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Author: Harry Howes

Australian Open: Sinner claims first Grand Slam

Posted on by Harry Howes

The Australian Open title and Novak Djokovic have almost become synonymous in recent years but remarkably, the Serbian didn’t even make the final this time around.

Just as Carlos Alcaraz made the headlines for his stunning win at Wimbledon last summer, there’s a new kid on the block in Melbourne. Remember the name: Jannik Sinner.

The Italian stormed to his first Grand Slam win following a dominant few weeks in Australia. In fact, his impressive semi-final display condemned Djokovic to a first defeat at the tournament in six years.

Elsewhere, Aryna Sabalenka picked up where she left off a year ago and she now has her eyes firmly set on Iga Świątek’s crown as the queen of tennis.

Sinner claims maiden Grand Slam

There’s never a bad time to claim your first Grand Slam and Sinner has started 2024 in style as he dominated for much of the tournament. Alongside Alcaraz, there are hopes that the 22-year-old can build on this and start a new era in tennis once Djokovic and Rafael Nadal call it a day.

Sinner dropped just one set on his way to the final – a narrow tie-break against Djokovic – and he reacted superbly to come back from two sets down to stun Daniil Medvedev in the final.

History repeated itself for Medvedev, who also lost a two-set lead against Nadal in the 2022 final, and he’s now tasted defeat in three of the last four Australian Open finals.

Sinner has gone from strength to strength in the last year and has now won 20 of his last 21 matches. He’s emerged as one of the biggest threats in the men’s game following a first semi-final at Wimbledon last year, where he was beaten in straight sets by Djokovic.

Djokovic made to wait for record-breaking Slam

Ahead of the tournament, Djokovic was looking to make history and become the all-time leading Grand Slam winner. The 36-year-old is currently tied on 24 major titles with Australian legend Margaret Court.

He looked to be on his way to a fifth Australian Open title in six years as he stormed to the semi-finals, dropping just three sets in the process. But Djokovic was swept aside by Sinner, who claimed the first two sets 6-1 and 6-2 before finishing the job in the fourth.

It was Djokovic’s first defeat at the Australian Open in 2,195 days and put an end to an incredible 33-match winning run at the tournament. The loss to Sinner was his first in Melbourne since 2018 and it was the first time in his career that he failed to create a break point in a Grand Slam match.

Djokovic has been hugely critical of his performances throughout the tournament and he’ll be more determined than ever to claim his record-breaking Grand Slam title at the French Open later this year.

Tennis Hospitality

Sabalenka strolls to Australian Open title defence

In the women’s tournament, Sabalenka claimed her second successive Australian Open title as she saw off Qinwen Zheng in the final.

In fact, the Belarusian won every single set on her way to glory and Coco Gauff in the semi-final was the only opponent to take more than three games off her in a single set.

It was only Sabalenka’s second Grand Slam win and puts to bed a successful but ultimately frustrating 2023. She followed up last year’s Australian Open win with semi-final defeats at both the French Open and Wimbledon before losing the US Open final to Gauff.

She’ll now want to build on this and rival world number one Świątek to be the best female player on the planet. Świątek was the pre-tournament favourite to triumph in Melbourne but she unexpectedly crashed out in the third round at the hands of Czech player Linda Nosková.

Six Nations preview: Scotland dream of ending 24-year drought

Posted on by Harry Howes

The Six Nations gets underway next weekend and in anticipation of this year’s biggest rugby event, we’ve taken an in-depth look at all of the home nations. Up next is Scotland, who haven’t tasted success in the competition since 1999.

While ‘24 years of hurt’ is unlikely to be ringing around Murrayfield over the next few weeks, Scotland are desperate to claim what would be their first title since Italy were instated as the sixth nation.

They threatened an upset in last year’s edition, winning their first two matches, but they ultimately finished third in the table as Ireland ran away with it. And they were dealt a tough hand in autumn’s World Cup as they were drawn in a pool alongside Ireland and South Africa.

They finished third as expected but they didn’t go down without a fight, showing they have the ability to be clinical as they put minnows Romania to the sword in an 84-0 thrashing.

Scotland will be hoping to continue to show their cutting edge as we head into this year’s Six Nations and recent years have shown they’re more than capable of a shock result.

When are Scotland playing?

Wales v Scotland – Saturday 3rd February: Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Scotland v France – Saturday 10th February: Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Scotland v England – Saturday 24th February: Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Italy v Scotland – Saturday 9th March: Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Ireland v Scotland – Saturday 16th March: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Six Nations Hospitality

Finn ‘Lionel Messi’ Russell to lead Scotland

This year’s Six Nations seems to be the competition for trying new things, with wholesale changes across the board. Jamie Ritchie captained Scotland at the World Cup but while he’s still in the squad, he’s lost the armband, with Gregor Townsend hoping it will allow him to focus on his game without any added pressure.

In his place, Scotland have named two co-captains. Finn Russell jokingly compared himself to footballing legend Lionel Messi in a Netflix documentary and he’ll be hoping he can emulate the Argentinian by driving his nation to glory.

The fly-half, who has 75 caps for Scotland, will lead the team alongside co-captain Rory Darge. It’s a huge statement from Townsend to bestow the honour on 23-year-old Darge, who has shown himself to be an influential star for the side in recent years.

Scotland could also hand out a few debuts throughout the Six Nations, with five uncapped players set to join the squad. Aaron Reed, Harry Paterson and Alec Hepburn were all named initially, while fellow uncapped players Elliot Millar-Mills and Ross McCann have since been added due to injuries elsewhere.

Can Scotland win the Six Nations?

It’ll be tough! Their competition pedigree is weak having crashed out in the pool stages of the last two World Cups. But they’ve got a big result up their sleeve as England fans are only too familiar with.

Scotland were in dreamland in round one a year ago as they won 29-23 at Twickenham. In fact, they’ve beaten England in each of their last three Six Nations meetings and that psychological advantage could see them through again when the pair face off at Murrayfield on 24th February.

They’ve also pulled rabbits out of hats against other big sides, notably claiming victory away at France back in 2021. Since then, France have gone from strength to strength so the chances of history repeating itself are slim.

However, anything can happen and Scotland will be well aware of their own potential. While they’re no strangers to big results, they’ve not been able to put them together consistently which will likely stop them going all the way.

Scotland Six Nations squad

Forwards: Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Bhatti, Andy Christie, Luke Crosbie, Scott Cummings, Jack Dempsey, Rory Darge, Grant Gilchrist, Richie Gray, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Alec Hepburn, Johnny Matthews, WP Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Sam Skinner, George Turner, Glen Young, Elliot Millar-Mills

Backs: Ben Healy, George Horne, Darcy Graham, Rory Hutchinson, Huw Jones, Blair Kinghorn, Stafford McDowall, Harry Paterson, Ali Price, Cameron Redpath, Arron Reed, Kyle Rowe, Finn Russell, Kyle Steyn, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White, Ross McCann

Six Nations preview: Can Wales cause an upset?

Posted on by Harry Howes

The Six Nations is now just over a week away and next up on our home nations preview tour are Wales, who have won the competition twice in the last five years.

Like England and Ireland before them, Wales are entering something of a transition period in terms of their squad, with plenty of up and coming players set to be given the chance to impress over the coming months.

Warren Gatland’s hand has been forced due to injuries and key players retiring and it remains to be seen whether a host of fresh faces will revitalise them or if their inexperience will show.

Yet it may prove to be a blessing in disguise. Wales endured a disappointing Six Nations campaign a year ago, finishing fifth in the table with their only win coming against lowly Italy. They’ve since crashed out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals, although they topped their group unbeaten and smashed Australia 40-6.

The Six Nations gives them the chance to experiment and give us a glimpse of what the future holds for them. But with a tough set of games ahead of them, this year’s competition may have come too early.

When are Wales playing?

Wales v Scotland – Saturday 3rd February: Principality Stadium, Cardiff

England v Wales – Saturday 10th February: Twickenham, London

Ireland v Wales – Saturday 24th February: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Wales v France  – Sunday 10th March: Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Wales v Italy – Saturday 16th March: Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Six Nations Hospitality

Out with the old, in with the new

It seems to be a common theme in this year’s Six Nations that teams are being forced to reshuffle their squads and Wales are no different. Gatland has selected an inexperienced group, with five uncapped players and an average age of 25.

The good news is that experienced head George North is still around, although the influential centre is a fitness worry after picking up a shoulder injury playing for Ospreys out in South Africa. However, for Wales their squad is very much about who isn’t involved than who is.

Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tpuric, Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny have all retired, while Liam Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Lydiate and Tomas Francis also won’t be involved. Elsewhere, several big hitters are ruled out through injury, including World Cup co-captains Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan.

Their absences have led to Gatland trusting 21-year-old Dafydd Jenkins with the armband. While it remains a huge honour for the Exeter Chiefs lock, it highlights the glaring lack of experience in the squad.

Wales will also be unable to call upon Louis Rees-Zammit. The 22-year-old, who has won 32 caps for his nation, turned his back on the sport last week as he seeks a new career playing in the NFL.

Can Wales win the Six Nations?

It’s unlikely but never say never! Wales may struggle with such a young squad lacking in big-game experience. But on the other hand, if you’re good enough you’re old enough and there’s no reason why this competition can’t be the making of them.

Despite losing a huge number of stalwarts, their experienced players could only manage a fifth-place finish last time out, so the new kids on the block can’t do much worse.

The pressure will be off Wales, with the likes of Ireland, France and England expected to get the better of them, and Gatland will make it clear to them that nobody is expecting them to be world beaters yet.

But if they can put a string of performances together, and maybe grind out a shock result or two, there’s every chance that this year’s Six Nations could be the start of an exciting new era for Welsh rugby.

Wales Six Nations squad

Forwards: Corey Domachowski, Kemsley Mathias, Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias, Evan Lloyd, Keiron Assiratti, Leon Brown, Archie Griffin, Adam Beard, Dafydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Teddy Williams, Taine Basham, James Botham, Alex Mann, Mackenzie Martin, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright

Backs: Gareth Davies, Kieran Hardy, Tomos Williams, Sam Costelow, Cai Evans, Ioan Lloyd, Mason Grady, George North, Joe Roberts, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams, Rio Dyer, Tom Rogers, Cameron Winnett

Six Nations preview: Can Ireland defend their crown?

Posted on by Harry Howes

Six Nations fever is gripping the rugby world and having already taken a look at England’s chances, it’s time for a deep dive on reigning champions Ireland.

The men from the Emerald Isle were imperious last year, sweeping all before them on their way to a Grand Slam. But could the pressure of a title defence weigh on their minds going into this year’s competition?

They’ll be without influential captain Johnny Sexton, who has called time on his playing career. Meanwhile, they may still carry the psychological effects of yet another World Cup quarter-final exit.

Ireland were among the favourites heading into the competition in France but once again failed to reach the final four as they narrowly lost to New Zealand.

While that will no doubt be playing on their minds, there’s every reason to be optimistic for Ireland fans as they enter a new era. And with a mouth-watering clash against favourites France kicking off proceedings, rugby fans across the world are counting down the days for the action to get underway.

When are Ireland playing?

France v Ireland – Friday 2nd February: Orange Vélodrome, Marseille

Ireland v Italy – Sunday 11th February: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Ireland v Wales – Saturday 24th February: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

England v Ireland – Saturday 9th March: Twickenham, London

Ireland v Scotland – Saturday 16th March: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Six Nations Hospitality

Life after Johnny Sexton

While Ireland will be confident going into the competition, there’s no denying that there will be a huge Sexton-shaped hole in their backline. Their legendary captain hung up his boots following the World Cup, meaning Ireland head into the Six Nations under new leadership on the pitch.

Sexton led Ireland to four Six Nations wins and he holds the record for the highest number of points in the competition with 566. His influence will be missed but coach Andy Farrell will be hoping new captain Peter O’Mahony can fill the void.

The Munster flanker is no stranger to leadership having already captained his nation on 10 occasions, as well as the British and Irish Lions, and he’ll be desperate to repay Farrell’s faith by bringing the Six Nations title home for the second year in a row.

As well as Sexton’s leadership, Ireland will miss the former fly-half’s points and there’s pressure on his deputies to step up to the plate. Jack Crowley, Harry Byrne and Ciaran Frawley have just 12 caps between them but the fly-half trio have been called up to fill Sexton’s shoes.

Meanwhile, there have been changes to the Ireland World Cup squad that crashed out in the quarter-finals. Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney are back in the frame, as are Jordan Larmour, Calvin Nash and Cian Healy who missed out on the tournament in France through injury.

Can Ireland win the Six Nations?

Having won it last time out, all eyes will be on Ireland to repeat the feat this time around. They stormed to the title last spring, winning all five matches to claim their fourth Grand Slam.

Ireland have won the Six Nations on four of the last 10 occasions and despite the absence of Sexton, there’s no reason why they can’t go all the way and secure a 16th title. One side that could stand in their way is France, who are the favourites to win having undergone a remarkable turnaround in recent years.

With both sides expected to dominate throughout, there’s every chance this year’s winners could be decided on the opening weekend. The heavyweight pair go head-to-head in the competition’s curtain-raiser on Friday 2nd February and it would come as no surprise if the winners of that clash went all the way.

Ireland Six Nations squad

Forwards: Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Iain Henderson, Ronan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy, Peter O’Mahony, Tom O’Toole, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier

Backs: Bundee Aki, Harry Byrne, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale

Six Nations preview: England look to build on promising World Cup showing

Posted on by Harry Howes

With the Six Nations just a few weeks away, we’re taking an in-depth look at all of the home nations taking part, starting with England.

Steve Borthwick took a while to get going after taking over from Eddie Jones at the end of 2022 but optimism is high following an impressive showing at the World Cup in France.

There were fears that England would struggle at the tournament but they managed to put together a string of strong performances and they narrowly missed out on a second consecutive final as they lost late to South Africa in the semis.

Borthwick’s side will take great encouragement from their displays in the autumn as they look to improve on last year’s Six Nations showing. A disappointing campaign saw them finish fourth in the standings, with wins over Italy and Wales their only returns.

England last won the competition back in 2020 but with the likes of Ireland and France as strong as ever, they’ll need to step up another level if they want to claim the title for a record 40th time, and the eighth time since a sixth nation was added.

When are England playing?

Italy v England – Saturday 3rd February, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

England v Wales – Saturday 10th February, Twickenham, London

Scotland v England – Saturday 24th February, Murrayfield, Edinburgh

England v Ireland – Saturday 9th March, Twickenham, London

France v England – Saturday 16th March, Groupama Stadium, Lyon

Six Nations Hospitality

The dawning of a new era

Despite defying expectations at the World Cup, Borthwick would be unwise to rest on his laurels. England now enter a crucial cycle where they’ll have one eye on the 2027 competition in Australia.

Many of the players at England’s disposal last year will not be around for the next World Cup, so Borthwick now has an opportunity to begin to bed in players that can contribute in the future.

In fact, of the 36 players that initially travelled to France, 13 of them are the wrong side of 30, including Owen Farrell, Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Courtney Laws and Joe Marler. Meanwhile, Mako Vunipola announced his immediate retirement from international rugby this week.

Borthwick will need to look at the younger contingent of his squad to build the foundation for the next World Cup, with the likes of Marcus Smith, Tom Curry, Jack van Poortvliet and Freddie Steward already well integrated into the squad.

Smith has often been rotated at fly-half with captain Farrell and George Ford but the Harlequins sensation has more than shown his capabilities and he will be a vital cog in the England side for years to come. Elsewhere, his Quins teammate Alex Dombrandt missed out on the World Cup squad but he could come back into the fray for the Six Nations.

England will still need to rely on their experienced players for the upcoming competition, as well as over the next few years. But combining that with youth, with the intention of nurturing their younger stars to take over when the time is right should be the top priority of Borthwick and his coaching staff.

Can England win the Six Nations?

Why not?! They still carry the scars of their poor showing a year ago but at that point they were just a few months into Borthwick’s tenure. They’ve since had time to adjust to his ideas and gel as a camp throughout the World Cup.

France and Ireland are the favourites to go all the way but anything can happen in a one-off match. England will expect to see off the likes of Italy, Scotland and Wales in their opening three games, by which point France and Ireland will have faced each other.

With the two big hitters to play in the final two games, Borthwick won’t have a better opportunity to put October’s World Cup semi-final heartbreak behind him and show the rugby world that his England side mean business.

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FA Cup third round: Man City set up Tottenham tie as Arsenal crash out

Posted on by Harry Howes

The FA Cup third round is arguably the biggest weekend in the English football calendar. While the cup may have lost some of its magic in recent years, football fans up and down the country would have spent last week dreaming of seeing their side triumph in the final at Wembley in May.

Manchester City are looking to defend their crown having beaten rivals Manchester United last season on their way to an historic treble. But after beating Huddersfield, they face a tough test in the next round, which could open up the competition for everybody else.

Arsenal fall at the first hurdle

Having won the competition a record 14 times, Arsenal were targeting their first major trophy since 2020 in this year’s FA Cup. But they faced a hard task at home to Liverpool in the third round.

In a cruel twist of fate, the draw meant that one of the big hitters had to see their journey end before it began. And at half-time of this clash, you’d have been forgiven for condemning Liverpool to an early exit, with Arsenal dominating the tie.

Yet an own goal from Jakub Kiwior followed by a late Luis Diaz strike saw the Gunners bow out in the third round for the second time in three years. Liverpool last won the competition in 2022 and they’ll fancy their chances of going all the way after being dealt a home tie against Norwich or Bristol Rovers in the next round.

Elsewhere, Newcastle travelled to fierce rivals Sunderland in one of the most-anticipated ties of the weekend. The pair have endured differing fortunes in recent years. Sunderland spent several years languishing in League One while Newcastle have tasted Champions League football this season following their takeover.

But despite the anticipation, it was a routine 3-0 win for Newcastle, with Sunderland unable to lay a glove on them. The Magpies face Fulham in the next round and after narrowly missing out in last season’s Carabao Cup final, they’ll be desperate to secure their first piece of silverware of the new era.

While the FA Cup third round famously throws up giant-killings, there weren’t many shock results over the weekend. Championship side Bristol City will be confident of knocking West Ham out after forcing a replay following their 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.

Meanwhile, Premier League sides Nottingham Forest and Luton Town will also have to try again having drawn with lower league opposition.

FA Cup Hospitality

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Opportunity knocks in the fourth round

The fourth round draw has been made and with Arsenal already out, we’re set to see another couple of the tournament’s big sides exit the competition, which is welcome news to any side that has ambitions of going all the way.

Manchester City continued where they left off last season by strolling past Huddersfield in a 5-0 thrashing. Pep Guardiola’s side were rewarded with a trip to Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round after the north London outfit saw off Burnley.

Meanwhile, eight-time winners Chelsea also face a tough test as they welcome Premier League surprise package Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge. The Blues put on a second-half masterclass to ease past Preston 4-0, while Unai Emery’s Villa just about edged past Middlesbrough.

Newport and Eastleigh will lock horns again in a replay following a 1-1 draw and both sides will be desperate to progress. The winner of the tie faces a mouth-watering clash at home to Manchester United, who survived a potential banana skin to see off Wigan Athletic on Monday night.

Maidstone United are the lowest-ranked team left in the competition and they face a tricky test away at Championship high-flyers Ipswich Town. And media darlings Wrexham will need to find another big performance in order to win at Blackburn Rovers.

We need to talk about replays

While there will be no replays in this season’s FA Cup from the fifth round, teams that draw in the third and fourth round have to meet again to determine who progresses. In fact, eight of the ties from last weekend are set to be replayed next week.

Replays are a great tradition of the competition and there’s no doubt that they’re incredible money-spinners for smaller sides. Should Newport or Eastleigh manage to draw with United later this month, the gate receipts from a return game at Old Trafford would transform the club.

Yet with a fixture schedule that’s already bursting at the seams, it’s about time there was some realism when it comes to forcing teams to play extra matches. One realistic option would be to give clubs a choice prior to the game what their preference would be should the game finish level.

It’s beneficial financially for smaller clubs to want a replay and that’s completely fine. But there are many instances where some clubs may prefer to settle the tie on the day. Crystal Palace travel to Everton next week, while Wolves face Brentford, and if you asked the players, coaches and fans of each club, it’s likely that the majority of them would rather not have the extra fixture.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has faced criticism this week for complaining about fixture congestion ahead of his side’s trip to Molineux. But it’s a fair point and in a season that has seen an unusually high number of injuries across the board, having extra matches just for the sake of it hardly seems worth it.

ICON Legends – Michael Schumacher – Formula One superstar

Posted on by Harry Howes

Formula One is currently enjoying one of it’s greatest eras ever, with Max Verstappen literally racing away with his third consecutive title last year. But despite his dominance, Verstappen still has a long way to go before he can be compared to Michael Schumacher.

The German was simply unstoppable at his peak and he paved the way for the drivers of the modern era, so it’s only right that he takes his place among our line-up of ICON Legends.

The greatest of all time?

Lewis Hamilton may have something to say about that but the Brit undoubtedly grew up dreaming of one day emulating the great Schumacher. The pair are currently tied at the top of the all-time Drivers’ Championship standings, with seven titles each.

Five of Schumacher’s championships came in consecutive years at the turn of the century, with few able to offer adequate competition. Racing was in the blood as his father ran a local karting track in Cologne back in Germany, while his son Mick Schumacher has also raced in F1.

Schumacher and his brother, Ralf, first started racing there and never looked back as they both became professional drivers. In fact, they remain the only siblings to have both won Formula One races and they have finished in first and second place on five different occasions.

New kid on the block

Having started out in karting, Schumacher made his F1 debut with Jordan in 1991 before quickly signing with Benetton. He didn’t take long to get to grips with the circuit and he won his first race the following year at Spa.

After a steady few seasons, Schumacher showed he meant business as he claimed his first title in 1994, although in controversial circumstances as he collided with rival Damon Hill in the final race, which retired them both.

However, there were no complaints a year later as Schumacher dominated the track, winning the championship by a landslide. His success earned him a move to Ferrari and although he struggled initially, going four years without a title, he managed to take it to the final race twice.

Early noughties dominance

If Ferrari were beginning to have doubts about their decision to snap up Schumacher, they needn’t have worried. The new millennium sparked a new era for Formula One as he dominated the sport, winning five consecutive championships between 2000 and 2004.

Schumacher still holds the record for the most titles in a row and he was the driving force behind Ferrari claiming the Constructors’ Championship in six successive seasons. He’s also still the record holder for the highest number of fastest laps, having achieved 77 at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix.

In 2002, Schumacher finished the season with almost double the amount of points that second-placed Rubens Barrichello achieved. That year, he finished on the podium in every single race, winning 11 of them, and wrapped up the title with six races to spare.

Return and life after F1

Following his five successive triumphs, Michael Schumacher finished third and then second before deciding to hang up his helmet in 2006. But the lure of the track proved too much and he stepped out of retirement to join forces with Mercedes in 2010.

Schumacher’s decision raised eyebrows throughout the world of racing, with few believing that he’d be at the same level as before. Unsurprisingly, his shock U-turn didn’t turn out to be the fairytale return that he’d hoped for as he finished 9th, 8th and 13th before finally calling it a day.

Sadly, following his second retirement, Schumacher suffered a serious brain injury after falling while skiing and he was put into an induced coma for several months. Thankfully, he survived but he has remained incredibly private since the accident.

The outpouring of love and respect from global sports fans for Schumacher at the time was phenomenal and is testament to how highly regarded he is both as a person and as a sportsman.

Hamilton has often suggested that he doesn’t plan on retiring until he achieves one more title to edge ahead of Schumacher in the standings. However, considering the form that Verstappen has shown in recent years, that doesn’t look like happening any time soon.

But whether Hamilton surpasses him or not, there’s no denying that Michael Schumacher is among the greatest drivers of all time and is fully deserving of his spot in our ICON hall of fame.

The biggest ICON events to look forward to in 2024

Posted on by Harry Howes

It’s a new year which can only mean one thing – we’ve got another cracking 12 months of sport to look forward to!

2023 will take some beating but you’re in for a treat this year, with plenty of sensational rugby, horse racing, cricket and formula one action on the horizon, plus loads more.

So, to make things easy, we’ve put all of our biggest events together in one place.

Six Nations

An epic year of sport wouldn’t be the same without the Six Nations. The 2024 edition kicks off on Friday 2nd February as last year’s champions Ireland cross the channel to take on France.

They’ll be without Johnny Sexton following his retirement but having won all five games last time out, they’ll fancy their chances at retaining their crown. England get their campaign underway against Italy in Rome before they welcome Wales to Twickenham for their first home game on 10th February.

Steve Borthwick’s side only managed two wins in the 2023 competition but they’re looking to build on a positive World Cup campaign that saw them narrowly miss out on the final.

Whether you fancy cheering on one of the home nations or you’re looking for a trip abroad, you can watch the action from the best seats in the house with our exclusive hospitality packages.

Autumn Nations

The Autumn Internationals return later this year and England have four home games to look forward to. First up they’ll take on World Cup finalists New Zealand on 2nd November before hosting Australia the following weekend.

England will be looking to avenge their World Cup semi-final defeat in their third game against South Africa and they’ll then play a fourth and final game against an emerging nation, with the opponent yet to be confirmed.

Fireworks go off over Twickenham as England and Wales come from the tunnel ahead of their Summer Nations Series fixture in preparation for the 2023 Rugby World Cup

Autumn Nations Hospitality

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Horse Racing

As we wave goodbye to winter and finally say hello to spring, all eyes will be on the Cheltenham Festival. The iconic four-day event kicks off on Tuesday 12th March, with the headline Gold Cup stealing the show on the Friday.

Our ICON facility offers a unique experience with famous racing stars, exclusive food and drinks packages and the best views from a private balcony.

And when summer arrives and the sun comes out later in the year, racing fans will dress to impress as they flock to Berkshire for more action at Royal Ascot. The prestigious festival sees five days of incredible racing get underway on Tuesday 18th June, with the Gold Cup traditionally taking place on day three.

Enjoy a VIP dining experience in our ICON facility or treat yourself to a luxurious private box overlooking the racecourse so you don’t miss a second of the action.

Cricket

2023 saw a mixed year for English cricket and they’ll be looking to come back with a bang in all formats this time out. Ben Stokes and co. impressed in an entertaining Ashes series against Australia and we’ve got another two thrilling Tests to look forward to this summer.

First up, England host the West Indies in a three-match series that kicks off at Lord’s on Wednesday 10th July before heading to Trent Bridge and Edgbaston. And if that’s not enough, they’ll take on Sri Lanka later this year at Old Trafford, Lord’s and the Oval.

While Test fans were treated last year, England weren’t quite as successful in white ball cricket. They struggled at the ODI World Cup in India, finishing seventh after losing six of their nine matches.

They’ll be looking to make amends at the T20 World Cup in June and they host Pakistan in a four-match warm-up series in May, with the final game taking place at the Oval.

Following the tournament in the West Indies and the USA, England welcome Australia to these shores. The old rivals will first go head-to-head in a T20 series that ends at Old Trafford on 15th September, before a countrywide ODI series comes to a close at Lord’s.

Formula One

Max Verstappen is targeting a fourth consecutive F1 title this year having dominated in 2023 to secure the championship. He won at Silverstone for the first time and he’ll be looking to do it again this summer at the British Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton will be keen to stop him as he targets a record eight F1 title. The Mercedes driver is in the twilight of his career and it would be a fitting end if he could go out on a high by winning the British Grand Prix for the ninth time.

This year’s race takes place on Sunday 7th July, with the weekend kicking off on the Friday. And if you feel like watching it in style, why not take advantage of our luxury hospitality experiences?

ICON Golf Day

The ICON golf day is one of the biggest events in the Engage calendar and 2024 is no different, with not one but two chances to get involved.

Join us at The Grove and play on a state-of-the-art golf course that has hosted The Masters, Barack Obama and was the scene of Tiger Woods winning a World Golf Championship event back in 2006.

The unforgettable event features 18 holes of top-class golf, exclusive food and drink experiences on every hole, celebrity guests and plenty more. We’ve got two events taking place this year on Thursday 9th May and Wednesday 18th September, so if you fancy being a part of the action, enquire today to book your place.

Can Novak Djokovic make history at the Australian Open?

Posted on by Harry Howes

As the days get colder and the nights get darker in the UK in January, we’ll all be looking on with envy as the stars of world tennis jet off to sunny Melbourne for the Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic won the men’s title earlier this year and he could make history by defending his crown next month. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka holds the women’s title and faces a tough test to keep it.

Djokovic targets record-breaking Grand Slam

After winning three Grand Slams this year, Djokovic is looking to add another one to his collection as he heads down under next month.

The Serbian is the most successful men’s player in history, with a stunning 24 Grand Slam titles. He’s currently level with Australian legend Margaret Court, meaning one more slam will take him top of the all-time standings.

Of all the tournaments for Djokovic to break the record, he couldn’t have picked a better one. He’s made Melbourne Park his playground in recent years, winning 10 of the last 16 Australian Open titles.

Djokovic’s last win came earlier this year and he continued his phenomenal year by securing the French and US Opens. It would have been a perfect year for him if it wasn’t for Carlos Alcaraz, whose Wimbledon triumph stopped him from claiming a fourth Career Grand Slam.

Like a fine wine, Djokovic appears to be getting better with age. Despite being 36, he’s showing no signs of slowing down nor given any indication that he’s ready to hang up his racket.

Who can stop Djokovic in Australia?

After spoiling Djokovic’s party at Wimbledon, Alcaraz could delay the record being broken by going all the way in Australia as he targets a third Grand Slam.

Despite a remarkable couple of years since breaking through, Alcaraz has never progressed past the third round in Melbourne and he’ll be looking to finally make his mark this time around.

Despite being just 20 years old, Alacaraz’s dominant displays at Wimbledon showed a maturity beyond his years and he’ll likely be the biggest threat to Djokovic’s crown.

Next month’s Australian Open will see the return of Rafael Nadal, who endured a nightmare 2023 riddled with injuries. Nadal has won the tournament twice, with his most recent title coming in 2022 where he defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final.

He was looking to defend his title earlier this year but his hip injury saw him succumb to a second round exit in straight sets at the hands of Mackenzie McDonald. Nadal has since had treatment for his injury and he’s looking to return in style in what could be his final year in tennis.

Elsewhere, two-time Australian Open finalist Medvedev is looking to win just his second Grand Slam. He lost two consecutive finals in Melbourne in 2021 and 2022.

Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner is another future star that could challenge. The 22-year-old reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon this summer and despite losing in straight sets to Djokovic, he showed huge potential.

Tennis Hospitality

Iga Swiatek seeks another Grand Slam title

World number one Iga Swiatek is the favourite to go all the way in Australia. The 22-year-old secured her fourth Grand Slam title back in June as she overcame Karolina Muchova to win the French Open.

She’ll be looking to win the Australian Open for the first time, with her best previous showing coming last year where she fell short against Danielle Collins in the semis.

Swiatek will face stiff competition from 2023 champion Sabalenka. She came from a set down to beat Elena Rybakina in the final earlier this year. Sabalenka has enjoyed a strong 2023, having also reached the US Open final, as well as the final four at Wimbledon and the French Open.

Rybakina should perform well again as she looks to avenge her defeat in the final last time out. Meanwhile, Coco Gauff could also challenge. The 19-year-old has a bright future ahead of her and she claimed her maiden Grand Slam this year as she won the US Open on home soil. She’ll be looking to improve her Australian Open record having never progressed past the fourth round.

June 2025
July 2025
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Can Saracens retain their Gallagher Premiership Rugby crown?

Posted on by Harry Howes

The club rugby season is almost at the halfway stage and the league table is beginning to take shape. Last season’s Gallagher Premiership runners-up Sale Sharks have made a blistering start but there’s still plenty of rugby to be played before the playoffs begin.

Meanwhile, the European Rugby Champions Cup is back for another year and Leinster are looking to win the competition for a fifth time after missing out in last season’s final.

Who’s leading the way?

With eight games down, Sale Sharks sit at the top of the Gallagher Premiership table having won six matches so far. Paul Deacon’s side came second last year before eventually being stopped by Saracens in the final.

A strong start to the current campaign will give them confidence they can go all the way to Twickenham again for the final on Saturday 8th June as they target their first title since the 2005/06 season.

However, despite losing just twice so far, both of their defeats have been drubbings which will cause some concern. They’re not exactly watertight at the back and 43-0 and 36-3 losses to Exeter and Harlequins respectively show that they can often struggle going forward.

Sale have been reliant on Robert du Preez for their points and the South African excelled in their win over Leicester, scoring three tries and adding both a penalty and conversion. Meanwhile, Arron Reed has five tries to his name so far.

Just below Sale in the table sit Bath, who have lost three times. They’ll be forgiven for pinching themselves at their lofty heights following an eight-placed finish last time out.

Their strong start to the season is in part down to Ben Spencer, who’s popped up with five tries so far, including a hat-trick against Newcastle back in October.

Rugby Hospitality

The chasing pack

Saracens remain the favourites to defend their crown as they seek a seventh title and their second in a row. They’re sitting pretty in fourth and have won five times so far, including a London derby triumph over Harlequins last month.

The pair will meet again in the Showdown 4 at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Saturday 23rd March. With live music, fireworks and top-class rugby to look forward to, you can enjoy the match from the best seats in the house with our exclusive hospitality packages.

Saracens star Alex Lewington currently tops the try scoring standings with six. And with the likes of Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola back and firing following the World Cup, Saracens will be confident of another playoff appearance.

Meanwhile, Harlequins are looking to bounce back following a disappointing campaign that saw them finish sixth last time out. They last won the title in 2020/21 but they’re currently third in the table.

They’ll be disappointed to have lost to Saracens but a convincing win against table-toppers Sale last weekend shows they mean business.

Elsewhere, Northampton and Exeter will both have their eyes on the playoff positions. Northampton made it to the semi-finals last season but they came unstuck against Saracens in the final.

At the bottom of the table things are looking bleak for Newcastle Falcons. They’ve lost all eight of their matches so far and they’re in real danger of finishing bottom and meeting the Championship winners in a playoff for a place in the league.

European rugby is back

Alongside the thrilling action of the Gallagher Premiership, the European Rugby Champions Cup got underway last weekend.

French side La Rochelle are targeting a second successive title after triumphing last season in a thrilling final against Leinster. 24 sides will compete across four pools for a place in the knockout stage, with teams from South Africa taking part for just the second time.

Beaten finalists Leinster are the favourites to go all the way and they’ll have their eye on the final, which takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in May. The Irish side got their revenge by beating La Rochelle in their first game in a pool that also includes English clubs Sale and Leicester Tigers.

Meanwhile Harlequins have a tough group and face difficult tests against the likes of Ulster and Toulouse. All teams will face each other twice, with 16 going through to the knockouts.

Of the eight that are eliminated, six teams will drop down into the Challenge Cup. Toulon won the secondary competition last season, beating Glasgow Warriors in the final.

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