The reports of Ireland’s demise have clearly been greatly exaggerated. This was a performance reminiscent of their pomp that seemed to defy the circumstance, a record win over England at Twickenham that challenged so many of the assumptions made about both. No country for old men? There is life, and lots of it, left in this Irish band of brothers.
The verdant past of back-to-back Six Nations crowns may yet be beyond Ireland but here was a throwback showing of golden autumnal hue. Andy Farrell had backed his tried and trusted to hit the levels they had failed to of late and got what he had demanded. Ponderous? Plodding? Leggy after the Lions? Not so here: Jamison Gibson-Park fizzed with a vitality Ireland lacked in Paris on the opening night. Tadhg Beirne made mischief and menace and Stuart McCloskey stood tall to reduce English oak to acorns. For others, this was an international coming-of-age, wings Robert Baloucoune and Tommy O’Brien among them. An assured showing from Jack Crowley should make the No 10 shirt his for the foreseeable future. “It’s a special day, 100 per cent, to come here and perform like that,” Farrell said of his side. “We’re obviously delighted with that.”
Ireland outplayed England in every facet of the game (Getty)
The only trouble for Farrell’s beaming team in green is that their title hopes may well rest on England beating France in Paris. It is a scenario that feels fanciful after this. For as good as Ireland were, the hosts simply wilted in the face of their pressure to raise deeper questions about their direction.
If their performance against Scotland could be dismissed as something of an aberration on a day luck did not go their way, there was no rub of the green, really, for Ireland here. Excepting the scrum – how was the play, Mrs Lincoln? – the visitors were better in every facet.
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Henry Pollock endured a frustrating day on his first England start (Getty)
“It was bitterly disappointing,” Steve Borthwick conceded after a chastening day. “Huge credit to Ireland, they took their chances, their kicking game was excellent. Unfortunately, for two weeks now, we have given ourselves a mountain to climb, given the opposition too many points and we have not got scoreboard presence. We will be looking closely at that and how I set the team up to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
It had been Maro Itoje to lead England out, just the ninth man to reach a century of caps for his country, a great statesman and great player emerging with the understated calm and confidence that has defined him over a decade. A look to the heavens, perhaps in memory of his mother, and England’s captain was down to business.
Borthwick and his squad had expressed frustration about their lacking physicality in the opening Edinburgh skirmishes, and there was a real punch to their first few carries, Freddie Steward hurling himself into the Irish line and Joe Heyes soon after. But a poor kick from George Ford squandered possession, before the eagerness to atone manifested itself in three sloppy, hurried set-pieces. An offside penalty in the English 22 granted the recalled Crowley the chance to open the scoring and settle any nerves.
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The hosts, meanwhile, carried a certain skittishness, a coltish feel they had seemed to shed during their long winning run. Ford, unbelievably, twice missed touch with punted penalties, while Steward and Ellis Genge fumbled within five metres of the line after sustained series deep in Irish territory.
When Ireland at last got a chance to attack, they seized their chance. It looked all too easy for Baloucoune and O’Brien – on early for an injured James Lowe – to make metres in open acreage down the right, and England didn’t appropriately reform when the visitors went away to the left. Tom Curry cynically came in at the side to stem the flow; Gibson-Park tapped the resultant penalty quickly and zipped into the corner.
Jamison Gibson-Park pulled the strings for Ireland and scored a try in a virtuoso display (Getty)
For a second week running, bad for England soon became worse. O’Brien took a steepling kick on the left and Stuart McCloskey strode away from Ollie Lawrence up the centre. A superb cover tackle from Steward was immediately cancelled out by his diving over the top of the ruck; off he went to the sin bin after Baloucoune finished it off. Like Irish thoroughbreds rounding the bend at Cheltenham, the wing pair were soon at it again, with O’Brien this time the scorer in the left corner.
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It was all too much for some. Referee Andrea Piardi departed with an injury and neither Luke Cowan-Dickie nor Steward made it to half time, hooked as Borthwick sought emergency solutions – or perhaps locked the stable door. Even when England did finally register, through Fraser Dingwall on the stroke of the interval, it felt like heavy treading, a phase or five too many required to break Ireland apart.
Robert Baloucoune impressed once again on the wing (Getty)
The visitors, by contrast, found plenty of pasture. Caelan Doris was next to have a gallop as the travelling support sang of the fields of Athenry. His break forced an infringement under the posts, for which Henry Pollock was shown yellow, and Dan Sheehan soon provided the finishing touches. England grew petulant: Itoje warned about his tone, Jack van Poortvliet conceding 10 metres with backchat.
Again, it appeared the game was long gone before the final quarter that England had come to command during their 12 consecutive wins. A neatly worked Ollie Lawrence try, and accompanying yellow card for Jamie Osborne, instilled some fading faith, but it did not last long, two strikes of Crowley’s right boot adding to the advantage and all but killing home hopes.
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Maro Itoje’s 100th cap ended in disappointment (Getty)
When a returned Osborne punched over 10 minutes from time, there were sprouts of green all around, and Englishmen and women stumbled for the exit. Itoje – another off early even on his milestone day – wore a face of stone, like plenty of others. Even at the last, Ireland were scrambling back hard, McCloskey hauling down Marcus Smith to showcase his impressive speed, Baloucoune bundling Tommy Freeman towards touch. “It looked like we were hunting people down throughout the game,” Farrell said.
Sam Underhill’s late try varnished a home performance for the scrapheap, yet still a record margin of defeat to Ireland here remained. Itoje’s 100th Test would have been among the most painful. Where do England go next?
The boxing events at the 2nd Niger Delta Games on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State, produced thrilling and fierce contests, with a lot of talent on display from across the region.
In the preliminary rounds, the female 51kg bout saw Sarah Victory of Bayelsa State defeat Kelechi Anita Amarachi of Abia State, while in the female 60kg category, Naomi Alexander of Akwa Ibom beat Okugumi Destiny of Delta State. In the male 60kg preliminaries, Pender Victorious of Delta State overcame Oji Chibuike of Imo State, and in the male 70kg category, Christian Umoren of Akwa Ibom defeated Adu Kolawole of Ondo State.
The quarterfinals featured exciting battles across multiple weight classes. In the female 51kg category, Obaseki Esosa of Edo State beat Okorie Princess of Imo State, while Teniola Odunayo Buliyaminu of Ondo State defeated Okolo Victory of Delta State. Future David of Akwa Ibom also advanced, defeating Henshaw Baomi of Rivers State.
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In the male 60kg category, Princewill Effiong of Akwa Ibom defeated Howells Emmanuel, while Akimusere Gbenga of Ondo State overcame Gabriel Asuquo of Cross River State.
The female 54kg category was also competitive. Ighomi Victory of Delta State defeated Osareti Victory of Edo State, Happiness Gift of Cross River State beat Abai Opeyemi of Ondo State, and Thompson Thiery of Imo State overcame Ejeje Emmanuela of Cross River State. Adoki Victoria of Rivers State defeated Uwakmfon Umoren of Akwa Ibom in another notable bout. In the male 65kg contest, Jedidiah Bassey of Akwa Ibom beat Solomon Destiny of Bayelsa State.
The day’s bouts highlighted the depth of boxing talent in the region, with close contests and impressive displays of skill, technique, and determination from all participating states.
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The boxing competitions at the 2nd Niger Delta Games will continue on Sunday, with athletes aiming to progress further and add medals for their states.
The second Niger Delta Games is organised by Dunamis-Icon Limited and fully sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-1 to win the Doha title for the first time in his career.
The win marks the 26th title of his career at just 22 years old, improves him to 12–0 in 2026, and gives him his second title of the season, his best start to a year.
During the match, Alcaraz was also seen smiling at a fan’s sign that read: “Carlos you have two options, you can adopt me, or you can sign this.”
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After the match, Fils congratulated him with humor.
“Cabrón … you played very good. You made a hell of a job man. It’s a joke. Congrats to you and your team. I wish you many more. Keep going like this.”
Alcaraz responded warmly.
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“Arthur, it’s a pleasure to share the court with you man. I told you that more than making results and everything, for me it makes me really happy seeing you on the court once again. I know you struggled physically. You struggled with injuries. I’ve been through that. To be able to forget that and start again, playing such great tennis… making finals, it makes me really happy to share the court, locker, and tournament with you. Great job with your team and family as well. Keep going. For sure we’re gonna share great moments.”
He also reflected on his strong start to the season.
“It’s been a great start of the year. It wasn’t easy to be honest. Because I had to be strong mentally with my team. I’m really happy and proud of everything I’ve done in the pre-season and the first tournaments of the year. Playing great tennis. Really really happy about this week. I think we’ve done a great week. Not only on the court, but off the court. It means a lot to me, this trophy. So I want to say thank you to my team over there who makes a great job every day. Every day I’m making myself even better. Thank you.”
Alcaraz leaves Doha unbeaten, confident, and building momentum early in the season.
Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana BB Derby Limited Edition Wood Shaft
This isn’t a souvenir from the Derby. It’s the shaft Tooms actually plays — rebuilt, refined, and marked by the people who made the Derby what it is. From across the fairway, it looks simple on purpose: dark, quiet, confident. Get closer and the story starts to surface.
Hidden phrases are woven directly into the carbon — the shorthand, jokes, and lines the Derby crew recognize instantly. They don’t announce themselves. They only appear in the right light, for the people who’ve been there. To everyone else, it’s just a beautiful shaft. To the Derby crew, it’s theirs.
Under the hood, it’s pure 6th-Gen Diamana BB:• 80-ton DiaLead fiber in the butt for strength and control.• 46-ton fiber in the tip for stability.• Xlink Tech resin for the unmistakable Diamana feel.
No gimmicks. No noise. Just performance wrapped in culture.
Sunday, the 46th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice,” will feature the United States against Canada, which is without a doubt the fiercest international rivalry in all of sports, going for all the marbles.
Unfortunately for Americans, Canada has owned this rivalry since day one.
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This will be the eighth time the United States and Canada have played for Olympic gold, and the only time the Americans have won was back in 1960. They also faced off for gold in 1920, 1924, 1932, 1952, 2002 and 2010. In the best-on-best format, the U.S. is 5-15-1, and three of those victories came in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
Canada’s Brandon Hagel, left, fights with United States’ Matthew Tkachuk during the first period of a 4 Nations Face-Off hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Graham Hughes//The Canadian Press via AP)
The very first meeting between the two countries in a best-on-best format was back in the 1976 Canada Cup, which Team Canada won 4-2. The Americans did not earn their first win over their northern neighbors until 20 years later, after losing seven of their first eight meetings and tying in the other.
The U.S. won that year’s World Cup, taking home the best-of-three series against Canada, but since then, it’s mostly been Canadian dominance again.
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Canada has gone 7-2 against the Americans since 1998, and four of those wins were absolute gut-punches to the United States. Canada took home the 2002 Olympic gold medal in Salt Lake City over the Americans, but more famously, Sidney Crosby’s golden goal eight years later also came at the expense of Team USA in front of a Vancouver crowd. Four years later, Canada again defeated the U.S. in the Olympic semifinals, and last year, Canada won the 4 Nations Face-Off with an overtime victory against the Stars and Stripes.
Matt Boldy of Team United States and Sidney Crosby of Team Canada shake hands after the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship game between Team Canada and Team United States at TD Garden on Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts.(Chase Agnello-Dean/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images)
The United States’ only wins in the aforementioned span came during group play of both the 2010 Olympics and last year’s 4 Nations. So, it’s been quite a while since the Americans had true bragging rights. Overall, Canada leads the best-on-best series, 15-5-1.
Read More About The 2026 Winter Olympics
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These two teams are already very familiar with each other, as both rosters are largely composed of the same members as last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, where three fights occurred in the first nine seconds in the countries’ first best-on-best game in nine years.
Tensions between both teams and the fans were sky-high in that tournament, as it was fresh off President Donald Trump‘s “51st state” comments and tariffs against the country.
Canada’s Sidney Crosby (87) is checked by United States’ Charlie McAvoy (25) as Vincent Trocheck (16) looks on during first period 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Los Angeles Chargers have undergone a coaching overhaul this offseason, following a second consecutive postseason exit in the wild-card round in 2025.
The Chargers announced the hiring of eight new coaches on Friday with San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey‘s brother Max being hired as the running backs coach.
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NFL fans reacted to the 49ers running back’s brother joining the Chargers’ coaching staff.
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“Nepo hire.”
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“How much help does Justin Herbert need?”
How much help does Justin Herbert need?
“Mccaffery at running backs coach !! Great signing. This year, running backs are having going to have a great year!”
Mccaffery at running backs coach !! Great signing. This year, running backs are having going to have a great year!
“One polar bear but overall very positive outlook for the season so ill overlook it.”
One polar bear but overall very positive outlook for the season so ill overlook it
“Nice overhaul of the offense. Now lets go see some improvement in the roster and on field play.”
Nice overhaul of the offense. Now lets go see some improvement in the roster and on field play.
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Max, who was wide receiver for the 49ers during his brief playing career, was hired as the Miami Dolphins‘ offensive assistant in March 2023. Meanwhile, Christian is on a $38,000,000 contract with the 49ers.
The Chargers announced the following hires on Friday:
“Butch Barry (offensive line), Julian Campenni (assistant defensive line), Rob Everett (offensive assistant), Adam Gase (pass game specialist), Chandler Henley (tight ends), Denzel Martin (assistant outside linebackers), Max McCaffrey (running backs), and Sean Spence (linebackers).”
Delta State enjoyed a big moment at the 2nd Niger Delta Games in Benin City on Saturday, as Ejiro Peter and Chibueze Ozama both won gold medals in the women’s and men’s 100m finals.
2nd Niger Delta Games Female 100m Champion, Ejiro Peter of Delta State
In the women’s race, Ejiro Peter showed her class by sprinting to victory in 11.58 seconds to claim the gold medal for Delta State. Tejiri Ugoh Praise finished second in 11.76 seconds to win silver for host Edo State, while Victory Imoisemeh Azobudi also of Edo State took the bronze medal.
In the men’s 100m final, Delta State continued their dominance as Chibueze Ozama powered to gold in 10.42 seconds. Bright Gift of Akwa Ibom State finished second in 10.57 seconds, while Saturday Godswill claimed bronze in 10.59 seconds.
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2nd Niger Delta Games male 100m Champion, Samuel Chukwueze of Delta State
Although both Ejiro Peter and Chibueze Ozama won gold, they did not set new records. The first edition of the Niger Delta Games allowed elite athletes, while the current edition is restricted to Under-25 athletes, making it harder to challenge previous marks.
Favour Ashe’s men’s record of 10.16 seconds still stands and may take time to break, but there is hope that Jennifer Chukwuka’s women’s record of 11.41 seconds could be surpassed soon. Both athletes represented Delta State at the first edition in Uyo, and the state has again defended its sprint titles in Benin City.
As Milano Cortina 2026 wraps up, Canada will turn to two of its top speedskaters to bear the flag at the closing ceremony.
Valerie Maltais and Steven Dubois have been named as Canada’s flag-bearers for the final march, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced Saturday.
Maltais, 35, earned three medals in Italy, including gold in women’s team pursuit speedskating, bronze in women’s 3,000m speedskating, and bronze in women’s 1,500m speedskating.
Dubois, 28, earned short track gold in the men’s 500m event and silver in the short track mixed team relay.
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Each has five total Olympic medals over their careers. Maltais, now at her third Games, previously earned team-pursuit gold in 2022 and a short-track silver in 2014, while Milano Cortina 2026 is Dubois’ second Olympics. In 2022, he earned gold in men’s 5,000m short track relay, silver in the 1,500m, and bronze in the team relay-mixed.
In total, 10 of Canada’s 20 medals at the Winter Games were earned in speedskating events.
Feb 21, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis CITY SC defender Jaziel Orozco (99) slide tackles Charlotte FC forward Wilfried Zaha (10) in the first half at Energizer Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images
Kristijan Kahlina made 10 saves, including three crucial late denials, to help Charlotte FC preserve a 1-1 draw at St. Louis City in both teams’ season opener on Saturday afternoon.
Pep Biel scored in the second half of his first appearance since last September for Charlotte, which extended St. Louis’ winless streak in home openers to three seasons and spoiled Yoann Damet’s full-time managerial debut.
Marcel Hartel, who had nine goals and six assists last season, put St. Louis in front early in the second half as the club began a new era with Damet and new sporting director Corey Wray.
Both teams had chances to win late, but it was Kahlina who was the busier of the two goalkeepers. His best denial came against Cedric Teuchert in the seventh-minute of second-half stoppage time, and he also had to deny Brendan McSorley before referee Ismail Elfath finally blew for full time.
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Biel was one of Charlotte’s three double-digit goal scorers in 2025, but he played only 48 MLS minutes after late July as he dealt with a hamstring strain and then eventually a knee injury that ended his season prematurely. Without him, Charlotte fell in the first round of the MLS playoffs for a second consecutive season.
Biel showed few signs of rust on the goal that pulled the visitors level.
Wilfried Zaha picked him out in the left side of the penalty area with a clever pass that split multiple St. Louis defenders. Biel then finished past Roman Burki from a close but tricky angle, dispatching his effort around the ‘keeper and inside the far right post.
Hartel put St. Louis in front on the hour mark after his side’s most crisp attack of the match.
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Daniel Edelman played a ball forward from the right toward Simon Becher, who had space to push into the penalty area. Instead, Becher cut a first-touch pass across his body into Hartel’s run at the top of the penalty arc, and Hartel connected on a first-time finish past Kahlina’s dive.
Should luck have swung I Am Aria’s way, the Mark Walker charge might enter the Blue Diamond Stakes undefeated.
In reality, though, I Am Aria has recorded placings in both lead-up efforts, second on debut via the Blue Diamond Preview and third next out in the Blue Diamond Prelude.
Ben Gleeson, Walker’s assistant, holds firm that the Preview and Prelude form across fillies’ and colts/geldings’ divisions is superior, placing I Am Aria squarely in the mix for Caulfield’s premier 1200m Group 1 for juveniles this Saturday.
Betting has I Am Aria at $34, with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s colts Big Sky ($4.20) and Guest House ($4.50) favoured.
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Her barrier six draw – gate four if emergencies don’t start – is spot-on, per Gleeson.
“She’s a filly that puts herself in the race and has led up, unfortunately, in two starts without having a backside to follow,” Gleeson said.
“She’s been very gallant in defeat. She’s probably been entitled to drop out, but she’s been there whacking away at the finish.
“If she can find a backside on Saturday, she’s going to appreciate stepping up to 1200 (metres) and hopefully she’s finishing off.”
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Post-spring jump-outs/trials and a brief break, the Blue Diamond Stakes was earmarked for I Am Aria.
“You probably don’t expect an I Am Invincible filly to get here, especially with the physique she has,” Gleeson said.
“She’s a big, strong three-year-old type of filly and whatever she does now she is going to be better in the spring. She’s has copped the work, she’s very sound and has a fantastic mind.
“She’s always shown us the characteristics that she could get here. To run second and third in the Preview and the Prelude, there’s probably no better form and history probably shows horses that run in those two are the ones that are generally around the mark on final day.
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“She’s done nothing wrong, anyway.”
Gleeson views this two-year-old crop as level-pegging, no single horse towering over others as in bygone eras.
Victorian juveniles have shone interstate, he noted.
“It will probably take until Saturday for a star to emerge,” Gleeson said.
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“It’s a nice crop of two-year-olds at the moment, they’re going to Sydney and running well, they’re going to Magic Millions and winning.
“The horses that have been down here are leading the way.
“I think the six or seven from the Previews and the Preludes are the standouts.
“There has been lots of eye-catching runs and a lot will come down to who gets the right run in the race and our filly should certainly get that.”
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Craig Williams, after winning the Blue Diamond Stakes on Catchy in 2017, retains the ride on I Am Aria for Saturday.
