Nov 25, 2023; Syracuse, New York, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons running back Justice Ellison (6) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
Wake Forest and Syracuse will kick off the 2027 season with a Week 0 game in Toronto, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced Thursday.
It will be the first NCAA college football game played at BMO Field, home of the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts and MLS franchise Toronto FC.
The game will take place on Aug. 28 or 29, with a specific date and kickoff time finalized at a later date, and will air nationally on ABC or ESPN.
“We are thrilled to bring ACC football to an international stage in Toronto,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips. “This conference game represents an exciting opportunity to showcase our student-athletes and our member institutions, as well as put on full display the energy of college football to a new and diverse audience.”
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The contest in Ontario, Canada, will serve as one of Wake Forest’s home conference games and will count as an ACC matchup between the teams.
Lloyd Kennewell, fresh from wins on the first two days of the Adelaide Carnival, wants to capitalize for a huge result at Morphettville this Saturday.
On April 25, Vangogh Bankcheque succeeded at the Australasian Oaks/Sangster Stakes day, and Straand Deal notched a victory for Kennewell at the South Australian Derby program last Saturday.
A lifelong South Australian, Kennewell treasures his returns from Cranbourne and is eager to notch a home-town Group 1 to enhance his honors.
The gelding Meridius faces Group 1 foes for the third go, first since his juvenile year with runs in the Caulfield Guineas and Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2022’s spring carnival.
After January’s Magic Millions Carnival on the Gold Coast, two preparations have tuned Meridius for The Goodwood.
He dominated first-up at 1200m at Caulfield on March 21, then endured misfortune for third in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield April 4.
“He’s going good and probably should have won the Victoria Handicap,” Kennewell said.
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“He’s won there, he knows the place well and I’m keen to run him in it as well, plus I’m very happy to have some nice runners when I head back home again.”
Kennewell secured Perth star jockey Chris Parnham’s services.
Finding a suitable rider proved tough with many regulars skipping the Adelaide Goodwood day.
“There weren’t many riders going over to ride on Goodwood Day which I thought was quite interesting,” Kennewell said.
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“Mark Zahra wasn’t going, neither was Craig Williams, Jamie Melham was going to ride mine, but she’s up on the Gold Coast to ride Half Yours.
“There was a lot going on with riders, so I wanted to get on the front foot and get a very good rider, and Chris is an ‘A grader’.
“We’ve got a bit of a relationship with him, so he’s going over, and we’re very happy to have him on.”
Ryan Tugawin celebrates at the finish. —TOUR OF LUZON PHOTO
PAOAY, Ilocos Norte—Alliances among local riders were formed, and despite being under siege all lap long, Russian ace Nikita Shulchenko kept a tight grip on the overall lead in the MPTC Tour of Luzon after another smart and spirited ride in Stage 8 won by Ryan Tugawin.
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The pacesetter for the past seven stages now, Shulchenko wheeled in in 49th spot, included in a big bunch that arrived just 16 seconds behind Tugawin in the 157.4-kilometer ride from the coastal town of Pagudpud to the front of the historical San Agustin Church here.
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Shulchenko’s effort assured no changes in the top three, as he still leads teammate and protector Ibrahiem Alrefai by 1:38 and 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines’ Mervin Corpuz by 4:15 after the trio arrived together in the same group.
“I told my fellow Filipino riders that we have to help each other so that one of us would take the stage,” Tugawin, who clocked three hours, 16 minutes and 58 seconds for the win, said in Filipino after baring an alliance that was hatched in order to unseat the foreign aces at the top.
“We Filipinos need to win (stages), not just the foreigners,” he said after becoming just the second local bet after Go for Gold’s Dave Montemayor in Stage 3, to rule a lap.
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Tugawin edged out Malaysia’s Ariff Danial Noor Roseidi and Go for Gold Philippines’ Marvin Mandac for lap honors, as the 36-year-old skipper of Excellent Noodles was able to break a streak of victories by foreign riders.
Tugawin heeded former champion Mark Galedo’s suggestion a day before the derby on wheels took a break on Wednesday regarding a united effort among local riders.
Mandac was one of those in the alliance on Thursday and with his help, Tugawin was able to stand on top of the podium after coming up short in Stage 5 when Shulchenko’s LCW UAE Cycle teammate Ivan Anisimov edged him at the finish in Tuguegarao.
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There was a change in the bottom part of the top five, with British rider Tyler Hannay of local side Excellent Noodles and MPT DriveHub’s Nash Lim climbing to fourth and fifth, 4:34 and 4:42 back of Shulchenko, respectively.
Lagging in 19th spot despite the lap win, Tugawin hasn’t lost hope in the country’s top riders.
“I think the Filipino can still do it,” Tugawin said when asked if his stage triumph could provide some spark among the likes of Corpuz and Lim in the chase to snatch the yellow jersey from Shulchenko.
“There’s still a lot of difficult stages, like the tough climbs in Cervantes (Stage 10), Mangatarem (Stage 12) and Baguio (Stage 14). There will be plenty of changes,” he added.
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But first, the remaining 76 riders will go through Friday’s Stage 9, which is a relatively flat route from Laoag to Candon, Ilocos Sur, covering a distance of 142.6 kilometers.
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It will serve as a warmup to 10th stage where the riders travel from Candon to Cervantes, which will feature a climb beyond categorization in the final few kilometers.
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — Facts and figures from the PGA Championship, to be held May 14-17 at Aronimink Golf Club:
Event: 108th PGA Championship.
Site: Aronimink GC.
Length: 7,394
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Par: 70.
Field: 156 players (20 PGA professionals).
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Prize money: TBA ($19 million in 2025). Winner’s share: TBA ($3,420,000 in 2025).
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Defending champion: Scottie Scheffler.
Last year: Scottie Scheffler lost a five-shot lead on the front nine and wound up winning by five shots by closing with an even-par 71. The two-time Masters champion became the first player since Seve Ballesteros to win his first three majors by three shots or more.
Last major at Aronimink: Gary Player won by one shot over Bob Goalby for his first PGA Championship in 1962.
Previous winners at Aronimink: Sei Young Kim (2020 KPMG Women’s PGA), Keegan Bradley (2018 BMW Championship), Nick Watney (2011 AT&T National), Justin Rose (2010 AT&T National), John Jacobs (2003 Senior PGA Championship).
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The odds: Scottie Scheffler (+400), Rory McIlroy (+750), Cameron Young (+1400), Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele (+1600).
Calendar Grand Slam: Masters champion Rory McIlroy can become the fifth player since 1960 — and the first since Jordan Spieth in 2015 — to win the first two majors of the year.
Career Grand Slam: Spieth tries for the 10th time to complete the career Grand Slam at the PGA Championship. Of the six men with all four majors, none got the final leg at the PGA Championship.
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Key statistic: Americans have won the PGA Championship the last 10 times, the longest such streak of any major.
Noteworthy: The PGA Championship has been held at 75 golf courses in 26 states.
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Quoteworthy: “We don’t want to be the story. It should be the golf course and the players.” — Kerry Haigh, PGA of America championships director.
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Television (all times EDT): Thursday-Friday, 7 a.m. to noon (ESPN+), noon to 7 p.m. (ESPN); Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. (ESPN+), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ESPN), 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. (CBS and Paramount+).
Floyd Mayweather‘s fighting future is about to become a lot clearer.
After not competing professionally since 2017 and no exhibition bouts since 2024, Mayweather looked set for a busy 2026, with three different fights all announced.
First he was lined up for an exhibition with fellow boxing legend Mike Tyson, before a shock professional rematch against former foe Manny Pacquiao was confirmed for September 19.
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The American didn’t stop there, after it was then revealed that he was scheduled for another exhibition against Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis, but there has been doubt surrounding each of those fights over the past few weeks.
The clash with Tyson was initially rumoured for the Congo in April, but that date has come and gone, with various factors including an injury to ‘Iron Mike’ throwing doubt on whether it will be rescheduled.
Mayweather’s bout with Pacquiao has also faced several issues, after the pair disagreed over if it will be a professional fight or an exhibition contest, while the announced venue of The Sphere in Las Vegas is now unavailable on the originally planned date.
It appears that Mayweather is at least proceeding with one of those three fights though, after he revealed on social media the details of a press conference for the battle against Zambidis.
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PRESS CONFERENCE: FLOYD “MONEY” MAYWEATHER vs. IRON MIKE ZAMBIDIS
WEST CALDWELL, N.J. — Michelle Wie West thought she was prepared to step back into the competitive golf ring. Five wins, a U.S. Women’s Open title and countless professional starts told the 36-year-old that Thursday’s return to the LPGA after three years away wouldn’t feel any different.
“It was funny, I wasn’t nervous going in, and I get to the first tee, and I’m like, Holy s–t,” Wie West said while laughing after her first round on Thursday. “I was like, Wow. All of a sudden the hole looks so small. Got to a 2-footer and I’m like, ‘I’m not going to hit the hole. No way.’”
It was Wie West’s first competitive start since she rolled in a 30-foot par putt to close the second round of the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach, and it was a rocky reminder of all that’s needed to succeed and compete at the top level — and that returning is never as easy as waving goodbye.
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She opened with a par but made three straight bogeys before a triple at No. 5. After a double at the ninth, she made the turn in 44, and the bad thoughts that golf can deliver started to seep in.
“Dark, very dark. It got very grim,” Wie West said. “Hole nine, that was dark.
“My husband was talking me off the ledge the whole round, you know. Golf can take you places, and I went places today.”
But as Wie West struggled with the speed of the greens and a right-hand-low grip that won’t be returning, the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion noticed a father and his young son walking the course with her. Steven and his 7-year-old son, Owen, came out to see the return of one of the most famous faces in women’s golf. They walked every hole with Wie West at Mountain Ridge on Thursday, a father and son soaking in the limited return of a golf icon.
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When Wie West waved goodbye three years ago at Pebble Beach, it was a calm end to a career that had a massive impact on women’s golf regardless of any trophy count. She may have never reached the lofty expectations some bestowed on her when she burst onto the scene at 14, but she still commanded the attention of millions. Her personality is magnetic, and she has built a deserved reputation as one of the game’s best people — a child prodigy who was not broken by expectation but instead did her best to encourage those kids who wanted to follow in her footsteps.
“I hope that I’ve inspired girls to go out there and make fearless decisions,” Wie West said at Pebble Beach three years ago.
On Thursday, Wie West reached the 14th hole nine over. Owen and his dad looked on from the 15th tee box across the walkway as Wie West surveyed a slick par putt. She expected the putt to slide left. It did, but not as much as Wie West thought, and it rolled past the hole for another bogey. Wie West waved her hand to mimic the break she thought was coming and tapped in to move to 10 over.
As she arrived at the 15th tee, still thinking about the latest in a long line of missed putts, Owen waited on the back of the tee box wearing a blue Sonic the Hedgehog jacket. Wie West walked to the back of the tee, gave Owen a fist bump and a ball. He flashed a big smile and stuffed the treasure in his pocket.
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“At the end of the day, there was a dad and a little kid literally walked all 18 and just made my day,” Wie West said. “For me that’s the best part of my day, right? I just find it so awesome that the kids are out here. They’re having fun. Hopefully, they want to play the game.”
After giving Owen his souvenir, Wie West striped her drive and hit a perfect, sawed-off wedge to 7 feet for birdie.
Michelle Wie West wasn’t sure what to expect in the first round of her tune-up for Riviera, a start she will make thanks to a maternity leave extension on her 10-year U.S. Women’s Open exemption she received for her 2014 win at Pinehurst No. 2. She has been grinding to get her game ready, but this was different. It was a brutal reality check, but one that gave her what she needed — even if it didn’t look like it.
“I think playing under nerves is a skill,” Wie West said. “It’s not something you can just wing it. There are tools and mechanisms that you can utilize to play under pressure, and that’s practice, too, right? So I take those feelings that I felt, the nervy feelings that I felt today, I definitely take that as practice.”
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Wie West signed for a 10-over 82. (She said she started to settle down after the four-putt at No. 11.) She’ll go back to the claw grip on Friday. There’s work for Wie West to do. On Thursday, there were flashes of her world-class talent — like the perfect wedge at 15 or the blasted drive at 18. But there were also nerves and competitive rust.
“I’m building from here,” Wie West. “I’ve got to give myself a lot of grace.
“At the end of the day, I put things in perspective, and I build upon it, and you have to learn from these kinds of rounds. That’s just what golf is.”
After Wie West tapped in for a closing par, she walked up the rope line toward scoring. Owen and his dad were there waiting for an autograph. Wie West gave him a high five and a smile.
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“I’ll come back after I sign my card,” she said.
As they had all day, Steven and Owen waited for one more glimpse of a golf star who still shines as bright as ever.
Far Far West has plenty of weapon options to experiment with, but the best Shotgun build in the game is something else entirely when it gets going. The combination of clip size, fire rate stacking, and the right jokers turns what is already a close-range destroyer into something that barely resembles a shotgun by the end of a run.
Here is the full breakdown for the best Shotgun build in Far Far West.
Note: The article is subjective and based on the writer’s views.
Far Far West: Best Shotgun build
The Shotgun setup
Shotgun upgrades (Image via Fireshine Games || YouTube/@BullsGuidebook)
The base for this build is a fully maxed Prestige 5 Shotgun, which unlocks two extra Joker slots and five additional upgrade slots. Without those extra slots, the build simply does not reach the same ceiling. Here is how the upgrades are distributed:
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Damage: 8 bars, giving +40%
Clip size: 16 bars, giving +160 rounds
Accuracy: 1 bar, giving +5 (leftover point, but accuracy is the best use for it)
The clip size investment is not accidental. It is the entire reason the primary Jokers work the way they do.
Overblast: Fires an extra pellet for every round missing from the magazine. The more empty the clip, the more pellets go out with every shot. This is why clip size is maxed out – more bullets means more missing rounds means more bonus pellets at the end of the magazine.
Machine Gun: It grants 0.3% fire rate for every 50 damage dealt. This stacks continuously through a fight, and with how much damage is going out per shot, the fire rate climbs fast. Later in a run, this joker alone turns the shotgun into something that barely pauses between shots.
Reload Mastery: It reloads an empty clip 50% faster. Since the clip empties quickly, especially when the Machine Gun Joker is firing at high speed, this Joker keeps the downtime low and ensures the Overblast pellets are always cycling.
Ammo Supply: It gives a +5% chance for enemies to drop an ammo box on death. At this fire rate, ammo runs out faster than expected. This joker patches that gap.
Secondary weapon options
Sheriff Star in Far Far West (Image via Fireshine Games || YouTube/@BullsGuidebook)
Two secondaries work well alongside this build, depending on the situation, and they are:
Sheriff Stars goes solid with the Jump Star Joker (+2 jumps while holding the Stars) and the Scavenger Star Joker (+30% move speed and +100% pickup range). The extra mobility and pickup range make it easier to stay aggressive and collect souls and ammo mid-fight.
Bow goes well with the Ultra Draw Joker, which charges for 4 seconds to fire a massive explosive arrow. This is particularly useful for a ghost house where the shotgun is not the ideal tool. It pertains more to utility than damage output, but it fills the gaps the shotgun leaves.
The hero side of the build is built around survivability and air mobility:
Moon Gravity (x2): It offers 25% lower gravity. This build spends time in the air, so lower gravity helps with spacing and positioning.
Soul Siphon (x2): It increases pickup range and gives +2 HP per soul collected. Since souls drop constantly during fights, this provides a steady stream of health recovery.
Bouncing Ball: It grants +15% extra damage while airborne. Since jumps are frequent with this build, that damage bonus is almost always active.
Rage: Upon reaching 25% HP, it releases a wave that burns nearby enemies with a 60-second cooldown. Of course, this also serves as a clear warning indicator when health is getting dangerously low.
Upgrade Spread
Health Max: 6 bars, +30
Spell Cooldown Reduction: 6 bars, +12%
Speed: 2 bars, +8%
Jump Height: 6 bars, +42
The jump height investment works directly with the Moon Gravity Joker and Bouncing Ball Joker, keeping the aerial playstyle active throughout the run.
How does the best Shotgun build in Far Far West play?
The firing rate of the best Shotgun build (Image via Fireshine Games || YouTube/@BullsGuidebook)
When the Machine Gun Joker starts stacking and the Overblast pellets fire at the tail end of the magazine, the output is genuinely difficult to deal with as an enemy. Finding two Camper Jokers during a run, or one Camper Joker alongside a Copy Machine, makes it even worse.
It is a strong weapon build that starts slow, builds momentum, and eventually becomes a complete problem for anything in its way.
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David Benavidez is being linked to some of boxing’s biggest names after his latest win, but despite his recent success, a recent sparring partner gives him zero chance of defeating one potential opponent.
After impressing at 200lbs, fans are now discussing whether ‘The Mexican Monster’ should remain at the weight and take on Jai Opetaia or even consider moving up to the heavyweight division and facing Oleksandr Usyk for the unified throne.
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However, Benavidez is intent on a fight with unified light-heavyweight ruler Dmitry Bivol, whether that be down at 175lbs or in a catchweight affair.
Speaking with FightHype, former sparring partner Andre Dirrell said that it is not a favourable match-up for ‘The Mexican Monster’.
“Bivol is the final boss, I don’t think that he [Benavidez] can beat Bivol. I don’t think that there is literally anything that he can do to get the victory. I’m not saying that it is not going to be close, what I am saying is, there is nothing that he can do to win.
“I think that Bivol will edge him out as far as movement and how David pursues versus how well Bivol moves and punches, along with his movement, he will simply be too much for David. He will be trying to figure it out, he will be more determined as each round progresses and he will never give up.
“That will, in turn, give him a great performance against Bivol and he will learn a lot about himself in that loss to Bivol. That is the only sure thing for me.”
Manchester United have been credited with an interest in signing Atalanta midfielder Ederson
Manchester United are once again being linked with a move for Atalanta star Ederson and could beat Atletico Madrid to the midfielder’s signature. United are expected to be linked with several midfielders this summer ahead of their return to the Champions League.
The Reds secured qualification to the Champions League with the victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford and did so with three matches left to play this season.
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United are already being linked with several potential new signings for this summer, particularly in midfield, with Casemiro expected to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
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Ederson has previously been linked with a move to Old Trafford, and now a fresh update has emerged about the Brazilian’s future.
Italian news outlet Calciomercato has reported that United have joined the race to sign Ederson, who previously appeared set to join Atletico Madrid instead.
The report claims that the La Liga outfit reached a ‘verbal agreement’ with Ederson to sign the 26-year-old this summer, but had yet to agree a fee with Atalanta.
The Serie A outfit are reported to be demanding up to €50 million (£43.2m) for Ederson, a price that United are said to be able to afford.
United are mentioned in the report as having identifed Ederson as the player they would like to replace Casemiro, with their interest ‘intensifying’ over recent days.
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Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
“I don’t think there’s a chance,” Casemiro told ESPN. “There’s no chance. Mostly because of what I said, you know? Go out the big door.
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“I think it was four beautiful, wonderful years and I am eternally grateful not only to the club, but to the fans. But I think I have to leave in good terms, I have to go out on top.
“I will be an eternal United fan here in England and I just have to thank all the love from the fans.”
United have three Premier League matches left to play this season before the attention turns towards the summer transfer window.
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The Reds will travel to face Sunderland this weekend before hosting Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford and taking on Brighton away from home during their final matches of the campaign.
NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) survived a late fightback from Tim David (40 off 17 balls) to beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by nine runs in their IPL 2026 match at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Thursday. Prince Yadav picked up three wickets as LSG defended their total in a rain-hit 19-overs-a-side game. RCB were chasing 213 under the DLS method.RCB needed 20 runs in the final over, but Digvesh Rathi gave away only 10 runs to seal the win for LSG.It was a much-needed win for LSG after six straight losses this season and eight consecutive defeats at home. Even after the win, they remained at No. 10 in the points table, but there was some relief in the camp.RCB, meanwhile, missed the chance to move to the top of the table.This was also LSG’s first win in five matches in Lucknow this season and their first victory against RCB at the Ekana Stadium in three attempts.It was RCB’s first defeat while chasing in five matches this season, while LSG registered their first win while defending a total in five games.Earlier, Mitchell Marsh scored a century as repeated rain interruptions affected LSG’s innings and they posted 209/3.Three rain breaks delayed the game by close to an hour before the match was reduced to 19 overs per side.Marsh scored 111 off 56 balls and added 95 runs for the opening wicket with Arshin Kulkarni (17). He then put on another 70 runs with Nicholas Pooran (38). Captain Rishabh Pant later scored 32 not out off just 10 balls.Marsh started attacking from the beginning and hit boundaries and sixes all around the ground. His innings included nine fours and nine sixes.With LSG needing a win badly to stay alive in the playoff race, Marsh attacked the RCB bowlers from the start after LSG were asked to bat first.Josh Hazlewood faced most of the early attack as Marsh hit two straight sixes over his head before adding three boundaries in the same spell.LSG reached 95/0 in nine overs before the first rain interruption stopped play for around 30 minutes. After the restart, Krunal Pandya dismissed Kulkarni.Nicholas Pooran then got going quickly with two boundaries off Rasikh, while Marsh reached his century with consecutive fours before hitting another six over cover point just before rain stopped play again.Marsh was dropped by Devdutt Padikkal on 110 but could not make the most of it as he was later caught at deep point off Hazlewood.After Marsh’s dismissal, Pant took over and hit four fours and two sixes in his quick unbeaten knock.Chasing the total, RCB were limited to 203 for six with Prince Yadav (3/33) and Shahbaz Ahmed (2/33) sharing wickets for LSG.Skipper Rajat Patidar was the highest scorer for RCB with a 31-ball 61.For RCB, Krunal Pandya (1/31) and Josh Hazlewood (1/49) claimed a wicket each.
Connacht Rugby v Munster Rugby, BKT United Rugby Championship, Saturday 9 May, 7:45pm, Dexcom Stadium. Live on TG4 and Premier Sports.
There are league matches, there are interpros, and then there are nights like this.
A sold-out Dexcom Stadium. Two rounds left. Connacht chasing the top eight. Munster trying to protect their playoff position. A handicap line with Connacht slight favourites at -2. And eighty minutes in Galway that could shape both provinces’ seasons.
This is not just another Connacht v Munster fixture. This is a match with edge, consequence and genuine jeopardy.
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The URC Table Leaves No Room For Error
Munster arrive in Galway fifth in the URC table on 51 points after 16 matches, with ten wins and six defeats. Connacht sit ninth on 44 points, with eight wins and eight defeats.
That gap may look healthy enough on paper, but the table is brutally tight. Munster are only one point ahead of Cardiff, two ahead of the Bulls and four ahead of Ulster. Connacht are outside the playoff places, but still very much alive.
The remaining fixtures sharpen the stakes even further.
Connacht: Munster at home, then Edinburgh away.
Munster: Connacht away, then Lions at home.
That is a significant difference. Edinburgh may only have pride to play for by the final round, while the Lions could still be chasing a top-four finish when they travel to Thomond Park. That makes Saturday night feel close to must-win territory for Connacht.
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Connacht Have Found Form At Exactly The Right Time
Connacht’s recent URC form tells the story of a side that has finally found rhythm, identity and belief.
Date
Opposition
Venue
Result
Score
28 February 2026
Glasgow Warriors
Dexcom Stadium
Won
15-10
13 March 2026
Scarlets
Dexcom Stadium
Won
31-14
20 March 2026
Ulster
Affidea Stadium
Won
26-19
28 March 2026
Ospreys
Dexcom Stadium
Won
21-14
18 April 2026
DHL Stormers
DHL Stadium
Won
33-24
25 April 2026
Lions
Ellis Park
Lost
21-33
The 33-21 defeat to the Lions ended Connacht’s six-game winning run in the URC, but it did little to kill the momentum. The win away to the Stormers was a major statement and has kept the westerners firmly in the playoff conversation.
Just as importantly, Connacht have won their last four matches at Dexcom Stadium in all competitions since Leinster beat them 34-23 in January. Galway has become a hard place to go again.
Munster’s Form Is Strong, But The Road Questions Remain
Munster’s recent form is harder to read. They come into this game after back-to-back URC wins over Benetton and Ulster, but their away record has been a concern.
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Date
Opposition
Venue
Result
Score
30 January 2026
Glasgow Warriors
Scotstoun Stadium
Lost
22-31
28 February 2026
Zebre Parma
Thomond Park
Won
21-7
21 March 2026
Sharks
Kings Park
Lost
0-45
28 March 2026
Bulls
Loftus Versfeld
Lost
31-34
18 April 2026
Benetton Rugby
Stadio Monigo
Won
45-15
25 April 2026
Ulster
Thomond Park
Won
41-14
Munster’s 45-15 win over Benetton in Treviso ended a run of six consecutive defeats on the road in all competitions. That matters. One away win does not automatically erase the deeper trend, especially when the next away assignment is Connacht in a packed Dexcom Stadium.
Beirne, Carbery And Kleyn Absences Are Massive
Munster are without Tadhg Beirne, Joe Carbery and Jean Kleyn, and that is a huge blow. Those three are not merely important players. They are central to Munster’s physical identity.
The Munster team has been named for Saturday’s URC Round 17 clash against Connacht at Dexcom Stadium (7.45pm, live on TG4 & Premier Sports).
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There are five changes to the side that beat Ulster at Thomond Park two weeks ago.
Mike Haley returns from a groin injury to start at full-back with Dan Kelly also slotting into the backline.
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Fineen Wycherley has recovered from a knee injury to start in the pack along with Michael Ala’alatoa and Edwin Edogbo.
Replacement Alex Kendellen will make his 100th appearance at the age of just 25 having made his Munster debut as an Academy player in March 2021.
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Haley, Shane Daly and Andrew Smith are named in the back three with Kelly and Alex Nankivell starting together in midfield.
Captain Craig Casey and JJ Hanrahan start in the half-backs.
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Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron and Ala’alatoa pack down in the front row with Edogbo and Wycherley in the engine room.
Tom Ahern, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes start in an unchanged back row.
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Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley and Conor Bartley provide the front row back-up as Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson and Kendellen complete the forward cover.
Ben O’Donovan and Seán O’Brien are the backline replacements.
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Unfortunately, the Munster A fixture against Connacht Eagles that was due to be played on Friday at Ennis RFC has been postponed.
Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly, Andrew Smith; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey (C); Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Michael Ala’alatoa; Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley; Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
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Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, Seán O’Brien, Alex Kendellen.
Unavailable for selection this week:
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Michael Milne (calf)
Oli Jager (head)
Tadhg Beirne (knee)
Jean Kleyn (bicep)
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Tom Farrell (shoulder)
Calvin Nash (hamstring)
Jack Crowley (leg)
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Connacht Boosted By Returning Leaders
Connacht have their own injury issues, but there is positive news too. Josh Ioane has completed return-to-play protocols and is available for selection. David Hawkshaw and Academy centre Sean Walsh are due to integrate into training, while Caolin Blade and Dave Heffernan continue to be monitored.
Denis Buckley is unavailable, while Cathal Forde and Matthew Victory are both ruled out for the rest of the season. There are no updates on Temi Lasisi, Oisin Dowling, Oisin McCormack, Byron Ralston, Mack Hansen or Finn Treacy.
The likely return of Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham after being held back from the South African trip is a major lift. Aki, in particular, feels central to this match. His battle with Alex Nankivell could set the tone for the entire night.
The McMillan Pressure Adds Another Layer
Munster head coach Clayton McMillan comes into this fixture under pressure, not simply because of the league table, but because of the wider uncertainty created by the reversal around bringing in Roger Randle next season.
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Munster are still well positioned, but Munster expectation is different. A poor finish to the regular season, particularly one involving an interpro defeat in Galway, would only sharpen the scrutiny.
That is what makes this such a fascinating coaching test. Munster need control, discipline and clarity. Connacht will want tempo, noise and emotional energy. If the game becomes loose, Connacht will fancy themselves. If Munster can slow it down, kick well and force Connacht to play from deep, they have enough experience to drag the match into their type of contest.
The Scoring Leaders
Connacht’s attacking threat has been spread, but Sean Jansen has been the standout try scorer this season.
Connacht Top Try Scorers
Tries
Sean Jansen
9
Matthew Devine
5
Paul Boyle
4
Connacht Top Points Scorers
Points
Sam Gilbert
72
Sean Naughton
55
Sean Jansen
45
Matthew Devine
25
Munster’s scoring profile is more forward-driven, with Alex Kendellen and John Hodnett leading their try chart.
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Munster Top Try Scorers
Tries
Alex Kendellen
5
John Hodnett
5
Brian Gleeson
4
Gavin Coombes
4
Munster Top Points Scorers
Points
Jack Crowley
64
Alex Kendellen
25
JJ Hanrahan
25
John Hodnett
25
The History Favours Munster, But Galway Has Shifted
The overall URC record between the provinces remains heavily in Munster’s favour. Munster have won 38 of their URC meetings with Connacht, while Connacht have won nine. There has been one draw.
Munster’s broader URC record is also far superior: 325 wins from 497 matches, a 65.39% win rate. Connacht’s URC record stands at 193 wins from 476, a 40.55% win rate.
But history will not make tackles on Saturday night.
Connacht’s only win in their last six meetings with Munster was a 22-9 victory at Dexcom Stadium on New Year’s Day 2024. However, Munster have lost on their last three visits to Galway. That recent Galway trend matters far more than the long-term numbers.
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Where The Game Will Be Won
The first key area is the breakdown. Without Beirne, Munster lose their most disruptive presence over the ball. That gives Connacht a real opportunity to play quicker than Munster would like.
The second is the lineout and maul. Munster traditionally use those areas to build pressure, win penalties and squeeze territory. Without Beirne and Kleyn, that platform becomes less imposing.
The third is the emotional temperature of the game. Connacht need to use the sold-out crowd without becoming frantic. Their best rugby comes when they play with tempo but not panic. Munster, meanwhile, must survive the early storm and make Connacht work for every metre.
The fourth is Crowley’s control. If he dictates territory, Munster can win. If Connacht get after him and force hurried exits, the home crowd will smell blood.
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Prediction: Connacht By 8
Munster have the pedigree, the playoff experience and enough quality to make this uncomfortable for Connacht. But the injury profile is hard to ignore.
No Tadhg Beirne. No Jean Kleyn. No Oli Jager. No Calvin Nash. No Tom Farrell.
That is a serious amount of power, leadership and quality missing for an away interpro in Galway.
Connacht, by contrast, look like a side peaking at the right time. Their home form is strong, Aki and Bealham should bring serious authority back into the team, and the crowd will be worth a few points if the game is tight late on.
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This feels like a night where Connacht’s urgency, freshness and home momentum should be enough.
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