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The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has stopped short of fully backing Steve Borthwick as England's head coach for the upcoming Nations Championship fixtures. However, RFU CEO Bill Sweeney emphasized that their primary focus is on supporting the existing coaching team.Sweeney's comments suggest that Borthwick is likely to lead England in their summer Test matches against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina, pending the outcome of a formal review into their disappointing Six Nations campaign. The review aims to identify areas for improvement and provide additional support to the coaching team.A key point of interest is the absence of discussions with Andy Farrell, the Ireland head coach, whose contract expires after the 2027 World Cup. Farrell has a strong track record, having led Ireland to two Six Nations titles and a successful Lions tour. Sweeney confirmed that there are 'no approaches' to Farrell and that their focus remains on supporting Borthwick.The RFU's review process is expected to conclude by the end of April. Potential changes or additions to Borthwick's backroom team are being considered, including the possibility of creating a new general manager role similar to that of Rassie Erasmus with South Africa.England's upcoming fixtures pose significant challenges, particularly against South Africa in Johannesburg. The team will also face logistical hurdles with matches against Fiji and Argentina, including a long travel schedule.

Roy Hodgson has made a sensational return to management at the age of 78 with Bristol City, following the sacking of Gerhard Struber by the Championship club. Hodgson, who has been out of work since leaving Crystal Palace in February 2024, will take charge of City for the remaining seven games of the season. They are currently 16th in the Championship.Hodgson's storied managerial career in England began at Ashton Gate in 1982, after a period at Swedish club Halmstad. In total, he has managed 17 different clubs and four different international sides, including England, from 2012-16. “I have had great conversations with the board and I am really excited by the opportunity to help until the end of the season,” he said. “We will get straight to work and look for a positive performance [against Charlton] on Good Friday.”The appointment comes after Struber, who succeeded Liam Manning last summer, had grown frustrated at the club and voiced his disappointment at the January window, when City sold key players Anis Mehmeti and Zak Vyner to division rivals Ipswich and Wrexham respectively. Struber’s assistant Bernd Eibler has also departed. Results under the Austrian tailed off, with Struber winning only one of his final nine matches in all competitions.“Roy’s appointment is about more than the results of the next seven games,” said the Bristol City chief executive Charlie Boss. “Over the remainder of the season, he will help us set the standards and values at the club that we will need to be successful going forwards. Roy is a vastly experienced coach who has achieved and won at the highest level.” City are in the process of recruiting an incoming sporting director who will help appoint a permanent head coach expected to replace Hodgson at the end of the season.

Sarah Strong, the 6ft 2in UConn forward, is chasing her second championship in as many years with an undefeated squad that hasn’t lost in 52 games dating back to last year. As a freshman, Strong thrived defensively in the 2025 NCAA tournament, while scoring the most points by a freshman in tournament history with 114.In her second season, Strong has been even more dominant. Her impact on both sides of the ball is so deep that she was named the Big East Player of the Year and the Big East Defensive Player of the Year. She’s the favorite to win the National Player of the Year award next month.This season Strong averaged 18.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 3.3 steals all while shooting 60.0% from the field. UConn coach Geno Auriemma praised her unique ability to play like a guard and play like a big guy.Unlike other collegiate women’s players with similar talent, such as Caitlin Clark, there is nothing flashy about Strong. She plays with certainty and lets her game do the talking. Her media commitments are increasing, but she remains uncomfortable with the spotlight.Strong’s poise, calm, and off-the-charts IQ have produced results impossible to ignore. Her parents, including former WNBA player Allison Feaster, instilled in her a respect for the game and family values.UConn assistant Jamelle Elliott quietly scouted Strong in ninth grade before the hype arrived and she became the country’s top recruit. Auriemma agreed with Elliott’s assessment, noting that Strong already had the skills that great players learn over time.With her star growing rapidly, Strong has inked NIL deals with Jordan Brand, Unrivaled, and Madison Reed. She had 18 points in each game as UConn rolled to first- and second-round wins last week, setting up Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup with North Carolina.

Ali Ahmed experienced goose bumps watching Canada walk out at the last World Cup, a surreal moment for the winger who had never witnessed his nation compete on football's biggest stage. This time around, he'll not only be at home but at the heart of the action in two cities that hold special significance for him.Jesse Marsch's Canadian side faces Qatar and Switzerland in Vancouver after an opener against a potential European playoff winner in Toronto. An encounter with Italy in Ahmed's hometown would carry particular weight, given the city's substantial Italian population and his parents' Ethiopian heritage with their love for Italian football. Football has been ingrained in his family since childhood, a passion that has guided his remarkable journey.On the outskirts of Toronto, a teenage Ahmed used to sneak onto Toronto FC's training pitches before dawn for kickabouts with friends. His persistence and determination eventually led him to professional football, though not through the conventional path. At 17, he turned down a Toronto FC academy spot to pursue opportunities in Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands, facing numerous challenges along the way.Now at Norwich City since January, the 25-year-old has established himself as a key player on the left wing, contributing significantly to the team's improved form in the Championship. Ahmed started all seven Norwich matches during Ramadan, waking before 4am for Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal. His experience fasting during a crucial period of the English season has been a learning curve, though he's noted the exceptional support he's received in England.Ahmed candidly discusses his upbringing in Toronto's Lawrence Heights neighborhood, an area experiencing significant gun violence. Despite the challenges, he describes a close-knit community where people supported each other. Football provided an escape route, leading him to opportunities he never anticipated.His career has seen remarkable highs, including playing against Lionel Messi's Argentina at the Copa América and scoring in the MLS Cup final defeat to Inter Miami. After being knocked unconscious during a Canadian Championship match in 2023, Ahmed's determination only grew.As Canada prepares to host the World Cup, Ahmed sets ambitious goals: "I want to win our group. And then from there, into the knockout rounds. It's important to have that belief that we can play with anybody. Why not?" With home advantage in two cities that mean the world to him, Ahmed sees the perfect setup for both himself and the Canadian team.

McLaren is looking to turn their disappointing start to the season around at the Japanese Grand Prix. The team, led by Lando Norris, has faced significant challenges with their new car, struggling to match the pace of Mercedes and Ferrari.After Mercedes dominated the opening two rounds, McLaren found themselves third fastest but a significant distance off the pace. The team acknowledged they had work to do on the aerodynamic side of the chassis and on understanding how best to exploit their new engines under the power management rules.Lando Norris remains optimistic about McLaren's chances, despite the difficult start. 'I believe we can get close but I also know how good Mercedes are,' he said. 'They've obviously got on the right track early and have understood the car better than we have been able to do.'Norris's teammate, Oscar Piastri, has shown promise in practice sessions, setting a strong pace in the afternoon session at Suzuka. The team is hopeful that they can capitalize on Ferrari's struggles with power deployment on the demanding figure-of-eight circuit.The Japanese Grand Prix represents another test for F1's new rules on energy recovery, which will play a key role in how the drivers approach a lap. Suzuka is a much-loved drivers' circuit that combines a requirement for inch-perfect judgment with a reward for pushing to the limit.

Iran's men's football team, Team Melli, has been training in southern Turkiye as they prepare for two upcoming friendly matches before the FIFA World Cup. The team's preparations come against the backdrop of the US-Israel war on Iran, which is likely to attract heightened attention during the World Cup.The team held a training session in Belek, Antalya, with tightly restricted media access. Officials stated that they wanted to avoid distractions before the matches, which are critical to their World Cup preparations.Iran's football federation is in discussions with FIFA about moving its World Cup matches to Mexico from the US due to concerns over player safety. The friendly matches were originally scheduled to take place in Jordan but were moved to Turkiye following the outbreak of the war on Iran.The team will play against Nigeria on Friday and Costa Rica on Tuesday. Striker Sardar Azmoun was omitted from the squad after posting a picture on his Instagram feed of a meeting with Dubai's ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Iranian media reported that Azmoun had been expelled from the national team for a perceived act of disloyalty to the government.

Brazil and France, ranked fifth and third in the world respectively, are gearing up for the FIFA World Cup with a high-profile friendly match in the United States on Thursday. The match at the Gillette Stadium near Boston, Massachusetts, marks the first meeting between the two teams in 11 years. The friendly comes as both teams finalize their preparations for the World Cup, with Brazil hoping to capitalize on the appointment of coach Carlo Ancelotti to boost their chances of winning a record-extending sixth World Cup title. Ancelotti's impact on the team will be closely watched, especially with key players like Vinicius Junior leading the charge. For France, the focus is on Kylian Mbappe, who has overcome a knee injury to return to action. Mbappe's fitness had been a concern, but he expressed confidence in his ability to contribute to the team during the international break. Brazil's form has been inconsistent, with six defeats in 18 World Cup qualifying games. However, Ancelotti's arrival has brought renewed optimism, and the team will look to build momentum ahead of the World Cup. Neymar's absence has been a significant talking point, with Ancelotti citing physical issues as the reason for the star player's exclusion from the squad. The match also provides an opportunity for younger players like Rayan, an uncapped 19-year-old, to make their mark. As both teams aim to peak at the right time for the World Cup, Thursday's friendly will offer valuable insights into their preparations and potential strategies.

Tractor FC from Iran is set to travel to Saudi Arabia for a crucial playoff match against Shabab Al-Ahli of Dubai. The winner of this match will advance to the Asian Champions League Elite quarterfinals to face Buriram United of Thailand. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently conducted the draw for the quarterfinal pairings. This comes after the western zone playoffs were postponed due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and have been rescheduled for April 13-14 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Saudi city of Jeddah will also host the tournament quarterfinals, semifinals, and final from April 16 to 25. The AFC is hopeful that the situation in the region will calm down, allowing the matches to proceed as planned. “We all want to play matches as soon as possible. So, hopefully we’re able to finish fixtures in April as we have planned,” said AFC general secretary Windsor John. “We’re hoping that things will calm down very soon.” Other notable matches include Vissel Kobe (Japan) facing the winner of the playoff between Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) and Al-Sadd (United Arab Emirates). Defending champions Al-Ahli Saudi will play Al-Duhail (Qatar) for a spot in the quarterfinals against Johor Darul Ta’zim (Malaysia). The AFC Champions League Two and AFC Challenge League quarterfinals have also been postponed and will be played on April 19 and 22 at centralized venues yet to be announced. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr is among the teams competing in the Asian Champions League Two.

Barcelona have taken a commanding 6-2 lead over rivals Real Madrid in the Women's Champions League quarterfinals, putting them on the brink of the semifinals. The Catalan side dominated the match, with Ewa Pajor and Esmee Brugts scoring within the first 13 minutes.Despite Linda Caicedo pulling one back for Real Madrid, Irene Paredes quickly restored Barcelona's two-goal lead. Pajor and Vicky Lopez added to the tally in the second half, with Caicedo scoring again for Madrid. Alexia Putellas sealed the win with a late penalty.Barcelona, now unbeaten in 25 games across all competitions, are on the verge of their eighth consecutive semifinal appearance. They have won all four matches against Real Madrid this season, scoring 16 goals to Madrid's two.Real Madrid face a tough task to progress, needing only their second-ever victory against Barcelona in 23 encounters. The second leg will take place next week, with Madrid also set to face Barcelona in Liga F at the weekend.