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Author: Harry Howes

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.

Can Norris overtake Verstappen in Formula One final straight?

Posted on by Harry Howes

The Formula One season is heating up and with just six races to go, the pressure is on Max Verstappen as he looks to secure a fourth title win in a row. Lando Norris is his likeliest challenger following a phenomenal season so far.

The latest Grand Prix took place in Singapore over the weekend and for the second time in four races, Norris finished first as Verstappen could only claim second place. With the final race of the season set to take place in Abu Dhabi in just under 10 weeks, here’s everything you need to know about the final months of the 2024 F1 season.

The story so far

After winning 18 of the 21 races in 2023 on his way to a third consecutive Drivers’ Championship, Verstappen picked up where he left off to start this season. The Red Bull star won seven of the opening 10 races and another title seemed inevitable.

Yet a drop off in form combined with stronger competition has seen his lead at the top lessen. Verstappen’s last win came in the Spanish Grand Prix back in June and he’s without a win in seven races, with only two podium finishes in that time.

In the meantime, the British drivers have been enjoying themselves, with Norris and Lewis Hamilton claiming four of the last seven races between them. Since our last update, four races have taken place, with Norris coming out on top in two of them.

The McLaren driver triumphed in the Netherlands, finishing more than 22 seconds ahead of Verstappen, while Charles Leclerc made up the podium. Hamilton had started to show a bit of form and would have had dreams of an unlikely comeback but his chances are all but over having finished eighth, fifth, ninth and sixth in his last four outings.

Leclerc was the victor in Italy, with Oscar Piastri second, while Norris took third place and condemned Verstappen to yet another race without a podium finish. That trend continued in Azerbaijan where Piastri and Leclerc swapped places in the top two and George Russell came third.

The drivers headed to Singapore over the weekend and with Verstappen starting to look over his shoulder in the standings, it was the perfect opportunity for Norris to pounce. And he didn’t disappoint, storming to victory ahead of his rival, with Piastri securing another place on the podium.

F1 standings after 14 races

PositionDriverTeamWinsPodiumsPoints
1Max VerstappenRed Bull711331
2Lando NorrisMcLaren311279
3Charles LeclercFerrari29245
4Oscar PiastriMcLaren27237
5Carlos Sainz JrFerrari15190
6Lewis HamiltonMercedes24174

Can Verstappen be caught?

While Verstappen is still sitting pretty at the top of the standings, his lead is rapidly decreasing by the week. He now finds himself just 52 points clear of Norris and risks throwing away a fourth consecutive title if he’s unable to get back to winning ways.

However, with six races to go, he’ll be confident of reproducing last year’s performances in the remaining races. In a phenomenal end to the 2023 season, Verstappen won all of the final seven races after failing to triumph in Singapore.

Those seven wins included races in the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, all of which are still to come before the end of the year. But he’s not the same driver at the moment and the pressure of Norris in his rearview mirror could scupper his hopes.

Norris’ best-ever Formula One final finish is sixth but he looks set to obliterate that this season and could still pull off the ultimate comeback before the year is out. While Verstappen has form at each of the remaining tracks, Norris does too and finished on the podium in Qatar, the USA and Brazil in 2023.

There’s still an enormous gap to make up but he’s been slowly closing that in recent weeks and if he can continue his trajectory, a few more slip-ups from Verstappen could make for an incredibly entertaining final few weeks of the season.

Why is there a summer break?

The Formula One season has been paused for a hiatus that’s set to last for almost a month. The break in the racing calendar gives everyone involved, from racers to staff, a much-needed opportunity to rest and recharge.

The first half of the campaign has been a gruelling affair, with 14 races packed into just 21 weeks. As well as the intense competitiveness of each grand prix, there’s also been a huge amount of travelling. Teams have been flying across the globe to compete ever since the season kicked off in Bahrain in March, with races in the likes of Australia, Japan, Miami, Canada and throughout Europe.

The relentless racing and travel often takes a toll on all involved, so the break ensures everyone can take a step back, relax on the beach and spend some time with their friends and family.

While some of the break will be used to make plans for the rest of the season, it also includes a mandatory 14-day ‘summer shutdown’ for all teams. During this period, all teams must completely down tools, with no meetings allowed and no work on improving car performance permitted.

Only essential maintenance and servicing can take place, which ensures that everybody gets an equal amount of time off and nobody gains an unfair advantage. Failure to comply with the shutdown regulations can result in severe punishments.

When are the final six races?

While it feels like the 2024 Formula One season has only just begun, we only have six races left. That means you’ve only got six more opportunities to enjoy the action from the best seats in the house.

Whether you fancy a trip across the pond to the USA, a Brazilian adventure or a trackside seat at the curtain-closer in Abu Dhabi, we’ve got you covered. Join Engage and take advantage of our exclusive hospitality experiences, with food, drinks and plenty more on offer. Enquire today to book your place.

England women to host West Indies and India next summer

Posted on by Harry Howes

An epic summer of cricket is just about coming to a close but don’t worry because attention has already turned to next year. Both the men’s and women’s sides have already scheduled fixtures for summer 2025 in all formats.

England’s women’s team are set for a bumper few months of white-ball action, with the West Indies and India visiting for consecutive T20 and ODI series. And with the T20 World Cup a matter of days away, they’ll be hoping to go into next summer with the honour of being called world champions.

England look to build on last World Cup

The T20 World Cup gets underway next week and England are among the favourites having reached the semi-finals last time out. The competition will take place in the United Arab Emirates, with England set to face Bangladesh, Scotland, South Africa and the West Indies in the groups.

Head coach Jon Lewis has generally stuck with the tried and tested, with 11 of the 15 players selected last time keeping their place in the squad. They boast bundles of talent, including the likes of Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt.

While Australia are clear favourites to win the competition for the seventh time, England will fancy their chances. They’ve won it just once, back in 2009, while they’ve finished as runners-up on three separate occasions.

England start summer against West Indies

With England set to face West Indies in the group stage, they’ll get a preview of their tactics ahead of next summer. The pair last met in the last World Cup a year ago, where England sailed through their group as they won all four of their matches.

They faced West Indies in their opening game in South Africa, winning by seven wickets. All-rounder Sciver-Brunt was the star that day, earning player of the match as she notched an unbeaten 40. Despite their dominance in the group, England ultimately lost in the semi-finals to the hosts.

England last met West Indies in an ODI series in December 2022, winning all three games on their Caribbean tour. Earlier that year, England reached the World Cup final, eventually losing to Australia, and the West Indies got the better of them in the group stage.

With the white ball series not starting for another eight months or so, there’s still plenty of cricket to be played before the two great cricketing nations lock horns. Yet with England’s World Cup squad packed with household names and ever-present stars, it would be fair to assume that their meeting in Dubai next month will reflect next summer’s meetings.

T20 series vs West Indies

Wednesday 21st May, 2025 – The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury
Friday 23rd May, 2025 – The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
Monday 26th May, 2025 – The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford

ODI series vs West Indies

Friday 30th May, 2025 – The County Ground, Derby
Wednesday 4th June, 2025 – Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester
Saturday 7th June, 2025 – Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton

Can England get the better of India?

When it comes to England’s men’s side, a series against India would strike fear into the nation. Yet for the women, England are above India in both the T20 and ODI world rankings and will likely be favourites when they meet next summer.

Following their white-ball series with the West Indies, England will take on India, who they also beat in the group stage of the last T20 World Cup. It was a tighter affair, with just 11 runs in it, and once again Sciver-Brunt was the difference. She was ultimately selected in the team of the tournament alongside international teammate Sophie Ecclestone.

England followed that up in their tour of India last winter, beating them 2-1 in the T20 series. Prior to that, the pair’s last ODI meeting saw India run out 3-0 winners, beating England on home soil at Hove, Canterbury and Lord’s.

They’ll meet again next summer, with five T20 fixtures before a trio of One Day Internationals. If you fancy enjoying the action from the best seats at the house, why not beat the rush and book you place?

Join Engage in our exclusive hospitality areas at all T20 and ODI fixtures against India. As well as the best views available of the cricket, you can also take advantage of our unrivalled food and drinks packages, as well as the opportunity to meet cricketing legends. Enquire today to book your place.

T20 series vs India

Saturday 28th June, 2025 – Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Tuesday 1st July, 2025 – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
Friday 4th July, 2025 – The Kia Oval, London
Wednesday 9th July, 2025 – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
Saturday 12th July, 2025 – Edgbaston, Birmingham

ODI series vs India

Wednesday 16th July, 2025 – Utilita Bowl, Southampton
Saturday 19th July, 2025 – Lord’s, London
Tuesday 22nd July, 2025 – Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street

Can Anthony Joshua beat Daniel Dubois to return to the top?

Posted on by Harry Howes

Few sporting occasions grip the nation like an Anthony Joshua fight and the entire UK will be watching this weekend as he returns to the ring.

The 34-year-old meets Daniel Dubois on Saturday and he’ll be looking to win back the IBF heavyweight belt that he forfeited to Oleksandr Usyk three years ago. Joshua has enjoyed a steady return to the top and he’ll already be thinking about taking on the biggest heavyweight hitters – but he’ll have to get past Dubois first.

AJ targets winning Wembley return

All eyes will be on Wembley on Saturday evening as Joshua takes on Dubois in a thrilling main event in the capital. It will be Joshua’s 13th world title fight and a win will see him become world champion for the third time.

Dubois is set to put his IBF heavyweight title on the line having been elevated to champion after Usyk vacated the belt. And the fight could have huge implications for the future of the heavyweight division.

Joshua hasn’t fought at Wembley in almost four years but he’s seen plenty of action of late. His last bout saw him take on UFC star Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia and he showed his class by taking the win by knockout in just the second round.

AJ is on a run of four consecutive wins, having also defeated Otto Wallin, Robert Helenius and Jermaine Franklin in 2023. That run of victories has restored his reputation following two successive defeats to Usyk in which he forfeited his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles.

One of those belts could be back in his hands come Saturday night but he’d be wise not to underestimate Dubois. The Londoner has fought more recently than Joshua, beating Filip Hrgović by TKO in Riyadh in June.

He has just two defeats so far in a formidable professional career. One of those came against Usyk in Poland last summer but, considering the Ukrainian has beaten everybody he’s faced in the ring, that’s nothing to be ashamed of.

As well as Hrgović, Dubois has also defeated Jarrell Miller since his defeat to Usyk, beating the American by TKO in December last year on the same card that featured Joshua’s win over Wallin.

AJ is the heavy favourite to come out on top but Dubois will be desperate to prove himself. The 27-year-old will be well aware that doubters will feel he hasn’t earned his title as the belt was given to him by default, so he’ll have a point to prove to show he deserves it.

How could this fight shape the heavyweight division?

With Joshua expected to beat Dubois on Saturday, he’ll already be thinking about who his next opponent could be. And it may well be the winner of the upcoming showdown between Usyk and Tyson Fury.

The pair are set to lock horns again in December after the rematch clause was activated following their last bout. As well as beating Joshua and Dubois previously, Usyk added Fury to his list of victims as he won by split decision in Saudi Arabia in May.

With Usyk currently still holding the titles he took from Joshua, AJ will want the chance to become the unified heavyweight champion of the world if he gets past Dubois. That could mean a third fight with Usyk, or perhaps even a long-anticipated battle with Fury if he gets his revenge later this year.

A Joshua Fury fight has been rumoured for many years. The pair have long been tipped to go head-to-head and there have been many reports of discussions, agreements and drop-outs.

While anticipation for the fight has slightly dwindled in recent years, it would still be a blockbuster event and would inevitably go down as one of the biggest all-British fights in boxing history.

Joshua v Dubois undercard

Tyler Denny vs Hamzah Sheeraz (European middleweight title)
Anthony Cacace vs Josh Warrington (IBF super-featherweight title)
Joshua Buatsi vs Willy Hutchinson (WBO Interim light-heavyweight title)
Josh Kelly vs Ishmael Davis
Mark Chamberlain vs Josh Padley

Gloucestershire crowned T20 champions on dramatic finals day at Edgbaston

Posted on by Harry Howes

It was a bittersweet day for cricket fans on Saturday. While it was wonderful seeing Gloucestershire lift the T20 Blast trophy for the first time, their triumphant win over Somerset means one other thing – the summer cricket season is coming to an end.

It’s been a thrilling few months of the sport across all formats and, as ever, the T20 competition continued to live up to its thrilling reputation. Gloucestershire weren’t fancied to go all the way this year, particularly after only finishing fourth in the groups.

But a pair of stunning performances at Edgbaston silenced the doubters to etch their name on the trophy forever.

Gloucestershire claim maiden T20 Blast title

A thrilling finals day at Edgbaston saw Gloucestershire overcome Somerset by eight wickets to lift the trophy for the first time. Despite finishing fourth in the group standings and scraping through, they delivered a champion’s performance.

Gloucestershire were comfortable throughout and won the game with five overs left thanks to an unbeaten 58 from Miles Hammond, as well as a strong knock of 53 from Australian star Cameron Bancroft.

Meanwhile, Matthew Taylor stole the show with the ball in hand as he was crowned player of the match. The fast bowler took a remarkable three wickets for just 18 runs, picking up where he left off having secured 3/25 in the semi-final earlier in the day.

Gloucestershire were playing in their first T20 final since 2007. They lost to Kent Spitfires on that day 17 years ago but good things come to those who wait and they’ve finally come out on top following a brilliant campaign.

David Payne finished top of the pile in the wickets rankings, taking 33 throughout the competition. Meanwhile, Bancroft, who returned to Gloucestershire this season, scored 534 runs, the fourth-most in the standings.

Surrey peter out and Somerset fail to retain crown

Ahead of finals day, many were expecting Surrey to claim their first title since the inaugural T20 Blast season back in 2003. The side based at The Oval dominated in the group stages, finishing top of the pile after winning nine of their 14 matches.

And after seeing off Durham in their quarter-final clash, they were confident ahead of their final four match-up against Somerset. Surrey beat Durham by five wickets thanks to a powerful 67 from Dom Sibley, but they came unstuck in the semis.

Somerset’s Sean Dickson was the man in form with the bat, recording a knock of 78 as the west country side won by six wickets, securing the win with just eight balls left. They were the reigning champions and were looking to retain their crown having beaten Essex Eagles in the final a year ago.

But their momentum dwindled on Saturday evening and they could only finish as runners-up. Somerset weren’t the only side to feel the wrath of new champions Gloucestershire, as Sussex can attest to.

They completed an all southern line-up on finals day and would have been confident ahead of their semi-final clash. Like Surrey before them, they won nine of their group matches and finished second in the standings.

Sussex possess quality throughout their squad and boast the talent of Daniel Hughes in their side, who topped the run-scoring charts with a phenomenal 596 during the competition. But it wasn’t to be in the semi-final as they never really got going and ultimately lost by eight wickets with more than seven overs left in the bank.

England stars miss out due to scheduling clash

While the T20 Blast finals day went smoothly and was enjoyed by all, there were secretly (and not so secretly) plenty of grumblings about the scheduling of the showpiece event at Edgbaston.

With England scheduled to take on Australia in their T20 series on Friday and Sunday, either side of the Blast finals on Saturday, the counties involved were forced to go without their international stars, significantly weakening their playing squads.

Surrey, who struggled in their semi-final defeat to Somerset, were the worst affected. They were without Jamie Overton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks and Reece Topley. Luckily, they were able to play the returning Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith and Dan Lawrence, who have been playing for England’s Test side this summer.

Meanwhile, Sussex had no choice but to play without fast bowler Jofra Archer, who got two wickets for just 20 runs in their quarter-final win over Lancashire. And the lack of England talent available wasn’t the only issue with the scheduling.

As well as clashing with England’s games against Australia, the quarter-finals took place more than six weeks after the end of the group stage, which came to a close on 19th July. This meant that finals day was almost two months after the groups concluded.

The T20 Blast is among the most popular competitions in world cricket but leaving such a huge gap between matches will undoubtedly stall momentum, with fans likely to lose interest in proceedings. Capitalising when the tournament’s popularity is at its peak would surely make sense, placing the knockout stages in the weeks immediately following the conclusion of the group stage.

Similarly, while finals day was ultimately unaffected by the weather, there were fears that rain could ruin the day, as it did for England’s third and final T20 international against Australia on Sunday. Moving finals day to earlier in the summer would increase the chances of unaffected play, as long as it avoided clashing with international matches.

It remains to be seen whether those in charge will take action when scheduling next season’s competition. But considering the amount of uproar, it would make sense for them to at least consider preserving the quality of the world’s most popular T20 competition before it’s too late.

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