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Author: Harry Howes

All the talking points from the NFL London series

Posted on by Harry Howes

American Football descended on London earlier this month, as three action-packed contests took place as part of the traditional NFL London series.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are a regular at the event and they took to the field twice, playing the Atlanta Falcons and the Buffalo Bills, before the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans faced off in the final match.

Following the games, we’ve looked back at the key talking points from another incredible event.

Atlanta Falcons 7-23 Jacksonville Jaguars

It was a welcome return to London for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have made the capital a second home in recent years. The Florida-based side have appeared at every NFL event on these shores since 2013 and they treated their British fans to a masterclass earlier this month.

Over 85,000 people were in attendance at Wembley to see Jaguars star Trevor Lawrence steal the show in the first half. The quarterback found Calvin Ridley with a pinpoint throw to set them on their way as they raced into a 17-0 half-time lead thanks to two touchdowns.

Atlanta quarterback Desmond Ridder struggled to get going but he bounced back to provide Drake London with a touchdown and get the Falcons back in the game. But it wasn’t enough and the Jaguars held firm to get the NFL London series started in style and end a run of three consecutive defeats at Wembley.

It was the Falcons’ third time in London and while they flew back home disappointed, they regained their form with a narrow win over Houston Texans a week later. Arthur Smith’s side currently sit second in NFC South with a 3-3 record, just below the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who they face this weekend.

NFL WEMBLEY

Jacksonville Jaguars 25-20 Buffalo Bills

Despite having won just one of their opening three games, the Jaguars followed up their Wembley success with another win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over the Buffalo Bills.

In a rematch of their 2015 clash in London, both quarterbacks shone as Lawrence came up against counterpart Josh Allen. The Bills were on a three-match winning streak but fell short in a cagey game that the Jags led 11-7 at half-time.

And Travis Etienne was the difference in the final quarter, running home two touchdowns to seal a 25-20 victory. The Jaguars are now clear at the top of the AFC South with four wins from six games and they face the New Orleans Saints this weekend.

They’re one of just four franchises to have never appeared at the Super Bowl and while there’s a long way to go, their early form will have them dreaming of ending that record in February.

Meanwhile, the Bills were the pre-season favourites to win the AFC East and they got back on track as they saw off the New York Giants earlier this week.

They currently sit in second, behind the imperious Miami Dolphins, who have won five of their opening six games. The pair face off in gameweek 18 in what could prove to be a decisive game.

Baltimore Ravens 24-16 Tennessee Titans

In the final match of the NFL London series, Justin Tucker was the difference as the Baltimore Ravens came out on top, scoring six field goals to sink the Titans.

The Ravens led 18-3 at the break before the Titans fought back in the third quarter thanks to a touchdown from Derrick Henry. But Tucker’s kicking masterclass sealed the game to secure his side top spot in the AFC North.

The Maryland side boast a 4-2 record so far this season but they face a tough test against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, who have won five of their six games so far.

The Titans, meanwhile, came into the London game in poor form and they find themselves bottom of AFC South, the same division as the Jaguars.

With four defeats so far, they desperately need to turn things around if they want to taste success come the end of the season. They’ve got a much-needed week off this weekend before returning to action against the Falcons.

Another thrilling London series has come to an end but if you missed out, don’t worry because we’ll be doing it all again next year – and you can watch the action from the best seats in the house with our exclusive hospitality packages.

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Who could headline Glastonbury 2024?

Posted on by Harry Howes

We’ve reached autumn, which can only mean one thing. No, not Halloween – it’s almost time for the mad rush for Glastonbury tickets. As hopefuls up and down the country prepare to load up five devices and cross their fingers, plans for next summer’s line-up will already be well underway.

The five-day event takes place every June and is one of the most famous music festivals in the world, with more than 200,000 people flocking to Somerset each year. That’s quite a bit more than attended the first edition way back in 1970, where a crowd of 1,500 gathered to see The Kinks and Wayne Fontana.

Last year’s festival saw Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Elton John headline, adding to a list of incredible acts to grace the Pyramid Stage in the past, which includes Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, David Bowie, Beyonce and Bob Dylan.

And as rumours begin to circulate about who could be on the line-up in 2024, we’ve taken a look at some of the contenders to follow in their footsteps.

Liam Gallagher

While we’re all still holding out hope of a remarkable Oasis reunion, we might get halfway there at least. Next year’s festival coincides with the 30th anniversary of the iconic Manchester band’s debut album Definitely Maybe.

Liam announced this week that he’ll be playing the record in full across a UK and Ireland tour next year – and, coincidentally, he’s left the Glastonbury weekend free. It would be the third time he’s performed solo at the festival, having previously appeared in 2017 and 2019.

It’s no secret that Liam and Noel have had their differences since Oasis split up in 2009 but the imminent anniversary had sparked rumours that a long-awaited reunion could be on the cards. 2024 will also mark 20 years since Oasis last appeared at Glastonbury.

However, even if he were to perform alone, Liam would be a worthy headliner and he proved his popularity with two sell-out gigs at Knebworth last summer.

Dua Lipa

Fans of Dua Lipa were disappointed not to see her light up the Pyramid Stage this year alongside Elton John for their joint track Cold Heart. But they could be in luck next summer, with the British singer expected to have a busy year.

The 28-year-old is currently working on her third studio album, which is due to come out some time in 2024. Dua Lipa is also rumoured to be going on tour, although she’s yet to announce dates so it’s unclear whether they’ll clash with Glastonbury.

She performed at the festival way back in 2017 when she was relatively unknown but if she were to make a return in the future, she’d be in strong contention to headline.

Foo Fighters

The Foos were a surprise bonus at this year’s festival, popping up to do a secret set under the alias ‘The Churn Ups’. The band had previously cancelled their tour and taken a break following the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins.

Dave Grohl and co. now feel the time is right to return to the stage and they’ve announced a number of UK dates next year to promote their new album, with a convenient little gap during the weekend of Glastonbury, which could mean they’re in line to return.

They first performed at Glastonbury in 1998 and they famously had to pull out of their 2015 headline performance after Dave Grohl broke his leg after falling off stage during a show in Sweden.

Spice Girls

Spice Girls also celebrate their 30th anniversary next summer and, unlike Oasis, they’ve already shown they’re happy to roll back the years. The girl band got back together (minus Victoria Beckham) for a reunion tour in 2019 that sold more than 700,000 tickets.

Geri Horner has already denied speculation that they could be set for a Glastonbury appearance. But Ginger Spice did say that the girls have something planned for the anniversary, so fans could still be in for a treat.

And they have unfinished business with the festival, having been set to perform in 2020 before the pandemic put a stop to it.

Coldplay

Another band with huge world dates scheduled is Coldplay, who have been touring their latest album Music of the Spheres since last year. The four-piece have also left time in their schedule at the time of Glastonbury, so we may well see their names when the line-up is announced.

Coldplay are no strangers to the festival, having made the first of their six appearances in 1999. They’ve since headlined four times, taking to the Pyramid stage in 2002, 2005, 2011 and 2016.

Chris Martin and co. were also due to perform in 2021 before the festival was cancelled. Instead, they appeared on the festival livestream event, alongside George Ezra, Kano, Wolf Alice and Damon Albarn.

Who else could appear at Glastonbury?

Blur released their ninth album this summer and treated fans to sell-out shows at Wembley, so they could make a return to the festival they last appeared at in 2009.

Meanwhile, south London rapper Dave has also been rumoured to be in with a chance of headlining, having previously appeared twice.

Remarkably, Queen have never performed at Glastonbury due to political differences between Brian May and Michael Eavis. However, May says that he would consider having a conversation about a sensational festival debut.

Another debutant could be Madonna, who is currently on her world tour and has availability in June. Organiser Emily Eavis was recently at one of Madge’s gigs and has previously said that next year’s festival will feature two female headliners.

One name that won’t be on the Glasto poster is Taylor Swift. The American singer was the clear favourite to headline earlier this year but following the announcement of her The Eras world tour, she’ll be performing in Dublin that weekend instead.

Premier League: Spurs and Arsenal lead the way

Posted on by Harry Howes

The Premier League has paused for yet another international break and while we all just want the domestic action to return, it at least gives us a chance for a breather to take in all the drama that’s taken place so far.

There’s an unlikely contender in the title race while Chelsea are continuing to struggle in mid table. With eight games played so far, we’ve taken a look at all the key Premier League talking points.

North London rivals lead Premier League title race

After sweeping all before them on the way to an historic treble last season and spending handsomely during the summer, City were the clear favourites to step up a gear and secure their fourth consecutive title.

But with two consecutive defeats under their belts, Pep Guardiola’s side find themselves playing catch up to Tottenham and Arsenal at the top of the table. Gabriel Martinelli’s late deflected strike was the difference as the Gunners beat City for the first time in the league since 2015 on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta ran former mentor Guardiola close last term but ultimately ran out of steam. But after improving the squad over the summer with the likes of Declan Rice and David Raya, Arsenal will fancy their chances of securing a first league title since 2004.

But standing in their way, for now, are current league leaders and fierce rivals Tottenham. The North London side remain unbeaten and look reborn under new boss Ange Postecoglou.

The Harry Kane-shaped void up front has been filled by Son Heung-min, who is thriving in a central role, while summer signing James Maddison is pulling the strings from midfield. Spurs have been accused of being weak at times in the past but they’ve certainly shown character so far this campaign.

Goals from Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski deep into stoppage time snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Sheffield United, while a late own goal from Joel Matip secured them all three points in a controversial contest with Liverpool.

It’s still early days so it remains to be seen whether they can sustain their form long term. However, there seems to have been a shift in mentality at Spurs and it would be the ultimate irony if they went on to win the title the season after Kane finally left in search of silverware.

City’s defeat to Arsenal came just a week after surrendering at Wolves and the reigning champions will be desperate to turn things around after the international break. Erling Haaland has picked up where he left off with eight Premier League goals already but with Kevin De Bruyne sidelined with injury, the pressure is on the likes of Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva to offer the missing creativity and unlock rival defences.

Landscape shot of Stamford Bridge from the top of the stand

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Chelsea and Manchester United struggles continue

While both sides won at the weekend, those results perhaps paper over the cracks of their seasons so far. Chelsea have already suffered defeats to West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, while they also failed to score at Bournemouth.

A scattergun approach to transfers over the summer saw a lot of fresh faces arrive alongside new manager Mauricio Pochettino, who still seems to be working out his strongest line-up.

Saturday’s 4-1 thumping of Burnley was their second win in a row and with Raheem Sterling seemingly back to his best, they could now start to push on. But they may lack the firepower to reach the heights they desire, with new striker Nicolas Jackson struggling to score regularly so far.

Much like Chelsea, Manchester United have also been unconvincing and find themselves 10th in the table. They’ve lost four of their eight games so far, including home defeats to Brighton and Crystal Palace, while two injury-time Scott McTominay goals saved them from embarrassment against Brentford last weekend.

Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes are yet to get going and while Rasmus Højlund has shown promising signs, including an imperious Champions League display against Galatasaray, he’s yet to score in the league.

Both Chelsea and United will undoubtedly improve as the season progresses but for now, both sides look a long way off mounting any kind of challenge for the European spots.

The race for the top four

Liverpool have been flying so far this season and have perhaps gone slightly under the radar. Jurgen Klopp finally seems to have sorted his midfield issues, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister adding a balance to their side.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah has been as consistent as ever, scoring five times in the league so far, while Darwin Núñez is slowly starting to become a reliable forward option.

Aston Villa are hot on their tail and the improvement they’ve shown since Unai Emery’s arrival a year ago has been remarkable. The Spaniard has well and truly put his Arsenal disaster behind him and proven that he’s more than capable of competing on these shores.

The Midlands side made shrewd summer signings, including exciting winger Moussa Diaby, who seems to be getting the best out of Ollie Watkins. The striker is a constant threat and he’s forced himself back into the England squad after scoring a hat-trick in Villa’s 6-1 win over Brighton.

Elsewhere, Newcastle will be targeting another top four finish after securing a long-awaited return to the Champions League. They followed up an 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield United with a stunning 4-1 win over PSG and have shown when the likes of Kieran Trippier and Alexander Isak are at the top of their game, they’re a match for anybody in Europe.

Who’s in danger of relegation?

After the first few games of the season, you’d have been forgiven for assuming the relegation battle was done and dusted. The three promoted clubs looked doomed and those above them were breathing sighs of relief.

But after gaining their first wins of the campaign, both Luton and Burnley are beginning to find their feet. Rob Edwards secured Luton’s first ever Premier League win away at Everton and they limited high-flying Spurs to just one goal at the weekend.

While they still have a huge job on their hands to survive, they’re not quite proving to be the whipping boys they were predicted to be over the summer. Meanwhile, it was against Luton that Burnley’s first three points of the season arrived.

With just one point from their opening eight games, Sheffield United are rooted to the bottom of the table and desperately need their luck to change. Similarly, Bournemouth are yet to win despite backing new manager Andoni Iraola heavily in the summer transfer window.

Wolves and Everton have improved after tough openings to the campaign while Brentford, who started the season strongly, seem to have stagnated and they’re struggling to get wins on the board without the suspended Ivan Toney.

Rugby World Cup: Will France win their first title?

Posted on by Harry Howes

We’re approaching the business end of the Rugby World Cup and the eight teams left will all secretly be thinking they’ve got a real shot at lifting the famous Webb Ellis Cup later this month.

The tournament has more than lived up to the hype so far, with plenty of top-class rugby, shocks (sorry Australia!) and everything in between.

Australia crash out in pool stage

Despite concerns over their prospects prior to the tournament, England can breathe a sigh of relief that they weren’t this year’s Rugby World Cup surprise early exit. That honour goes to Australia, who have failed to reach the knockout stage for the first time in their history.

Coach Eddie Jones reached the final with England last time out but he failed to repeat history for the four-time world champions. The Wallabies got off to a strong start as they beat Georgia in their opening game but consecutive defeats to Fiji and Wales left their tournament in jeopardy.

Despite winning their final game, they missed out on a quarter-final place after Fiji gained a losing bonus point in their shock defeat to Portugal. With the World Cup heading down under in four years’ time, the Aussies may need a major overhaul in order to re-establish themselves as contenders.

Who will reach the semi-finals?

Following a month-long pool stage, we’ve finally reached the knockouts and eight hopeful sides are vying for a place in the final four. The quarter-finals take place this weekend and ahead of the action, we’ve taken a closer look at the teams involved and how they’ve done so far.

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Wales v Argentina – Saturday 14th October, 4pm

Having finished fifth at this year’s Six Nations, pre-tournament expectations weren’t particularly high for Wales. Yet they’ve proved any doubters wrong so far, winning all four of their matches in France.

A resounding 40-6 victory over Australia proved they meant business in this tournament as they finished top of their pool ahead of Fiji. Wales have reached the semi-finals in two of the last three World Cups and they’ll be looking to get there again as they come up against Argentina.

The two sides met last year, with Wales narrowly coming out on top, but Argentina beat them and forced a draw over two games in Cardiff in 2021. Michael Cheika’s side also beat England at Twickenham last autumn and they’ll have every confidence of progressing this weekend.

They finished second to England in their pool, beating Samoa and Chile before winning a decisive clash against Japan on Sunday to book their place in the last eight.

Ireland v New Zealand – Saturday 14th October, 8pm

The winner of Wales v Argentina faces the daunting task of meeting Ireland or New Zealand in the semis. Ireland have more than justified their position at the top of the world rankings with a dominant tournament so far, topping their pool ahead of South Africa with four consecutive wins.

They’ve never reached a World Cup semi-final but they’ll fancy their chances this year, particularly considering their recent history against the Kiwis. Ireland beat New Zealand twice last summer, becoming the first touring side since 1994 to beat the All Blacks on home soil.

For New Zealand though, those results are in the past and with a fourth World Cup title in their sights, they’ll have every faith of toppling the world number one side.

They’re not the dominant force they once were, proved by a 27-13 defeat in their opening match against hosts France. But they’ve found their form and they stormed through the rest of their pool matches, including a stunning 96-17 thrashing of Italy.

England v Fiji – Sunday 15th October, 4pm

After losing three of their four World Cup warm-up matches, there were fears that England were set for a disappointing time in France under new coach Steve Borthwick. An early red card for Tom Curry against Argentina in their opening game against Argentina threatened to derail their tournament before it had begun.

But the 2019 finalists got the job done before seeing off Japan and thrashing Chile 71-0 thanks to five tries from debutant Henry Arundell. England delivered a lacklustre performance against Samoa in their final group game but a late try from Danny Care maintained their 100% record going into Sunday’s clash with Fiji.

Captain Owen Farrell, who broke Jonny Wilkinson’s points record at the weekend, made it clear that their display against Samoa wasn’t good enough and they’ll need to step it up a level if they want to reach another semi-final. And they face a Fiji side that are licking their wounds following their defeat to Portugal on Sunday.

The Portuguese side upset the odds to claim their first ever World Cup win, edging the contest 24-23. Yet it wasn’t enough to stop Fiji finishing second ahead of Australia, despite losing two of their four group games.

While England will feel they have enough to overcome the South Pacific nation, memories of their warm-up game in August will be fresh in their minds, where Fiji ran out 30-22 winners at Twickenham.

France v South Africa – Sunday 15th October, 8pm

Hosts France went into the tournament as favourites and it’s clear to see why. Fabien Galthié’s side have won all four of their matches so far, including a convincing opening game triumph over New Zealand.

Having lost three finals, they’ll see this as their chance to finally win their first World Cup and they’ll be looking to continue their strong form against holders South Africa this weekend.

They’ll be boosted by the news that star player Antoine Dupont could return from injury. The scrum-half broke his cheekbone during France’s 96-0 thrashing of Namibia, missing their final pool match against Italy.

Three-time winners South Africa finished second to the imperious Ireland in their pool and there aren’t many tougher tests in world rugby at the moment than France. They met last November, where France came out on top for the first time since 2009 with a narrow 30-26 win.

If England overcome Fiji, they’ll be watching this clash in anticipation as they’ll face the winners in a semi-final clash in Paris next weekend. The Rugby World Cup final takes place the following week on Saturday 28th October.

Europe win Ryder Cup as the USA fail to impress

Posted on by Harry Howes

Europe have reclaimed the Ryder Cup after masterminding a remarkable victory over the USA at the weekend.

Luke Donald’s side won the prestigious competition at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in style, beating their American opponents 16 ½ – 11 ½. The hosts were in control from the outset and finished both of the first two days with a five-point lead.

With the points shared during Sunday’s singles matches, Europe got their hands on the iconic cup for the first time in five years. The result means that the last five Ryder Cups have been won by the home side and the USA are still without a win on European soil since 1993.

The 2023 Ryder Cup story

With the embarrassment of a 19-9 defeat two years ago still fresh in the memory, Europe were keen to make an impression. And whatever Donald said in his pre-match teamtalk certainly seemed to work.

Europe dominated the foursomes on the morning of day one, going in for lunch 4-0 ahead for the first time in history. In fact, it was the first time Europe had held a lead after the first morning session since 2006 and they had barely broken a sweat, with the USA not leading at any point in any match.

Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton set the standard with a 4&3 win over Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns and their team-mates followed suit. Rickie Fowler had a disappointing weekend and a missed putt from eight yards in the third match summed up his experience.

Team USA rallied for the afternoon fourballs and the points were shared in the first three matches. But Matt Fitzpatrick claimed his first Ryder Cup point alongside Rory McIlroy in a 5&3 win over Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele, giving Europe a 6 ½ – 1 ½ advantage.

It seems the USA didn’t learn from their day one mistakes as Europe once again started strongly in the foursomes. Only Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka didn’t claim a point in another dominant session that the hosts claimed 3-1.

But Donald’s side were pegged back after lunch. The USA came out on top in the Saturday fourballs, with Burns and Morikawa claiming the first point of the afternoon. A 3-1 win for the visitors levelled the day but still left them with a lot to do going into the final day, with Europe 10 ½ – 5 ½ ahead.

Sunday’s agenda was 12 singles matches and with Europe needing just four points to win, Rahm went head-to-head with world no.1 Scheffler in the first face-off of the day. It was a battle for the ages as the pair matched one another, continuously swapping the lead.

Scheffler had the chance to claim the point on the 17th but he failed to take it, missing the hole from 15 yards. And as Rahm pulled it back to claim a half point, Europe started to close in on a famous victory.

Viktor Hovland claimed the first win of the day against Morikawa and the points went back and forth for another four matches. With Europe needing just half a point to win, the USA held firm and claimed three consecutive wins through Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Schaffele.

But the stubborn Americans were unable to stop the inevitable and the Ryder Cup was eventually settled. Captain’s pick Tommy Fleetwood went two up against Fowler on the 16th, taking Europe over the magic 14 ½ points.

Fleetwood went on to win, as did Robert MacIntyre, and with Lowry sharing the spoils in his match, Europe eventually ran out 16 ½ – 11 ½ winners. They’ve now won eight of the last 11 Ryder Cups and with the competition heading to New York in two years’ time, they’ll have their sights on a first away victory since 2012.

PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 21: Tommy Fleetwood of England plays a shot on the second hole during the final round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 21, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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Who shone for Team Europe?

The victory was very much a team effort, with almost everybody on top form. Hatton, MacIntyre and Rahm all finished unbeaten, claiming nine points between them.

McIlroy was Europe’s highest points scorer with four as he won four of his five matches, with his only defeat coming in the Saturday fourballs. Similarly, Hovland more than played his part. The Norwegian secured 3 ½ points in his five matches and set the tone by claiming Europe’s first singles victory on Sunday.

Nicolai Højgaard was a captain’s pick and will have been hoping for a better Ryder Cup debut. The Dane lost two of his three matches, claiming just half a point in Friday’s fourballs.

Where did it go wrong for the USA?

Having dominated the 2021 Ryder Cup, Team USA looked a shadow of their former selves in a limp showing in Italy. Nobody in their team went unbeaten and their main man Scheffler didn’t win any of his four matches. The 27-year-old earned just two half points and set the tone for a forgettable American showing.

In the same vein, Jordan Spieth lost two and halved two of his four matches. Fowler was drafted in as a captain’s pick but failed to justify his selection, losing both of his games and returning zero points.

America’s main bright spark was Max Homa, who secured 3 ½ points from his five matches. Meanwhile, Open champion Brian Harman won twice and lost twice on his Ryder Cup debut.

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Looking back on a splendid summer of cricket

Posted on by Harry Howes

The Cricket World Cup gets underway this week and following a sensational few months of cricket, we’ve taken a look back at the highs (and lows!) of a memorable summer of sport.

An Ashes series to remember

A summer of British cricket wouldn’t have been the same without the Ashes and this year’s series certainly delivered. England were looking to win the famous urn for the first time since 2015 and were entering a new era, with new captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

With timeless moments including England’s early declaration at Edgbaston, Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal at Lord’s and Stuart Broad’s fairytale farewell, it will be a series that lives long in the memory.

It didn’t quite start the way we had hoped, with Australia racing into a 2-0 lead following the first two Tests. Stokes’ decision to declare at 393 on the first day of the series was a bold risk that ultimately didn’t pay off – but it was a glimpse at our new aggressive philosophy.

The following Test saw Alex Carey stump Bairstow, who had left his crease under the impression that the ball was dead. The incident sparked controversy, leading to suggestions that it wasn’t in the spirit of the game.

Nevertheless, it left a sour taste in England’s mouths and motivated them more than ever. The hosts went into the third Test looking to become the first team to win an Ashes series from 2-0 since Australia in 1937.

A routine win at Headingley halved the deficit and England looked like they were on their way to levelling the series at Old Trafford. A phenomenal 189 from Zak Crawley put them in the ascendancy but in typical British fashion, the rain ruined the party. The match was brought to a close, meaning Australia retained the Ashes by default.

England were still desperate to level the series at The Oval in the final Test and thankfully, the scriptwriters ensured it was a fairytale finish. Broad, who had announced his retirement prior to the match, smashed Mitchell Starc for six in his final ever shot in Test cricket.

And the bowling legend went out in style, dismissing Carey with his final ever delivery to win England the match. While the result of the Ashes may have been ultimately disappointing, England played their part in delivering one of the best summers of Test cricket in recent memory.

Traditional cricket fans may still be getting their heads around ‘Bazball’ but the future under Stokes and McCullum is very bright.

Guests enjoy hospitality at the Kia Oval during England's ODI win over New Zealand in September 2023.

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Oval Invincibles win The Hundred

There was barely time for us all to catch our breath following the Ashes as we jumped straight into the third season of The Hundred. The 100-ball franchise format raised eyebrows when it was first introduced but this year’s edition saw record viewing figures in both the men’s and women’s competitions.

Oval Invincibles claimed their first men’s title, winning six times and losing just once as they finished top of the group stage. The franchise based at The Oval saw off Manchester Originals in the final at Lord’s, but they didn’t find it easy.

Led by captain Sam Billings, they got off to a tricky start and found themselves at 34-5. But Sam Curran, the IPL’s most expensive player in history, teamed up with Jimmy Neesham to claw back the runs and bring the title to south London.

Despite being on the losing side, Jos Buttler smashed the record for most runs in a season as he finished with 391. And after a promising Ashes showing, Harry Brooks’ stunning 105 not out from 42 balls for Northern Superchargers against Welsh Fire put him in contention for England’s World Cup squad.

Unlike the men, the Oval Invincibles women’s side weren’t able to claim their third consecutive title. They were among the favourites prior to the competition but four defeats in the group stage saw them finish fifth.

Southern Brave topped the table thanks in large part to Danni Wyatt, who finished the season as the highest runs scorer. The Hampshire-based side won seven of their eight group stage matches and sailed into the final.

They met Northern Superchargers at Lord’s, who advanced after the eliminator match was called off due to rain. In a tight final showdown, Southern Brave eventually won by 34 runs to claim their first championship, having lost in the previous two finals.

Fans spectate at Lord's Cricket Ground under the media centre

England prepare for World Cup with New Zealand series

In preparation for the World Cup, England went toe-to-toe with New Zealand in a white ball series, facing off in four T20 matches and four one-day internationals.

The T20 series started positively as England went 2-0 up but a limp performance in the third match at Edgbaston saw the visitors halve the deficit. And in the final match, New Zealand destroyed England with ease.

Despite Bairstow’s best efforts, scoring 73 runs from 41 balls, New Zealand claimed a six-wicket victory to tie the series at 2-2.

Things seemed to go from bad to worse as England surrendered the opening ODI, losing by eight wickets as Daryl Mitchell and Devon Conway both scored centuries. But England knocked themselves into form and turned their fortunes around, winning the next three matches to comfortably claim the series.

Having come out of ODI retirement ahead of the World Cup, it was Stokes that stole the show in the third contest at The Oval. he scored 182 as England won by 181 runs, setting a new record for the most runs in a one-day match.

And in the final game of the series, Dawid Malan was in fine form, scoring 127 as England won by 100 runs.

Can England retain their World Cup crown?

The Cricket World Cup is just a few days away and England are looking to continue their momentum in their opening match against New Zealand.

The defending champions defeated the Kiwis in a dramatic super over back in 2019 and Stokes will be looking to recreate the magic of that tournament as he steps up to the crease in India. It may well be the all-rounder’s final one-day involvement for England – although we’ve heard that before!

England will take part in nine group stage matches, with the top four teams progressing through to the semi-finals. We’ve announced a strong squad, with Brook coming in to replace Jason Roy despite initially missing out.

As well as Stokes, Buttler will have the likes of Bairstow, Malan and Joe Root to rely on for runs, alongside the bowling strength of Curran, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson.

Paris 2024: Who are Team GB’s medal hopes at the Olympics?

Posted on by Harry Howes

The Paris 2024 Olympics is coming around fast, with less than 3 months to go. It’s the ultimate celebration of sport, with everything from football and tennis to archery and rowing – and there’s even a new event to look forward to in 2024.

The Olympics get underway on Friday 26th July and will last for just over two weeks, coming to an end on Sunday 11th August. It’s the third time that the games have been held in Paris and next summer marks the 100-year anniversary of the last time the French capital hosted.

Despite Paris being the host city, some events will be held across the country, much like London in 2012. The games will be spread across 16 different cities, with sports like football, handball and sailing held elsewhere.

And if you’ve booked your flights to France early in the hope of seeing the surfing, we’ve got some bad news for you. While France boasts many stunning beaches, in order to get the best conditions, all surfing events are taking place in Teahupo’o on the island of Tahiti, almost 16,000km from Paris.

Surfing was one of four sports that debuted at Tokyo 2021, alongside skateboarding, karate and climbing. Next year’s games will also see the introduction of competitive breakdancing as an event.

What do Team GB’s prospects look like?

Great Britain have gone from strength to strength since the turn of the century and their 65-medal haul at London 2012 was the first time they’d ever won more than 60 at an Olympics.

Since then, they’ve bagged 67 in Rio and another 64 in Tokyo, so there’s hope that they can continue in a similar vein at Paris 2024. However, there may be a slight drop off. A forecast earlier this year predicted that we’ll bring home 62 medals, which would still be another magnificent return – but they’ll be confident of claiming more than that.

Athletics

On the track, Keely Hodgkinson will be determined to go one better than the silver she secured two years ago. The 800-metre runner also bagged silver at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest and there’s every chance she’ll be among our gold stars.

Similarly, Laura Muir is also looking to improve on her silver medal from Tokyo. The Scot was disappointed to finish sixth in the 1500m at the worlds following a difficult season but with a year of consistency under her belt, she could bounce back next summer.

Sprinters Zharnel Hughes and Dina Asher-Smith will fancy their chances at finishing on the podium. Hughes has never won an Olympic medal while Asher-Smith has twice claimed bronze in the 4 x 100m relay.

Swimming

Team GB has assembled a dynamic squad of 33 athletes set to compete in Paris this summer. With a mix of seasoned Olympic champions and fresh faces making their debuts, the team boasts considerable depth, enhancing their prospects for success.

Among the roster is three-time Olympic gold medalist Adam Peaty, renowned for his world record time of 56.88 seconds in the men’s 100m breaststroke. After taking a hiatus from the sport in 2023 to prioritise his mental health, Peaty returns with a renewed mindset, embracing a healthier approach that he believes will bolster his performance at the upcoming Olympics.

The squad will also include 2024 World Championship gold medallist, Freya Colbert, Olympic marathon team debutants Leah Crisp and Toby Robinson, and British 100m backstroke record breaker Oliver Morgan.

Gymnastics

The women’s artistic gymnastics team clinched the silver medal at the 2024 European Gymnastic Championships held in Italy, securing an overall score of 162.162. Italy, the champions, achieving 164.162. Despite a strong showing on the vault, the British team took an early lead but gradually slipped behind as the competition unfolded.

Similarly, the men’s team claimed second place in the men’s senior European team final, narrowly missing out on the top spot by just 0.5 marks to Ukraine.

With women’s artistic gymnastics head coach David Kenwright stepping down just three months before things are set to kick off in Paris, it will be interesting to see how the team adapt to this change.

Prospects are high for the teams and they will both be determined to succeed amongst the competition.

Diving

Tom Daley is gearing up for his fifth appearance at the Olympic Games this summer, marking a historic milestone as the first British diver to achieve such a feat. Daley will be looking to defend his gold medal in the men’s 10m synchronised platform event.

Competing alongside teammate, Noah Williams, Daley has had a stellar year, securing silver at the world championships and gold at the World Cup. This impressive performance places them in an exciting position as they approach the upcoming competition.

8 English divers have been selected for synchro events. The three other pairs to compete will include Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen (women’s 3m synchronised), Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson (women’s 10m synchronised) and Anthony Harding and Jack Laugher (men’s 3m synchronised).

With a mixture of youth and experience within the squad, coupled with a track record of podium finishes in recent competitions, there are high hopes for team GB.

Track Cycling

Track cycling is one of Team GB’s biggest strengths; a sport they are expected to excel in, having accumulated 79 medals in the sport, they continue to take the podium at the world’s biggest competitions.

In a bid to uphold their legacy, British cycling has collaborated with Team GB to craft cutting-edge bikes for the upcoming season. The new model builds on the one used at Tokyo in 2020 and will be a key part in maintaining the team’s success.

Great Britain won medals at every night of the European Track Cycling Championships in the Netherlands in January. An incredible 14 were secured across a total of 22 races. They continued their success at the Nations Cup Series. With rising stars like two-time world champion and four-time European winner in the omnium, Katie Archibald, and breakthrough Individual Sprint World Champion Emma Finucane, the future is certainly looking bright.

The team will look to dominate this summer and are in a good position to come back with silverware.

Elsewhere, skateboarding world champion and Team GB’s youngest ever Olympic medalist Sky Brown is expected to do well again.

Tokyo 2020 stars Charlotte Worthington, who won gold in freestyle BMX, and Alex Yee, who bagged gold in the mixed relay and silver in the triathlon, will also be looking to build on their Olympic legacies at Paris 2024.

At Engage we offer premium hospitality across a variety of sporting and entertainment events. With a range of options suitable for the perfect corporate day out, or the perfect treat for friends and family, contact us today to experience your dream event in VIP hospitality.

Olympic Games Paris 2024

Everything you need to know ahead of the NFL London Games

Posted on by Harry Howes

The NFL season is in full swing and we’re all set for the biggest few weeks in the American football calendar – if you live in London, that is! The NFL London Games are back, with three matches across consecutive weekends to look forward to at Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

All teams across the divisions have played at least two matches and following the conclusion of NFL London, we’ll have a much clearer idea of who might be in contention to contest the Super Bowl in February.

The season so far

After winning the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs have started strongly, winning two of their opening three matches. They’ve won seven consecutive AFC West titles and they’re among the favourites to go all the way again this time.

One of their wins came against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who play twice at NFL London. They’ve suffered two defeats so far despite being the pre-season favourites to top the AFC South.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started the campaign as outsiders to win the NFC South division as they adjust to life without the retired Tom Brady. They don’t seem to be missing the legendary quarterback too much, winning both of their games so far, although narrowly, with Baker Mayfield impressing since replacing Brady.

It’s not been plain sailing for the Cincinnati Bengals so far. They were well backed to do well this season but they’ve lost both of their matches. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphin and San Francisco 49ers are having fun, with both sides enjoying a 100% start to the season.

The Dolphins broke their franchise record on Monday as they achieved just the fourth ever 70-point game, destroying the Denver Broncos 70-20 thanks to a stunning performance from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

NFL London Games

The NFL returns to London this weekend with the first of three mouth-watering fixtures to look forward to during October. With American football rarely played on this side of the Atlantic, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy the sport in style with Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages.

Ahead of the action, we’ve taken a closer look at the teams that will be strutting their stuff in the capital in the coming weeks.

Jacksonville Jaguars v Atlanta Falcons – Sunday 1st October, Wembley Stadium

The Jacksonville Jaguars are regulars in London, having appeared at every NFL London series since 2013. Their appearances have seen them develop a following on this side of the pond and their UK-based fans will be hoping they can turn their fortunes around.

Doug Pederson’s side were the favourites to top the AFC South ahead of the season but they’ve had a slow start, winning just one of their opening three games. They face the Atlanta Falcons who have won twice so far, despite being in a tough division alongside the New Orleans Saints.

The Falcons have played in London twice before, losing to the Detroit Lions in 2014 before beating the New York Jets on their return two years ago.

NFL WEMBLEY

Buffalo Bills v Jacksonville Jaguars – Sunday 8th October, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The Jaguars, who are one of just four franchises to have never played in the Super Bowl, come up against the Buffalo Bills in their second NFL London contest. It’s a rematch of their 2015 meeting in London, which the Jaguars edged 34-31.

The Bills are the favourites to top a competitive AFC East this season ahead of the Jets, the imperious Dolphins and the New England Patriots. They got off to a rocky start but have bounced back in their last two games to thrash the Las Vegas Raiders and the Washington Commanders.

They face the Dolphins in a tricky tie this weekend before meeting the Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tennessee Titans v Baltimore Ravens – Sunday 15th October, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The final match of the 2023 NFL London Games sees the Tennessee Titans go toe-to-to with the Baltimore Ravens. The Titans are in AFC South alongside the Jaguars and after losing two games so far, they’ll be hoping their luck will change in London.

They’ve added DeAndre Hopkins to their roster this season and they’ll be looking for him to make a difference after they were humbled 27-3 by the Cleveland Browns at the weekend.

The Ravens have started strongly with two wins so far and they have quarterback Lamar Jackson to thank. The 26-year-old missed much of last season with a knee injury and despite fears he may leave, he put pen to paper on a bumper new contract earlier this year.

Jackson helped the Ravens to wins in their opening two games but they’re looking to bounce back after coming up short against the Indianapolis Colts at the weekend.

The London Tottenham Stadium is kitted out with red, blue and white flags to celebrate the NFL London Games

NFL London Hospitality

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The Ryder Cup: Can Europe get the better of the USA?

Posted on by Harry Howes

After a gruelling season going toe-to-toe with one another, it’s almost time for the world’s best golfers to team up and battle for one of the most prestigious trophies in sport – the Ryder Cup.

The showpiece event gets underway on Friday 29th September, with three mouth-watering days of golf coming to a close on Sunday 1st October. This time around it’s Europe’s turn to host at the beautiful Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome.

Team Europe are looking to get revenge having been comfortably beaten last time out. The USA side cruised to a 19-9 victory in Wisconsin two years ago, which was the biggest Ryder Cup winning score since 1967.

Who will win the Ryder Cup?

While Team USA haven’t won in Europe for 30 years, they go into the competition as slight favourites. Europe have won seven of the last 10 meetings but they face stiff competition this time around.

There are a total of 28 points up for grabs across a series of foursome, four-ball and singles matches. Either side needs 14.5 points to win but a tie would see holders Team USA retain their crown.

TROON, SCOTLAND - JULY 15: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits from a bunker on the 12th hole during the second round on day two of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon on July 15, 2016 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Jan Kruger/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

Team Europe

World number two Rory McIlroy qualified for Team Europe automatically following a strong run of form this season. The 34-year-old won the Scottish Open back in July, finishing just one shot ahead of Ryder Cup team-mate Robert MacIntyre.

They’ll be joined by Masters winner Jon Rahm, while Viktor Hovland, Tyrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick also made the cut for captain Luke Donald’s side.

Tommy Fleetwood narrowly missed out on automatic qualification but he’ll still be part of the team as a captain’s pick alongside fellow Brit Justin Rose. Seppa Straka has also been chosen by Donald after tying for second at The Open.

The final three captain spots went to Ludvig Åberg, Nicolai Højgaard and Shane Lowry.

Team USA

Brian Harman is set to make his Ryder Cup debut after defying the odds to win The Open back in July. He was a 125-1 outsider prior to the tournament in Liverpool but he played like a champion throughout and he’ll be looking to continue his good form in Rome.

Harman will be joined by world number one Scottie Scheffler, who won this year’s Players Championship and was Team USA’s first automatic pick. US Open winner Wyndham Clark also qualified via the points system, alongside Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele and Max Homa.

Captain Zach Johnson has called on this year’s PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka, as well as Rocket Mortgage Classic champion Rickie Fowler. Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Sam Burns make up the rest of the captain’s picks.

Despite vice-captain Fred Couples announcing that Cameron Young would be part of the side, the 26-year-old has not been selected for the final team.

Watch golf in style with Engage

If you’re glued to the TV during the Ryder Cup and fancy taking in some live action, we’re already taking bookings for exclusive hospitality packages at next year’s Open Championship.

And if you play yourself, why not join us at one of our ICON golf days in 2024? Get in touch for more information.

ICON Legends – Lionel Messi – Football superstar

Posted on by Harry Howes

In the latest instalment of our ICON legends series, we’ve taken a look at the mind-blowing numbers behind Lionel Messi and his incredible career.

While football fans will never unanimously agree on who the best player of all time is, it’s undeniable that Messi deserves to be at the centre of any debate. The Argentinian broke into Barcelona’s first team at the age of 17 and he hasn’t looked back since.

Messi spent 17 years running the show at the Nou Camp, winning an astonishing 34 trophies, including four Champions Leagues and 10 La Liga titles. He scored 672 goals for the Spanish side, including 73 in the 2011/12 season, which landed him one of his six European Golden Shoes.

He was the talisman in one of the greatest club sides in history under Pep Guardiola, leading Barca to Spanish football’s first ever treble in 2009. Messi’s dominance continued and alongside Neymar and Luis Suarez, he was part of one of the most feared attacks in Europe as Barca secured European glory again in 2015.

The 36-year-old has won it all at club and international level and he holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or wins, having secured the coveted award an incredible seven times.

Rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo

Messi enjoyed a healthy rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo that lasted nine years, with both of them in the prime of their career as they competed for fierce rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Ronaldo regularly joins Messi in the conversation for best of all time and they’ve each developed a dedicated cult following worldwide – it truly is the footballing equivalent of Blur vs Oasis.

The pair have won 79 trophies between them and have each scored more than 800 career goals. For many years they shared the Ballon d’Or, with no other player managing to win it between 2008 and 2017.

Their domestic rivalry ended in 2018 when Ronaldo left La Liga to join Juventus and despite the drama that was created whenever they met on the pitch, it was evident throughout their careers that the pair had nothing but respect and admiration for one another.

Messi Kolkata - World Cup Poster

World Cup win

Messi has been compared to Diego Maradona throughout his career due to both his playing style and his prestige back in Argentina. And while Messi is his country’s all-time leading goalscorer, there were always question marks over his legendary status due to the fact that he hadn’t won the World Cup.

He almost single-handedly managed it in 2014 as he guided Argentina to the World Cup final before they fell at the final hurdle, ultimately losing to Germany.

That looked to be the end of Messi’s World Cup dream as just two years later he announced his international retirement. But he quickly changed his mind and helped his nation reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

It wasn’t for another three years that Messi would taste international glory as Argentina beat Brazil in the final to secure the 2021 Copa America. And a year later, he finally etched his name alongside Maradona’s by winning football’s ultimate prize.

Despite being 35 years old at the tournament in Qatar, Messi rolled back the years as he captained Argentina to the final. He scored twice against France as the game finished 3-3, before Messi and co. came out on top in a tense penalty shootout to bring the famous trophy back to Argentina for the first time since 1986.

Ballon d’Or favourite

As a result of winning the World Cup, Messi remains the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time. The superstar continued his brilliance after the tournament as he helped PSG to the Ligue 1 title.

Messi has since crossed the pond to join Inter Miami, where he has reunited with former Barcelona team-mates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba and the trio have already secured the 2023 Leagues Cup.

Manchester City star Erling Haaland will be a strong contender when the Ballon d’Or ceremony rolls around next month. The Norwegian striker enjoyed a season Messi would be proud of as he scored a phenomenal 52 goals en route to the treble in his debut season in England.

But the award famously favours success in the World Cup and having already won it seven times, it seems inevitable that an eighth is on its way.

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