver at The Factory in St. Louis, Mo., on April 4, 2026.(Bradlee Rutledge/WWE)
D’Angelo, who came into the match with a chip on his shoulder after being betrayed by a friend at last year’s event, walked out of Stand & Deliver as the new NXT champion.
Saints and Page came into the match aligned and tried to weaken Hendry as best as they could to start. They delivered suplexes and shots to the chest to take him out. But the duo’s rift would grow as Page hit a splash on Saints. But Saints got his revenge shot later in the match.
D’Angelo spent the first few minutes on the outside of the ring. Once he regained his composure, D’Angelo hit a spear and focused himself on Hendry before he was thrown to the outside of the ring. Page and Saints turned their attention to the former “Don of NXT.”
The teamwork would last a few moments before Hendry hopped over the ropes and took them both out. For a split second, Hendry was in control. But the numbers game got the better of him again about midway through the match.
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Joe Hendry enters the arena during NXT: Stand and Deliver at The Factory in St. Louis, Mo., on April 4, 2026.(Bradlee Rutledge/WWE)
D’Angelo stepped back into the ring to face off against Hendry. He began to power up. Multiple German suplexes were doled out and it looked like D’Angelo was taking control of the match. He broke up a Standing Ovation to hit Hendry with a spear. He then speared Saints out of the ring and hit a second spear on Hendry.
With frustration mounting, Saints wiped out D’Angelo with a chair shot. He hit Hendry with a Revolution DDT onto the chair, too. Saints was going to hit Page with a chair as well, but Page took exception. Their own rivalry turned up a notch.
As Page carried Saints up to the stairs, he wanted to put him through the table. Out of nowhere, D’Angelo speared both men through the announce table. It came down to D’Angelo and Hendry.
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D’Angelo hit the Dead to Rights and pinned Hendry to win the NXT Championship.
Joe Hendry faces off with Tony D’Angelo at The Factory in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4, 2026.(Bradlee Rutledge/WWE)
Not everyone was convinced by Marcus Rashford’s performance despite Barcelona beating Atletico Madrid
Sections of the Spanish media were unconvinced by Marcus Rashford’s most recent display for Barcelona despite the Manchester United loanee scoring against Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona opened up a seven point gap at the top of La Liga over bitter rivals Real Madrid, capitalising on Los Blancos’ defeat to RCD Mallorca earlier on Saturday. Hansi Flick’s side endured a tough night at the Metropolitano Stadium but managed to secure a 2-1 victory over Diego Simeone’s Atletico.
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Having gone behind in the 39th minute, Rashford equalised for Barcelona just three minutes later on the stroke of half-time. The England star pulled off a neat one-two with Dani Olmo before firing the ball in-between Juan Musso’s legs. Robert Lewandowski sealed the win late on with a point-blank ricocheted goal.
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Rashford ultimately helped secure three crucial points, which will only help his case in trying to seal a permanent transfer from Manchester to Catalonia this summer. Given Raphinha’s absence, the 28-year-old has a free run to convince Barcelona to trigger his £26million option-to-buy clause.
But he seemingly divided opinion against Atletico, as the Manchester Evening News takes a look at how the Spanish press dissected his most recent performance.
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Diario AS
AS criticised Rashford’s inconsistent display – something he has suffered from repeatedly in recent years. The publication wrote: “He scored an important goal, as it levelled the score after Atlético had taken the lead a few minutes earlier.
“His performance was inconsistent. He started very dynamically and directly but his game gradually faded. He continues to be inconsistent.”
SPORT
SPORT was far more complimentary, describing Rashford as arriving “like a runaway train, brimming with malice” when finishing his chance to level the score for Barcelona.
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The publication went on to say: “Rashford was tireless on the flank, although he also played as the main striker. He beat Musso to spoil Atletico’s party before half-time. He was replaced by Lewandowski in the final stages.”
Football Espana
Football Espana was more critical of Rashford, highlighting that he needs to play better to fill Raphinha’s shoes for the remainder of the season. The outlet claimed: “Rashford did not have an overly successful night until he scored Barcelona’s equaliser just before half time.
“He needs to be at his best to cover Raphinha’s absence and tonight was a good start.”
Mundo Deportivo
Mundo Deportivo took a different stance. They heaped praise on the forward, writing: “Rashford appeared when he was most needed. Starting for the first time after Raphinha’s injury, the winger took on the responsibility in a demanding situation. Just two minutes after Atletico’s opening goal, scored by Giuliano Simeone, the Englishman carried the team on his shoulders.
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“He drove down the left flank, combined with Dani Olmo, who returned a delightful assist, and finished confidently past Juan Musso. It was an immediate equaliser but also a message from a proud Barca side that already knew of Real Madrid’s slip-up in Mallorca.
“The 1-1 equaliser, besides being Rashford’s eleventh goal of the season, was a response to the step forward he was expected to take after Raphinha’s injury at a crucial point in the season. In a team that had lost a key attacking threat, the Englishman responded with personality and determination.”
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