Jones said she began officiating when she was no longer able to play rugby league with boys after coming to the end of an under-11s season.
“I went over to a girls’ team and back then the opportunities for girls to play rugby were few and far between,” she said.
“It’s much better now but that’s why I went into officiating, because I was a bit stubborn and I was told I couldn’t do something within the sport I love.
“I was like, I will find a different avenue and no one is going to tell me I can’t be involved in this sport at the top level in the boys’ side of it.
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“So I decided to go into officiating and I haven’t looked back.”
As a player, Jones won a Women’s Super League title, two League Leaders’ Shields and four Challenge Cups before retiring in 2024.
She has been refereeing in the men’s game for a year and said the players “just see me as another referee”.
“I think the biggest problem they have, is what do they call me?” she said.
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“I get that question every week and I find it quite funny. I understand they’re used to having male referees and they always address them as ‘sir’.
“They are only trying to be respectful. I just tell them to call me ‘ref’ or ‘Tara’ and if they do call me ‘sir’ because it’s habit, then don’t worry about it.
“I’m not offended because I know they’re trying to be respectful and do the right thing.”
Jones said she hopes she can be a “trailblazer” for young women in rugby league.
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“I try to be and I want to be – I just do what I do and I hope I can inspire young girls,” she added.
“Just this week I’ve had a message from a young girl who has just started refereeing to say that I’ve inspired her to try it and give it a go.
With 11 strikeouts through six innings on Friday against the Athletics, Gausman broke the Blue Jays’ franchise record for most punchouts on Opening Day. Gausman broke the record in the fifth inning with his 10th K of the game.
The 35-year-old surpassed the previous high watermark of nine, held by Roy Halladay and Esteban Loaiza.
Halladay achieved the feat in 2004 against the Detroit Tigers, matching Loaiza’s total from three years prior against the Texas Rangers to open Toronto’s season.
Not only did he break a Blue Jays record, but Gausman also became just the seventh pitcher since 1901 with zero walks and 11-plus strikeouts in an Opening Day start, per Sportsnet Stats.
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Gausman had the swing-and-miss stuff working early on Friday, striking out the side in order in the top of the first. By doing so, he joined Halladay in 2004 as the only two starters in franchise history to strike out the first three hitters of the year.
Entering the final season of a five-year deal inked with Toronto before the 2022 season, Gausman had long been a candidate to take the ball on Opening Day, but through various factors didn’t get the chance before 2026.
He had, however, previously made opening-day starts for the San Francisco Giants in 2021 and the Baltimore Orioles in 2017, striking out six and four batters, respectively.
Gausman is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he posted a 3.59 ERA and struck out 189 over 32 starts.
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Now in his 13th big-league season, Friday marked the 28th time that Gausman had reached double-digit strikeouts in a single start. He achieved his career-high of 13 twice in 2023.
Regis Prograis has responded to rumours that he has pulled out of his fight with Conor Benn.
Benn made headlines recently when he left Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing to sign a one-fight promotional deal with Dana White and Zuffa Boxing.
The fight in question was announced as the co-main event to Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, though the event’s named promoter is Goldstar Promotions.
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Benn is set to face former two-time super-lightweight world champion Prograis at a catchweight of 150lbs, dropping back down after two fights with Chris Eubank Jr in 2025. It marks the highest weight of Prograis’ 33-fight career. In his last three outings, the 37-year-old lost to Devin Haney and Jack Catterall before beating JoJo Diaz.
“Listen, it’s not true. I’m still fighting. Don’t believe I’m pulling out the fight. No, that’s not happening. I’m definitely coming to fight.
“Conor, don’t think you’re getting off easy. I’m coming for your ass, bro. I’ll be out there next week. The fight is still on. I don’t know what people are talking about the fight not happen. Listen, that’s all bull***t, [you heard it] from me.”
The card appears to remain unchanged two weeks out from fight night.
Head coach Emmanuel Deutsch has expressed firm belief that Enyimba International FC will not be relegated from the Nigeria Premier Football League, despite the team’s struggles this season.
The nine-time league champions slipped to a 2-0 defeat against Kano Pillars FC on Sunday, leaving them in 16th position on the table and dangerously close to the drop zone.
Enyimba, based in Aba, are currently just above the relegation places on goal difference, with the latest result marking their 13th loss of a challenging campaign.
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However, Deutsch remains confident that the People’s Elephant will retain their top-flight status by the end of the season.
“Our objective is clear — Enyimba will stay in the league. I strongly believe we will achieve that,” he said.
Attention now turns to a crucial Abia derby clash against Abia Warriors FC this weekend in Aba. The encounter is seen as a decisive fixture, as Enyimba look to secure vital points in their battle to avoid relegation.
Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville introduced a bill to change the college sports landscape for players.
Does the notion of limiting transfer movement make sense?
On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, I am joined by ‘Locked On Huskies’ host Roman Tomashoff to discuss whether Washington’s win total is too easy.
Will they be an 8-9 win team again in 2026?
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UCLA enters a new era, trying to just make some kind of noise of relevancy in the Bob Chesney era.
Could they be a team that’s hard to ignore?
00:00 Transfer Rules and Redshirts 05:11 Tampering Patterns in Transfers 10:10 Transfer Rules and Coaching Timelines 11:34 Player vs Coach Mobility Debate 16:46 Washington’s Confident Rebuild 27:51 UCLA Over 5.5 Wins? 28:38 Success Hinges on Bowl Game
Manchester United will discover the true cost of this decision in the summer transfer window
13:02, 27 Mar 2026Updated 17:04, 27 Mar 2026
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Thousands of players have come through the doors at Manchester United’s academy over the years. Some of them make it into the first team, others go on to have relatively successful careers in the lower leagues. For a long time, there were very few who the Reds regretted selling.
These days, there are a couple United may wish they had stuck with. Alvaro Carreras was not given a chance and is now the starting full-back for Real Madrid. Scott McTominay was reluctantly sold to make way for Manuel Ugarte – a decision that becomes more baffling by the day.
Both of those exits were given the green light by Erik ten Hag. However, another deal that was struck under the Dutchman’s watch could prove to be extremely costly this summer. When James Garner returned to Carrington in the summer of 2022, he looked capable of kicking on.
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He had been loaned to Nottingham Forest and played a vital role in their promotion from the Championship. The second tier has been used as a proving ground for United’s academy gems for years and, as Amad proved, a good spell in that division can be the gateway into the first team.
And yet, by the end of that summer, Garner had been sold to Everton for £15m. A year later, the midfielder explained why he agreed to leave the Reds. “When I came back to United, I felt like I had a good enough season to have a shot,” he said.
“But unfortunately I got injured on the first day and it set me back two or three weeks, so the manager did not get to see me in training and games. It was a decision where – after having two seasons in men’s football – I wanted to be part of a team and squad, ideally starting too.
“I knew I wasn’t going to get that at United so I made the decision to move here. I could have gone on loan again and come back but I felt I would have been in the exact same position I was then.
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“I didn’t want to be stuck in the mud, I needed to make a decision to leave one of the best clubs in the world, which was hard, but it is one I am happy I made.”
Now 25, Garner has matured into an impressive Premier League midfielder. This month, the former United man received his first England senior call-up with Thomas Tuchel singing his praises. “James Garner has just had a fantastic season,” the England head coach explained.
“He’s always available for Everton. He plays in multiple positions – right defender, left defender, six, eight. He’s fast, he has a clean foot and takes all the set pieces. I think he deserves it. He’s a bit of an underrated player.
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“I have seen him many times now live and [I am] convinced about his quality and his character and want to see how he does in camp.”
What United would do to have a player like Garner in their prime, in their squad, heading into the summer transfer window. The Reds hope to buy two midfielders at the end of the season.
Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes have all been linked with United and all have whopping price tags. The Reds will need to spend more than £100m to shore up their midfield.
Garner is proof of the risks of selling your homegrown assets to make a quick buck. Yes, United benefitted at the time from a pure profit sale but the midfielder is now worth considerably more to Everton than £15m and would have saved the Reds millions this summer.
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This short-term approach to transfers is something Ineos are looking to address moving forward. But the aftershock of poor decisions from the past continue to be felt today.
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Tiger Woods has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence amid his involvement in a rollover car crash in Jupiter Island, Florida, on Friday afternoon. Woods blew a 0.00 on an administered Breathalyzer but did “exemplify signs of impairment” at the scene and subsequently refused a urinalysis test, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.
The accident occurred near 281 South Beach Road around 2 p.m. ET, police said.
A pick-up truck pulling a pressure cleaner on a trailer was headed Northbound, attempting to turn into a driveway when the driver saw a Land Rover speeding towards him, according to Budensiek. The truck was unable to get out of the way in time, and while the Land Rover that belonged to Woods tried to swerve to avoid collision at the last moment, it clipped the back end of the trailer and turned over onto the driver’s side.
Neither driver was injured at the scene, and no other passengers were in the vehicles. Woods was brought to Martin County Jail and placed under arrest for DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. He will be detained for at least eight hours as required by Florida law.
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Woods, 50, crawled out of the passenger door of his vehicle with police initially recognizing signs of impairment. He explained to officers his string of injuries and surgeries and also submitted to “in-depth roadside tests.”
“He was lethargic on scene, but that was, we believe, because of what he was intoxicated on,” said Budensiek, who clarified that Woods was “not impaired by alcohol but rather some type of medication or drug.”
A photo from the scene published by WPTV showed a Land Rover on its side with police blocking traffic and emergency crews responding.
This is the fourth known car accident involving Woods since 2009.
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In November 2009, Woods was cited for careless driving after crashing an SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree outside his then-home in Windermere.
Eight years later, in May 2017, he pled guilty to reckless driving after being arrested on a DUI charge in Jupiter when police found him asleep behind the wheel of a parked vehicle.
In February 2021, Woods suffered severe leg injuries after being involved in a rollover car crash in Southern California. Authorities observed no evidence of impairment or intoxication. He subsequently underwent multiple surgeries and took nearly 10 months to recover before returning to golf.
Woods’ return to golf has been a significant storyline since he last played a tournament in July 2024 at The Open Championship.
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The 15-time major champion had been recovering from a torn Achilles when he underwent back surgery in October 2025, his second inside the span of 13 months, to replace a collapsed lumbar disc. He played competitive golf for the first time since that surgery on Tuesday in the TGL Finals. Woods has gone under the knife seven times for his back since 2014.
There has been speculation that Woods could attempt to play in the 2026 Masters in two weeks, but he has yet to disclose his official status for the first major of the season.
CBS Sports will continue to update this breaking news as more information becomes available.
Punjab Kings, under their new captain Shreyas Iyer, showed a lot of promise in IPL 2025 after years of mediocre performances. The side entered the final but lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the title clash. Still searching for their first title, Punjab Kings begin their IPL 2026 journey at home against former champions Gujarat Titans. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan says Punjab Kings are finally “moving in the right direction” after making smart and bold choices at the auction table, raising hopes of ending their long wait for an Indian Premier League title.
Speaking on ‘IPL Today Live’, Pathan credited Punjab’s improved clarity in leadership and squad-building for their turnaround. Punjab finished as runner-up last season, losing the close final to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
“Leadership has played a huge role in Punjab’s turnaround. You win half the IPL at the auction table. Big purses don’t necessarily mean you will always get what you want, but they did, and they reached the final,” he said.
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Pathan pointed out that the franchise has not shied away from taking tough calls, including releasing underperforming players such as Glenn Maxwell, while also strengthening their bench.
Punjab Kings full IPL 2026 schedule:
March 31 – Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans – New Chandigarh – 7:30PM IST
April 3 – Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings – Chennai – 7:30PM IST
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April 6 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings – Kolkata – 7:30PM IST
April 11 – Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – New Chandigarh – 3:30PM IST
April 16 – Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings – Mumbai – 7:30PM IST
April 19 – Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants – New Chandigarh – 7:30PM IST
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April 25 – Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings – Delhi – 3:30PM IST
April 28 – Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals – New Chandigarh – 7:30PM IST
May 3 – Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings – Ahmedabad – 7:30PM IST
May 6 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings – Hyderabad – 7:30PM IST
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May 11 – Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals – Dharamshala – 7:30PM IST
May 14 – Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians – Dharamshala – 7:30PM IST
May 17 – Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Dharamshala – 3:30PM IST
May 23 – Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings – Lucknow – 7:30PM IST
North Carolina’s men’s basketball program parted ways with head coach Hubert Davis earlier this week following an upset loss to VCU in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
UNC did not disclose details about Davis’ departure, instead describing the move as a change in leadership. The now-former Tar Heels coach later confirmed on social media he was “let go” despite wanting to continue coaching at Chapel Hill.
Since Davis’ exit, several possible candidates with ties to UNC have emerged, including Kenny “The Jet” Smith, who was notably mentioned by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis talks to Armando Bacot (5) during a game against the UC Riverside Highlanders on Nov. 17, 2023 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.(Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
After praising Hubert Davis, who both played and later coached at North Carolina, Kenny Smith shut down any interest in the vacant job, calling speculation linking him to the opening “disrespectful.”
“Yeah, we can talk about North Carolina,” Smith, a basketball analyst, said during halftime of the Texas-Purdue Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA tournament. “But that vacancy – I thought that was honestly disrespectful. But first of all, Coach Hubert Davis, thank you. Your service and what you did for North Carolina basketball as a player and as a coach, you moved it forward. I think people forget that because of one game here and there.”
Smith emphasized the importance of preserving North Carolina’s coaching lineage.
“But I also think this is a precarious position for North Carolina and for us as Tar Heels. Because what makes us special, when you fire one person, that’s Hubert Davis. But when you have Coach [Brad] Frederick, you have Sean May, you have Jeff Lebo, you have Marcus Paige, you have Pat Sullivan. What that is, is you have a lineage to every era of basketball that’s Carolina that was on that staff, including Hubert Davis. Every era was connected.”
Former North Carolina Tar Heels basketball player Kenny Smith poses for a selfie with fans as he hosts the annual Late Night with Roy Williams basketball kickoff at the Dean Smith Center on Oct. 23, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.(Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
“That’s what makes us special. Forget all that ‘blue blood.’ What makes Carolina family is the connection of all of those eras were in one building at one time. That’s what makes people pay attention and have some animosity or some love for us.”
It remains unclear how wide UNC will cast its net, but hiring outside the program would break from a tradition tied closely to Dean Smith. Nevertheless, Smith hopes the next coach will be committed to Chapel Hill for the long haul, much like Davis was.
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TNT basketball analyst Kenny Smith on air before the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the North Carolina State Wolfpack at State Farm Stadium on April 6, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
“I will say this. Dean Smith retired as a Tar Heel. Roy Williams retired as a Tar Heel. Hubert Davis was going to retire a Tar Heel. Whoever we come in, they have to want to retire a Tar Heel,” Smith said. “I don’t care what that means. You don’t want to look for, ‘Oh, [what] J.J. Redick has done in LA. I want to be a Laker.’ You retire a Tar Heel, the next person.”
Davis succeeded Roy Williams in 2021 after being elevated from his assistant role. Williams led the Tar Heels to three national titles. North Carolina’s deepest tournament run under Davis was a Sweet 16 appearance.
The 2026 NFL draft is fast approaching, and the mock drafts and draft opinions are in full swing. The popular man to be sent to the Minnesota Vikings right now is Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. Is he the right pick for the Vikings at 18? Is anybody? Or could we be looking at a Vikings draft-day trade back?
Vikings Trade Back Scenario Is Gaining Steam
The Vikings draft suddenly seems to hinge on Thieneman, who moved from a potentially second-round prospect to a first-rounder after a phenomenal performance at the combine. Should a performance in some drills on one day drastically change the view of a player? The fact is, it can. On the flip side, other options that looked good for the Vikings, like interior defensive linemen Caleb Banks and Peter Woods, have seen their draft stock tank.
Aug 3, 2023; Eagan, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and team owner Ziggy Wilf talk at training camp at TCO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
If you look at the positions that the Vikings still need to address this offseason – defensive tackle, safety, center, running back, linebacker, WR3 – and assuming Calen Downs and Jeremiyah Love are off the board at 18.
The players Minnesota might be looking at, like Thieneman, Woods, Banks, Kayden McDonald, Emannuel McNeill-Warren, and CJ Allen, might still be available after the trade back. You might even be able to get two of those players, and when they aren’t at the top end of draft prospects, it gives better value.
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Thieneman’s draft stock may have even risen to the point that someone takes him before 18, in which case the trade back should look even more agreeable to the Vikings’ brain trust.
Don’t Let the Scars of the Past Affect Judgement
Trading back in the first round might bring horrible memories of the 2022 draft for some, but Kwesi Adofo-Mensah got his marching orders back in January. Rob Brzezinski and Kevin O’Connell will be putting this draft together, and if a quality player falls into your lap – as Kyle Hamilton did in 2022 – then you pull the trigger. However, if that doesn’t happen, then there is no need for the Vikings to reach for a player.
Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski speaks with Vikings.com’s Gabe Henderson during a sit-down interview on Feb. 17, 2022, discussing organizational philosophy, front-office strategy, and the hiring of head coach Kevin O’Connell while outlining Minnesota’s leadership structure and long-term football operations vision in a detailed digital feature segment. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Of course, then it becomes a case of getting good value from the trade. What good value looks like is somewhat subjective; there are many draft trade chats out there that have their own ideas.
The slight concern is that the Vikings only have an acting general manager in place, a very strange position to be in. Navigating a successful draft, including successful trades, could put Brzezinski in the frame for the full-time GM role, but we don’t know what the Vikings are thinking long term, with everyone keeping their cards close to their chest in Minnesota.
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The first round of the 2026 NFL draft kicks off on April 23 in Pittsburgh.
Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
Barcelona could be forced to deal with a huge Raphinha injury blow which will almost certainly impact Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford could be set for a major Barcelona twist after Raphinha appeared to suffer an injury playing for Brazil. At half-time of their friendly defeat to France, the Barca winger was replaced by Luiz Henrique with fears over another hamstring issue.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed as much after the game as the Brazil boss explained why he was taken off at the interval. He said: ”Raphinha played very well, then he had a problem at the end of the first half and we had to change him, his muscle bothered him a little and I think they’re going to evaluate him tomorrow.”
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Since returning from injury, Raphinha has started eight of the last nine Barcelona matches which has seen Rashford’s minutes decrease significantly. The 28-year-old, who is on a season-long loan from Manchester United, has played just 28 minutes across Barcelona’s last four games.
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Rashford started the two games that Raphinha missed out entirely and thus would more than likely return to the team if he has picked up an injury. Barcelona have four big games after the international break, with Rashford’s role seemingly set to change.
That could arrive at the perfect time as he looks to secure the England starting spot on the left of Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI. A glimpse on his position in the pecking order is likely to emerge over the coming days during friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.
United do find themselves in a strong position though, with clubs in the Premier League and around Europe making enquiries over his availability, as per ESPN.
Any final decision over his future is expected after the World Cup with Rashford’s full focus likely to be on that after hoping to finish the season strong.
Barcelona currently sit top of La Liga, clear of Real Madrid by four points and are also in the Champions League quarter-finals where they will take on Atletico Madrid.
Hansi Flick’s side have already faced their domestic rivals over two legs this season with Atletico winning 4-3 on aggregate. During the second leg win for Barca, Rashford played up front with his versatility opening up more avenues for minutes.
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England’s 2026 World Cup kits
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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL
UCLA enters a new era, trying to just make some kind of noise of relevancy in the Bob Chesney era. 
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