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Author: Harry Howes

Can Ireland claim their third successive Guinness Men’s Six Nations title?

Posted on by Harry Howes

With the Guinness Men’s Six Nations kicking off tomorrow evening, we’ve saved the best until last. Ireland are ranked as the second best side in the world behind New Zealand and they’re targeting a third consecutive title.

They meet old rivals England in their opening fixture on Saturday and ahead of their title defence, we’ve taken a closer look at their chances.

How have they been playing?

After securing the Guinness Men’s Six Nations last year, Ireland showed exactly why they’re not quite ranked the best side in the world in the Autumn Nations Series.

They came up against New Zealand in their opening game and were ultimately schooled in their own backyard as they lost 23-13. The All Blacks have developed into something of a bogey team for the Irish, having knocked them out of the World Cup in their previous meeting.

However, Ireland recovered to prove themselves as one of the top sides on the planet. They secured narrow wins over Argentina and Australia, while they tossed Fiji aside in their clash, beating them 52-17 in Dublin.

In last year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Ireland won four of their five matches, with a one-point defeat at the hands of England preventing a second consecutive Grand Slam. Marcus Smith broke Irish hearts as he fired home a drop goal in the dying embers of the game to secure victory for England at Twickenham.

Ireland will be looking to avenge that defeat as they face England in their opening game this weekend. If they can beat England, all eyes will be on their clash with France in Dublin on Saturday 8th March.

If both sides perform to the best of their ability in their opening four games, that could well be the match that decides the winner of this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

Who are Ireland’s key players?

With coach Andy Farrell taking some time out to focus on the British and Irish Lions, Simon Easterby has stepped up to take charge for this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations campaign.

And the defence coach hasn’t been afraid to shake things up. Uncapped 22-year-old Jack Boyle is in the squad for the first time after impressing for Leinster. Meanwhile, a string of familiar faces are back in the fold, with James Lowe, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong back in the squad after injury. However, Furlong is set to miss out this weekend following the recurrence of a calf injury.

Jimmy O’Brien is also set for a return to the Ireland set-up. The fullback has not played for his nation since Ireland’s quarter-final defeat to New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup. Caelan Doris will captain the side for the Guiness Men’s Six Nations campaign.

Tom O’Toole is not in the initial squad after being suspended for six matches, while Craig Casey missed out through injury. Perhaps surprisingly, there’s no space for Thomas Ahern – the Munster lock misses out despite his impressive form this season.

Ireland Guinness Men’s Six Nations fixtures

Ireland v England – Saturday 1st February, 16:45
The Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Scotland v Ireland – Sunday 9th February, 15:00
Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Wales v Ireland – Saturday 22nd February, 14:15
Principality Stadium, Cardiff

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

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

Hospitality for Ireland’s matches

If you want to watch Ireland defend their crown in style, you can make the most of our exclusive hospitality area in the Marian College Marquee.

It’s located a short walk from the Aviva Stadium and as well as premium seats, you’ll get all this:

●    Early admission to the corporate hospitality areas
●    Full complimentary bar
●    Delicious three-course gourmet meal paired with superior wines
●    Finger food during the post-match reception
●    Interview with current Ireland players
●    HD TVs with video replays, ref talk and an official match programme

To join us for either of Ireland’s Guiness Men’s Six Nations matches at the Aviva Stadium, enquire today to reserve your place.

Ireland squad

Forwards: Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster) Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)

Backs: Bundee Aki (Connacht), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster)

Scotland dream of first Guinness Men’s Six Nations title

Posted on by Harry Howes

With the Guinness Men’s Six Nations getting underway this weekend, our attention turns to Scotland. Having already previewed England and Wales’ chances, we’ve taken a closer look at Gregor Townsend’s side, who enjoyed a positive showing in the Autumn Nations Series.

How have they been playing?

Despite finishing fourth in last year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Scotland fans have every reason to be positive going into this year’s competition. They performed well in the Autumn Nations Series, winning three of their four matches.

The Scots stormed past Fiji in their opening game, scoring nine tries in a 57-17 rout, with Darcy Graham bagging four. They followed that up with a defeat to South Africa before beating Portugal in their third game.

Scotland came up against Australia in their final match of the series and against all odds, they ran out 27-13 winners in a triumphant performance. Duhan van der Merwe notched his 30th international try to edge back in front as Scotland’s all-time leading try scorer.

Their strong showing at the back end of last year will breed confidence ahead of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, as will their recent head-to-head record against England. Scotland have won their last four meetings with their neighbours. In fact, England have won just one of the last seven meetings between the two nations.

Scotland will be desperate to continue that run but they’ll need to improve their results against the other sides. They’ve not won the competition since its final outing as the Five Nations back in 1999, while they’ve only finished in the top half of the final table twice in the last decade.

They start their campaign against Italy, which could breed some much-needed confidence into both the players and the fans. On the other hand, a difficult game and a negative result could see them doomed before the tournament has barely started.

Who are Scotland’s key players?

Fergus Burke will be looking to make an impression after being drafted into the Scotland squad for the first time. The 25-year-old is from New Zealand but qualifies for the Scots through his grandfather.

The fly-half has plenty of pedigree, having joined Saracens last year to replace Owen Farrell. Burke is joined in the squad by fellow first-timer Jack Mann, who will be hoping to gain his maiden international cap this weekend.

Elsewhere, the experienced Jonny Gray is back in the squad after missing the Autumn Nations Series through injury. Dave Cherry has also earned a recall, while Glasgow Warriors centre Sione Tuipulotu will captain his nation.

Record try scorer Van der Merwe is in the squad and will be hoping to continue his rich scoring form – he scored nine tries in 2024, including a hat-trick in Scotland’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations win over England.

Max Williamson has missed out on the squad with an injury. Meanwhile, Kyle Steyn is also injured, but could make a return for Scotland’s later games.

Scotland Guinness Men’s Six Nations fixtures

Scotland v Italy – Saturday 1st February, 14:15
Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Scotland v Ireland – Sunday 9th February, 15:00
Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

England v Scotland – Saturday 22nd February, 16:45
Allianz Stadium, London

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

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

Hospitality for Scotland’s matches

Three of Scotland’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations matches take place at the iconic Murrayfield Stadium and you can join us for the action in the best seats in the house.

You’ll be treated like royalty from minute one, with priority check-in, dedicated turnstiles and unrivalled views of the pitch. Plus, you’ll also get all of this:

●    Welcome drink of champagne, gin and tonic or beer
●    Three-course meal and post-match snack created by our Executive Head Chef
●    Fully inclusive bar with dedicated drinks hosts
●    Fine wines chosen by our sommelier alongside your meal
●    Entertainment from rugby legends past and present
●    The chance to win exclusive memorabilia

We’d love for you to join us in the Thistle Suite – enquire today to reserve your place.

Scotland squad

Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Gregor Brown (Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Scott Cummings (Glasgow), Rory Darge (Glasgow), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Will Hurd (Leicester), Jack Mann (Glasgow), D’Arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Dylan Richardson (Sharks), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh)

Backs: Fergus Burke (Saracens), Matt Currie (Edinburgh), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), George Horne (Glasgow), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Tom Jordan (Glasgow), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow), Finn Russell (Bath), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon)

Wales look to bounce back in Guinness Men’s Six Nations

Posted on by Harry Howes

After previewing England’s chances in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, our attention now turns to Wales. Warren Gatland’s side get this year’s competition underway a week tomorrow with a tough test away at France.

Ahead of their opening fixture, we’ve taken a look at their chances as they look to bounce back from a nightmare 2024.

How have they been playing?

Wales took the wooden spoon for the first time in 21 years in last year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations. They finished rock-bottom of the table as they lost all five of their matches, just three years after lifting the trophy back in 2021.

Wales’ disastrous Guinness Men’s Six Nations showing 12 months ago set the tone for the year. They lost all of their remaining matches in 2024, becoming the first international rugby team to lose every single match in a calendar year since 1937.

Five of those defeats came at the hands of Australia and South Africa, which would usually be forgiven. Yet their 24-19 defeat to Fiji in the Autumn Nations Series in November was a cause for concern and Gatland has a job on his hands to turn their fortunes around.

A trip to Paris in the curtain-raiser will be tricky but following that they’ll be heading to Italy, who they’ll fancy their chances of beating. A win over the Italians would likely be enough to avoid a successive wooden spoon, although they should realistically be setting their sights higher.

Wales end their Guinness Men’s Six Nations campaign by welcoming neighbours England to Cardiff in mid-March. Depending on how the competition goes, there’s every chance that clash could be Gatland’s final time in charge.

Who are Wales’ key players?

Following a 2024 to forget, Wales clearly needed a huge shake-up so it’s no surprise that Gatland has shaken up his squad. With Dewi Lake injured, Ospreys forward Jac Morgan has taken over as captain for the spring fixtures. Sam Costelow is also out with an injury, which has led to a few raised eyebrows after fly-half Gareth Anscombe was left out.

Meanwhile, Wales have been strengthened by the return of some key players from injury. Josh Adams, Elliot Dee, Taulupe Faletau, Dafydd Jenkins, Joe Roberts and Liam Williams are all back in the fold having missed the Autumn Nations Series through injury.

Like England, Wales have named two uncapped players in their squad in the shape of Ospreys fly-half Dan Edwards and Scarlets wing Ellis Mee. And they might not be their only Guiness Men’s Six Nations debutants – eight players that made their debut in 2024 are hopeful of their bows in the iconic competition.

Gatland’s squad is packed full of youth and inexperience. With an average age of 26, there are an astonishing 18 players in the camp with 10 caps or fewer. The Wales boss will be hoping that a new-look group with a fresh mindset will fire them into action as they look to put 2024 behind them.

Wales Guiness Men’s Six Nations fixtures

France v Wales – Friday 31st January, 20:15
Stade de France, Paris

Italy v Wales – Saturday 8th February, 14:15
Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Wales v Ireland – Saturday 22nd February, 14:15
Principality Stadium, Cardiff

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

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

Hospitality for Wales’ matches

As ever, you can enjoy all of Wales’ home Guiness Men’s Six Nations games from the comfort of our premium hospitality facility.

The exclusive area at the Principality Stadium is located in the iconic Gaucho restaurant – as well as unrivalled views from your Category A seat, you’ll also get all this:

●    Sparkling wine reception
●    Three house beverages per person (Guinness, draught lager or wine)
●    Delicious three-course lunch with half a bottle of wine per person
●    Guest speakers
●    Complimentary match programme
●    Hostess service

If you’d like to watch the rugby action in Cardiff from the best seats in the house, enquire today to reserve your place.

Wales squad

Forwards: Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby), James Botham (Cardiff Rugby), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), WillGriff John (Sale Sharks), Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Sam Parry (Ospreys), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Will Rowlands (Racing 92), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby), Henry Thomas (Scarlets), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby)

Backs: Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby), Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Rugby), Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Josh Hathaway (Gloucester Rugby), Eddie James (Scarlets), Ellis Mee (Scarlets), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Joe Roberts (Scarlets), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Saracens), Rhodri Williams (Dragons), Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby)

England target record Guinness Men’s Six Nations title

Posted on by Harry Howes

The wait is almost over – it’s almost time for the return of the greatest rugby competition in the world. The 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations is less than two weeks away, with a month and a half of top-class international action to look forward to.

As the anticipation builds, we’re going to be taking a closer look at each of England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, analysing their chances of winning and highlighting the incredible hospitality options we have available.

First up is England, who are looking to win the Guinness Men’s Six Nations for the first time since 2020. Can they go all the way for a record 40th time since the competition began in 1883? Let’s find out!

How have they been playing?

On paper, England’s performance in the Autumn Nations Series leaves a lot to be desired. Yet there were plenty of positives to take from their campaign, despite three defeats in their four matches.

Those losses don’t necessarily tell the whole story, as they were all narrow and came against some of the world’s best sides. England led their opener against New Zealand 22-14 and ultimately only lost by two points.

Meanwhile, their defeat to Australia saw them score their most ever points in a home defeat, with the visitors securing a last-gasp win. England then lost to South Africa before finishing the series with a huge 59-14 win over Japan.

Steve Borthwick’s side were imperious at Twickenham, scoring eight tries in a dominant performance that will have given them huge confidence going into their spring fixtures. They face a tricky start to the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, with Ireland and France coming up in their opening two games.

But if they can get through those with positive results, it’ll put them in a strong position for their remaining games and they’ll feel that they already have one hand on the iconic trophy.

Who are England’s key players?

Borthwick has freshened things up ahead of the competition, handing the captaincy to Saracens lock Maro Itoje. The 30-year-old becomes the 136th skipper in England history as he replaces Jamie George, who will serve as vice-captain.

England will be looking at George Ford and Marcus Smith to be key figures in their quest for points. Smith has become an essential cog in the side since his debut back in 2021. The versatile star can play at both full-back and fly-half and he’s naturally filled the shoes of former captain Owen Farrell, who last played for England in 2023.

In a new-look squad, Borthwick has selected 13 players with fewer than 10 caps, including two uncapped hopefuls. Harlequins duo Oscar Beard and Cadan Murley have been rewarded for their performances this season and they’ll both be keen to make their debuts in the opener in Dublin.

Sam Underhill is set to miss out through injury, as is 2024 breakout star Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. The wing made his debut against Italy almost 12 months ago and he scored five tries in a promising first year in the England fold. Sadly, he’ll miss out on a second Guinness Men’s Six Nations campaign after dislocating his shoulder last month.

England Guinness Men’s Six Nations fixtures

Ireland v England – Saturday 1st February, 16:45
The Aviva Stadium, Dublin

England v France – Saturday 8th February, 16:45
Allianz Stadium, London

England v Scotland – Saturday 22nd February, 16:45
Allianz Stadium, London

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

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

Hospitality for England’s matches

If you want to watch the greatest yearly rugby competition in style, we’re offering exclusive hospitality packages for all of England’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations matches.

For the three games at the Allianz Stadium, you can enjoy a day of luxury in our ICON facility. It’s located just a few steps from your premium allocated seats and you can make the most of all this:

●    Welcome Champagne reception
●    Complimentary bar
●    Delicious four-course lunch with selected wines
●    Complimentary programme
●    VIP host service throughout the day
●    Meet and greets with rugby legends

Fancy watching the rugby in style? Enquire today to reserve your place.

England squad

Forwards: Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Ollie Chessum (Leicester), Alex Coles (Northampton), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale), Tom Curry (Sale), Theo Dan (Saracens), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Bristol), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester), Ted Hill (Bath), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Martin (Leicester), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale), Bevan Rodd (Sale), Will Stuart (Bath), Tom Willis (Saracens).

Backs: Oscar Beard (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton), George Ford (Sale), Tommy Freeman (Northampton), Ollie Lawrence (Bath), Alex Mitchell (Northampton), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Harry Randall (Bristol), Tom Roebuck (Sale), Henry Slade (Exeter), Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton), Fin Smith (Northampton), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester).

The biggest women’s sport events to look forward to in 2025

Posted on by Harry Howes

2025 is set to be a huge year for women’s sport, with countless massive competitions and events coming up across all disciplines. There’s a lot to look forward to, so we’ve highlighted the headline acts on the horizon this year in football, cricket, rugby, tennis, golf and athletics.

Football

It’s a huge summer for women’s football, with all eyes on Switzerland for the European Championships. England are looking to defend their crown having won the tournament back in 2022, but they’ll face stiff competition.

World Cup holders Spain are the favourites to go all the way, while 2022 runners-up Germany will also fancy their chances. Meanwhile, France will be looking to reach the latter stages – they take on the Lionesses in their opening group game.

Before the Euros, there’s plenty of club football to enjoy. Chelsea are targeting a sixth consecutive Women’s Super League title and they currently find themselves top of the table despite losing legendary boss Emma Hayes.

They’ve also won three of the last four FA Cups, although Manchester United claimed the famous trophy last year. English sides have been less successful in Europe – the last nine Champions League titles have been shared between Lyon and Barcelona.

Key dates

WSL final day: Sunday 11th May
Women’s FA Cup final: Saturday 17th May
Women’s Champions League final: Sunday 25th May
France v England, EURO 2025: Saturday 5th July
England v Netherlands, EURO 2025: Wednesday 9th July
England v Wales, EURO 2025: Sunday 13th July
EURO 2025 final: Sunday 27th July

Cricket

While England’s men’s side have to wait until the end of the year to take on old enemy Australia for the Ashes, the women’s side are currently in the midst of it. They’re looking to claim the urn for the first time since 2013-14 but it hasn’t started off well.

Australia are in the driving seat on home soil after claiming the first two ODIs, with one more to play. England will need to up their game in the three T20 meetings before the series ends with a one-off Test match. They’ll then take on India in a home white-ball series this summer.

Later in the year, the world’s best players will flock to India for the Women’s Cricket World Cup. Australia are the defending champions and they’re looking to win it for the eighth time. England have won it three times, while New Zealand are the only other nation to lift the trophy.

Australia, England and hosts India will be joined by Sri Lanka and South Africa, as well as three other sides that are yet to qualify. Domestically, London Spirit will be looking to retain their maiden title in The Hundred. Plus, the inaugural Women’s T20 Blast gets underway at the end of May.

Key dates

Women’s Ashes T20s: 20th, 23rd and 25th January
Women’s Ashes Test: 30th January – 2nd February
Women’s T20 Blast: 29th May – 27th July
Women’s Cricket World Cup: September – October

England v India T20s

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

England v India ODIs

Wednesday 16th July – Utilita Bowl
Saturday 19th July – Lord’s
Tuesday 22nd July – Riverside

Rugby

The Women’s Guinness Six Nations starts in March and if it’s anything like the previous few years, it’s already a foregone conclusion. England have won it six years on the spin, with the Grand Slam and Triple Crown achieved in five of them.

They’ll take some stopping – the Red Roses have won all but one of their matches since July 2019. That solitary defeat came at the hands of New Zealand and England will be having nightmares about the Black Ferns ahead of the Rugby World Cup this autumn.

Five of the last six World Cup finals have seen England lose to New Zealand. They’ll be hoping to end that hoodoo this time around and win the competition for the first time since 2014.

Key dates

England v Italy, Women’s Guinness Six Nations: Sunday 23rd March
Wales v England, Women’s Guinness Six Nations: Saturday 29th March
Ireland v England, Women’s Guinness Six Nations: Saturday 12th April
England v Scotland, Women’s Guinness Six Nations: Saturday 19th April
England v France, Women’s Guinness Six Nations: Saturday 26th April
Women’s Rugby World Cup: 22nd August – 27th September

Tennis

The Australian Open got underway over the weekend and Aryna Sabalenka is on a mission to win the competition for the third successive time. The 26-year-old won two of last year’s Grand Slams, with Iga Świątek and Barbora Krejčíková claiming the French Open and Wimbledon respectively.

Meanwhile, the women’s LTA Championships return to Queen’s Club in June for the first time in more than 50 years. It takes place two weeks before Wimbledon and Emma Raducanu will be looking to win it as she prepares for her return to SW19.

Key dates

Australian Open: 6th – 26th January
French Open: 25th May – 8th June
The LTA Championships at Queen’s Club – WTA 500: 9th – 15th June
Wimbledon: 30th June – 13th July
US Open: 25th August – 7th September

Golf

As ever, we’re set for a huge year of women’s golf, with five majors to look forward to. They were all won by different people in 2024, highlighting the spread of talent across the field. Nelly Korda claimed the Chevron Championship, while the US Open was won by Yuka Saso.

Meanwhile, Amy Yang went all the way in the PGA Championship and Ayaka Furue triumphed in the Evian Championship. This year’s AIG Women’s Open will take place at Royal Porthcawl in Wales for the first time, with Lydia Ko looking to defend her title.

Key dates

Chevron Championship: 24th – 27th April
US Open: 29th May – 1st June
PGA Championship: 19th – 22nd June
Evian Championship: 10th – 13th July
AIG Women’s Open: 31st July – 3rd August

Athletics

Keely Hodgkinson stole the show at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards last month. The runner was awarded the gong after claiming gold in the 800 metres at Paris 2024.

She’ll be looking to do the double this year as she prepares for the Indoor World Championships in China, before the World Athletics Championships heads to Tokyo in September. Katarina Johnson-Thompson will be defending her heptathlon title after winning gold in Budapest last year.

Key dates

World Indoor Championships: 21st – 23rd March
World Athletics Championships: 13th – 21st September

The next generation of British tennis stars

Posted on by Harry Howes

With the Australian Open underway, the sporting world has tennis fever once again. The sport has endured a huge rise in popularity in Britain over the last decade or two, mainly thanks to Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu’s triumphant Grand Slam wins.

Murray waved an emotional goodbye to the sport last year and he’s left behind a strong contingent of capable British players to carry the torch, including Dan Evans, Cameron Norrie, Katie Boulter and brother Jamie.

But with those players edging toward the peak of their careers, who are the next generation that will inspire hope for years to come? We’ve taken a look at a few contenders that we think have the potential to secure even more Grand Slam titles in the not too distant future.

Jack Draper

This time last year, Jack Draper wasn’t a tennis player that was necessarily on the radar of casual fans. The 23-year-old failed to reach the third round of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, while he suffered a first round exit at the French Open.

But in the final Grand Slam of the season, Draper decided to announce himself on the world stage. He stormed to the semi-finals of the US Open without dropping a set and harboured realistic hopes of becoming Britain’s first men’s singles title winner since Murray in 2016.

Sadly, he met his match and lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. However, Draper more than proved his worth as he established himself as the future of British tennis. He’ll be hoping to improve on his remarkable US Open run in Melbourne this month after surviving a scare in his first round clash against Mariano Navone, which he eventually won in five sets.

Emma Raducanu

It almost feels strange to describe Raducanu as the ‘next generation’ when she’s already achieved so much. The 22-year-old won her first Grand Slam at the US Open four years ago and she has the potential to win a whole load more.

Raducanu has a huge future ahead – the only question mark is whether she can put her injury worries behind her. Her triumph at Flushing Meadows was achieved without dropping a set and she was the first British woman to win a Grand Slam since Virginia Wade at Wimbledon in 1977.

She was also the first ever qualifier to win a major title in the open era and it was just the second major tournament of her career at the time. Sadly, her fitness issues have so far stopped her from building on that – her best Grand Slam performance since her US Open win was last year’s fourth round exit at Wimbledon.

But she’s got a new fitness team to help and she’s fit enough to take part in the Australian Open. If Raducanu can stay healthy, she has the potential to join Murray as the best British player this century.

Jacob Fearnley

Another potential future star is Jacob Fearnley. Like Draper, he’s aged just 23, and he could be set for a breakthrough season after reaching a career-high rank of 86.

Fearnley only started to come through last year and he won his first ATP Challenger title at the Nottingham Open in only his second appearance in the main draw. He became just the fourth Brit to win the trophy, following in the footsteps of Murray, Evans and Greg Rusedski.

He received a wildcard for Wimbledon last year to make his major tournament singles debut. After winning in the first round, he didn’t quite have enough to beat the formidable Novak Djokovic, although he did manage to take a set off the 24-time Grand Slam winner.

Fearnley is currently in the midst of his maiden Australian Open campaign and it’s started off well for him. He saw off Nick Kyrgios in straight sets in the first round and he’ll fancy his chances of progressing through to the latter stages of the competition.

Sonay Kartal

Just a year older than Raducanu, Sonay Kartal is another bright spark that could put Britain on the map in the women’s game. Her pedigree hasn’t quite reached Raducanu’s levels yet but she’s certainly shown promise.

The 23-year-old reached the third round of Wimbledon last year, where she ultimately lost in straight sets to American superstar Coco Gauff. Kartal also won her maiden ATP tour final in 2024, beating Rebecca Šramková in the Jasmin Open final in Tunisia.

Sadly, her Australian Open journey has already come to an end. She lost her opening game to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in straight sets, although she showed good character to hold her own and force a tie break after being blown away in the first set.

Future wheelchair tennis stars

There are also a host of wheelchair tennis stars with a bright future, including 18-year-old Ben Bartram. He won the junior US Open singles title in 2022 and took part in his first Wimbledon last year.

Bartram came up against British icon and his tennis idol Alfie Hewett in the first round, where he was ultimately beaten. Alongside Dahnon Ward, he was also part of the first all-British boys’ doubles title partnership that triumphed at the Junior Masters in Tarbes.

The two also met in the singles final of the same competition, with Bartram coming out on top. Ward is another big hope for the future, as is Andrew Panney – the pair joined forces to win their first doubles title together at the Austrian Open. Meanwhile on the women’s side, Abbie Breakwell and Ruby Bishop have also been tipped to have bright futures in the sport.

Looking ahead to a huge year of sport for England

Posted on by Harry Howes

Nothing unites the country more than getting behind England in sport. Luckily for us fans, we’ve got a huge year of international action to look forward to.

With major tournaments on the horizon, as well as the beginning of a few new eras, we’ve taken a look at the key events coming up in 2025 for our football, cricket and rugby sides.

The Thomas Tuchel era begins

It’s out with the waistcoat and in with the baseball cap. Thomas Tuchel has officially started as England boss after being announced as Gareth Southgate’s replacement last year.

The German manager has already been getting stuck into his new job, having been spotted at several Premier League games already. Tuchel has a year of World Cup qualifiers ahead of him, with the competition taking place in the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.

That means hopeful England stars have 18 months to impress their new gaffer enough to earn a spot on the plane. While there are some names that are all but guaranteed to be involved, a new era means that the likes of Ben White, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho could be offered a fresh start after being exiled by Southgate.

Interim manager Lee Carsley blooded plenty of youngsters during his short reign, meaning Tuchel has a huge pool of talent to choose from for the World Cup. But England have got to qualify first and their first test comes in March, with home games against Albania and Latvia, before they also meet Andorra and Serbia later in the year.

Can the Lionesses retain their Euros crown?

It’s an even bigger year for the England women’s team as they head to Switzerland as the reigning Euros champions. Sarina Wiegman’s side won the tournament back in 2022, with Chloe Kelly scoring an extra-time winner to sink rivals Germany.

After suffering heartbreak in the World Cup final against Spain a year and a half ago, England will be desperate to bounce back in style at the first opportunity. They should progress to the knockout stages, although they don’t have the easiest of groups after being drawn against France, the Netherlands and Wales.

A rematch with Spain could be on the cards in the quarter-finals and they should be more equipped to challenge this time around. Beth Mead will be back after missing the World Cup through injury. Meanwhile, younger talents like Lauren James, Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo and Ella Toone have more experience under their belts.

Bazball heads down under in search of Ashes glory

England came so close to regaining the Ashes back in 2023 and may well have done had poor weather not brought the final Test to a premature end. They’ll be gunning for glory and they head to Australia this winter in search of their first Ashes win down under since 2011.

But there’s a lot of cricket to be played between now and the first Test in November. Brendon McCullum is set for a busy 12 months. After turning the Test team into an exciting, attacking force, he’s been drafted in to take charge of the white ball side as well.

After a trip to India, England take on Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa in the Champions Trophy. They then welcome the West Indies for a series of ODIs and T20s, before a five Test series against India.

The cricket fun continues with white ball action against South Africa and Ireland, before McCullum and co. head to Oz for another few months of Bazball. It’s been a huge 12 months on the international stage for the likes of Harry Brook, Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith. Their youth and enthusiasm, combined with the experience of Ben Stokes, Joe Root and Jos Buttler, could make England a force to be reckoned with in all formats.

England target a World Cup win

Much like the men’s side, England’s women’s cricket team will have one eye on the second half of the year. Heather Knight and co. head to India for the 2025 World Cup in August, where they’ll be targeting their fourth title.

They last won it back in 2017 and there are still a few names from that squad knocking around, including captain Knight. And they’ll fancy their chances at lifting the trophy again with a squad packed full of talent, including fearsome batter Nat Sciver-Brunt.

They’re in the midst of a white ball series against Australia, which will be followed by a Test match. Then in preparation for the World Cup, they’ll entertain the West Indies and India with home T20 and ODI series.

Do England have enough to challenge for the Six Nations?

England had mixed fortunes in the recent Autumn Nations Series. Steve Borthwick’s side enjoyed a positive result against Japan in their final game, but prior to that they were outclassed in tight contests versus New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

There were plenty of positives and the series gave them the chance to experiment with untried talent. England will look to push on in 2025, starting with the Six Nations, which gets underway in a few weeks.

To be the best, you need to beat the best and England start the campaign against reigning champions Ireland. And things don’t get much easier as they follow that game up against France.

They’ll finish the Six Nations with a trip to Wales, who made history in 2024 as they became the first team to lose every game in a calendar year since 1937. And England will be hoping to pile more misery on their neighbours as they look to win the competition for the first time since 2020.25!

A Huge Month of Football to come in January

Posted on by Harry Howes

If your new year’s resolution is to watch more football, you’re in for a treat. There’s no slowing down in January, with games coming thick and fast in the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and European competitions.

As the biggest teams in the country prepare for the second half of the season, they may be thinking about whether to prioritise certain competitions. Liverpool are in pole position in the title race, although there’s still time for Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City to make up some ground.

Meanwhile, for Manchester United and Tottenham, they may be looking at the cup competitions in order to salvage some pride following poor starts to the campaign.

Are Liverpool running away from Arsenal in the title race?

Following a blistering first half of the season under Arne Slot, Liverpool are now six points clear of Arsenal with a game in hand. With their opponents dropping so many points and Mohamed Salah in the form of his life, it’s their title to lose.

They’ve lost just once so far in the Premier League and with the likes of Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota now back to full fitness, they’re only getting stronger. With games coming thick and fast, the only question mark against them is how they’ll tackle fixture congestion.

But with a six point cushion on ninth place in the Champions League and an easy tie in the FA Cup, they can afford to rest players in their upcoming fixtures. And while there’s a lot of noise off the pitch surrounding the future of both Salah and Alexander-Arnold, all that matters is that they keep performing.

For Arsenal though, it’s a different story. They dropped points against Brighton on Saturday and while they were on a run of four wins in all competitions, they’ve also failed to beat Fulham and Everton in the last month.

With their title hopes slowly starting to dwindle, they’ll still be confident of mounting a challenge. But Mikel Arteta may look at other competitions in order to get his hands on some much-needed silverware.

After edging past Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, they face a tricky two-legged semi-final against an in-form Newcastle. It could set up a potentially mouthwatering final against rivals Tottenham, who meet Liverpool in the other final four clash.

Elsewhere, the Gunners are currently third in the Champions League but will need results in their final two group games to guarantee a top eight finish. While both squads are packed with talent, Liverpool and Arsenal may look to strengthen in the transfer window this month.

The Reds have been linked with a move for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, who is seen as a long-term replacement for Andy Robertson. Meanwhile, Arsenal may look to strengthen in attack after Bukayo Saka was ruled out for two months with a hamstring injury.

Key fixtures this month

Arsenal v Newcastle – Tuesday 7th January, Carabao Cup
Tottenham v Liverpool – Wednesday 8th January, Carabao Cup
Arsenal v Manchester United – Sunday 12th January, FA Cup
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool – Tuesday 14th January, Premier League
Arsenal v Tottenham – Wednesday 15th January, Premier League
Arsenal v Aston Villa – Saturday 18th January, Premier League
Liverpool v Ipswich – Saturday 25th January, Premier League

The Manchester clubs look to turn things around

It’s been a season to forget so far for both Manchester City and Manchester United. Pep Guardiola’s City side are currently sixth in the Premier League, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool.

They recently went on a five-game winless run that included draws against Crystal Palace and Everton as well as a defeat to rivals United. But they’ve won two on the spin and Erling Haaland is back among the goals after a brace against West Ham at the weekend.

City traditionally go on winning runs in the second half of seasons so it would be unwise to count them out of the title race despite Liverpool’s head start. But if a fifth consecutive title begins to slip away, you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll go hell for leather to get their hands on the FA Cup and Champions League.

From a United perspective, City’s struggles are enviable. Despite sacking Erik ten Hag at the end of October, new boss Ruben Amorim is yet to have the impact that the United hierarchy would have hoped for, although Sunday’s battling draw at Anfield will have raised spirits.

His two-month reign has been littered with bad results and poor individual performances, with defeats to Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Wolves and Newcastle overshadowing United’s win at the Etihad. They remain 13th in the table, just seven points clear of the bottom three – a poor result against Southampton in their next league outing would be catastrophic.

For City, their struggles are in part down to a lack of options. They’ve been without key players Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne for much of the season and they may look to strengthen this month. Eintracht Frankfurt star Omar Marmoush and Atalanta midfielder Ederson have been linked with moves.

However, there’s seemingly no money for incomings available for Amorim at Old Trafford, meaning he may be forced to work with the hand he’s been dealt. Marcus Rashford has been ostracised and his departure is inevitable – an exit this month could provide United with a much-needed transfer kitty.

Key fixtures in January

Arsenal v Manchester United – Sunday 12th January, FA Cup
Manchester United v Southampton – Thursday 16th January, Premier League
Manchester United v Brighton – Sunday 19th January, Premier League
Manchester City v Chelsea – Saturday 25th January, Premier League

London rivals worlds apart

At the halfway point of the season, things couldn’t be more different between rivals Chelsea and Tottenham. Over in west London, the Blues are quietly enjoying a steady campaign in the upper echelons of the tables.

Chelsea finally seem to have settled following a whirlwind couple of years under their new ownership. They looked to be dark horses for the title under Enzo Maresca, although a recent dip in form has put that talk on ice.

They’ve got incredible squad depth, with a different starting eleven both domestically and in Europe, while talisman Cole Palmer has continued where he left off from last year. On the contrary, Spurs are having a difficult campaign.

Ange Postecoglou has been criticised for his gung ho approach and following a string of poor results that has seen them pick up one point in their last four games, plus an injury and illness crisis, the north London side are 12th and only one point better off than United.

They desperately need reinforcements this month – Heung Min Son looks a shadow of his former self, meaning Spurs lack a talisman. Meanwhile, summer midfield signing Archie Gray has been forced to deputise at centre-back due to a lack of options.

Tottenham have already snapped up goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky and they’re likely to dip into the market again. However, it may be quiet on the transfer front at Stamford Bridge for once, with plenty of options available for Maresca to choose from, although injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoît Badiashile could see them move for cover in defence.

Key fixtures in January

Tottenham v Liverpool – Wednesday 8th January, Carabao Cup
Chelsea v Bournemouth – Tuesday 14th January, Premier League
Arsenal v Tottenham – Wednesday 15th January, Premier League
Chelsea v Wolves – Monday 20th January, Premier League
Manchester City v Chelsea – Saturday 25th January, Premier League
Tottenham v Leicester – Sunday 26th January, Premier League

The importance of boxing day football

Posted on by Harry Howes

While everybody celebrates Christmas slightly differently, there are some traditions that are universal. Christmas dinner is an obvious one, as are stocking, carols and Father Christmas.

But in the world of sport, perhaps the most important Christmas tradition is Boxing Day football. Whether you’re braving the cold to head down and watch your favourite team or putting on your brand-new Christmas pyjamas ahead of a day in front of the TV, Boxing Day football is one thing that everybody looks forward to throughout the festive period.

But why is it so important? And when did it start? Let’s find out!

The history of Boxing Day football

Way back in 1888, in the first season of the football league, there were two games on Boxing Day, as Derby County played Bolton Wanderers while West Brom faced Preston North End. This sparked the beginning of a tradition, with games now played the day after Christmas every year.

However, it wasn’t just Boxing Day that saw football fans head out to watch a game. Back in the day, there were also games on Christmas Day. In fact, often teams would face each other on Christmas Day, before meeting again for the return fixture a day later. The idea was that crowds would be at their biggest, with the majority of people in the country off work for the two bank holidays.

With the arguments about fixture congestion and player welfare, that seems unthinkable today, but the rules were different back then. Back then, bank holidays were typically an opportunity for friends and family to meet up outside of their home and spend the day together, meaning football was the perfect opportunity to celebrate.

However, at some point during the 1960s, traditions changed and it became the norm to spend Christmas at home with your family. As a result, Christmas Day attendances began to suffer and those in charge felt a change was needed. The last Christmas Day game in England was way back in 1965 but Boxing Day games have remained.

Typically, to make it easier for fans and players travelling, teams will play against sides relatively close to them, although this isn’t always possible. Almost all professional football teams in England will play on Boxing Day this year, except for a few exceptions where matches may have been moved by a day or two for TV.

Festive games are a very British tradition, with many countries across Europe opting to have a two-week winter break over Christmas. But the fixture schedule in the UK thrives at the end of the year, with games almost every day until New Year’s Day.

Memorable Boxing Day moments

For those that are active on social media, you may be well aware of the Boxing Day results from 1963. While many of us may not have been born to witness it, you’d have done well to miss the screenshot that goes viral each year.

The 10 top-flight games that day produced a phenomenal 66 goals. Standout results include Burnley 6-1 Manchester United, Fulham 10-1 Ipswich and West Ham 2-8 Blackburn Rovers. Whether the players were hungover from Christmas or still stuffed from their turkey, we’re not sure, but we’re sure the fans weren’t complaining. Well, maybe the Ipswich fans were.

In recent times, there have also been some incredible Boxing Day matches in the Premier League. Sir Alex Ferguson’s final Boxing Day game back in 2012 saw Javier Hernandez score a dramatic last-minute winner as Manchester United came from behind three times to beat Newcastle 4-3.

Five years previously, Chelsea and Aston Villa shared the spoils in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, one of the Premier League’s most iconic moments also took place on Boxing Day. With Hull 4-0 down at half-time to Manchester City in 2008, manager Phil Brown famously forced his players to stay out on the pitch at the break and delivered his half-time team talk in the cold in front of the fans.

Boxing Day comebacks have become a tradition for United, as they fought back from two goals down last year to beat Aston Villa 3-2 thanks to a brace from Alejandro Garnacho and a late winner from Rasmus Hojlund. Meanwhile, goals from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota gave Liverpool a 2-0 win at Burnley, who were eventually relegated.

Premier League festive fixtures

Thursday 26th December

Manchester City v Everton
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
Chelsea v Fulham
Newcastle v Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest v Tottenham
Southampton v West Ham
Wolves v Manchester United
Liverpool v Leicester

Friday 27th December

Brighton v Brentford
Arsenal v Ipswich

Sunday 29th December

Leicester v Manchester City
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Everton v Nottingham Forest
Fulham v Bournemouth
Tottenham v Wolves
West Ham v Liverpool

Monday 30th December

Aston Villa v Brighton
Ipswich v Chelsea
Manchester United v Newcastle

Wednesday 1st January

Brentford v Arsenal

The best sport and music moments of 2024

Posted on by Harry Howes

As 2024 comes to an end, it’s time to reflect on a whirlwind 12 months in both sport and music. We’ve enjoyed yet another thrilling year, with countless unforgettable moments.

While there are plenty that we could have included, we’ve whittled it down to our five favourites.

Late Euros drama for England

England fans have become used to reaching the latter stages of international tournaments of late, so expectations were high heading into Euro 2024 earlier this year. While Gareth Southgate’s side reached yet another final, they sadly fell at the final hurdle, losing to Spain in the final.

Despite that heartbreak, there were still some huge moments for the Three Lions, with some unforgettable late goals along the way. England bored their way through the group stage to set up a round of 16 tie with Slovakia and they looked to be on their way out as the game reached its dying embers.

But Jude Bellingham had other ideas and after a phenomenal debut season at Real Madrid, he continued his dream season by scoring a dramatic 95th minute bicycle kick equaliser to take the game to extra-time. Harry Kane headed in a winner and England were into the quarter-finals.

Another late goal from Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka led to England ultimately beating Switzerland on penalties and then, in their semi-final clash with the Netherlands, another period of extra-time loomed. However, in yet another late moment of magic, Ollie Watkins smashed in a winner and England reached the final.

The return of Oasis

After splitting up in 2009, music fans have been begging for Oasis to get back together for the best part of 15 years. As time went on, those calls became more and more desperate, with many giving up hope that the feuding Gallagher brothers would ever reunite.

However, in an announcement that shocked the world, Oasis confirmed that they’d be returning for a long-awaited tour next year. The Britpop band are set to play five dates in their hometown Manchester and seven at Wembley, as well as gigs in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Dublin and plenty of other places across the globe.

More than 10 million people logged on to buy tickets, with many fans being left disappointed. Their first return gig at the Principality Stadium is next July and it’s arguably the most anticipated concert in the history of music. If you missed out or fancy watching Oasis in style, you can join us in the UK or Ireland in Engage’s exclusive hospitality areas.

Keely Hodgkinson strikes gold in Paris

20 years after Dame Kelly Holmes did the double in the 800m and 1500m in Athens, Team GB crowned another queen of the track in Paris this summer. Keely Hodgkinson was targeting gold after claiming silver in Tokyo last time out and she didn’t disappoint.

The 22-year-old raced to glory in an emphatic performance, leaving reigning world champion Mary Moraa in her wake. Hodgkinson’s incredible feat saw her crowned the BBC Sports Personality of the Year earlier this week.

And the runner wasn’t Team GB’s only star at this year’s games. Alex Yee mounted a remarkable comeback to claim gold in the triathlon, while paralympian Dame Sarah Storey picked up another two cycling gold medals to take her career tally to 19.

Girls take over in pop music revival

It was a huge 2024 for pop music, with some of the world’s biggest stars enjoying their best year yet. Taylor Swift finally waved goodbye to her iconic The Eras Tour, playing the final of 149 shows in Vancouver earlier this month.

The 20-month tour became the highest-grossing in history and the first to gross more than $1 billion, with more than 10 million people attending around the world. And Swift wasn’t the only female pop superstar to taste success this year.

Sabrina Carpenter, who was a support act in some of the earlier The Eras Tour shows, enjoyed a breakthrough year. Her album ‘Short n’ Sweet’, which featured the hit single ‘Espresso’, became the first to ever debut at the top of the Billboard 200.

Elsewhere, the likes of Chappell Roan and Charlie XCX became musical icons this year, while Dua Lipa stole the show at Glastonbury as she headlined the Pyramid Stage on the Friday night.

Luke Littler bounces back from World Championship defeat

We’re currently in the midst of the PDC World Darts Championship but if we rewind 12 months, Luke Littler was taking his debut tournament by storm. Aged just 16, the 66/1 shot went on a remarkable run to reach the final.

He suffered heartbreak as he eventually lost to fellow Brit Luke Humphries but the youngster, who was the SPOTY runner-up, has bounced back and enjoyed a standout year.

Littler is the reigning Premier League Darts, Grand Slam and World Series Finals champion. He’s still hoping to add the World Championship title to his collection and, with his 18th birthday still a few weeks away, we’ve got no doubt that he’ll have plenty to his name when he eventually calls it a day.

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