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Author: Harry Howes

Can Scotland continue their summer form in the Autumn Nations Series?

Posted on by Harry Howes

Having already looked at England, Ireland and Wales, our final Autumn Nations Series preview focuses on Scotland, who have enjoyed a positive summer across the pond.

Gregor Townsend’s side crossed the Atlantic for an American tour that saw them come out on top in all four of their matches, dispatching Canada, the USA, Chile and Uruguay along the way. Their final game saw Duhan van der Merwe make history as he became Scotland’s all-time record try scorer.

The South African-born winger scored his 28th international try in a 31-19 win over Uruguay in Montevideo. It was van der Merwe’s seventh try of 2024 after he scored five in the Six Nations, including a hat-trick against England. Scotland ultimately finished fourth in the competition following wins against Wales and England, who they beat for the fourth time in a row.

They’ll be looking to continue their impressive summer form in the Autumn Nations Series, with four exciting games against Fiji, South Africa, Portugal and Australia to look forward to. Townsend has named a 45-man strong squad, including spots for five previously uncapped players.

Who are Scotland playing?

Scotland v Fiji – Saturday 2nd November, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

First up for Scotland are Fiji who will be high on confidence after winning the Pacific Nations Cup, beating Japan in the final back in September. They’ll be looking to continue their momentum as they follow up their trip to Edinburgh with games against Wales and Ireland.

Scotland have won eight of their 10 historical meetings with Fiji, although the pair haven’t met since 2018.

Scotland v South Africa – Sunday 10th November, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

World champions South Africa make their first Autumn Nations Series appearance against Scotland. The visitors are on fire after winning the World Cup – they’re won eight of their 10 matches so far this year, including a 48-7 drubbing of Argentina in their most recent outing.

Scotland have beaten them just five times in their history and only twice since the 1960s. Their last meeting was at the World Cup last year. Scotland lost 18-3 on that occasion and their result this time will be a good indication of where they’re currently at.

Scotland v Portugal – Saturday 16th November, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

Portugal have only played twice since crashing out of the World Cup at the pool stage last year. They beat Namibia back in July before being humbled by South Africa. They don’t have a huge rugby pedigree and have qualified for just two World Cups in their history, never progressing to the knockout stage.

Scotland will be expected to win – the pair have met just twice before, with Scotland winning convincingly both times. The last meeting was 17 years ago at the 2007 World Cup.

Scotland v Australia – Sunday 24th November, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

Last but not least for Scotland is a tricky test against Australia, who will have already faced England and Wales. While the Aussies will be the favourites, they’ve surprisingly lost three of their last four games against the Scots.

Australia won the last meeting between the pair by a single point to claim the Hopetoun Cup for the eighth time.

Hospitality at Scotland’s games

Enjoy the action at Scotland’s Autumn Nations Series games from the best seats in the house with Engage’s hospitality packages.

Our areas are located in the Thistle Suite and as well as unrivalled views of the action, you’ll get all of this:

●      A welcome drink

●      Two-course meal including a roast dinner at Scotland v Australia

●      Post-match pie selection

●      Half a bottle of wine per person

●      A signing session from the Scotland players

●      The Doddie Weir Cup and Calcutta Cup on display

●      An interactive rugby quiz

If that’s not enough, you can also make it a family occasion by bringing the kids. Our hospitality areas are child-friendly, with bespoke food menus, as well as exciting activities including face painting and balloon animals.

Enquire today to reserve your place.

Scotland squad

Forwards

Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby), Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Craig (Scarlets), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors), Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh Rugby), Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers), Ewan Johnson (Oyonnax), Nathan McBeth (Glasgow Warriors), Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton Saints), Ben Muncaster (Edinburgh Rugby), D’Arcy Rae (Edinburgh Rugby), Dylan Richardson (The Sharks), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Samuel (Glasgow Warriors), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors)

Backs

Matt Currie (Edinburgh Rugby), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Tom Jordan (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Harry Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby), Ali Price (Edinburgh Rugby), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Bath Rugby), Mosese Tuipulotu (Edinburgh Rugby), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby), Ben White (Toulon)

Can young Wales stars guide them to Autumn Nations Series glory?

Posted on by Harry Howes

Our latest Autumn Nations Series preview focuses on a Wales side that are continuing a period of transition under head coach Warren Gatland.

The Welsh side went into the Six Nations earlier this year full of promise, yet also uncertainty, as they began a process of phasing out their more experienced squad members in favour of a younger generation. Five uncapped players were included for the annual competition and they ultimately finished bottom of the table, losing all five of their matches.

However, that doesn’t tell the whole story, as their defeats to Scotland, England and Italy were all incredibly tight and could easily have gone the other way. Not one to rest on his laurels, Gatland has continued to make drastic changes to his group ahead of the Autumn Nations Series.

Another two uncapped players have been given the nod – this time in the form of Freddie Thomas and Blair Murray – while a further 11 players in the squad have just five caps or fewer. Meanwhile, Rhodri Williams has been handed a shock recall to the international stage, more than 10 years after his last Wales cap.

Wales have played three times this summer, with games against their Autumn Nations Series opponents South Africa and Australia. They’ve now lost nine consecutive international matches yet they’ve shown some potential and they’ll be hoping to continue their gradual improvement and show that youth is the way forward.

Who are Wales playing?

Wales v Fiji – Sunday 10th November, Principality Stadium

Wales kick off their Autumn Nations Series campaign at home to Fiji, a side they boast an excellent record against. The two sides have met 14 times in their history, with Wales coming out on top on 12 occasions – Fiji’s only win came in the pool stage of the 2007 World Cup.

The last six meetings have gone in Wales’ favour, including a 32-26 victory in their opening game of the World Cup a year ago. None of the try scorers for Wales that day are in their latest squad, so they’ll need a new hero to take on the responsibility if they want to continue their strong record.

One of those scorers was George North, who hung up his boots earlier this year. The icon will be a huge miss for his nation and Gatland faces a tough task in finding somebody to replace his influence. While Wales will be the favourites heading into this clash, Fiji will be more up to speed as they face Scotland the previous week and the South Pacific nation may just fancy their chances of causing an upset in Cardiff.

Wales v Australia – Sunday 17th November, Principality Stadium

Wales and Australia met twice over the summer and Gatland’s side found themselves on the losing side on both occasions. The first encounter was tight, with only two points separating them before Tom Wright produced a sensational solo try to secure the win with 10 minutes left.

The second game was less competitive yet when they meet next month, Wales will be hoping for a repeat of their clash in the World Cup last autumn. Australia were humbled that day, losing 40-6 in a game that reflected their poor record against the Welsh.

Prior to this summer, they’d beaten Wales just once since 2017. Yet they’ve had their number in recent months and the hosts will need to find some long-awaited form if they want to get back to winning ways.

Wales v South Africa – Saturday 23rd November, Principality Stadium

In their final game of the series, Wales face another side they’ve lost to this summer in the form of South Africa. The world champions ran riot at Twickenham back in June, scoring five tries in a 41-13 drubbing.

Despite Dewi Lake’s best efforts to galvanise his side, they were scoreless in the second half and the visitors took control as they won their first game back since their World Cup win last autumn.

Wales have beaten South Africa just seven times in their history, with their last success coming on a tour two years ago. That was their only victory in the last seven meetings and South Africa will be confident of continuing that record in Cardiff next month.

Wales squad

Forwards

Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby), Adam Beard (Ospreys), James Botham (Cardiff Rugby), Ben Carter (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), 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)

Backs

Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester Rugby), Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Rugby), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby), Josh Hathaway (Gloucester Rugby), Eddie James (Scarlets), Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Rhodri Williams (Dragons), Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby), Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby)

Can Ireland cement spot as world’s best team in Autumn Nations Series?

Posted on by Harry Howes

After yet another Rugby World Cup quarter-final exit and the retirement of influential captain Johnny Sexton, you’d have been forgiven for thinking Ireland would struggle to continue their dominance in 2024.

Yet they’re looking as strong as ever. They’re officially the world’s best team as we head into the Autumn Nations Series, having retained their Six Nations crown where only a narrow defeat to England prevented them from a second consecutive Grand Slam.

Andy Farrell’s side welcome New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and Australia to Dublin this summer as they look to prove themselves as the world’s best. After already looking at England’s chances in the series, here’s everything you need to know about the Irish.

Who are Ireland playing?

Ireland v New Zealand – Friday 8th November, Aviva Stadium

Ireland’s opener against New Zealand takes place the week after the All Blacks take on England, giving them a chance to assess their prospects. Their only two matches since the Six Nations have been against South Africa and they’ll take confidence from those following a win and a defeat.

South Africa beat the Kiwis twice at the end of the summer so Ireland will feel that they’re able to match them. The pair last met in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final a year ago, which New Zealand edged 28-24 to condemn Ireland to yet another last-eight exit. They also met in a three-game series back in 2022, with Ireland coming out on top in two of the three matches.

Ireland v Argentina – Friday 15th November, Aviva Stadium

Argentina’s trip to Dublin will also be their second game of the Autumn Nations Series – they visit Italy in their first outing before heading to France after facing Ireland. The last time the two sides locked horns was three years ago, where a convincing Ireland performance saw them comfortably win 53-7.

In fact, Ireland have won all but one of the last nine meetings with Argentina. Their only defeat on that run typically came in the World Cup quarter-final back in 2015. Argentina have enjoyed a positive year so far. In their summer series, they beat New Zealand 38-30, won against South Africa and also did the double over Australia, including a 67-27 win.

Ireland v Fiji – Saturday 23rd November, Aviva Stadium

Fiji will have found their rhythm by the time they meet Ireland as they face Scotland and Wales first. But their opening two games will likely be nothing compared to a tough test against the world’s best side.

They’re well practised this summer having recently won the Pacific Nations Cup for the seventh time. They eased past Samoa and Tonga in the pool stage before smashing the USA in the semi-finals. They then comfortably beat Japan 41-17 in the final. Despite their strong form, a better indication of their level against top sides is their crushing 47-5 defeat at the hands of New Zealand in July.

Ireland v Australia – Saturday 30th November, Aviva Stadium

In the last game of the Autumn Nations Series, Ireland face an Australia side who will have already played England, Wales and Scotland. It was a difficult summer for the Aussies, who lost five of their six matches against New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina. Their only victory came in their opener against the Argentines, although they lost the second match-up badly.

Australia have only won once on Irish soil since 2005. Their pair last met two years ago, with Ireland coming out on top in a 13-10 victory. Prior to that, Ireland won 2-1 in a series down under. The two sides traditionally compete for the Lansdowne Cup – Ireland are the current holders, although Australia have won it a record eight times.

Hospitality for Ireland’s matches

As ever, you’ll be able to watch Ireland host some of the world’s best rugby teams from the comfort of Engage’s hospitality areas.

Our suite is situated in the Marian College Marquee, which is just a short walk from the Aviva Stadium entrance. As well as a seat at a table in the glass-fronted marquee, you’ll also get all this:

●    Unrivalled views of the match in the East Stand Lower
●    Full complimentary bar
●    Three-course gourmet meal with accompanying wines
●    Finger food during post-match reception
●    Interview with current Irish players
●    HD TVs with video replay and ref talk
●    Experienced event managers on hand to assist you throughout the day

Enquire today to reserve your place.

Ireland squad

Forwards

Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Caelan Doris (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Dave Heffernan (Connacht), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster) 

Backs

Bundee Aki (Connacht), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)

England look to continue resurgence in the Autumn Nations Series

Posted on by Harry Howes

The Autumn Nations Series is just a few weeks away, meaning it’s almost time for the world’s best international rugby sides to go head to head. After a promising Six Nations campaign under new boss Steve Borthwick, the future looks bright for England.

The squad has undergone some refurbishment, with young faces being brought in as the older generation is phased out. A couple of narrow defeats against the All Blacks earlier this year is evidence that England have improved but there’s still a long way to go.

With four games on the horizon against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Japan, the Autumn Nations Series gives Borthwick’s side a huge opportunity to show that they mean business going forward.

Who are England playing?

England v New Zealand – Saturday 2nd November, Allianz Stadium

After losing a series in New Zealand 2-0 earlier this summer, England have the chance for immediate revenge as they welcome the All Blacks to London for their Autumn Nations Series opener. Borthwick’s side had been targeting a first away win in New Zealand since 2003 but they narrowly lost both games, with Immanuel Fayi-Waboso scoring a try in both matches for the visitors.

England haven’t played since that series and they’ll be hoping that home advantage can help them through at the Allianz Stadium. The pair drew 25-25 on their last meeting in London two years ago. But they’ll need to be on top form – England have beaten New Zealand just once in the last 12 years, although that solitary victory was crucial as it sent them into the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.

England v Australia – Saturday 9th November, Allianz Stadium

Like England, Australia have also come face-to-face with New Zealand recently, although their games weren’t as close as they were roundly beaten in both matches. The clash at Twickenham will be Australia’s first game of the series so they’ll be keeping a keen eye on the opener to see where England are at.

The hosts have a good recent record against the Aussies, winning all but one of the last 11 meetings between the pair. But they’ve not met since July 2022 and there’s been a lot of rugby played since then, so Borthwick’s side will need to be on top form to keep up their winning streak.

England v South Africa – Saturday 16th November, Allianz Stadium

South Africa start their Autumn Nations Series with a trip to Scotland before they take on England in their second game. They’ve had a busy year so far, with recent double headers against Australia, New Zealand and Argentina. They won all but one of those games, with their only defeat a narrow 29-28 against the Argentines.

England’s most recent meeting with South Africa was the World Cup semi-final a year ago, which they narrowly lost 16-15. Prior to that, the pair have enjoyed one win apiece in two contests at Twickenham, while England are still reeling from their 32-12 drubbing in the 2019 World Cup final.

England v Japan – Sunday 24th November, Allianz Stadium

As with New Zealand, England have faced another of their Autumn Nations Series opponents recently in the form of Japan. The pair locked horns in Tokyo back in June, with England running out 52-17 winners.

Marcus Smith was on fire that day, scoring one try, creating two more and bagging four conversions. England scored four tries in each half of a dominant performance and they’ll be hoping for a repeat of that next month.

Hospitality for England’s matches

Fancy watching the rugby action from the best seats in the house? You can join us for all four of England’s Autumn Nations Series games at the Allianz Stadium in our exclusive ICON facility.

The hospitality suite is just a short walk from your seats in the South Stand and as well as unrivalled views of the games, you’ll also get all this:

●    Champagne reception
●    Complimentary bar
●    Four-course lunch with selected wines
●    Guests appearances from rugby legends
●    VIP host service throughout the day

Enquire today to reserve your place.

England squad

Forwards

Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Ben Earl (Saracens), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby),  

Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), George Martin (Leicester Tigers), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)

Backs

Elliot Daly (Saracens), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Luke Northmore (Harlequins), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

Coldplay Tour 2025: Everything you need to know

Posted on by Harry Howes

Coldplay are set to conclude their incredible three-year long world tour with a record-breaking 10 nights at Wembley Stadium next summer. The British band have been wowing fans across the globe with their ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour since March 2022 and it’ll come to a close in the capital next year.

Since forming in 1997, the four-piece rock group have established themselves as one of the biggest acts on the planet. They’ve sold more than 100 million albums since forming and the latest leg of their world tour has sold out. It’s currently the second highest-grossing tour of all time, with only Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’ ahead of it in the rankings. It’s also won countless awards and has broken the Guinness World Record for ‘Highest Attendance For A Music Tour’.

Coldplay released Moon Music earlier this month – it’s their 10th studio album and will feature heavily on the tour alongside their previous record, Music of the Spheres. The latest release includes hits like ‘Feels Like I’m Falling In Love’, as well as ‘We Pray’ featuring Little Simz and Burna Boy.

Their tour shows are split into four blockbuster parts, with 28 songs, although this may alter slightly following their latest release. As well as tracks from their two recent albums, they’ll also treat fans to performances of their classic big hits, including Yellow, Fix You, Clocks, The Scientist and Viva La Vida.

Ahead of the finale of their eighth world tour, here’s everything you need to know about Coldplay’s ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour.

When are Coldplay playing on their 2025 world tour?

Coldplay’s ‘Music of the Sphere’s world tour kicked off in Costa Rica back in March 2022 and is set to conclude in London next September, meaning it will have been going for three-and-a-half years by the time it comes to a close.

The band are finishing 2024 with several dates in Australia and New Zealand, before heading to Asia in the New Year, playing in Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Seoul between January and April.

Following that, they’ll travel to the USA and Canada, performing shows in Sanford, Las Vegas, Denver, El Paso, Toronto, Boston, Madison, Nashville and Miami. Following their trip across the pond, they’ll come back to the UK for the home straight.

Coldplay are set to kick off the UK leg of their tour with two nights at Hull’s Craven Park Stadium, before they travel south to London for 10 sell-out gigs at Wembley.

Coldplay Wembley dates

Friday 22nd August, 2025 – Wembley Stadium
Saturday 23rd August, 2025 – Wembley Stadium
Tuesday 26th August, 2025 – Wembley Stadium
Wednesday 27th August, 2025 – Wembley Stadium
Saturday 30th August, 2025 – Wembley Stadium
Sunday 31st August, 2025 – Wembley Stadium
Wednesday 3rd September, 2025 – Wembley Stadium
Thursday 4th September, 2025 – Wembley Stadium
Sunday 7th September, 2025 – Wembley Stadium
Monday 8th September, 2025 – Wembley Stadium

Coldplay Tour 2025 hospitality

If you fancy seeing Coldplay on the final stretch of their world tour, why not enjoy it from the best seats in the house? Engage offers premium hospitality options for all 10 dates at Wembley, with packages available for groups of all sizes.

Our VIBE facility offers you a pitch-view lounge, a complimentary bar and buffet, plus access to an exclusive aftershow party. Meanwhile, our Diamond and Gold packages also offer a range of drink and food options, as well as unrivalled views of the concert, plus so much more. Enquire today to book your place.

Who could support Coldplay at Wembley?

Coldplay have confirmed that a mystery guest is set to take to the Wembley stage with them next year, although they’re remaining tight-lipped about who it could be. Their tour so far has featured plenty of exciting support acts, including H.E.R, London Grammar, Camilla Cabello and Griff.

They’ve also given a platform to countless local artists in each of the countries they’ve performed in, so their Wembley shows could be an opportunity to showcase some up and coming stars from the capital.

Alternatively, as the Wembley dates are the final leg of their world tour, they may want to go out with a bang and bring out some superstars. Oasis are also performing at Wembley next year and Liam Gallagher and Chris Martin have performed together in the past. Similarly, Dua Lipa has performed on Coldplay’s previous ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ tour in Brazil and Argentina. As good as either of those would be, they’re probably unlikely to happen.

As well as having strong opening acts, Coldplay have also introduced a number of special guests on some of their songs throughout the tour, including Selena Gomez, Michael J Fox and Shawn Mendes, as well as British actor Simon Pegg, who played the tambourine during ‘A Sky Full of Stars’ in London in August 2022.

Looking ahead to the jumps racing season at Ascot

Posted on by Harry Howes

Racing fans, we’ve got good news and bad news. The bad news is that the flat racing season is almost over for another year. But the good news is that jumps racing is just around the corner.

Following another thrilling flat season, including five whirlwind days at Royal Ascot, it’s time to put the fences up and test the best jump horses on the planet ahead of a gruelling winter of racing action. With plenty of exciting race days to look forward to, including the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National, here’s everything you need to know.

Another flat racing season comes to an end

The curtain will close on this year’s flat racing season at the weekend. Ascot’s QIPCO British Champions Day is the unofficial wrap party and the iconic day will see some of the world’s finest horses go head-to-head for the final time this year, with the weather set to move the action to the inner course.

There’s £4 million in prize money to be won across the day, with four Group 1 races to look forward to on the six-race card, including the lucrative QIPCO Champion Stakes. It’s the richest race day in the British racing calendar and you can be there to witness the action in style thanks to Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages.

Enquire today to reserve a private box, with space available for up to 18 guests to enjoy a delicious lunch, as well as a private bar and dining area. You’ll enjoy the best views of the famous racecourse, with a private balcony and a large TV available so you won’t miss a second of the action.

When are the big jumps race days?

As we bid a fond farewell to the flat racing season, fans up and down the country will already have one eye on the big jumps fixtures to look forward to. As well as a stacked winter at Ascot, there are also plenty of unmissable events further afield on the horizon.

Next year’s Cheltenham Festival gets underway on Tuesday 11th March, with the final day of racing action taking place on Friday 14th March. The four-day event is among the biggest occasions in world racing and features iconic races including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Stayers’ Hurdle.

Following Cheltenham, attention will turn to the Grand National Festival just a few weeks later at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. While the headline race on the Saturday attracts the most attention, the three-day event actually begins on Thursday 3rd April.

Following packed cards on the first two days, it comes to a close on Saturday 5th April with the main event. This year’s Grand National saw Paul Townend ride eight-year-old I Am Maximus to glory, with 2023 winner Corach Rambler falling at the first fence.

Ascot Jumps fixtures

While Cheltenham and the Grand National seem like ages away, don’t worry because there are plenty of race days to look forward to before then. The jumps season at Ascot gets underway on the first weekend of November with the Fireworks Spectacular Family Raceday.

Following that, there are five more winter events to keep you entertained and we have hospitality availability for all dates. Enquire today to reserve your place.

Ascot Fireworks Spectacular Family Raceday – Saturday 2nd November
November Racing Weekend – Friday 22nd – Saturday 23rd November
Howden Christmas Racing Weekend – Friday 20th – Saturday 21st December
Clarence House Chase Raceday – Saturday 18th January, 2025
Betfair Ascot Chase Raceday – Saturday 15th February, 2025
Spring Family Raceday – Sunday 30th March, 2025

When is Royal Ascot 2025?

While the next flat racing season won’t start until next spring, regular Ascot goers will have already marked the dates for next year’s Royal Ascot in their calendars. The five-day festival is one of the most quintessentially British occasions in the world of sport, giving those attending the chance to dress to impress.

Next year’s Royal Ascot takes place in June, just a few months after Royal Ascot Trials Day at the end of April.

Royal Ascot Day 1 – Tuesday 17th June
Royal Ascot Day 2 – Wednesday 18th June
Royal Ascot Day 3 – Thursday 19th June
Royal Ascot Day 4 – Friday 20th June
Royal Ascot Day 5 – Saturday 21st June

It’s never too early to register your interest in joining us at Royal Ascot. As well as top class racing and the chance to catch a glimpse of the royal family, you’ll be able to take advantage of our exclusive hospitality packages.

With options on offer for groups of all sizes, reserve your place today to enjoy complimentary drinks, food and the best views of the racing action available. The Gold Cup traditionally takes place on the third day, but you’ll be able to see world class Group 1 action whatever day you decide to join us.

ICON Legends – George North – Welsh Wing Wizard

Posted on by Harry Howes

There are certain players that instantly come to mind when you think of certain sports teams and when it comes to Welsh rugby, George North certainly sits near the very top of that list.

The iconic winger bid farewell to international rugby earlier this year, bringing to a close a glittering career that saw him become a talisman for his nation. As his sudden retirement led the world of rugby to look back on his time at the top, it makes sense for North to be the latest addition to our ICON Legends series.

A Welsh icon

North made a phenomenal 121 appearances for Wales, the third-most in the country’s history, scoring 235 points. Starting his career as a winger before moving inside later down the line, North finished his international career with 49 tries.

47 of those came for Wales, with two coming in the colours of the British and Irish Lions, meaning only Shane Williams has scored more for the national side. In fact, only six players in rugby history have scored more international tries than North. He also remains the only Welsh rugby player to have appeared in four World Cup quarter-finals.

It’s fair to say that North burst onto the scene as a youngster. After impressing for the Scarlets, he was called up for the senior Wales squad and became the youngest player to score a try on his debut. Aged just 18, North scored twice against South Africa at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, although they ultimately lost the match 29-25.

His double broke a record that had stood for almost 117 years – the previous holder was Tom Pearson, who scored against England on his debut way back in 1891. Just over a year later, North broke yet another record at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He became the competition’s youngest ever try scorer as he bagged twice against Namibia in Wales’ 81-7 thrashing of the African nation.

Six Nations glory

While North never managed to taste World Cup glory with Wales, despite reaching two semi-finals, he more than made up for it in the Six Nations. He won it four times, including two Grand Slams.

The first of those came back in 2012 as Wales claimed the Six Nations title for the 25th time. North scored the decisive try in his side’s opening game against Ireland, narrowly helping them to a 23-21 victory.

A year later, he was pivotal again as Wales retained the championship. This time they lost to Ireland in the opener to deny them another Grand Slam, but four further wins sealed the trophy and North was on the scoresheet in the second match against France.

Even in the years that Wales weren’t champions, North was still able to prove his worth. In 2015, the winger scored Wales’ first-ever hat-trick as they thrashed Italy 61-20 in Rome. The following year, he enjoyed yet another fruitful tournament, setting Welsh records for 473 metres gained, 12 clean breaks and 26 defenders beaten. To top it all off, he also finished as the top try scorer with four.

North tasted Six Nations success twice more with Wales before hanging up his boots, claiming another Grand Slam in 2019. And in 2021, in a tournament disrupted by the pandemic, he became the youngest ever player to reach 100 international caps aged just 28 years and 320 days.

Legend of the game

While North has called time on his international career, he’s still enjoying his rugby at club level. He started at Welsh side Scarlets before moving to Northampton Saints where he won the English Premiership at Twickenham in 2014.

A successful five years in England saw him score 190 points in 90 games before he returned to Wales and spent six years at Ospreys. Following the expiration of his contract, he crossed the channel during the summer, signing a two-year deal with French outfit Provence Rugby.

North has also starred at international level for the British and Irish Lions, most notably in their 2013 tour to Australia. He notched his first try in the opener, running half the length of the pitch and skipping past four Australia players.

And in the final match of the series, he scored again as the Lions thrashed the hosts 41-16 to win the series 2-1. While he’ll look fondly back on his countless memories, at just 32 years of age he’ll still be hopeful of making even more over in France, despite his current injury issues.

The stats speak for themselves and there’s no doubting that North is one of the greatest Welsh rugby players in history. His international retirement at the start of the year came as a shock to many and when the Six Nations rolls back around in the spring, there are going to be some very big shoes to fill.

The BRIT Awards 2025: Everything you need to know

Posted on by Harry Howes

The BRIT Awards is one of the biggest nights in the music calendar and the countdown for the 2025 ceremony is on. Next year’s event will take place on Saturday 1st March and some of the world’s biggest stars will be crossing their fingers and hoping they’ll be walking away with a trophy or two.

Raye stole the show earlier this year on a record-breaking night and there will be plenty of others looking to follow in her footsteps. The 45th edition of the BRITs will once again take place at the O2 Arena and will be live on ITV. Ahead of the iconic event, here’s everything you need to know so far.

What happened last time?

The 2024 BRIT Awards took place in March earlier this year and it was certainly a night to remember for British superstar Raye. Following a meteoric rise over the previous 12 months, during which she released her debut album, she enjoyed a record-breaking evening at the awards.

Raye made history as she won an incredible six awards from seven nominations, including ‘Best New Artist’ and ‘British Album of the Year’ for My 21st Century Blues. Prior to her seven award wins, no artist had ever won more than four in one go, a feat previously achieved by Adele, Blur and Harry Styles.

There were also big wins for plenty of global stars, including Dua Lipa for ‘Best Pop Act’, Calvin Harris for ‘Best Dance Act’ and Miley Cyrus for ‘Best International Song’ with smash hit ‘Flowers’. Dua Lipa and Raye were among the performers that night, alongside plenty of others including Kylie Minogue, Becky Hill and Jungle.

The show was broadcast live on ITV and was presented by Maya Jama, Roman Kemp and Clara Amfo. Organisers are yet to reveal who will be hosting the 2025 awards but it may well be that trio again. Previous hosts have taken charge for several ceremonies before stepping aside, including Mo Gilligan, Jack Whitehall, Ant and Dec, James Corden and Chris Evans.

Who could win at the 2025 BRIT Awards?

Following Raye’s dominance at the 2024 edition, it could be another year of girl power. British superstar Dua Lipa was nominated for three awards last time out and following another stellar 12 months, more could be coming her way.

She stole the show when headlining Glastonbury during the summer as she celebrated the long-awaited release of Radical Optimism, her third studio album that features top hits including ‘Training Season’, ‘Houdini’ and ‘Illusion’.

Meanwhile, another British icon has emerged this year in the form of Charli XCX. The 32-year-old has been known in the music scene for more than 10 years but she came to prominence this year thanks to the popularity of Brat, her sixth album.

Elsewhere, after missing out on winning ‘British Artist of the Year’ and ‘Best Dance Act’, Fred Again will likely find himself nominated again. The singer and DJ’s latest album Ten Days came out earlier this month. Plus, following the release of their latest album Moon Music last week, iconic band Coldplay may well be a shoo-in to win the award for ‘British Group’.

In terms of international awards, it’s been another stellar year for female pop stars. Taylor Swift has continued her trajectory into a global icon and was recently declared as the richest female musician on earth. Her 2024 release The Tortured Poets Department broke multiple streaming records, becoming the most-streamed album in a single day.

Swift enjoyed an incredible 2024 but she wasn’t alone, with other stars from across the pond providing stiff competition. Sabrina Carpenter has become another global sensation and her hit track ‘Espresso’ will likely challenge for ‘Best International Song’. Elsewhere, Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan will also be in contention for the international gongs.

Who could perform at the BRIT awards?

While plenty of the names mentioned above will likely perform, including Dua Lipa, there will be one act that fans will be desperate to see. Oasis have finally made a comeback and are set for a mega UK and international tour next year. They’ve enjoyed their fair share of famous BRIT moments, including a public dig at rivals Blur during the 1996 ceremony.

Brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher haven’t performed together since 2009 and ahead of their reunion tour kicking off next July, many that didn’t manage to get tickets will have their fingers crossed that they might treat fans to a sneak preview at the BRITs.

Hospitality at the BRIT Awards

As ever, you’ll be able to enjoy the BRIT Awards from the best seats in the house with our exclusive hospitality packages. We have three different options available for the show in March:

Sapphire Suites
The Sapphire package is offered to guests who wish to experience The BRITs show from a VIP Suite.
Experience the incredible award ceremony and performances from the comfort of a private suite.
There will be a complimentary drinks reception upon arrival, as well as a pre-show premium buffet within the suite.
After the show, guests can remain in their suites to continue the party before the Official After Show Experience.

Diamond Dining
The BRITs Diamond Dining hospitality is situated at the Intercontinental Hotel, London.
Enjoy a 3-course pre-show dinner, followed by live entertainment to start the party.
After dinner, you will make your way to your reserved Level One seating at the Arena to experience a night of glamour and star-studded musical entertainment.
Once the show finishes, enjoy the Official After Show Experience.

Show & Party Package
We are delighted to present a Show & Party ticket option for this year’s event!
This exceptional opportunity grants you Level 1 seat tickets to the show meaning you can enjoy the award ceremony and memorable performances in style.
After the awards finish gain exclusive access to the Official After Show Experience to continue the night.

Enquire today to register your interest and we’ll be in touch with more details.

The ultimate guide to NFL London 2024

Posted on by Harry Howes

February saw the finale of the 2024 NFL season as the Chiefs won the Superbowl in a thrilling climax. The CThe NFL returns to London this month for its annual series that allows UK-based American football fans the chance to see some of the best sides from the States in the flesh. We’re set for three thrilling encounters, with two games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before a showpiece finale at Wembley.

Ahead of the action, here’s everything you need to know about the season so far and the hat-trick of upcoming NFL London matches.

NFL Hospitality

The story so far

The 2024 NFL season is just four games old and some sides are already pushing a gap between themselves and their rivals in pursuit of the ultimate prize. The Kansas City Chiefs and Travis Kelce claimed their second successive Super Bowl title earlier this year and they’ll be targeting a third on the bounce this time around.

It would be the fourth Super Bowl in five years for the Chiefs who have enjoyed a whirlwind rise in recent years – their only previous title came way back in 1969. They’ve won the AFC West in each of the last eight years and they’ve started the new season where they left off, winning each of their first four matches.

The victims of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl success were the San Francisco 49ers, who will be looking to avenge that defeat this season. They’ve not lifted the famous trophy for 30 years and they’ve endured a mixed start to the campaign, winning two and losing two of their first four games.

The Minnesota Vikings, who compete in this year’s NFL London curtain-raiser, have won all four of their matches so far, including two thrashings of the New York Giants and the Houston Texans. Elsewhere, fellow London visitors the Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t had the same luck. They’ve lost every game so far and they’ll be hoping a trip to London might turn their form around.

NFL London games

Minnesota Vikings v New York Jets
Sunday 6th October – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

This year’s trio of NFL London games gets underway on Sunday and who better to kick off proceedings than the Minnesota Vikings, who have stormed out of the blocks this season. They’re one of 12 teams to have never won a Super Bowl and they’ll be desperate to end that streak this year. They’ve previously played in it four times during the 1970s, losing each time.

The Vikings return to London for the fourth time having last been two years ago, where they edged the New Orleans Saints 28-25 in a thrilling encounter. This time, they’ll need to overcome the New York Jets, who have won two and lost two matches so far.

The Jets have played in London just once before, beating the Miami Dolphins at Wembley nine years ago. They’ll want to continue their unbeaten streak across the pond but following the Vikings’ tremendous start to the season, they could be in for a long afternoon.

Chicago Bears v Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday 13th October – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

While the Jaguars will be wary of their less than ideal start to the season, they’ll be spurred on by the strong following of UK supporters that they’ve gathered over the years. They’ve played on British soil in every series since 2013 and as London regulars, they’ve developed a loyal fanbase.

They’ll be hoping that will make the difference as they look to change their luck in their two London games, starting against the Chicago Bears at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Despite their four defeats, three of those have been reasonably close, with only their 47-10 drubbing at the hands of the Buffalo Bills a real cause for concern.

The Bears will smell blood and with two wins under their belt already, including a triumph over the Los Angeles Rams at the weekend, they’ll be confident of securing another win. They’ve had a mixed start to the season, with two defeats in NFC North, and with the Minnesota Vikings running away at the top of the standings, they’ll need to improve if they want to claim their first Super Bowl title since 1985.

Jacksonville Jaguars v New England Patriots
Sunday 20th October – Wembley Stadium

The Jaguars then head to Wembley for the final game of the NFL London series and they’ll take confidence from the fact that they won both matches in the capital last year against the Atlanta Falcons and the Buffalo Bills.

They face six-time Super Bowl champions the New England Patriots, who are on a three-game losing streak in AFC East. They kicked off the 2024 season with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals but failed to continue their momentum, coming unstuck in clashes with the Seattle Seahawks and the 49ers, as well as enduring a 24-3 humiliation against the Jets.

The Patriots remain unbeaten in London, winning both of their previous games at Wembley, although their last outing in the UK was back in 2012. While the Jaguars may feel that having ‘second home’ advantage could help them to a much-needed win, history isn’t on their side. They’ve met the Patriots 14 times previously, winning just twice against their opponents.

Whatever happens in the game, American football fans in London are guaranteed a spectacle. If you fancy being part of the action, you can enjoy the final NFL London game in comfort in Engage’s exclusive ICON facility. Enquire today to book your place.

Everything you need to know about the 2025/26 Ashes

Posted on by Harry Howes

There’s nothing quite like the Ashes and attention has turned to the next series in 2025/26. It seems like just yesterday that fans up and down the country were cursing the typical English weather for ending England’s hopes of a famous Ashes win over Australia in 2023.

But last year’s historic encounter is a distant memory and we’re already thinking about the next series, which is set to get underway in just over a year. While we’ll have our fingers crossed that there’ll be no rain to spoil the fun as we head to sunnier climes down under, our miserable record in Australia might take over in dampening the mood.

When is the Ashes?

While the exact dates are unconfirmed, next year’s Ashes are expected to get underway in November of next year, with the final Test taking place in January 2026. While it may be winter for us, it’s Australia’s turn to host so it’ll be taking place during their summer months.

This may be good for the weather, meaning hopefully we see the maximum amount of play. However, for those of us watching the action back in England, it will sadly mean plenty of late nights glued to the TV.

Where will the Ashes be played?

We know it’s in Australia but as it’s still early days, we’re yet to have official confirmation of what venues will host the five matches. However, we can be pretty confident that they’ll take place in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, as is tradition.

The last time England headed to Oz for the Ashes, Perth were unable to host their Test match due to complications surrounding the pandemic. This led to Hobart in Tasmania stepping up as an Ashes venue for the first time ever.

Hospitality at the Ashes

If you don’t fancy cold late nights watching at home and you’re thinking of heading out to Australia to watch the Ashes in style, you’ve come to the right place.

Details of hospitality for the Ashes are still yet to be confirmed but you can register your interest with the link below to be the first to hear about more details.

Enquire today to register your interest for the 2025/26 Ashes series.

Can England end their miserable record down under?

While it’s natural to feel optimistic ahead of an Ashes series, England fans will be wary of being too confident when the campaign gets underway in Australia next year.

We haven’t enjoyed Ashes success down under since a 3-1 series win in 2010/11, which remains England’s only triumph on Australian soil since 1987. Led by captain Andrew Strauss, the visitors broke the mould with a rousing victory that stunned the hosts.

England turned up in Oz with a squad packed full of superstars, including James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Swann. But while they all contributed to the famous victory, it was Alastair Cook who stole the show.

Their record runs scorer topped the charts for the series, knocking an incredible 766 across the five matches, almost 200 more than his closest rival. Cook kicked things off with an unbeaten 235 in the opening Test, before a strong 189 in the final match secured him player of the series.

Remarkably, that iconic England win more than 12 years ago was the last time a visiting side has won an Ashes series and that miserable away form was summed up perfectly in our last venture to Australia.

England lost the first three matches to emphatically end their chances of winning the famous urn, before losing the final Test after the fourth ended in a draw. While it was a campaign to forget, it ultimately paved the way for a new era of Test cricket for England.

Following the series, coach Chris Silverwood was sacked, while captain Joe Root soon followed as he stepped down a few months later. These events led to Brendon McCullum taking charge and Ben Stokes coming in as skipper. The pair adopted a brand-new style known as ‘Bazball’ that we’ve all grown to love and the all-action, aggressive approach may just spawn another famous victory in Australia next winter.

What happened last time?

England haven’t won the Ashes since a gripping 3-2 success back in 2015 but they came so close to finally reclaiming the title last summer. Australia arrived in search of their second successive victory and it looked like a foregone conclusion as they raced into a 2-0 lead with wins at Edgbaston and Lord’s.

The series wasn’t without controversy as Jonny Bairstow was infamously called out after leaving his crease and being stumped by Alex Carey. Despite England’s protestations, the decision remained final and the incident seemed to spur the hosts on.

Stokes’ side came out swinging and won the following match in Headingley. Yet despite looking good to draw the series at Old Trafford, the fourth Test was disrupted by rain and was eventually abandoned, ending in a draw.

That meant that the best England could hope for was a draw in the series, which wouldn’t be enough to reclaim the Ashes due to Australia being the holders. Despite that, England were on top form in the final Test at The Oval and won by 49 runs.

Midway through the Test, Broad announced his intention to retire following the match and in a fitting departure, the final two days belonged to him. The England legend was on fire in his farewell, smashing the final ever delivery he faced for six before his ball saw Carey caught behind to win England the match and tie the series.

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