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Author: Harry Howes

The best sporting weekends away

Posted on by Harry Howes

We may be on the home straight of summer but that doesn’t mean the holiday season is over. There are plenty of amazing places to visit across the globe and with so many incredible sporting events on the horizon, it’s the perfect opportunity to combine a long weekend away with some top-class action.

If you’re stuck about where to go or need a nudge in the right direction, we’ve put together a list of all the best sporting weekends away, as well as details on how to make the most of our brand-new hospitality experience.

Barcelona – Spanish Grand Prix

There’s nothing like a weekend in the sunshine watching Formula One and locations don’t get much better than Barcelona. The iconic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is well known on the circuit and was the scene of Max Verstappen’s first ever Grand Prix win back in 2016.

The course has been hosting F1 races since opening way back in 1991 ahead of the Olympics taking place the following year. Located just 15 miles from central Barcelona, it’s the ideal location to combine a racing weekend next May with a sun-soaked city break.

Walk down the iconic Las Ramblas strip, visit the stunning Sagrada Familia and then enjoy a delicious cocktail on the beach. And the best part? We’ll do all the admin for you! With our exclusive new ROAM hospitality packages, you can combine unrivalled F1 hospitality with a luxury three-night stay in a five star Barcelona hotel. Enquire today to book your place.

Lake Como – Italian Grand Prix

The F1 calendar is known for visiting the most beautiful places in the world and the Italian Grand Prix is no different. Located just outside Milan, the Monza racecourse is just a short drive from the picturesque Lake Como.

A weekend taking in the racing action allows you to explore the high-end shops and cultural joys of Milan, relax in the stunning surroundings of the lake and experience all the thrills of the Italian Grand Prix.

The course is steeped in history and at more than 100 years old, it’s the oldest circuit in mainland Europe. Just like Barcelona, with our ROAM experience you can enjoy premium hospitality for the Saturday and Sunday of next September’s Grand Prix weekend, as well as a gorgeous weekend stay in Lake Como.

Monaco Grand Prix

Nothing says luxury like Monaco, which is handy if you’re a Formula One fan looking for a classy weekend away. One of the fanciest cities on the circuit is also a beautiful place to spend a weekend, so why not treat yourself to the Monaco Grand Prix next May?

You can see how the other half live by marvelling at the super yachts, browsing the designer shops and tasting the best food money can buy at one of Monaco’s many Michelin-starred restaurants.

Charles Leclerc won the race in his hometown for the first time this year and his new Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to follow suit in 2025. You can enjoy the iconic race from the best seats in the house with Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages.

Dublin – Ireland Rugby

It’s not just Formula One that offers the perfect chance for a weekend away. Rugby travels all over the world, with countries like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa famous for their impressive teams and beautiful locations.

While they may be a bit far for a quick trip, luckily, it’s only a short flight from the UK to Dublin, where you’re guaranteed a good time. As well as incredible rugby, you can head to the home of Guinness for a proper pint, great local food and traditional Irish music.

Dublin is also known for its beautiful castle, while it’s just a stone’s throw from gorgeous countryside and the coast. Why not combine a trip to the capital of the Emerald Isle with watching top-class rugby?

Ireland host New Zealand, Argentina and Australia at the Aviva Stadium in the Autumn Nations series this November, with plenty of hospitality packages available with Engage. Plus, they’ll be looking to win their third Six Nations crown in a row next spring, with home matches against England and France to look forward to.

New York – US Open

A bit further afield but certainly doable for a quick getaway is New York. Around an eight-hour flight from London, the Big Apple is one of the most visited cities in the world, with so much to do – and that’s before you even consider the sports you can see.

Visit Times Square, the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building – plus you could enjoy a stroll around the iconic Central Park. New York famously has huge teams in all the major American sports. You could see the New York Yankees play baseball, the New York Giants in American football or the New York Knicks shooting hoops in basketball.

Or, if you fancy going sooner rather than later, why not hop across the pond for the US Open, which gets underway at the end of August? Head to the iconic grounds of Flushing Meadows and make the most of our hospitality options. If you’re lucky, you might just see Novak Djokovic finally win his 25th Grand Slam title and overtake Margaret Court to become the all-time leader in major titles.

What happens during the Formula One mid-season break?

Posted on by Harry Howes

With 10 races to go in the 2024 Formula One season, we’ve reached the summer break, with drivers given a month off to recharge their batteries.

The season will resume at the end of August with the Dutch Grand Prix so to fill the void until then, we’ve taken a look at how the season has gone so far and explained how the summer break works.

The story so far


There have been two F1 races since our last update, which had seen Max Verstappen hit a sticky patch having looked to have been running away with the title. Sadly for the reigning champion, that sticky patch has continued.

He failed to win either of those two races, which took place in Hungary and Belgium. First up, Australian youngster Oscar Piastri raced home to win in a race that saw the Brits do well, with Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton third.

Then in Belgium, Hamilton followed up on his record-breaking win at the British Grand Prix with his second win in three races. The Mercedes star was promoted to first after teammate George Russell was disqualified for having an underweight car. Verstappen was once again nowhere to be seen on the podium, with Piastri second and Charles Leclerc in third.

F1 standings after 14 races

PositionDriverTeamWinsPodiumsPoints
1Max VerstappenRed Bull79277
2Lando NorrisMcLaren18199
3Charles LeclercFerrari16177
4Oscar PiastriMcLaren14167
5Carlos Sainz JrFerrari15162
6Lewis HamiltonMercedes24150

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.

Who will benefit from the summer break?

While all teams will welcome the summer break as an opportunity to relax, some drivers may find it more beneficial than others. Verstappen will be grateful for the hiatus – he’s failed to win any of the last four races despite coming out on top in seven of the first 10.

He remains in pole position to win his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship but his loss of form is worrying and he risks losing his way if he doesn’t turn things around soon.

In contrast, the summer break has arguably come at a bad time for Hamilton after winning two of the last three races. In fact, in the last six races the 39-year-old has won two, finished third twice and finished fourth twice. His best finish in the eight races before that was sixth.

Hamilton likely would have been keen to continue building momentum ahead of the season’s home straight. He’s finally back in form and while he remains a long way behind Verstappen, if their performances continue in the same vein then he may have his sights on securing a record-breaking eighth title before he moves on to Ferrari at the end of the year.

The break will be welcome for Sainz Jr, the man who Hamilton is replacing next season. The Spaniard has slipped down the standings in recent weeks and he needs to find a way to get back onto the podium. He remains fifth but with just one podium finish in the last six races, he’s allowed Piastri to leapfrog him, with Hamilton not too far behind.

Similarly, Leclerc hasn’t had the best time of late and Ferrari will be hoping, like Sainz Jr, that he can return from the break with a new lease of life. The 26-year-old finished third in Belgium last time out but he failed to finish in the top 10 in both Austria and at Silverstone.

F1 schedule

Dutch Grand Prix– Sunday 25th August
Italian Grand Prix– Sunday 1st September
Azerbaijan Grand Prix– Sunday 15th September
Singapore Grand Prix– Sunday 22nd September
United States Grand Prix– Sunday 20th October
Mexican Grand Prix– Sunday 27th October
Brazilian Grand Prix– Sunday 3rd November
Las Vegas Grand Prix– Sunday 24th November
Qatar Grand Prix– Sunday 1st December
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix– Sunday 8th December

The biggest British summer events to look forward to in 2025

Posted on by Harry Howes

We’re still in the midst of summer and while we have plenty of sport to look forward to before the dark and dreary days of winter descend upon us, we’ve already got one eye on next year.

There’s nothing quite like a summer of British sport and with the likes of Wimbledon, Royal Ascot and the Open Championship to look forward to, we’re set for yet another incredible few months of sport.

Ahead of all the action, we’ve taken a look at some of the key British sporting events to look forward to in 2025.

Wimbledon

Dates: Monday 30th June to Sunday 13th July, 2025

For many people, Wimbledon is the first thing they look for on the sporting calendar each year. Carlos Alcaraz is quickly becoming the next big thing in tennis and he’ll be looking to claim a third consecutive title next summer after winning back-to-back finals against seven-time champion Novak Djokovic.

In the women’s singles competition, Czech star Barbora Krejčíková became the eighth different champion since 2016. World number one Iga Świątek struggled in this year’s competition and the Polish star will be looking to finally add it to her collection next summer.

We’re still catching our breath after an incredible Wimbledon this year but if you’re already counting down the days to the 2025 tournament, you can join us in the best seats in the house. With Wimbledon Debentures, you’ll have access to premium seats on both Centre Court and No. 1 Court, with premium lounges and exclusive restaurants at your disposal.

LTA Championships at Queen’s

Dates: Monday 9th June to Sunday 22nd June, 2025

Each summer, the warm-up to Wimbledon and a key fixture in the grass-court season is the LTA Championships at Queen’s. American Tommy Paul was this year’s champion, beating Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the final. Alcaraz competed in the London event but was eliminated in the second round as he lost to Jack Draper.

Next year’s championships will see a women’s competition take place for the first time since 1973. The WTA 500 event will run for the first week of the tournament, with the ATP 500 competition commencing on Monday 16th June. As ever, we’ll be offering hospitality packages – enquire today to book your place.

Henley Royal Regatta

Dates: Tuesday 1st July to Sunday 6th July, 2025

The fanciest week in rowing returns to Oxfordshire in the form of the Henley Royal Regatta. The six-day event has been taking place since 1839 and, once again, it will host more than 300 races along the River Thames.

The Grand Challenge Cup is the most prestigious race of the week and you can watch it in style in our exclusive hospitality areas. As well as front row seats for all the racing action, you’ll be able to enjoy a complimentary bar, incredible food and first-class entertainment throughout your visit.

British Grand Prix

Dates: Thursday 3rd July to Sunday 6th July, 2025

Next year’s British Grand Prix will be Lewis Hamilton’s first home race driving for Ferrari. The 39-year-old is set to leave Mercedes after the end of the current season and he’ll be targeting a record 10th win at Silverstone for his new team.

Max Verstappen is on track to win his fourth consecutive Formula One title but with Hamilton back on form, he’ll fancy his chances at securing a record-breaking eighth world title next year. And if you fancy seeing the legendary British driver donning the red of Ferrari at his spiritual home, you can make the most of our exclusive hospitality offerings.

Open Championship

Dates: Thursday 17th July to Sunday 20th July, 2025

The Open Championship returns to Northern Ireland next summer, with Royal Portrush once again set to host the major competition. The iconic course last welcomed the tournament in 2019, with Shane Lowry finishing six strokes clear of Tommy Fleetwood.

Rory McIlroy will be desperate to secure his first major title since 2014 in his home country. The 35-year-old came so close to winning a fifth in the US Open earlier this year. Join Engage in the luxury of our hospitality areas for the chance to see McIlroy lift the claret jug for the second time.

Royal Ascot

Dates: Tuesday 17th June to Saturday 21st June, 2025

The classiest week in the British racing calendar returns next June, with racing fans and members of the royal family alike set to flock to Berkshire for Royal Ascot. The festival features some of the world’s most prestigious races, including the Gold Cup, the Queen Anne Stakes and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

As ever, we’ll be offering several exclusive hospitality packages, including our ICON experience and private boxes. Enquire today to hear more about our packages, with complimentary drinks, world-class food and unrivalled views of all the racing action to enjoy.

France target double football gold at the Olympic Games

Posted on by Harry Howes

After all the fun of the Euros and Copa America, the international football action keeps on coming. We’ve reached the knockout stage of the football tournament at the Olympics, with eight nations in both the men’s and women’s tournaments still competing to win the gold medal in Paris.

France are looking strong in both competitions, although they face stiff competition from the likes of Argentina and Spain in the men’s side, while the USA and Canada will challenge for the women’s title.

Ahead of the quarter-finals getting underway tomorrow, we’ve taken a look at all the key talking points so far.

Men’s Olympic quarter-final fixtures

France v Argentina
Egypt v Paraguay
Morocco v United States
Japan v Spain

Can anyone stop France?

Home advantage counts for a lot in Olympic football and France certainly seem to be benefiting from it. The hosts sailed through their group, winning all three matches without conceding a goal.

Thierry Henry’s squad is packed full of Premier League talent past and present, with Alexandre Lacazette, Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta all getting on the scoresheet in wins over the USA, Guinea and New Zealand. They’re targeting their second Olympic gold after going all the way back in 1984.

But the French face a tricky quarter-final test against Argentina. The South American nation won back-to-back gold medals in 2004 and 2008, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez leading their attack. This time around they’re led by Manchester City star Julian Alvarez, while Nicolas Otamendi provides experience at the back in a squad packed with home-based youngsters.

Argentina only managed to finish second in their group following a surprise defeat to Morocco in their opening game. They went on to beat Iraq and Ukraine to set up a tie with France, where a win could make them favourites for the title, with the winner of Egypt v Paraguay waiting in the semi-final.

Spain target gold after Tokyo heartbreak

On the other side of the draw, Spain are looking to go one better than last time. Three years ago in Tokyo they went all the way to the final, with a squad packed with recognisable talent, including Pedri, Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal and Marco Asensio.

But they weren’t able to claim their second gold medal as former Barcelona winger Malcom’s extra-time strike secured a win for Brazil. This time around, Spain are going for gold despite finishing second in their group following a shock defeat to Egypt.

The Spanish face Japan who are no pushovers. Like France, they topped their group without conceding a goal and they swept aside Paraguay with a 5-0 thrashing in their opening game. They followed that up with solid 1-0 wins over Mali and Israel but they may need to step it up a gear to get past Spain.

Elsewhere, Egypt take on Paraguay and they’ll be confident of progressing after topping their group unbeaten ahead of Spain. Paraguay finished second in group D after two stoppage-time goals helped them beat Israel 4-2.

And in the final quarter-final clash, Morocco meet the USA. Morocco topped their group after Soufiane Rahimi’s impressive brace helped them beat Argentina in a game steeped with VAR controversy. They face an American side that lost to France but then showed their class by scoring seven goals as they won their two remaining group games.

Women’s Olympic quarter-final fixtures

France v Brazil
Spain v Colombia
USA v Japan
Canada v Germany

The story so far

Like the men, France topped their group, although they weren’t quite as formidable as they lost to Canada. They’re looking to improve on their best-ever finish of fourth and they’ll fancy their chances.

The French are led by Paris Saint-Germain striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who has shown her quality so far at the games. The 25-year-old has scored 35 times for her country and she’s brought that pedigree to the Olympics, scoring five times in the group stage. They face Brazil who have never won gold, although they’ve claimed the silver medal on two occasions. They scraped through the groups in third place after losing twice.

Spain topped their group with three wins and they boast a talented squad, including two-time Ballon d’Or Feminin winner Alexia Putellas. They meet Colombia who, like Brazil, qualified as one of the best third-placed teams.

Elsewhere, four-time gold medal winners USA are among the favourites to win the tournament, although their last gold came back in 2012. They managed bronze in Tokyo and will be full of confidence after three wins in the group stage. They meet Japan in the quarter-finals, who they beat in the final in London 12 years ago.

Finally, Canada will take on Germany in the next round. Both sides finished as runners-up in their group, although the Canadians won all three games before being docked six points for illegal drone spying. They won gold three years ago but face a strong Germany side who have already beaten Australia 3-0 and Zambia 4-1.

The biggest women’s sporting events in 2024

Posted on by Harry Howes

There have already been so many iconic moments in women’s sport in 2024. England won the Six Nations for the 20th time in April, while we saw yet another new champion at Wimbledon as Czech star Barbora Krejčíková saw off Jasmine Paolini in the final.

We’re in the midst of the Olympics, with plenty of female superstars set to claim medals, while the Paralympics are just around the corner. With so many more prestigious events to look forward to before 2025, we’ve taken a look at all the key women’s events to keep an eye out for.

Women’s T20 World Cup

The T20 World Cup gets underway in Bangladesh in October, with 10 nations competing to be crowned cricket world champions. Six-time winners Australia are looking to defend their crown, having won last time out as they beat South Africa in the final.

Luckily for England, they’ve managed to avoid powerhouses Australia and India in the group stages. Yet they’ll still face a tough test, having been drawn against South Africa, West Indies, Scotland and hosts Bangladesh. They’re looking to lift the trophy for the second time after winning the inaugural competition back in 2009.

England’s hopes could rest on the form of Surrey all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt. She was the second highest run-scorer in the previous World Cup with 216, second only to South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt. The tournament starts on 3rd October, with the final taking place on the 20th.

The Women’s Super League

The 2024/25 Women’s Super League kicks off on September 22nd, with reigning champions Chelsea looking to extend their remarkable run of success. The Blues have won five consecutive titles, pipping Manchester City to the crown on goal difference in dramatic fashion last season.

However, Chelsea face a period of transition heading into the new campaign. Long-time manager Emma Hayes has departed, with former Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor taking over the reins at Kingsmeadow. Bompastor brings impressive pedigree, having secured three league titles and a Champions League during her time in France.

Their closest challengers are expected to be City, who will be desperate to bounce back after narrowly missing out last season. They boast a talented squad, spearheaded by the likes of Lionesses Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly.

US Open

The US Open takes place later this month and all eyes will be on Coco Gauff, who is looking to win back-to-back Grand Slams on home soil. The 20-year-old won her only major title at Flushing Meadows last summer and she’s among the favourites despite crashing out in the fourth round at Wimbledon.

World number one Iga Swiatek also disappointed at SW19. She’ll be looking to add to her Grand Slam collection, which includes the 2022 US Open and this year’s French Open. Elsewhere, this year’s Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will be aiming to go one better after losing to Gauff in last year’s final.

Emma Raducanu suffered a round of 16 exit at Wimbledon and she’ll be looking to do better across the pond. The 21-year-old has been plagued by injuries since announcing herself on the world stage by winning this competition three years ago. The US Open takes place from Monday 26th August until Sunday 8th September.

Tour de France Femmes

After two thrilling editions, the Tour de France Femmes is back for a third year, with eight stages taking place across seven days from 12th to 18th August. This year’s race will cover 946 km as riders start in the Netherlands and make their way through Belgium before finishing in the French Alps.

It’ll be the 22nd event of the UCI Women’s World Tour calendar and few are expected to challenge defending champion Demi Vollering, who’ll be representing SD Worx once again. The Dutch dynamo put in a dominant performance last year to claim the iconic yellow jersey.

Italian powerhouse Elisa Longo Borghini will be chomping at the bit for a maiden Tour de France Femmes title, while Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma – who finished third in 2023 – could also be strong at the front of the pack.

Golf galore

The Women’s British Open heads to the iconic St Andrews course this year, with defending champion Lilia Vu looking to repeat her dominant performance from 2023, when she beat England’s Charley Hull by six strokes for her second major title.

However, she’ll be wary of fellow American and world number one Nelly Korda, who also has two majors to her name, including this year’s Chevron Championship. The competition takes place from 22nd to 25th August and just a few weeks later, Vu and Korda will be teaming up for the Solheim Cup.

Europe are the reigning champions, with Team USA looking to win the competition for the 11th time. They’ll be doing so on home soil – this year’s Solheim Cup takes place in Virginia from 13th to 15th September.

ICON Legends – Tiger Woods – Golf Genius

Posted on by Harry Howes

Our ICON Legends series has so far featured a number of sporting legends that can be considered to be among the greatest of all time in their respective fields. We’ve highlighted the phenomenal achievements of the likes of Serena Williams, Michael Schumacher, Lionel Messi and Frankie Dettori.

As we dive into other sports, it feels only right to honour a golfing great. Tiger Woods is undoubtedly one of the best to ever hold a club, with an incredible 15 major titles to his name. Only Jack Nicklaus can boast more than that, having won three more than Woods.

Tiger is also level in the all-time rankings of PGA Tour wins. He’s tied at the top on 82 alongside Sam Snead and with Woods’ career still going strong, he’s got every chance of leapfrogging his way into the undisputed top spot.

Bursting onto the scene

When you consider how early in his career Woods became a superstar, it’s no surprise to learn that his father first got him into the sport at the age of two. His parental guidance combined with natural talent and hard work saw Woods win his first U.S. Junior Amateur Championship when he was just 15.

After turning professional in 1996, he really made a name for himself the following year. Aged just 21, Woods’ performance at the 1997 Masters Tournament etched him into the history books.

The youngster won the iconic competition by an astonishing 12 strokes, which remains the biggest winning margin in the tournament’s history. The win was effectively sealed by his famous chip-in on the 16th, highlighting his exceptional short game.

He ultimately finished 18 shots under, consigning runner-up Tom Kite to second place for the third time in his career. Despite the huge margin of victory, Woods actually started slowly and struggled over the first nine. But he soon got into his stride, winning the second and third rounds and setting a then-tournament record of 270.

The win saw Woods crowned the youngest ever Masters champion and paved the way for dominance. Within two months he became world number one for the first time and he would later go on to hold this position for a remarkable 264 consecutive weeks from 1999 to 2004.

Majors domination

Over the next decade, Woods went on a tear, winning 13 major championships and cementing his place as the most dominant golfer of his generation. During his illustrious career, he’s been ranked No. 1 for a total of 683 weeks and during the early noughties he was virtually unbeatable.

He remains the youngest golfer, and only the fifth ever, to have won all four majors. Remarkably, in 2001 he achieved the feat of winning them all consecutively. He remains the only golfer to have achieved this feat, which was affectionately dubbed the ‘Tiger Slam’.

Woods’ incredible maiden Masters win back in 1997 sowed the seeds for a remarkable record in majors. He’s claimed the green jacket at Augusta five times, as well as winning the PGA Championship four times and the US Open and the Open Championship three times apiece.

Woods’ consistency is unmatched and he holds the record for consecutive cuts on the PGA tour with 142. His brilliance was personified when he played through the pain barrier to win the 2008 US Open in dramatic style.

Rocco Mediate managed to take him to a sudden-death playoff and, despite carrying a serious knee injury, Woods was able to come out on top. He required surgery shortly after the competition, which personified his determination and winning mentality.

The comeback

Despite his achievements, Woods has never been far from controversy. Scandal and marital problems in 2009 threatened to harm his career. But after taking a step back, Woods eventually bounced back to pick up where he left off.

He claimed his 80th PGA Tour win at the 2018 Tour Championship and was arguably back to his best. And it was this win that likely spurred him on to one of his greatest triumphs.

Just a year later, at the age of 43, Woods shocked the golfing world as he won the Masters for the fifth time. It was his first major win for 11 years and after years of battling personal and injury issues, with numerous back surgeries impacting his form, it truly cemented his position as one of the greatest golfers in history. And the golfing world certainly agreed, inducting Woods into the World Golf Hall of Fame three years ago.

Having started out almost 30 years ago, it’s a testament to the man that he’s still competing on the tour today at the age of 48. His Masters win five years ago was astonishing and, barring a miracle, it will almost certainly be the last major title he wins in his career.

It’s unclear when he’ll be hanging up his clubs and while he understandably may not be what he was, it’ll be a sad day when Woods calls time on his career.

The Hundred: Can Oval Invincibles retain their crown?

Posted on by Harry Howes

Summer is in full swing and with the sun shining, there’s nothing quite like a nice bit of cricket. Thankfully, The Hundred is back for another year, with the 2024 season getting underway today.

It’s the fourth edition of the exciting cricket format, with eight men’s and women’s teams from across the country set to lock horns as they battle to be crowned this year’s winners. After eight matches each, the top three teams qualify for the knockout stages, with second and third place playing out an eliminator to reach the final.

This year’s final once again takes place at Lord’s on Sunday 18th August, with the eliminator played at The Oval the day before.

Oval Invincibles target second successive title

The Oval Invincibles have a rich history in The Hundred despite the competition’s relatively short lifespan. The women’s side won the first two editions and a year ago it was the turn of the men to take charge as they claimed their first title.

The London-based franchise dominated the men’s standings in 2023, finishing top of the pile before beating Manchester Originals in the final at Lord’s. They won six of their eight group matches, with their only defeat coming against Birmingham Phoenix.

Now the Oval Invincibles have another title in their sights and they seem to have gone from strength to strength. While they’ve kept the bulk of their key players, including impressive all-rounders and brothers Tom and Sam Curran, they’ve also made improvements.

Jason Roy has made the switch to the Northern Chargers and he’s been replaced by Dawid Malan, who was the leading run scorer in the 2022 season. They’ll also benefit from the bowling of Spencer Johnson, who is back after helping Brisbane Heat win the Big Bash.

On the women’s side, the Oval Invincibles aren’t quite as fancied to go all the way, although they’ll still compete and they know what it takes to win having gone all the way in both 2021 and 2022.

Their 2023 season didn’t quite go to plan as they finished fifth in the standings, winning just three of their matches. But they still boast a strong squad that includes South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, who won the player of the series last year.

Oval Invincibles key fixtures

Oval Invincibles vs Birmingham Phoenix – Tuesday 23rd July, The Oval
London Spirit vs Oval Invincibles – Sunday 4th August, Lord’s
Manchester Originals vs Oval Invincibles – Tuesday 6th August, Old Trafford
Oval Invincibles vs London Spirit – Sunday 11th August, The Oval

Third time lucky for Manchester Originals?

The phrase ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride’ comes to mind when it comes to Manchester Originals and The Hundred. The men’s side have lost the last two finals and will be desperate to make it third time lucky this summer.

Back in 2022, they finished second in the group stage and edged past London Spirit in the eliminator. But it wasn’t to be as they narrowly lost in the final against Trent Rockets. And 12 months ago it was a case of deja vu as Tom Curran’s unbeaten 67 saw Oval Invincibles triumph in the final.

Manchester Originals boast an impressive squad and in Jos Buttler and Phil Salt they had one of the competition’s strongest pairings at the top of the order. Buttler finished top of the runs standings last time out with 391, 151 runs clear of second pace. However, Buttler looks set to miss the competition due to injury.

To make matters worse, they’ve been hampered by the loss of Laurie Evans who has switched allegiance and joined Southern Brave. They’ll still feel they can do damage and win enough games to reach the knockout stage. But should they find themselves in another final, they’ll face a psychological battle to escape the losing mentality that has seen them miss out in previous years.

Manchester Originals key fixtures

Manchester Originals vs Welsh Fire – Thursday 25th July, Old Trafford
Manchester Originals vs Oval Invincibles – Tuesday 6th August, Old Trafford
London Spirit vs Manchester Originals – Friday 9th August, Lord’s

Southern Brave look to defend women’s crown

Much like Manchester Originals in the men’s competition, the Southern Brave women’s side previously had two losing finals under their belts. Luckily for them, they hit that hoodoo for six by winning the title in 2023.

They enjoyed a near-perfect group stage, winning seven of their eight matches to reach the knockouts. And when they met Northern Superchargers in the final, they won by 34 runs, with Danni Wyatt scoring an impressive 59.

Wyatt scored the most runs in the competition with 295, while Georgia Adams topped the wicket standings after taking 16. Both players are still at Southern Brave and they’ll be essential if they’re to go all the way again. They remain the bookies’ favourites to retain their title, although they’ll face stiff competition from Northern Superchargers and Welsh Fire.

Who are Premier League teams playing in pre-season?

Posted on by Harry Howes

With the Euros and Copa America done and dusted, fans up and down the country are looking for their next football fix. Luckily, attention has already turned to next season and pre-season is in full swing.

Summer friendlies generally have no bearing on how the season will go, with players using them to get back into shape and get to grips with how their manager wants them to play.

But for us, the ever cynical fans, we use them as an opportunity to judge new signings after five minutes and claim our team is definitely going to win the league after narrowly beating a non-league side.

Premier League teams often use pre-season to build their brand globally, travelling to all corners of the world to play in front of a new audience. To keep track of who they’ll all be facing in preparation for the new campaign, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to all the key fixtures.

Arsenal, Man United and Liverpool meet stateside

As has become tradition in recent years, three of the Premier League’s biggest sides will face each other in friendlies across the pond. Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool all have huge fan bases in America who will be desperate to see their heroes in the flesh.

Arsenal then welcome Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen to north London before hosting Lyon in the Emirates Cup. As well as Arsenal and United, Liverpool will also face Real Betis in the states. Arne Slot has big shoes to fill at Liverpool following Jurgen Klopp’s departure and he’ll get his first taste of the Anfield atmosphere in a home clash with Sevilla.

Meanwhile, United’s pre-season campaign has already started. Erik ten Hag has been handed a lifeline when he was expected to lose his job following last season and he’ll be hoping for an improvement after his side lost 1-0 to Rosenborg earlier this week.

Their line-up was mainly filled with academy players, although the likes of Marcus Rashford, Casemiro and Aaron Wan Bissaka featured. Following a disappointing campaign, United look set to spend big under their new ownership, with Joshua Zirkzee already snapped up and Leny Yoro set to follow.

Arsenal v Manchester United – Saturday 27th July, Los Angeles
Arsenal v Liverpool – Wednesday 31st July, Philadelphia
Liverpool v Manchester United – Saturday 3rd August, South Carolina

Man City and Chelsea set for dress rehearsal

In a warm-up game for their first Premier League game of the season, champions Manchester City are set to face Chelsea in a pre-season clash. The pair meet on the opening weekend at Stamford Bridge and their friendly in America will give new Blues boss Enzo Maresca the chance to see counterpart Pep Guardiola’s side up close in preparation.

Both sides are set for a series of heavyweight clashes while they’re abroad. City have friendlies against Celtic and AC Milan to look forward to, as well as La Liga giants Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Chelsea also face Celtic, while they could face Kylian Mbappe as they come up against Real Madrid. They’ll then host Inter Milan the week before the league season gets underway.

Manchester City v Celtic – Tuesday 23rd July, North Carolina
Chelsea v Celtic – Saturday 27th July, Indiana
Manchester City v AC Milan – Saturday 27th July, New York
Manchester City v Barcelona – Tuesday 30th July, Florida
Chelsea v Manchester City – Saturday 3rd August, Ohio
Chelsea v Real Madrid – Tuesday 6th August, North Carolina
Chelsea v Inter Milan – Sunday 11th August, Stamford Bridge

Who is everybody else playing?


Tottenham fans will have the opportunity to see former talisman Harry Kane once again. Spurs have two friendlies against Bayern Munich lined up, firstly in South Korea before a second fixture in London the following week.

Ange Postecoglou’s men aren’t the only side heading to Asia – both Newcastle and Brighton are set for trips to Japan. Meanwhile, Aston Villa will prepare for a Champions League campaign with matches against RB Leipzig, Athletic Bilbao and Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern Munich v Tottenham – Saturday 3rd August, Seoul
Tottenham v Bayern Munich – Saturday 10th August, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Aston Villa v RB Leipzig – Wednesday 31st July, New Jersey
Aston Villa v Athletic Bilbao – Wednesday 7th August, Walsall
Borussia Dortmund v Aston Villa – Saturday 10th August, Dortmund

Much like Arsenal and co., Crystal Palace, Wolves and West Ham are all set to play each other in friendlies in America. Meanwhile, Everton’s final game of the summer is a high-profile meeting with Roma at Goodison Park.

The Premier League’s new boys are all set for exciting fixtures as they prepare for the new campaign in the top flight. Ipswich were boosted by boss Kieran McKenna committing his future to the club and they’ve backed him well so far in the transfer market.

The Tractor Boys will face Shakhtar Donetsk, Borussia Monchengladbach and Hoffenheim. Similarly, Leicester are set to face Palermo, Augsburg and Lens, while Southampton are looking forward to friendlies against Lazio and Getafe.

Carlos Alcaraz retains Wimbledon crown as Djokovic wait goes on

Posted on by Harry Howes

Wimbledon is over for another year and after two weeks of thrilling tennis, we have our champions. Carlos Alcaraz strolled to another title as he blew away Novak Djokovic, who is still waiting for his record-breaking Grand Slam win. Meanwhile, Barbora Krejčíková went all the way in the ladies’ competition to win Wimbledon for the first time.

Alcaraz blows Djokovic away

Alcaraz won the hearts of the Wimbledon faithful a year ago as he stormed his way to the final. The fresh-faced Spaniard recovered from an embarrassing 1-6 first-set defeat against Djokovic to win in five sets and claim his first SW19 title.

Fast forward 12 months and the two superstars met again in a repeat of the previous final. It was clear that Alcaraz has matured massively over the last year. No longer the new kid on the block, he looked fitter, stronger and even more determined to prove he’s the next big star of tennis.

And that was evident in his game throughout the contest. In his semi-final win over Daniil Medvedev, Alcaraz made notable errors, with some strange shot choices and uncharacteristic mistakes that showed his inexperience. Yet there were none of those in the final as he smashed Djokovic around the court, dominating from start to finish.

You’d have been forgiven for thinking that it was Alcaraz who had 24 Grand Slam titles to his name when looking at the scoreboard. The 21-year-old raced into a two-set lead, winning both 6-2. While Djokovic recovered and attempted a comeback in the third, Alcaraz showed resilience to stay in the game and take it to a tie break.

But from then on there was only going to be one winner. After claiming the third and final set to whitewash his Serbian opponent, Alcaraz was jubilant, momentarily losing his bearings as he got lost during his climb into the stands to celebrate with his team.

It was Alcaraz’s fourth Grand Slam title and his second in a row after claiming the French Open last month. He’ll now have his sights firmly set on winning an Olympic gold medal before the US Open at the end of summer.

When will Djokovic break the Grand Slam record?

Djokovic was humble in defeat but privately he’ll be fuming that his wait for a record-breaking Grand Slam goes on. The 37-year-old has been stuck on 24 major titles for almost a year, having failed to win the previous three.

He’s level at the top of the all-time standings with Australian icon Margaret Court and his next Grand Slam will take him to 25 wins, making him the undisputed greatest of all time.

Djokovic’s Wimbledon dreams looked to have fallen into place perfectly this year. He avoided Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner’s side of the draw, while his quarter-final opponent Alex de Minaur pulled out with injury, giving him a vital extra few days to rest.

But despite a favourable campaign, Djokovic looked lost against Alcaraz. His recent knee surgery was an obvious disadvantage, with his joint support on show throughout, while perhaps his age is finally catching up with him as he just wasn’t able to match the speed and power of the youthful Alcaraz.

He’ll go again at the US Open next month as he looks to win the competition for the second year running and finally claim the Grand Slam record. But if he doesn’t get it over the line soon, he may start to wonder if it will ever happen.

558020 Jannik Sinner (ITA) playing against Novak Djokovic (SRB) in the semi-final of the Gentlemen's Singles on Centre Court at The Championships 2023. Held at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon. Day 12 Friday 14/07/2023. Credit: AELTC/Jonathan Nackstrand

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Another new ladies’ champion

While we’re used to seeing the men’s singles title at Wimbledon dominated by the same usual suspects, it couldn’t be further from the truth for the ladies. Since Serena Williams last won back in 2016, there have been seven different female champions in a row.

The latest victor to be added to the list is Krejčíková, who beat Italian counterpart Jasmine Paolini in a thrilling three-set final on Saturday. Krejčíková was ranked 31st in the world before the tournament but she now has a second Grand Slam to her name having won the French Open three years ago.

The 28-year-old joins a long list of successful Czech women at Wimbledon. Nine-time winner Martina Navratilova was born in Prague, although later became an American citizen. The late Jana Novotna was also Czech, as is two-time winner Petra Kvitova and unlikely 2023 champion Markéta Vondroušová.

The end of an era

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as Andy Murray waved an emotional goodbye to Wimbledon in the opening week of the championships. Sadly for the Scot, he didn’t get a final crack at the men’s singles as he prioritised the doubles competitions following back surgery.

He teamed up with brother Jamie in the men’s doubles but the pair crashed out in the first round following defeat to Australian duo John Peers and Rinky Hijikata. Following the match, Murray shared an emotional goodbye in an interview with Sue Barker, as tennis legends from all eras gathered to witness it.

That defeat wasn’t supposed to be his final farewell, with a mixed doubles campaign planned with Emma Raducanu. But when the 2021 US Open champion pulled out, it spelled an end to Murray’s Wimbledon career.

The 37-year-old is set to retire later this year, claiming that his injury-ravaged body can’t cope with high-level tennis any more. Murray claimed two Grand Slams on home soil in a glittering career, winning Wimbledon in both 2013 and 2016.

And while we won’t be seeing him strut his stuff on court any more, it may not be the last we’ve seen of him. Murray made it clear during his BBC interview that commentary isn’t for him. However, he didn’t rule out coaching and that may well be his next career move.

Can Rory McIlroy bounce back at the Open Championship?

Posted on by Harry Howes

They say major golf championships are like buses and after the excitement of the US Open last month, we head to Scotland next weekend for the Open Championship.

The fourth and final major of 2024 takes place at the Royal Troon Golf Club, with four days of thrilling golf getting underway on Thursday 18th July. It’s the 10th time the South Ayrshire course has hosted the competition – Henrik Stenson won it last time back in 2016.

Last year’s Open Championship saw the unlikeliest of winners crowned champion as Brian Harman stunned the sporting world. The 125-1 outsider claimed the Claret Jug across a phenomenal weekend, finishing 13 under in a performance that saw his lead never drop below three.

Few expect Harman to repeat the feat this year, with Rory McIlroy among those expected to challenge. But he’ll face stiff competition from the world’s best, with Americans dominating the majors so far this year.

Bryson DeChambeau narrowly won the US Open last month as he made a late charge to capitalise on McIlroy’s mistakes. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler claimed the Masters while Xander Schauffele came out on top in the PGA Championship.

Ahead of the Open Championship, we’ve taken a closer look at the main contenders.

McIlroy looks to put US Open behind him

It’s been 10 years since McIlroy last tasted success in a major championship and after coming so close at the US Open last month, he’ll be desperate to reclaim the title that he won back in 2014.

McIlroy claimed his third major in the Open Championship in Liverpool all those years ago, finishing two shots ahead of Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia. His drought almost came to an end in June but with one hand on the trophy, a late collapse saw him surrender his lead.

McIlroy led by two shots with five holes left but it all went downhill from there. He bogeyed in all but one of the final four, missing two close-range putts to put DeChambeau in the ascendency.

And the American graciously accepted the opportunity, taking full advantage to win the competition by one shot. McIlroy has now finished second in the US Open in two consecutive years.

Yet despite the disappointment of throwing away another title, his performance showed that he’s still more than capable of competing with the elite. With the next major back on British soil, he’ll be determined to go one better and claim the major that he last won a decade ago.

The 35-year-old finished sixth in this competition last year at his spiritual home in Liverpool, seven shots behind champion Harman. And the fact that the Open Championship comes so soon after McIlroy’s US Open heartbreak gives him the perfect opportunity to bounce back and prove he’s still one of the best in the world.

TROON, SCOTLAND - JULY 15: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland putts on the 7th green during the second round on day two of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon on July 15, 2016 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Jan Kruger/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

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Who are the favourites?

While McIlroy sits near the top of the bookies’ favourites as usual, the clear contender to go all the way is world number one Scheffler. The American is yet to win the Open Championship and only has two major titles to his name, winning the Masters both this year and in 2022.

But the 28-year-old is in strong form and has won two of his last three tournaments. Despite his credentials, he struggled at the US Open as he tied way down in 41st. Yet with one major already in the bag this year, he’ll fancy his chances of adding to his collection.

After winning the US Open for the second time last month, DeChambeau will be full of confidence going into the Open. The 30-year-old has never won the competition though, with his best finish of eighth coming back in 2022.

Meanwhile, PGA Championship winner Schauffele is also looking to claim a second major of the year. He’s finished in the top 10 in all but one of his appearances since winning at Valhalla in May and he’ll be looking to go one better than the second-place finish he achieved at the Open Championship back in 2018.

Watch the Open Championship in style

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