2:09 AM BST Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has blasted the New Zealand Rugby board following the All Blacks shock series loss to Ireland in June, labeling the relationship between the board and All Blacks players “the worst it’s ever been”. Speaking on New Zealand radio with Today FM’s Tova O’Brien on Thursday morning,
12:54 AM BST A group of former players have issued formal legal proceedings against World Rugby and the governing bodies of England (RFU) and Wales (WRU) over claims that the failure to protect them led to the early onset of dementia, British media reported. London-based law firm Rylands Legal is representing the claimants, which include
10:47 PM ET ESPN News Services The New York Yankees made the first of what could be a flurry of moves ahead of next week’s trade deadline, acquiring All-Star outfielder Andrew Benintendi from the Kansas City Royals, it was announced on Wednesday night. The Yankees are sending three minor league pitching prospects to the Royals
4:55 PM ET SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After three injury-plagued seasons, defensive end Dee Ford‘s time with the San Francisco 49ers is officially over. The Niners released Ford on Wednesday in a move that had been expected since Ford’s 2021 season ended in December with him on injured reserve because of persistent back problems. San
Shubman Gill was unlucky to miss out on a maiden century but India rode on his sublime 98 to outclass West Indies by 119 runs and complete a 3-0 rout in the ODI series in Port of Spain. In a rain-affected final ODI, India scored 225 for 3 in 36 overs, courtesy Gill’s career-best knock
8:23 PM ET Bubba Watson, the two-time Masters champion who at one point was ranked as high as No. 2 in the world, reportedly is set to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series, the breakaway tour that continues to add well-known names to its roster. Watson, 43, has been sidelined since late May due to
4:52 PM ET Germany will play hosts England in the final of the 2022 Women’s European Championship after two goals from Alexandra Popp gave them a 2-1 victory over France in Wednesday’s second semifinal in Milton Keynes. After her first-half goal had been almost immediately canceled out by an unfortunate own goal by Germany goalkeeper
4:25 PM ET INDIANAPOLIS — After agreeing to a 10-year contract in November, Penn State coach James Franklin thinks the university is positioned to compete for championships. Franklin praised the hiring of athletic director Pat Kraft, a former football player at Indiana, and university president Neeli Bendapudi from Louisville. He noted that Penn State had
6:03 PM ET ESPN News Services PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers officially announced on Wednesday their new deal with veteran James Harden. The club didn’t reveal terms in a release, but Harden’s contract is for two years and $68.6 million, and it includes a player option for the 2023-24 season, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
6:20 PM ET Associated Press Dominic Thiem outlasted qualifier Sebastian Ofner 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Generali Open on Wednesday. The 2020 U.S. Open champion was a break down twice in the deciding set and saved two break points when he was serving for the match before prevailing over his
4:59 PM ET Associated Press WARSAW, Poland — Top-ranked Iga Swiatek eased past Magdalena Frech 6-1, 6-2 at the Poland Open on Wednesday in her first tournament since her third-round exit at Wimbledon that ended her 37-match winning streak. Swiatek’s homecoming victory extended her clay-court winning streak to 17 matches. The two-time French Open champion
5:24 PM ET Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kurt Busch will miss Sunday’s NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with concussion-like symptoms and will be replaced again by Ty Gibbs in the Toyota for 23XI Racing. The team said Wednesday that Busch has not been cleared to race for a second consecutive week. He crashed
4:36 PM ET Associated Press SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken re-signed forward Ryan Donato to a one-year, $1.2 million deal on Wednesday after initially choosing not to offer him a contract as a restricted free agent. Donato was one of the offensive bright spots during the inaugural season for the Kraken. Donato set career highs
George Russell would be forgiven for feeling pretty pleased with himself. Twelve races into his Mercedes career, he has finished ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton seven times, and leads the most successful driver in history by 16 points. Russell, though, has high standards. He wants more. “Going up against the greatest driver of all time,
3:33 PM ET INDIANAPOLIS — Despite an 11-2 record last season and a win in the Rose Bowl, Ohio State players were not satisfied with the outcome. A loss to Michigan and missing out on the College Football Playoff caused the players to take accountability into their own hands this offseason. “I feel like we
3:36 PM ET Brady HendersonESPN RENTON, Wash. — Veteran linebacker K.J. Wright signed a ceremonial one-day contract Wednesday to retire as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, the team announced. Wright’s retirement ends an 11-year playing career that included 10 seasons as a starter on the famed defenses that helped lead the Seahawks through the
7:30 AM ET A jersey signed by Houston Astros players hangs in the Mata family’s living room. Tess Mata, 10, was a shining light in Uvalde, Texas, with an infectious love of dancing, softball, and most of all, family. Verónica G. Cárdenas for ESPN TESS MATA STOOD BENEATH the brown awning and threw a yellow softball
2:31 PM ET GLENDALE, Calif. — Seniesa Estrada, the WBA strawweight and WBO junior flyweight champion, has left Golden Boy and signed a multiyear deal with Top Rank. The 30-year-old is the second female fighter to sign with Top Rank, joining Mikaela Mayer, who signed a three-year contract extension earlier this year. “It’s awesome,” Estrada