ClickCease

Author: Harry Howes

A new England era begins under Thomas Tuchel

Posted on by Harry Howes

After eight years in charge and two Euros finals, England’s Gareth Southgate era has come to an end. Tomorrow, Thomas Tuchel will make his dugout debut as Three Lions boss and there’s a huge sense of excitement among English football fans.

The German boss comes with an exceptional CV, having won league titles with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, the German Cup with Borussia Dortmund and, most notably, he led an unfancied Chelsea to their second Champions League title back in 2021.

But international football is a completely different ball game and Tuchel now faces the challenge of navigating short periods of training with his players, an almost limitless talent pool and the omnipotent, judgemental side of the English press.

Tuchel has already attracted some heat after naming his first squad last week. But the proof is in the pudding and if he gets off to a flying start and can have England challenging at next summer’s World Cup, all will be forgiven.

Who’s in the squad?

There are plenty of household names in the squad who were always a shoo-in to be selected. The likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Jordan Pickford were guaranteed inclusions.

So too was Phil Foden, despite his mixed fortunes for Manchester City this season. Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi has established himself as first-choice at the back, while Levi Colwill, Ezri Konsa and Anthony Gordon are also becoming squad regulars.

Despite the obvious choices, Tuchel has also thrown in some curveballs. The biggest shock was undoubtedly a recall for Jordan Henderson. The former Liverpool captain, who now plays for Ajax following a short-lived move to Saudi Arabia, last played for his country in November 2023.

The midfielder will be 36 by the time the World Cup gets underway but there’s an assumption that he’s a good member of the dressing room, as well as one of only a few natural defensive replacements should Rice be unavailable.

Kyle Walker’s inclusion was also something of a surprise considering his regression in recent months. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford has earned a recall after resurrecting his career at Aston Villa. Morgan Rogers has seen his fine form rewarded with another call-up, while Morgan Gibbs-White was also eventually included following Cole Palmer’s withdrawal through injury.

Another surprise inclusion was 32-year-old Dan Burn, who will cement the greatest week of his career if he makes his debut tomorrow. The 6ft 5 defender scored at Wembley to help Newcastle claim their first trophy in 55 years last weekend. Burn has been called up for the first time and Tuchel says he’ll be valuable in the squad both on and off the pitch.

Meanwhile, Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly has also earned a maiden call-up to the squad following an impressive breakthrough season. His Gunners teammate Ben White misses out, with Tuchel stating that it’s too early for both him and Adam Wharton following recent injury layoffs.

There was also no place for Jarrad Branthwaite, Conor Gallagher, Ivan Toney or Elliot Anderson, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bukayo Saka, Lewis Hall and Ollie Watkins have missed out through injury.

England squad

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton), James Trafford (Burnley)

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (AC Milan, on loan from Manchester City)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa, loan from Manchester United), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)

How might Tuchel’s England line up?

While Southgate clearly had his favourites, it’s a fresh start under the new boss. Pickford has been first choice in goal for the best part of a decade but he could be challenged for a starting spot following Dean Henderson’s impressive campaign for Palace.

Tuchel often favours a 3-4-3 formation, which will suit the returning Reece James, who thrived under the German at Chelsea. On the other side, Hall’s injury means England lack a natural left-footed wing-back, which could present an opportunity for Lewis-Skelly or Tino Livramento to demonstrate their versatility.

Walker’s diminishing pace could see him return to a right centre-back role, while you’d expect the two midfielders to be Rice and Bellingham. That leaves the question of who occupies the two number 10 positions behind talismanic striker Harry Kane.

Despite Palmer and Saka’s injuries, England boast a plethora of options, with Foden, Rashford, Gordon, Gibbs-White and Rogers all capable. Jarrod Bowen will also want to capitalise on Saka’s absence, while Eberechi Eze could slot in seamlessly having excelled in a similar system at Palace.

When are England playing?

Tuchel’s main priority is achieving qualification for the 2026 World Cup and England’s qualifying campaign gets underway this week. They face Albania at Wembley tomorrow before meeting Latvia on Monday.

Andorra and Serbia are the other contenders in England’s qualifying group and they’ll expect to comfortably qualify for the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.

England v Albania – Friday 21st March, Wembley Stadium
England v Latvia – Monday 24th March, Wembley Stadium

Guinness Men’s Six Nations: France pip England to title on dramatic final day

Posted on by Harry Howes

After a thrilling few weeks of rugby, the Guinness Men’s Six Nations is over for another year. On a dramatic final day, France were crowned champions as they ended their incredible tournament with a convincing win over Scotland.

England did everything they could to put the pressure on by thumping Wales but it wasn’t quite enough in the end. Meanwhile, Ireland also ended their campaign with a win as they came out on top in their clash with Italy.

Guinness Men’s Six Nations Table

TeamPlayedWonDrawLostPoints DifferenceBonusPoints
1France5401125521
2England540174420
3Ireland540118319
4Scotland5203-16311
5Italy5104-8215
6Wales5005-11933

Ireland bow out with win in Italy

Italy 17-22 Ireland

While Ireland started the day with hopes of securing a third successive Guinness Men’s Six Nations title, it was never likely considering the form of England and France. Yet on St Patrick’s Day weekend, there was positivity as a narrow win over Italy put Ireland top of the table, at least temporarily.

Having looked like champions elect for much of the last month, Ireland’s dramatic defeat at home to France last week took the wind out of their sails. And they weren’t at their dominant best in Rome, despite eventually getting the job done.

Monty Ioane opened the scoring as his try put Italy into the lead after 12 minutes. But after a shaky start, Ireland recovered and led at the break thanks to tries from Hugo Keenan and Dan Sheehan.

Italy made things harder for themselves after the break when Ross Vintcent was shown a red card for a high hit on Keenan. And the man advantage allowed Sheehan to complete a hat-trick and secure Ireland the win.

All good things must come to an end and while Ireland’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations dominance is over for now, you can guarantee they’ll be back even stronger next year as they look to win back their crown.

England put woeful Wales to the sword

Wales 14-68 England

Ahead of their final game in Cardiff, England’s mission was clear: win the match and put the pressure on France. Their Guinness Men’s Six Nations fate was not in their hands and they needed Scotland to do them a favour later that evening.

While France ultimately had the final say, England did everything they could, and in some style. Wales had been on a run of 16 consecutive defeats and in front of a roaring home crowd, they would have felt that they could turn things around against their noisy neighbours.

But Maro Itoje soon put an end to that as the experienced lock opened the scoring in the third minute. Wales thought they were back in it through a spectacular Blair Murray try but after it was disallowed, England took advantage and raced into a 33-7 half-time lead.

And they didn’t take their foot off the gas in the second half as they ran away with it, ending the game with an incredible 10 tries. Two of those came from debutant Henry Pollock, who enjoyed a dream first outing for the national side.

For England, it was an incredible afternoon and while it ultimately didn’t end with the Guinness Men’s Six Nations trophy, it certainly gives them huge hope going forward. But for Wales, the inquest now begins.

Warren Gatland left his role as coach midway through the competition and others may follow. Wales’ last Test win came way back in October 2023 and after claiming their second successive wood spoon, who knows when their next one will come.

France see off Scotland to win Guinness Men’s Six Nations

France 35-16 Scotland

With France’s clash against Scotland coming last on the final day, they knew they only needed to win to be crowned champions. Their superior points difference meant that a bonus point wasn’t even necessary, which took the pressure off.

But rather than win ugly, France did what France so often do and scored four tries as they raced into the history books. The champions ended the competition with 30 tries, breaking the record England set way back in 2001.

Eight of those tries came from Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who equalled the all-time single-season championship record. France claimed their second Guinness Men’s Six Nations title in four years, having last won it back in 2022.

Yet while the final result makes it seem like a walk in the park, it was anything but easy in the first half. Scotland battled well and only Thomas Ramos’ late penalty separated the two sides at the break.

England may well have been rubbing their hands at that point but it was short-lived, with Bielle-Biarrey’s early second-half try putting France back in the ascendancy. A Finn Russell penalty earned Scotland’s only points in the second half, which allowed France to comfortably take the points and secure their seventh title since the competition expanded to six nations.

The biggest music festivals to look forward to in 2025

Posted on by Harry Howes

Dust off your tent and get your novelty flags ordered – festival season is nearly back! The British summer wouldn’t be the same without a weekend of camping, sunshine (or rain!) and some incredible live music.

There are so many festivals to look forward to and with the line-ups slowly being released, we’ve put together a guide to the best ones.

Glastonbury

Dates: Wednesday 25th to Sunday 29th June

The greatest music festival on the planet returns to Somerset this summer, with thousands of lucky ticket holders set to flock to the southwest of England in June. Despite tickets selling out months in advance, the full line-up was only released last week.

The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo have been announced as the headliners, although the trio have all appeared at the festival before. Neil Young tore up the Pyramid Stage back in 2009 and he’ll be joined by his new band The Chrome Hearts this time around.

Meanwhile, The 1975 will be making their fourth appearance at Glastonbury, having previously appeared in 2013, 2014 and 2016. It’s also not the first time at Worthy Farm for Olivia Rodrigo. The American sensation appeared on the Other Stage three years ago.

This year’s line-up is packed with superstars, with the likes of Rod Stewart, Loyle Carner, Biffy Clyro, Charli XCX, Raye and The Prodigy also set to perform.

Reading and Leeds

Dates: Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th August

While Glastonbury routinely steals the show each summer, Reading and Leeds are never too far behind. The iconic festivals traditionally share a line-up across the August bank holiday and they’ve had some huge names perform in recent years, including Liam Gallagher, Lana Del Rey, Arctic Monkeys and Sam Fender.

They’ve continued that trend this year, with Hozier, Chappell Roan, Bring Me The Horizon and Travis Scott announced as the headliners. As well as those huge names, fans will be excited to see the likes of D-Block Europe, Bloc Party, The Kooks and loads more yet to be confirmed.

Isle of Wight

Dates: Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd June

For festival fans not on the mainland, or those that fancy hopping on a ferry for a weekend break, then the Isle of Wight Festival is for you. Having started back in the 1960s, it was revived in 2002 and has seen the likes of The Rolling Stones, Amy Winehouse, Fleetwood Mac and Paul McCartney headline the main stage.

The superstar names keep on coming this year, with Sting, Stereophonics and Justin Timberlake set to close each night of the weekend. And that’s not all because ticket holders can enjoy sets from Faithless, The Script, Paul Heaton, Jess Glynne and plenty more.

BST Hyde Park

Dates: Friday 27th, Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June, Friday 4th, Saturday 5th, Sunday 6th, Friday 11th and Sunday 13th July

If you don’t like the idea of sleeping in a tent and having to face the dreaded festival toilets, there are countless day festivals in London to enjoy instead. BST Hyde Park gets bigger and better every year, with incredible line-ups across a few weekends in June and July.

After rocking the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, both Olivia Rodrigo and Neil Young will be performing in the capital. Plus, after an incredible year, Sabrina Carpenter is set to wow her British fans with two unmissable performances in Hyde Park.

There are also shows to look forward to from Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan and Jeff Lynne’s ELO and you can enjoy them all in style with Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages.

Hampton Court Palace Festival

Dates: Wednesday 11th to Saturday 21st June

Why not combine your festival experience with some essential British history? Enjoy some of the best acts around at Hampton Court Palace Festival, where you can take a stroll around Henry VIII’s stunning former gardens before enjoying some live music.

Once again, we’ll be offering hospitality at this incredible festival, where you can make the most of exclusive food and drinks packages while taking in a show from some of the best acts around.

Among the headliners this year are Tom Jones, Gary Barlow, Elbow and Rag’n’Bone Man. Plus, you can also see performances from Chaka Khan, James, Bananarama, The Good, The Bad and The Rugby and 10CC.

Henley Festival

Dates: Wednesday 9th to Sunday 13th July

Swap your muddy wellies for your tux at the classiest music festival around. The Henley Festival is a black-tie event, with the headliners performing on the iconic Floating Stage upon the Thames.

Enjoy music, comedy and art, with some of the biggest acts around. This year’s headliners include Diana Ross, McFly, Rick Astley and Jamie Cullum. Meanwhile, if you’d like a laugh, head to the comedy tent to enjoy sets from Ivo Graham, Ed Byrne and Alastair McGowan.

We offer bespoke hospitality packages to suit your needs, providing you with exclusive access to the festival, food and drinks packages, plus loads more. Enquire today to reserve your place.

Guinness Men’s Six Nations: France, England, Ireland and Scotland in four-way title fight

Posted on by Harry Howes

The Guinness Men’s Six Nations returned with a bang at the weekend, blowing the title race wide open ahead of the final round of fixtures. Following France’s triumphant win in Ireland, they’re now in the driving seat.

But we’re set for a weekend full of twists and turns, with four nations still in with a mathematical chance of lifting the trophy. England need Scotland to do them a favour against France – they take on Wales, who look set to pick up a second consecutive wooden spoon.

Who can still win the Guinness Men’s Six Nations?

France
The French last won the Guinness Men’s Six Nations back in 2022 and they’re now the firm favourites to lift the trophy. They’re currently top of the table and will be guaranteed to win if they beat Scotland with a bonus point in the final game of the weekend.

They can also win without a bonus point and even if they lose or draw, provided England and Ireland fail to get maximum points and don’t catch their hefty points difference.

England
England need rivals Scotland to help them out by beating France – they’ll claim the championship for the first time since 2020 if they win with a bonus point and France fail to win.

Drawing or losing with bonus points could also secure them the title if France and Ireland both lose. If England finish level on points with France, they’ll need to beat them on points difference, although France currently have an 86-point lead.

Ireland
Ireland slipped to third in the table following their defeat to France, but they still have a chance of securing their third consecutive title. They need to beat Italy with a bonus point and hope France and England both fail to win.

Scotland
It’s been 26 years since Scotland’s last title and they’ll likely have to wait even longer for their next one – although they still have a very slim chance this year.

They need to beat France with a bonus point while also surpassing them on points difference, with the gap currently at 103 points. Plus, they also need England and Ireland to lose.

Guinness Men’s Six Nations Table

TeamPlayedWonDrawLostPoints DifferenceBonusPoints
1France4301106416
2England430120315
3Ireland430113214
4Scotland42023311
5Italy4103-7704
6Wales4004-6533

France beat Ireland to race into pole position

Ireland 27-42 France

Rewind a couple of weeks and Ireland were sitting pretty at the top of the table, dreaming of a second Grand Slam in three years. But they came unstuck against a resolute France at the weekend and now find themselves third in the table.

A low-scoring first half saw France’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey score the only try before the break. Dan Sheehan got one back for Ireland two minutes after half-time, which set the tone for a frantic second half.

An end-to-end second period saw seven tries in total, with France edging the scoring thanks to a confident kicking display from Thomas Ramos. They now welcome Scotland to Paris and may have the title all but won before kick-off, with their clash coming last.

But they’ll sorely miss talisman Antoine Dupont, who left the field with a serious knee injury against Ireland. And convincing bonus point wins from England and Ireland will crank up the pressure, which could see France struggle.

Wooden spoon looms for Wales after defeat in Scotland

Scotland 35-29 Wales

Wales will have travelled to Scotland thinking it might finally be their week after they suffered their 15th consecutive defeat against Ireland last time out. But a 16th defeat was inevitable after Scotland blew them away before the break, racing into a 28-8 half-time lead.

Despite their poor start, Warren Gatland’s half-time team talk clearly had some impact as they were much improved after the break and scored three tries to make the score respectable.

But Scotland’s lead was unassailable by then and they ultimately ran out comfortable winners. For Wales, they’re set for another wooden spoon. Meanwhile, Scotland will be dreaming of the title – they still mathematically have a chance of winning, however unlikely it may be.

England dream of title as they see off Italy

England 47-24 Italy

England started as they meant to go on against Italy as Tom Willis opened the scoring with a try in the third minute. However, despite an impressive second-half display, Italy didn’t initially make it too easy.

The visitors pegged them back twice in the first half, before Ollie Sleightholme went over for a third to give England a four-point advantage at the break. And once they stepped out for the second half, there was only going to be one winner.

England were imperious at Twickenham, scoring three tries in the opening 12 minutes of the second half. The impressive performance was capped off by a seventh try from Ben Earl right at the death.

Steve Borthwick’s side showed that they mean business as they take the title fight to the final weekend. They’ll expect to get past Wales, and then face a nervous wait as France take on Scotland in the final game of a busy Saturday.

Guinness Men’s Six Nations week five fixtures

Italy v Ireland – Saturday 15th March, 14:15
Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Wales v England – Saturday 15th March, 16:45
Principality Stadium, Cardiff

France v Scotland – Saturday 15th March, 20:00
Stade de France, Paris

Cheltenham Festival 2025: Everything you need to know

Posted on by Harry Howes

Saddle up! Winter is just about behind us but for racing fans up and down the country, Christmas is coming very early this year. That’s because we’re just a few days away from the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

One of the biggest racing events on the planet is returning to sunny Gloucestershire next Tuesday, with four days of top-class action to look forward to. The world’s best horses and jockeys are set to compete across 28 races, with plenty of familiar faces ready for battle.

Paul Townend and Galopin Des Champs are targeting a hat-trick in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Meanwhile, Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill has his eyes on the prize in the Champion Hurdle, although they’ll face stiff competition from Brighterdaysahead.

There are countless iconic races scheduled at Cheltenham, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Stayers’ Hurdle. And you can enjoy all of the action from the best seats in the house in our exclusive ICON facility.

As well as a day out enjoying top-class racing and impeccable views from the balcony, you’ll also be able to make the most of a champagne reception, a complimentary bar and a four-course premium lunch. Plus, expert tipsters will be on hand to help you place your bets and (hopefully!) win you some money.

The fun starts on Tuesday and as the excitement builds, we’ve put together the ultimate guide of everything you need to know, as well as a handy tip for some of the big races (prices correct as of Tuesday 4th March).

Who are the favourites?

Galopin des Champs remains the bookies’ favourite for the Gold Cup, with Banbridge the current likely challenger. Meanwhile, Jonbon is odds-on to claim the Champion Chase as he looks to end his Cheltenham curse – all three of his defeats have come on the famous course.

Kopek Des Bordes is the runaway favourite to claim the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, with Willie Mullins expecting him to go well. Elsewhere, Teahupoo is expected to lead the pack in the Stayers Hurdle.

While many of the biggest races have a clear favourite, the same can’t be said of the Coral Cup. Kopek De Mee is edging the bookies’ choices at the moment, although it’s an open field and Be Aware, Wodhooh and Impose Toi aren’t too far behind.

Cheltenham Festival race schedule

All tips are from our friends over at Nose in Front (@noseinfront_official) – listen to their Cheltenham previews on Spotify here.

Day 1 – Tuesday 11th March

1:20pm – The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Kopek Des Bordes 5/6 / William Munny 14/1
2:00pm – The My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase – Majborough 8/13
2:40pm – The Ultima Handicap Chase
3:20pm – The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle – Jade De Grugy 15/8
4:00pm – The Unibet Champion Hurdle – Constitution Hill 8/11
4:40pm – The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
5:20pm – The National Hunt Novices’ Chase

Day 2 – Wednesday 12th March

1:20pm – The Turners Novices’ Hurdle – The Yellow Clay 6/1
2:00pm – The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – Lecky Watson 16/1 / Gorgeous Tom 25/1
2:40pm – The Coral Cup Hurdle
3:20pm – The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase – Jonbon 10/11 / Marine National 6/1
4:00pm – The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
4:40pm – The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase Challenge Cup
5:20pm – The Weatherbys Champion Bumper – Bambino Fever 7/1

Day 3 – Thursday 13th March

1:20pm – The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – Sixandahalf 10/3 / Air of Entitlement 20/1
2:00pm – The Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
2:40pm – The Pertemps Network Final
3:20pm – The Ryanair Chase – Fact to File 7/4 / Protektorat 7/1
4:00pm – The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle – Teahupoo 1/1 / Lucky Place 10/1 / Jetara 50/1
4:40pm – The TrustATrader Plate
5:20pm – The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase

Day 4 – Friday 14th March

1:20pm – The JCB Triumph Hurdle – East India Dock 15/8 / Charlus 40/1
2:00pm – The William Hill County Handicap Hurdle
2:40pm – The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase – Only By Night 6/1
3:20pm – The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – The Big Westerner 5/1 / Jet Blue 16/1 / Argento Boy 33/1
4:00pm – The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase – Galopin Des Champs 8/15 / Corbetts Cross 20/1
4:40pm – The St James’s Place Festival Chase
5:20pm – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival dress code

As it’s a day out of the races, you’re encouraged to dress your best but unlike Royal Ascot, the dress code is fairly relaxed. If you’re joining us in our hospitality areas, there are some rules.

Men must be wearing a jacket and tie or a suit. Ladies will need to be dressed in smart day wear – hats are optional.

Getting to Cheltenham

The closest train station is Cheltenham Spa, which is around four miles from the racecourse. You’re more than welcome to channel your inner Desert Orchid and gallop to the track – although we’d recommend jumping in a taxi or taking the shuttle bus service, which costs £5.

Those driving from the north should exit the M5 at junction 9 and continue via Evesham Road (A435). Take a left into Southam Lane and enter the North Car Park via entrance 10. If you’re coming from the south, leave the M5 at junction 11, follow the A40 and A4013 and the signs for ‘Green Route’ will take you to the racecourse.

International Women’s Day: The biggest events in women’s sport

Posted on by Harry Howes

With International Women’s Day taking place this Saturday, it’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate women’s sport. There are so many incredible events to look forward to this year, particularly in football, cricket, golf and tennis. We’ve taken a closer look at some of the showpiece events, which you can join us at from the best seats in the house.

Women’s football

As we enter March, we’re heading towards the business end of the football season, but there’s still so much action to look forward to. All eyes are on the Women’s Euros in Switzerland this summer, where Sarina Wiegman’s England side are looking to retain their crown.

The Lionesses face stiff competition, with France and the Netherlands in their group, and they’ve got four Nations Leagues games to navigate before their attention turns to the Euros.

Meanwhile, many members of their squad will be hoping to have already won some fresh silverware before they arrive for international duty. The Women’s League Cup final takes place next weekend, with Chelsea meeting Manchester City in a repeat of the 2022 final. Chelsea have lost each of the last three finals and they’ll be looking to bounce back to claim their third title.

Elsewhere, the FA Cup final and Champions League final both take place in May, as does the final round of Women’s Super League fixtures. As it stands, Chelsea are in pole position to secure their sixth successive WSL title, but there’s plenty of football to play between now and then.

Key dates:

Women’s League Cup final – Saturday 15th March, Pride Park Stadium
Women’s FA Cup final – Sunday 18th May, Wembley Stadium
Women’s Champions League final – Saturday 24th May, Estádio José Alvalade
Women’s Nations League
England v Belgium – Friday 4th April, Ashton Gate
Belgium v England – Tuesday 8th April, King Power at Den Dreef Stadion
England v Portugal – Friday 30th May, Wembley Stadium
Spain v England – Tuesday 3rd June, TBC
Women’s Euro 2025 – Wednesday 2nd to Sunday 27th July

Women’s cricket

We’re set for a busy summer of women’s cricket both internationally and domestically. Ahead of the Women’s World Cup in India later this year, England are set for a few white-ball warm-up clashes.

They’ll host both the West Indies and India in a series of T20 and One Day Internationals as they look to knock their way into some form. England are looking to win the World Cup for the fifth time – they came so close last time, losing to Australia in the final.

Elsewhere, the country’s best county sides will be vying for glory in the T20 Blast and the One-Day Cup. The finals of those competitions take place in July and September respectively – sandwiched in between will be the fifth season of The Hundred, with London Spirit looking to defend their crown.

Key dates:

England v West Indies women – IT20
Wednesday 21st May – The Spitfire Ground
Friday 23rd May – The 1st Central County Ground
Monday 26th May – The Cloud County Ground

England v West Indies women – ODI
Friday 30th May – The County Ground
Wednesday 4th June – Upstonsteel County Ground
Saturday 7th June – The Cooper Associates County Ground

England v India women – IT20
Saturday 28th June – Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Tuesday 1st July – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
Friday 4th July – Kia Oval, London
Wednesday 9th July – Emirates Old Trafford
Saturday 12th July – Edgbaston

England v India women ODI
Wednesday 16th July – Utilita Bowl
Saturday 19th July – Lord’s
Tuesday 22nd July – Riverside

Women’s T20 Blast finals day – Friday 27th July, The Oval
The Hundred – Tuesday 5th to Sunday 31st August
The Hundred final – Sunday 31st August
Women’s One-Day Cup final – Saturday 27th September, Rose Bowl
Women’s Cricket World Cup – October 2025

AIG Women’s Open

Wednesday 30th July to Sunday 3rd August

As always, there are five major championships to look forward to in women’s golf this year, culminating in the AIG Women’s Open this summer. The 2025 edition will be the competition’s 49th event and the first time it has ever taken place in Wales.

The Women’s Open is set to be held at the picturesque Royal Porthcawl Golf Club on Wales’ south coast, where the sea is visible from every hole. Lydia Ko is looking to claim successive titles after claiming her third major women’s title at St Andrews last year.

However, history suggests she won’t be successful – the last 14 Women’s Open championships have resulted in 14 different winners.

Key dates:

Chevron Championship – 24th to 27th April, Texas
U.S. Women’s Open – 12th to 15th June, Pennsylvania
Women’s PGA Championship – 19th to 22nd June, Texas
Amundi Evian Championship – 10th to 13th July, France
AIG Women’s Open – 30th July to 3rd August, Wales

HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club – WTA500

It’s a huge summer for women’s tennis as for the first time in more than 50 years, Queen’s Club is set to host a WTA event. It’s an historic venue for ATP Tour events and this year, the best female players in the world are set to flock to the iconic tennis club in West Kensington.

The HSBC Championships will serve as a warm-up for Wimbledon, which takes place a couple of weeks later. Emma Raducanu will be looking to win the competition on home soil as she continues her resurgence. The 2021 US Open winner is targeting some form as she looks to put her injury struggles behind her.

Key dates:

French Open – 25th May to 8th June
HSBC Championships – 9th to 15th June
Wimbledon Championships – 30th June to 13th July
US Open – 25th August to 7th September

Everything you need to know ahead of the Formula One 2025 season

Posted on by Harry Howes

The wait is almost over – the Formula One 2025 season gets underway in just over a fortnight. It’s all change on the grid, with Lewis Hamilton switching sides, while there are a few new faces set to make their F1 debuts.

But will there be a change in the standings at the end of the year? Max Verstappen is targeting a fifth consecutive world title. Can anyone get the better of him this time? Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the new season.

Can Max Verstappen be stopped?

It was the same old story in 2024 as Verstappen raced to yet another Formula One world title. The Red Bull superstar has now won four Drivers’ Championships in a row and is looking to become just the second person to claim five on the trot after Michael Schumacher achieved the feat in 2004.

Verstappen now finds himself just three titles shy of Shumacher and Hamilton at the top of the pile and with age on his side, you’d fancy his chances of ending his career with the most wins in history. The 27-year-old was imperious once again last year, winning nine races and achieving a further five podium finishes.

He wasn’t quite as dominant as his 2023 glory, where he won 19 of the 22 races, but he was still head and shoulders above the competition. Verstappen endured phases of poor form last year but crucially his nearest challengers weren’t able to capitalise when it mattered. And he’ll have learnt from those mistakes, meaning this year he could be even more imperious than ever.

Who are his likely challengers?

Despite a disappointing campaign last year, Hamilton will have a renewed energy as part of a new-look Ferrari team and he’ll fancy his chances. Prior to Verstappen’s period of dominance, Hamilton won four titles on the spin and he’s achieved a second and third place finish since then.

Elsewhere, there could be a challenge from fellow Brit Lando Norris. The McLaren driver was a surprise contender in 2024 and he ultimately finished as runner-up after winning four races. Charles Leclerc wasn’t too far behind and he’ll be looking to win the championship for the first time after three consecutive top five finishes.

A new era for Lewis Hamilton

After switching sides from Mercedes to Ferrari, Hamilton will be hoping that a new environment will bring about a change to his fortunes as he targets a record eighth world title. The legendary 40-year-old spent 12 years at Mercedes, winning all but one of his championships there, but he made the move to Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season.

Hamilton endured his lowest ever finish last year as he came seventh and he’ll be hoping to rediscover some form as he looks to edge ahead of Schumacher before he calls it a day. And he’s not the only driver set to don new colours this year.

Sergio Perez has left Red Bull following the expiration of his contract, meaning Verstappen is set to be joined by Liam Lawson. The 23-year-old rookie has been promoted, having spent the last two years as the team’s reserve driver.

Meanwhile, the Hamilton-shaped hole at Mercedes has been filled by another inexperienced face. Andrea Kimi Antonelli will join George Russell on the grid this year and at just 18 years old, he’s set to become the third-youngest driver in F1 history.

Elsewhere, Carlos Sainz Jr, who finished fifth in the standings last year, has joined Williams. The Spaniard had previously been at Ferrari but he’s been replaced by Hamilton.

When does the 2025 Formula One season start?

There’s not long to go now! The action gets underway with the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday 14th March. We’ll then be set for nine months of thrilling racing action, with 24 events to look forward to. The season comes to a close in Abu Dhabi on 7th December.

F1 season schedule

March 2025
April 2025
May 2025
June 2025
July 2025
No event found!
Load More

Guinness Men’s Six Nations: England break Scotland curse as Ireland march on

Posted on by Harry Howes

After a week off, the Guinness Men’s Six Nations roared back into action over the weekend.

England claimed the Calcutta Cup as they finally ended their hoodoo by beating old rivals Scotland, while Wales’ woes continued in another defeat against Ireland. There are now just two gameweeks to play and Ireland look set to win the competition for the third time in a row. Can anyone stop them?

Guinness Men’s Six Nations Table

Team Played Won Draw Lost Points Difference Bonus Points
1 Ireland 3 3 0 0 28 2 14
2 France 3 2 0 1 91 3 11
3 England 3 2 0 1 -3 2 10
4 Scotland 3 1 0 2 -3 2 6
5 Italy 3 1 0 2 -54 0 4
6 Wales 3 0 0 3 -59 1 1

Ireland survive scare to claim Triple Crown

Wales 18-27 Ireland

Ireland avoided a potential banana skin as they produced a phenomenal second-half comeback to pile more misery on Wales. The Irish followed up wins against England and Scotland to secure the Triple Crown and continue their march towards another title.

Considering Wales’ recent form, Ireland would have felt that they were in for an easy afternoon in Cardiff. The hosts didn’t make it comfortable but class ultimately prevailed as Ireland powered through to condemn them to a 15th consecutive defeat.

Ireland centre Garry Ringrose was shown a 20-minute red card in the first half, which allowed Wales to dream of a famous upset as they led 13-10 at half time. The visitors may have felt their hopes of a record third consecutive Guinness Men’s Six Nations title were falling away, particularly as Wales edged further ahead after the break, leading 18-10.

But second-half tries from Jack Conan and Jamie Osborne masterminded a triumphant comeback to continue their course towards another Grand Slam. The Irish face their trickiest test this weekend with a home clash against France.

If they come through that game unscathed, another Guinness Men’s Six Nations title will be within touching distance. Meanwhile, Wales are looking to avoid another wooden spoon after finishing bottom of the pile last year – they face Scotland and Wales in their final two games.

England see off Scotland to win Calcutta Cup

England 16-15 Scotland

History will eternally show that England finally broke their curse against Scotland on Saturday – but it could have been oh so different had Finn Russell’s last minute conversion kick been a few inches to the right.

Scotland were in control from the off and found themselves three points ahead at the break thanks to tries from Ben White and Huw Jones. The visitors looked set to continue their chokehold on England, having beaten them in each of their last four Guinness Men’s Six Nations meetings.

But England edged into the lead thanks to some phenomenal kicking, with two confident penalties from Marcus Smith and an incredible Fin Smith effort from the halfway line. Despite their professional display, Scotland looked to have won it late on when record try scorer Duhan van der Merwe went over to put them just a point behind.

All Scotland needed was a conversion to break English hearts once again. As the bulk of the Allianz Stadium resigned themselves to yet another defeat to the Scots, Russell’s misjudged kick narrowly missed the posts and London erupted as the Scots were condemned to a second defeat in as many games.

The win secured England the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2020 and they now trail Ireland by four points in the table. The good news for Steve Borthwick’s side is that they’ve got their trickiest fixtures out of the way, with Italy and Wales to come.

But they’ll need France to do them a favour against the Irish this weekend. Meanwhile, Scotland face Wales next before travelling to France on the final weekend.

France put Italy to bed in ruthless performance

Italy 24-73 France

With France’s clash against Italy not taking place until Sunday afternoon, there may have been some nerves among the players and fans alike. They would have watched Ireland grind out yet another win the day before and they knew they had to match it to stand any hope of winning this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

But they needn’t have worried. The 2022 champions were imperious in Rome, putting the hosts to the sword in a ruthless performance. France scored a phenomenal 11 tries, including two from star man Antoine Dupont who has shown his side exactly what they were missing this time last year.

In any other game, Italy would have been proud of the points they managed to get on the board, with three tries and some confident kicking earning them a respectable tally. But those points are meaningless when they’re so emphatically dwarfed by the dominance of their opponents.

France will now be full of confidence going into next week’s vital clash against Ireland. The winner of that game will feel they have one hand on the trophy – although a France win could be good news for England.

Meanwhile, Italy will be licking their wounds as they look to bounce back at Twickenham. England may not be as free scoring as the French but they’ll be hard to break down and will make it tough for their Italian visitors.

Guinness Men’s Six Nations week four fixtures

Ireland v France – Saturday 8th March, 14:15
The Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Scotland v Wales – Saturday 8th March, 16:45
Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium Edinburgh

England v Italy – Sunday 9th March, 15:00
Allianz Stadium, London

20 years of Engage: Our favourite events of the last 20 years

Posted on by Harry Howes

As we continue Engage’s 20th birthday celebrations, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to look at some of our favourite sporting events of the last two decades.

From football, cricket and rugby to an incredible home Olympics, there have been so many iconic moments since we launched – and fingers crossed there are a whole lot more to come. Here’s to another 20 years!

2005 Ashes

As we look back on 20 years of Engage, we’re going back to the very start for one of our favourite ever events and arguably one of the best in English sporting history. The 2005 Ashes has become an iconic win, mainly due to it being England’s first Ashes success since 1987.

The England side was packed full of superstars, including Freddie Flintoff, Michael Vaughan, James Anderson, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Strauss. It was considered one of the tightest Ashes series in history, which only adds to the elation surrounding England’s glory.

The hosts ran out 2-1 winners, with one match drawn and another decided by a two-run margin. The result came down to the final day of the series and after Pietersen scored his first ever Test century, England were crowned winners on an emotional day at The Oval.

FA Cup finals

There have been so many incredible FA Cup finals since Engage started, both in Cardiff and at Wembley. Nine different teams have won the competition in the last 20 years, with Chelsea topping the pile having lifted the trophy five times in that period.

Despite their dominance, the Blues were on the losing side of one of the best finals in recent history. They lost 1-0 to Leicester back in 2021, with Youri Tielemens bagging the winner.

Another low scoring but iconic final came back in 2013. A year after winning their first Premier League title, Manchester City were looking to add another FA Cup to their collection. But they came unstuck against Wigan and a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Ben Watson secured the trophy for the relegated side.

And arguably the greatest FA Cup final of the modern era came back in 2006. Liverpool met West Ham in Cardiff and after an end-to-end battle, Steven Gerrard stepped up to fire in a late equaliser to make the game 3-3. Gerrard then found the net again as Liverpool triumphed in a penalty shootout.

Six Nations

The Guinness Men’s Six Nations is currently underway, which has given rugby fans up and down the country the chance to look back on some of the best tournaments of the last 20 years.

In that time, England have won the competition four times and they still harbour hope of adding a fifth this year. Their most impressive victory in that time was their Grand Slam win back in 2016. Owen Farrell was on fire that year, topping the scoring charts as England stormed to victory.

It came down to the final night and England needed to win in France to secure a record-breaking 13th Grand Slam. And they didn’t disappoint as they held on to record a famous 31-21 victory.

Andy Murray

For so many years, the British public were starved of a tennis superstar that the entire nation could get behind. That was until Andy Murray came along. The Scottish sensation was at the top of the game for much of the last 20 years, becoming an established member of the so-called ‘big four’ alongside Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

After losing the 2012 Wimbledon final, Murray went one better the following year to become the first British man to win the famous competition since Fred Perry back in 1938. He added the Wimbledon title to his maiden Grand Slam, having won the US Open the previous year.

Murray went on to win Wimbledon for a second time in 2016, the same year he secured his second consecutive Olympic gold medal. The tennis legend also won gold on home soil back in 2012, beating Federer in the final.

Women’s Euros

While England’s men’s football team have come so close in recent years, losing two consecutive Euros finals, the women have gone one better. Sarina Wiegman has been a sensation since taking charge and she masterminded the Lionesses’ first ever major trophy back in 2022.

England strolled through the group stage, winning all three games before seeing off both Spain and Sweden in the knockouts. They met old rivals Germany in the final and after matching one another in normal time, substitute Chloe Kelly scored a sensational winner in extra-time.

Cricket World Cup

England aren’t used to winning World Cup finals, which explains the jubilant scenes on one sunny day at Lord’s back in 2019. After a thoroughly entertaining Cricket World Cup, hosts England faced the daunting task of trying to get the better of New Zealand.

And they just about did. After finishing level on 241 runs after 50 overs, the final was sent to a Super Over for the very first time. Ben Stokes, who scored an unbeaten 84 runs in his innings, returned to the crease with Jos Buttler and the pair combined to score 15 runs.

The Kiwis needed to beat it and looked to have done so with the final ball of the match. But as Martin Gupthill raced back to secure the winning run, Jason Roy found Buttler’s glove to deliver a dramatic run-out and hand England the World Cup.

London 2012

No sporting event has completely united the country quite like the London Olympics back in 2012. From the incredible opening ceremony to the weeks of events, there was a feeling of unity, joy and inclusivity across the nation for much of the summer.

A lot of that came down to how successful Team GB were throughout the games. As hosts, we won an incredible 65 medals, including 29 golds. Murray triumphed in tennis, Anthony Joshua won in boxing and the cycling team were on fire, with the likes of Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy, Laura and Jason Kenny and Victoria Pendleton winning multiple gongs.

Meanwhile, the athletics team delivered one of the most incredible days in British sports history. Dubbed ‘super Saturday’, 4th August 2012 saw Jessica Ennis-Hill, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah all claim gold in their respective events. Farah went on to secure a second gold medal a week later, capping a sensational summer of sport for Team GB.

Looking ahead at a huge year of Golf

Posted on by Harry Howes

This year’s PGA Tour is already underway and after a thrilling 2024, the world’s best golfers will be looking to make a strong start to the new campaign. We’ve got countless competitions to look forward to, including the four major championships.

First up is The Masters, which gets underway in just under two months, and as the golf season starts to swing into gear, here’s everything you need to know.

When are the four majors?

The Masters – 10th to 13th April
Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia

PGA Championship – 15th to 18th May
Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina

US Open – 12th to 15th June
Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pennsylvania

The Open Championship – 17th to 20th July
Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Northern Ireland

Last year saw all four major championships won by American golfers for the first time since 1982, as Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau shared the glory. The top prizes were also shared by US stars in 2020, although the Open Championship was cancelled that year due to the pandemic.

Scheffler claimed the Masters for the second time last year, having also won it in 2022. They remain the 28-year-old’s only major titles – he finished four strokes ahead of Ludvig Åberg to secure the green jacket at Augusta last April.

Meanwhile, Schauffele was at the double as he claimed the first major titles of his career in the PGA Championship and the Open Championship. The 31-year-old broke the scoring record in his PGA win as he finished 21 under par, just one stroke ahead of DeChambeau.

While DeChambeau just missed out in Kentucky, he made up for it as he came out on top at the US Open in North Carolina. It was the second time he’s triumphed in the competition after winning by six strokes back in 2020.

Who could challenge for glory this year?

While last year’s four winners will be hoping to add more titles to their name, there are plenty of challengers looking to claim glory this year. Rory McIlroy has four majors to his name, with the Masters the only one to evade him so far.

He’ll be keen to put that right this year, having come so close back in 2022. McIlroy also came close to securing a fifth in last year’s US Open, narrowly missing out at the death to DeChambeau. The Northern Irishman has already won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this year and he’ll hope to have many more titles under his belt by the time 2025 comes to a close.

Åberg will also have his eyes on his first major after missing out at the Masters. The 25-year-old is fairly new to the tour, having made his professional debut less than two years ago, and he’ll be desperate to prove that he’s the next big thing in the sport.

Elsewhere, Brooks Koepka always carries a threat and has five major championships to his name, including the 2023 PGA Championship. The likes of Max Homa and Shane Lowry could also challenge – Homa tied for third at the Masters in 2024 while the vastly experienced Lowry could repeat his Open Championship heroics from 2019 as it returns to Royal Portrush.

Outside of the major players, there are often a few surprises in the final leaderboards as up and coming stars look to make a name for themselves. Rasmus Højgaard is only 23 but is already one to watch after beating McIlroy by one stroke to win the Irish Open back in September. Meanwhile, his twin brother Nicolai is also highly rated and was part of Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup winning side.

What are the other big tournaments?

As well as the majors, there are plenty of other big tournaments that the world’s best players will want to win, including the Ryder Cup. Europe are the reigning champions after beating the USA 16 ½ – 11 ½ back in 2023. The biennial competition returns to the States this year and Europe will be looking to become the first side to win on foreign soil since 2012.

Arnold Palmer Invitational – 6th to 9th March
Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida

The Players Championship – 13th to 16th March
Players Stadium Course, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

The Memorial Tournament – 29th May to 1st June
Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio

Genesis Scottish Open – 10th to 13th July
The Renaissance Club, North Berwick, Scotland

AIG Women’s Open – 30th July to 3rd August
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Porthcawl, Wales

Tour Championship – 21st to 24th August
East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Georgia

BMW PGA Championship – 9th to 14th September
Wentworth Golf Club, Surrey, England

Ryder Cup – 26th to 28th September
Bethpage Black Course, Farmingdale, New York

ICON Golf Days

If you fancy unleashing your inner Tiger Woods, why not join us on one of our renowned ICON golf days? Get set for a thrilling round of 18 holes, some of the best food you’ll ever try, unrivalled drinks packages and celebrity guests.

We’ve got two events taking place at The Grove this year in May and September – enquire today to reserve your place.

int(174)