Katie Taylor finished preparation for her Croke Park farewell against unbeaten Flora Pili by inviting a young fan into the ring to train with her.

Once Taylor had completed her session at Wednesday’s open workout, she picked out Clodagh Keating from the crowd at random, gloved up her right hand and then coached her to throw some shots while moving.

Keating, a 10-year-old aspiring boxer from Dublin who has been learning the basics in classes, burst into tears at the prospect of being in the ring with her idol and then had her hand held aloft when the session was over.

Taylor is aiming to become a three-time undisputed world champion by defeating Pili with a sold out 80,000 crowd in attendance for her final fight before retiring.

Speaking at the ticketed event at The Helix in Dublin, Taylor said: “Just feeling the atmosphere in this small arena, I can’t imagine what Saturday evening is going to be like.

“This is what it’s all about for me. It’s just an absolute joy to be here. I’m so grateful for what I get to do. I actually love every single day and I don’t take this for granted.

“In a few days I’ll make my last ring walk and I’ll look back on this in a few years and I imagine I’ll be overwhelmed.”

The Olympic gold medallist continued: “For the last few months I’ve been training to give my career best performance, purely for everyone’s support over these last few years.

“The last 30 years of my whole career, you guys have been with me from the start. You were with me throughout the London 2012 Olympics, you were with me through the heartbreak of Rio and then you stayed with me when I turned pro. I’m so grateful, thank you so much.”

Taylor turned 40 early last month but the ‘Bray Bomber’, who has posted 25 wins in 26 fights, is ready for what will be the most cherished moment of her career.

She said: “I feel great. I think 40 is the new 30 or something! I actually just turned 40 a few weeks ago, but I feel great – thank God.

“I’m obviously expecting a tough fight, but this is what I’m made for, this what I’m born for. I love the tough challenges. I love the tough fights.

“This isn’t going to be a walk in the park. I’ve got a tough, young challenger in front of me.

“I purposely chose a tough challenger for my final fight. I’ve built up my reputation taking the tough fights all throughout my whole career. Why treat my last fight any differently?”

The odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl got even better on Sunday, with Aaron Donald rejoining the Los Angeles Rams as he ended his retirement after two years. But should we expect Donald to play at the level that won him three Defensive Player of the Year awards this season?

We asked several scouts around the NFL if they think Donald will have a tremendous impact on the Rams this season and what to expect from the 10-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle. The answers we got varied, with some expressing confidence that he’ll play at a high level again and others believing we should lower our expectations for Donald.

Here’s more about what we learned from our conversations with scouts and people around the league about Donald’s return this season. 

Eric D. Williams: Yes, he’s 35 years old and hasn’t struck a man in anger with pads on in two seasons. Still, according to scouts I spoke to, they expect Aaron Donald to have the same type of impact the three-time Defensive Player of the Year had when he left the game after the 2023 season.

“If one man can do it – it’s AD,” one longtime scout told me. “He still trains like a player. He’s got a strong appetite for ball! He will be a rotational player, but the snaps will be significant!”

Another scout noted the amount of time Donald spent working out before returning to the field last week. Donald said he spent 14 weeks of intense workouts with personal trainers before determining he was in good enough shape to rejoin the Los Angeles Rams.

“I thought this would be the time he would return,” the scout told me. “It looks like they kept tabs on his conditioning too, with several workouts. I’d say he’s a sub-package, plug-and-play guy the first two weeks and then can be an every-down guy after that.

“There will probably be some rust, and the wear and tear may show some. But he’s still a difference maker and leader.”

However, not everyone I spoke with offered a glowing perspective on Donald’s return.

“My guess is he is a good player, but not great anymore,” a league source told me. “I think he plays around 35 to 40% of the defensive snaps for the Rams this year.

“To me, it’s more about his age than missing time. How many great 35-year-old defensive players are there in the NFL right now?”

Aaron Donald earned his eighth first-team All-Pro nod in his last season in 2023. (Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

Donald has played at least 67% of his team’s defensive snaps in each season of his NFL career, including 81% of the Rams’ defensive snaps in his last season, per Pro Football Reference. But some older defensive linemen turn into one-down players as they reach the later portions of their career. Von Miller, for instance, played just 37% of the Washington Commanders’ defensive snaps last season at age 36. 

Ralph Vacchiano: The rich got a little richer when Aaron Donald returned to the Los Angeles Rams this week. But not everyone is convinced that the addition of the future Hall of Famer is the luxury that it seems.

“Look, he’s an all-time great player,” an NFL scout told me. “He’s probably still great. I wouldn’t bet against him. But he’s not immune to reality. He’s 35. He retired three years ago. It’s not easy to play at that age. It’s even harder being away for so long.”

“Wait and see,” another NFL scout told me via text. “The guy was a monster. Is he still? I need to see it first.”

Donald last played in 2023 when he had a respectable eight sacks in 16 games, and his last double-digit sack season was 2021 when he had 12.5. But it certainly seems like he has a chance to reach those numbers again playing on a defensive line with Myles Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year who set an NFL record with 23 sacks last season. 

“If he’s healthy, you can’t block them both. It’s a problem for everybody,” the first scout told me. “But it’s the health I’m worried about. He’ll say he’s in phenomenal shape. I’m sure he looks it. But working out for a few years is different than playing football for a few years. It just is. 

“And he’s going to feel it.” 

Hans Niemann and Ian Nepomniachtchi

American chess grandmaster Hans Niemann has criticised Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi after the former world championship challenger questioned a move played by 14-year-old Canadian chess player Aaron Mendes during an online tournament.Niemann has called on FIDE, chess’s international governing body, to take action against players who make public accusations or suggestions of wrongdoing, particularly when young players are involved.

Niemann calls for FIDE action

Writing on X, Niemann said FIDE should punish players who make such comments publicly and create a clear example to prevent similar incidents in the future.“FIDE must punish players for public accusations and insinuations, especially regarding a 14 year old. Nepo made similar comments regarding Faustino Oro(12). FIDE must set a precedent to prevent this from happening in the future. NBA fines players for complaining about the refs, this is far more extreme in comparison,” Hans wrote on X.He also urged players who have genuine concerns about a game to use official channels rather than making accusations publicly.“If you want to make an accusation, voice it privately to the FIDE ethics commission, don’t defame your fellow chess players, causing irreparable harm.”

What happened during the game?

Mendes, a Canadian chess prodigy who became the country’s youngest International Master at the age of 12, defeated Nepomniachtchi in Round 10 of the Titled Tuesday event on September 1.During the game, Nepomniachtchi questioned one of Mendes’ moves on his stream. The Russian grandmaster appeared suspicious of Mendes choosing an en passant capture instead of making a check.“14-year-old boy, right? Well, the boy who deliberately does not make a check move — hats off to him. That is very respectable.I would have zero suspicions about this game, but his en passant instead of a check — it leaves a bad taste. Like, why? How? For what?Aaron, my friend… Well, fortunately, we will not play against Aaron again in the tournament, because we already learned our lesson from him.”The incident came after Nepomniachtchi blundered on move 38, giving Mendes a strong advantage. Two moves later, Mendes left his Bishop under attack but chose an en passant move instead. Nepomniachtchi resigned five moves later.Mendes currently has a classical rating of 2340 and is ranked No. 27 in Canada.

Former LSU center Kate Koval, a native of Ukraine, left the program last month because of LSU’s “decision to sign a Russian player,” she confirmed in an Instagram post on Wednesday, one week after LSU coach Kim Mulkey announced that Koval had departed for “personal reasons.”

Koval, who noted that she found out about LSU’s decision to sign a Russian player after the deadline to enter the transfer portal had already passed, said she hopes the NCAA “recognizes the circumstances surrounding my situation and understands the seriousness and deep nature of this matter” and grants her the ability to sign with a different school for the upcoming 2026-27 basketball season. The 6-foot-5 junior has two years of collegiate eligibility remaining. 

“My father serves in the Ukrainian military and takes tremendous pride in defending his country against Russian aggression. For me, this war is not distant or abstract. People close to me have been killed and wounded in Russian attacks, and places where I grew up and first began playing basketball have been destroyed by missile strikes,” Koval wrote. “The timing of this situation and the deep personal effect it has had on me, my family and those we care about who continue to live through and fight this war ultimately made me question whether LSU remained the right place for me.”

Koval transferred from Notre Dame to LSU last summer and started in 17 games for the Tigers, averaging 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds. She was expected to be LSU’s starting center this year. In her statement, she said that at the end of the 2025-26 season, she “fully intended to return and continue my collegiate career at LSU.” But that changed this offseason when Mulkey recruited and signed Russian teenager Anna Minaeva. 

Before the signing, Mulkey addressed the situation with Koval. According to Nola.com, Mulkey visited Koval at her apartment complex and had the difficult conversation in a car in the parking lot. Mulkey recalled telling Koval that she didn’t expect her to change her opinions about Russia, but that she couldn’t “make a decision to not recruit somebody that can help our program because of a conflict between two countries.”

Mulkey also reportedly told Koval that she and Minaeva could be “ambassadors” and “you never know,” perhaps even help end the war. In response, Koval “just kind of smiled and said, ‘I doubt that,’” Mulkey said. 

If the NCAA does not grant Koval a waiver to enter the transfer portal, she will have to miss the entire 2026-27 season and enter the portal next April. Even if she is granted a waiver, her options will be limited with most rosters already set this close to the start of the season.

“This decision has not been easy. While I understand and respect that roster decisions are a part of college basketball, I have to remain true to myself, my values and my country,” Koval said. “I felt I had found a home at LSU, and I am incredibly grateful for my teammates who became family, as well as my coaches, staff, professors, and the entire LSU community. I will always cherish the relationships, experiences, and memories I made there.”

Some hockey fans will find their favorite teams games exclusively streaming on Amazon Prime starting this season.

Amazon announced on Wednesday that Prime Video and the National Hockey League have reached a multi-year deal that gives Prime Video the exclusive local streaming rights for six NHL teams starting in the 2026-2027 hockey season.

The Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and St Louis Blues will have their games exclusively streamed on Prime Video for fans living in the teams’ regional territories.

The streams will include the games plus pre- and post-game shows and other team programming, according to Amazon. Each of the participating teams will announce the specific details of their streaming packages and subscriptions for their respective territories.

“Fans want an easy way to find and follow their favorite teams, and this agreement with Prime Video gives Clubs the flexibility to meet that demand as the market evolves,” NHL Chief Media Officer and Senior Executive Vice President David Proper said in a statement.

He told the Sports Business Journal that the NHL ultimately took a variety of deals to the participating teams and said they opted to go with Amazon’s offer.

“We talked to a whole bunch of different people, and everybody had good proposals and a lot of good partners,” Proper said. “At the end of the day, we negotiated all of them as far as we could and then took them to the clubs, and the clubs opted for the Amazon opportunity.”

Prime Video already carries a number of local sports team coverage. The Seattle Kraken, MSG Networks, CHSN, NESN, Peacock NBC Sports Network RSN’s in Boston, Philadelphia, and the Bay Area, SNY, YES Network, and Marquee Sports Network are already on the service, and more are reportedly going to be added in the future.

Amazon’s sports offerings can be watched on all compatible devices, including on browsers and Prime Video apps across devices.

Fans who aren’t in local markets can still watch games via NHL Center Ice.

In addition to the Kraken, Amazon now has the exclusive local streaming rights for seven NHL teams.

Yunchaokete Bu, of China, hits the ball during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)

NEW YORK–China’s Bu Yunchaokete produced one of the US Open’s most surprising results so far on Wednesday, drubbing rising Spanish star Rafael Jodar in straight sets.

Bu, ranked 124th, needed less than two hours to take down 12th-seeded Jodar, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 in one of the most one-sided scorelines of this year’s championships.

A native of Xinjiang, Bu lost in the final round of qualifying, but was granted a spot as a “lucky loser” when Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew with an injury.

Bu had finished his warmup Tuesday morning ahead of a planned flight that evening when he found out he could play. Now he’s in the second round against American Michael Zheng, a two-time US collegiate champion.

“It’s nothing you can lose with a lucky loser,” Bu said after the match, describing his approach as “enjoy the crowd and enjoy the court and play one of the best players in this year.”

Rafael Jodar, of Spain, returns the ball to Bu Yunchaokete, of China, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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The victory over Jodar was Bu’s first at the Grand Slam level after he went winless in six previous tries.

“If I have to win my first match like this, I’m okay with the loss five, six times before,” he said. “So yeah, that’s great.”

He has spent much of 2026 in Challenger tournaments, a lower level from the main ATP Tour, winning two such events, both on grass.

Bu said he has worked to add more aggressive play to his game after originally developing a heavy-hitting style suited to clay courts after a period training in Spain.

Bu described Britain’s Andy Murray as a tennis hero but also expressed admiration for Li Na, the first Chinese player to win Grand Slam singles titles.

“We have a lot great player in women’s side, but men’s side is not that much,” said Bu, who reached a career high ranking of 64th.

For Jodar, the match was a disappointing US Open debut in a year that began with the 19-year-old ranked 165th.

“He played better than me, and that’s the reason why he won today,” Jodar said in a brief availability after the match.

Nico Paz could inherit Argentina’s iconic No.10 shirt after Messi, but one condition must first be met/ Image: Instagram

Lionel Messi’s retirement from international football has left Argentina with one of the most difficult shirts in world football to fill. The No.10 has belonged to Messi for years after previously carrying the legacy of Diego Maradona, and the player reportedly chosen to inherit it is one of Argentina’s brightest young talents. Nico Paz has emerged as the reported successor to the iconic shirt, but there is one important condition attached to the plan.

Nico Paz reportedly chosen to inherit Messi’s No.10

According to ESPN Argentina, Argentina have already identified Paz as the player they want to hand Messi’s No.10 shirt to, although the decision is tied to Scaloni’s future with the national team.The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has previously worn No.18 during his 11 appearances for Argentina, but he could now take on the number associated with two of the country’s greatest-ever footballers.ESPN Argentina insider Federico Bueno reported that the plan has already been decided internally and is being taken seriously.“If Scaloni renews as Argentina’s coach, which is expected to be negotiated in the coming months, the No. 10 shirt will go to Nico Paz. This has already been decided internally and is being taken very seriously,” Bueno said.That means Paz’s succession of Messi is not yet unconditional. Scaloni’s contract situation must first be resolved, with the 48-year-old expected to negotiate a new deal in the coming months.Scaloni has been Argentina’s head coach since 2018 and oversaw the side’s run to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar before taking them to the 2026 World Cup final. If he agrees to continue in the role, Paz is reportedly set to become the next No.10.

Why Paz has emerged as the choice

There are more established names within the Argentina squad who could have been considered for such an iconic shirt, including Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister, but the reported succession plan points towards Paz as the player viewed as capable of leading the next generation.Paz, 21, was born in Spain but is the son of former Argentina international Pablo Paz. He came through the Real Madrid academy and made eight first-team appearances for the Spanish giants before leaving for Italian club Como in 2024.His development in Serie A has accelerated under former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, with Paz establishing himself as one of the most exciting young attacking players in European football.He has made 77 appearances in all competitions for Como, scoring 19 goals, while his performances have repeatedly fuelled speculation that Real Madrid could bring him back to the Bernabeu.A return to Madrid has reportedly been tipped in virtually every transfer window since his departure, underlining how highly the Spanish club continues to regard the player it developed.For Argentina, however, his development has taken on a different significance.Paz has already earned 11 senior caps and is now being considered for a role that carries considerably more weight than simply becoming another attacking option in the squad.

Messi leaves behind an enormous legacy

Whoever takes the No.10 will inevitably be compared with Messi, even if Argentina’s next generation has no realistic way of reproducing what the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner achieved.Messi departs the national team as a former world champion, having captained Argentina to glory in Qatar in 2022, and as the country’s long-standing No.10 and leader.He leaves after 207 international appearances, having built a legacy that also places him as the second-highest goalscorer in World Cup history.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) cries at the end of the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

His decision came after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey, with Messi making clear that he felt his international journey had reached its natural conclusion.“It was a decision that hurt – and still hurts deep down – but I understand that the time has come,” Messi said in his retirement statement.“I swear to you that I always gave it my all – not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”“Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team.”“I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.”

A huge shirt for Argentina’s next generation

The significance of the No.10 means Paz would not simply be inheriting a squad number.Argentina’s shirt has already carried the weight of Diego Maradona, who famously wore it during his World Cup-winning campaign in 1986, before Messi created his own extraordinary chapter in the number.That makes the decision to give it to a 21-year-old a significant statement about how Argentina view Paz’s potential.The Como playmaker is still at an early stage of his international career, with only 11 appearances to his name, and he has never been expected to simply replace Messi as a player. Instead, the reported decision reflects the belief that he can become one of the central figures in Argentina’s post-Messi era.There is still one hurdle before that succession can happen.Scaloni’s future must first be settled. If the World Cup-winning coach agrees a new contract, the reported plan is for Paz to move from the No.18 he has worn during his early international career into Messi’s iconic No.10.For now, that remains a reported internal decision rather than an officially confirmed shirt change. But if Scaloni stays, Paz appears set to become the young Argentine entrusted with carrying the most famous number in the country’s football history into its next era.

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe walks on the pitch during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Malaga in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Kylian Mbappe was reportedly among 26 wealthy and high-profile individuals whose addresses and personal information were found by French investigators during an investigation into an alleged kidnapping plot. The Real Madrid and France star was said to have been one of several potential targets identified on mobile phones seized from an 18-year-old suspect who was allegedly continuing to run a criminal organisation from prison. The list reportedly also included a rapper, a Chinese businessman, jewellers and a Turkish meat trader.

Mbappe among 26 alleged targets

According to French newspaper Le Parisien, investigators discovered the addresses of 26 wealthy individuals on two mobile phones seized from the 18-year-old suspect, identified as Clément L.Mbappe was reportedly among the names on the list, alongside a rapper and several wealthy businessmen. Those other alleged targets included a Chinese businessman, jewellers and a Turkish meat trader, with investigators reportedly finding information that could have been used to identify or locate them.The discovery came as authorities investigated the activities of the teenager, who allegedly continued directing a criminal organisation despite being held in prison.The case therefore concerns an alleged plot rather than a kidnapping that was carried out. Investigators are now seeking to determine how far the organisation had progressed, whether any of the potential targets were actually approached or monitored, and what each person under investigation allegedly did.Mbappe’s inclusion is nevertheless particularly striking given his status as one of the most recognisable footballers in the world and his position as Real Madrid and France’s captain.

Suspect allegedly ran gang from his prison cell

Clément L was already in pre-trial detention in connection with allegations of pimping and organised robbery when investigators discovered that he was allegedly continuing to issue instructions from inside prison.According to Le Parisien, prison guards seized two mobile phones from him. Investigators then examined their contents and reportedly found information relating to the 26 alleged targets.The teenager was allegedly operating on Snapchat under the alias “Lester Z”, using the phones to communicate and issue instructions to people outside the prison.A source close to the case told Le Parisien that the contents of the phones were particularly revealing.“Two phones were seized by prison guards, and their contents were highly revealing,” the source said.The same source added: “He also wanted to go after a rapper and the footballer Kylian Mbappe.”The investigation reportedly began after authorities were looking into a separate robbery at a luxury watch shop in Neuilly-sur-Seine last April.Clément L had already been identified as one of two men allegedly involved in the attack on the watchmaker, which had led to his detention over armed robbery.The discovery of the phones subsequently opened a much wider line of investigation into the alleged criminal organisation and its potential plans.

What happened when the teenager was questioned?

During questioning, Clément L reportedly rejected the suggestion that he was the mastermind behind the alleged operation.He also asked to be released from solitary confinement, but that request was refused and he was ordered to remain there while the investigation continues.The teenager reportedly dropped out of school during the first year of a vocational qualification in cooking. He told investigators that he wanted to resume his education and eventually become a chef.Despite those claims about his future plans, he remains in pre-trial detention as authorities investigate the much more serious allegations surrounding the criminal organisation.His alleged accomplice has meanwhile been released under judicial supervision. That individual was challenging the measure on Wednesday before the Versailles investigating chamber.The investigation must now establish precisely how the alleged kidnapping operation was organised, how much preparation had taken place and whether the information found on the seized phones translated into concrete plans against any of the 26 people named.

First Published: Sep 02 2026 | 9:30 AM IST