Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn is expected to expand his role in English rugby after meeting Premiership Rugby officials. The league says its clubs’ finances are improving and plans to grow from 10 to 12 teams by the 2030/31 season, with priority given to developing English clubs.
Key Facts
Hearn has signed rugby players Finn Russell and Henry Pollock to his athlete stable.
Premiership Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor said Hearn could represent more top players and explore events or commercial partnerships.
All 10 Premiership clubs passed financial standards for the 2026/27 season.
The league’s report forecasts club losses will fall by £26.7 million, though no club is currently profitable.
Newcastle Red Bulls, Exeter Chiefs and Bath Rugby secured major outside investment in the past year.
Massie-Taylor said he expects most clubs to become profitable within five years.
The league plans to expand from 10 to 12 teams by the 2030/31 season.
Future entrants must play at least one season in the second-tier Championship and buy a P-Share, thought to be worth about £20 million.
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Tony Pulis says football management can place sustained physical and mental strain on managers, and argues they need to make their health a priority. He describes learning to improve his own diet and fitness after taking charge of Bournemouth in 1992, when he carried broad responsibilities and felt pressure over results.
Key Facts
Pulis began his first managerial job at Bournemouth in 1992, aged 34.
He says he handled tasks including scouting, player signings, staff organisation and first-team coaching.
Pulis recalls often eating poorly while travelling to watch players, sometimes relying on a pie or a sandwich.
He says criticism intensified when his teams lost, adding to the pressure of being responsible for results.
The article cites a 25-year-old experiment in which managers Dave Bassett and Sam Allardyce wore heart monitors during a match; their heart rates reached critical levels.
The article reports that Vincent Kompany collapsed at Bayern Munich's training ground and that the cause was identified as meningeal irritation, an inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord.
Pulis refers to the death of Scotland manager Jock Stein after a World Cup qualifier in 1985 and heart problems experienced by several other managers.
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Australian Hyrox athlete Joanna Wietrzyk told the BBC she regretted continuing a race in Beijing after suffering diarrhoea during the event. She said her focus on winning affected her judgment and apologized to people she may have affected; she also discussed the social media backlash that followed.
Key Facts
Wietrzyk is an Australian Hyrox athlete.
The incident happened during a competition in Beijing in September.
She said she suffered diarrhoea roughly halfway through the race.
Wietrzyk continued racing after the incident.
She said she made the wrong decision and apologized to people she affected.
She said she believed she should not have faced such a strong social media backlash.
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Lewis Hamilton said he plans to keep racing for the foreseeable future and believes he can compete at a high level into his mid-forties. He also said he hopes to race in Africa, where Rwanda is set to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix in the early 2030s.
Key Facts
Hamilton is 41 and joined Ferrari in 2025.
He said he may continue racing into his mid-forties, while noting he cannot predict whether he will still want to race in four years.
Hamilton said Formula 1 has never had anyone like him and argued that age has not weakened his reaction time.
Formula 1 has signed a 10-year deal with Rwanda starting in the early 2030s.
The planned Rwanda race would be the first Formula 1 race in Africa since 1993.
Hamilton is competing to finish second in the drivers’ championship, behind Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.
Hamilton won the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in June after a difficult first season with Ferrari.
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A report by YouGov and Populous found that growth in Women’s Super League crowds has slowed, with median attendance rising only modestly since 2023–24 and some major fixtures drawing smaller crowds. The report points to the matchday experience and changing kick-off times as possible factors, while fans differ over whether clubs should focus more on family activities or on football and dedicated supporters.
Key Facts
Average WSL attendances rose by 192% in the season after England won Euro 2022, but the growth rate has since slowed.
Median crowds increased from 3,070 in 2023–24 to 3,236 in 2025–26, according to a 2026 YouGov and Populous report.
Arsenal’s match against Manchester United at the Emirates drew 29,853 this season, down from 46,603 in 2024–25.
Chelsea’s match against Arsenal drew 19,349, compared with 34,302 the previous season.
The Manchester United–Manchester City fixture drew 5,361 at Leigh Village in October; it drew 24,983 at Old Trafford in March 2026.
In the report, fans ranked a welcoming, family-friendly environment above team success and on-pitch performance as a factor in match enjoyment.
The report found that 15% of people who attended a women’s match in the past five years go at least monthly; 43% described themselves as casual followers and 10% as devoted supporters.
Fans cited changing kick-off times and travel problems as attendance concerns, while some objected to clubs’ family-focused marketing.
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The article examines how former Manchester United players and online creators have turned the club’s struggles into a steady stream of commentary across television, podcasts and YouTube. It describes the reach of figures including Gary Neville, Wayne Rooney, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, and raises questions about the effect of constant scrutiny on the club and its players.
Key Facts
Michael Carrick is set to manage Manchester United for its Saturday match against Chelsea.
Amazon’s All or Nothing crew has been given access to document events behind the scenes at Old Trafford this season.
Gary Neville criticized United after its 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth and later discussed the team on a podcast.
Neville launched The Overlap in 2021, and the article describes it as an influential sports-media outlet.
Neville acquired a network of YouTube channels from United influencer Mark Goldbridge last summer.
Wayne Rooney appeared on Neville’s Stick to United channel and said Carrick’s players needed “a firework up their a***.”
Roy Keane said Carrick and his backroom staff were “lucky boys” to remain in their jobs.
Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt co-host The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.
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The Green Bay Packers beat the Carolina Panthers 27-19 on Thursday night, led by three touchdown passes from Jordan Love and two scores by Josh Jacobs. Receiver Christian Watson returned to the game after doctors examined him at a hospital for a chest injury, and finished with 113 receiving yards.
Key Facts
Jordan Love completed 30 of 41 passes for 288 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Josh Jacobs scored on a one-yard run and a four-yard reception.
Christian Watson caught eight passes for 113 yards after returning late in the third quarter from a hospital visit.
The Panthers cut the score to 27-19 in the fourth quarter but did not score again.
Bryce Young threw for 209 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Carolina.
Chuba Hubbard ran for 81 yards and a touchdown and caught seven passes for 38 yards.
The Packers improved to 5-3, while the Panthers fell to 3-4.
Members of the Milwaukee Brewers, including Christian Yelich and Jacob Misiorowski, received an ovation at Lambeau Field after the article says they won the franchise’s first World Series title.
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The Atlanta Dream won Game 6 of the WNBA Finals on a Thursday in front of a sold-out crowd. The game’s lunchtime start in Atlanta drew criticism over the scheduling.
Key Facts
Atlanta hosted Game 6 of the WNBA Finals.
The Atlanta Dream won the game.
The game took place on a Thursday.
The game was played at lunchtime.
The crowd was sold out.
The lunchtime schedule drew criticism.
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MLB’s labor agreement expires Dec. 1, and the league may lock out players when it ends. The dispute centers on owners’ proposed salary cap and players’ demands for changes to pay and free agency, putting the scheduled March 24, 2027 season at risk.
Key Facts
The five-year labor agreement was reached in March 2022 after a 99-day management lockout.
The agreement expires on Dec. 1, 2026, and MLB is likely to lock out players after it expires.
The 2027 season is scheduled to begin on March 24.
Owners want a salary cap, a payroll floor and a limit on how much of a team’s payroll can go to one player.
Players want broader free agency and salary arbitration rights, a higher major league minimum salary, more revenue sharing and a tax on teams with low payrolls.
The league and players’ union have negotiated since May but have not found common ground on the main economic issues.
The article says the sides waited until late February to negotiate economic proposals before reaching the 2022 agreement, and the season start was delayed by one week.
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Australian Hyrox athlete Joanna Wietrzyk said she was wrong to continue racing in Beijing after becoming ill and putting others at risk. She apologized, forfeited her win and said the incident and online backlash were traumatic; she plans to return to competition in Hamburg.
Key Facts
Wietrzyk, 24, said a bacterial infection from food poisoning caused sudden diarrhoea during the Beijing race in September.
She said her focus on competing clouded her judgment and acknowledged that continuing put other people at risk.
Wietrzyk apologized after the race and withdrew her result, forfeiting the win.
Hyrox co-founder Moritz Fürste apologized for not intervening during the race.
Hyrox has introduced rules allowing race directors to remove athletes when bodily fluids risk contamination or threaten anyone’s welfare.
Hyrox China reportedly refunded entry fees to some competitors.
Wietrzyk said she considered leaving the sport but planned to compete in Hamburg and did not want the incident to define her.
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Manchester City drew 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain in the Women’s Champions League after conceding a late goal. The result extended City’s wait for a win in this season’s competition.
Key Facts
Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain drew 1-1.
PSG scored late to earn the draw.
Manchester City has yet to win in this season’s Women’s Champions League.
The match was a Women’s Champions League fixture.
The article was published in the European Football section.
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The Milwaukee Brewers won the World Series, bringing a title to the major leagues’ smallest market. They dominated the regular season and advanced through the playoffs with what the article describes as ruthless efficiency.
Key Facts
The Milwaukee Brewers won the World Series.
Milwaukee is the smallest market in Major League Baseball, according to the article.
The Brewers dominated the regular season.
The team advanced through the playoffs with ruthless efficiency.
Stephanie Sy discussed the Brewers’ season with Wall Street Journal sports columnist Jason Gay.
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Real Madrid and FC Barcelona held a minute’s silence for victims of a train collision in Spain. The crash, which happened south of Madrid on Wednesday, killed at least 69 people.
Key Facts
Real Madrid held a minute’s silence for the crash victims.
FC Barcelona held a minute’s silence for the crash victims.
Other Spanish football clubs also observed a minute’s silence.
The collision happened on Wednesday.
The collision occurred south of Madrid.
At least 69 people died in the crash.
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Alexander Zverev will become the ATP men’s world number one on Monday after beating Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 7-5 to reach the Vienna quarter-finals. The 29-year-old German is set to finish 2026 at the top of the rankings, after winning two Grand Slam titles and 64 of 80 matches this season.
Key Facts
Zverev will replace Jannik Sinner as world number one on 2 November, his earliest opportunity to take the top spot.
He is the second German man to reach number one, after Boris Becker in 1991.
Zverev secured the year-end number one ranking after Carlos Alcaraz lost in Shanghai on 12 October.
Zverev said he might not be the world’s best player if Sinner and Alcaraz were healthy and playing at their best.
British player Arthur Fery beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in Vienna and is due to face Zverev in the quarter-finals.
Daniil Medvedev saved a match point to beat Cameron Norrie in their last-16 match.
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BBC Sport’s Chris Sutton and actor John Hannah make predictions for the eighth week of the Premier League season. The article highlights Arsenal’s reported Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town and previews the weekend’s fixtures, including Chelsea against Manchester United.
Key Facts
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season against AI, BBC Sport readers and guest predictors.
John Hannah is an Arsenal fan and is the guest predictor for week eight.
The article says Arsenal, the Premier League champions, were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League Two side Fleetwood Town.
Hannah said he played as a fast right winger when he was young and dreamed of becoming a footballer.
Hannah said a torn ACL has ended his ability to play football and that he now cycles and runs.
The article says Chelsea were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Liverpool after losing to Tottenham.
The Saturday, 31 October preview features Chelsea hosting Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
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Everton left Jack Grealish out of Thursday’s Carabao Cup tie against Newcastle United, citing a breach of club discipline. The club gave no further details; the article reports that the breach was believed to involve a missed training session.
Key Facts
Grealish is on loan at Everton from Manchester City.
The 31-year-old England winger has appeared five times for Everton in the Premier League this season, according to the article.
He also played in Everton’s Carabao Cup third-round win over Wolves.
Grealish spent part of last season on loan at Everton, scoring twice and providing six assists in 20 appearances.
A foot injury ended his previous Everton spell in January.
Manchester City paid £100 million for Grealish in 2021, according to the article.
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Atlanta beat Golden State 80-69 in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7. Allisha Gray scored 23 points and Rhyne Howard added 21 as Atlanta built a 25-point first-half lead and held off a late rally.
Key Facts
Atlanta scored 32 points in the first quarter and shot 73.3% from the floor in that period.
Allisha Gray made five three-pointers and led Atlanta with 23 points.
Rhyne Howard scored 21 points for Atlanta.
Angel Reese recorded 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.
Gabby Williams scored 26 points for Golden State, which shot 31.4% from the field.
The series is tied 3-3 after Golden State won Games 4 and 5.
Game 7 is scheduled for Saturday, October 31, in San Francisco; both teams are seeking their first championship.
Atlanta announced a sellout crowd of 17,099 for the 12:30 p.m. game.
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Major League Soccer’s one-off 2027 sprint season will run from 19 February to late May, before the league shifts to a calendar aligned with many top leagues worldwide in 2027-28. The 14-game regular season will be followed by a single-elimination playoff, with MLS Cup scheduled for Memorial Day weekend.
Key Facts
Inter Miami will host FC Cincinnati in the opening match on 19 February at Nu Stadium.
Each team will play 14 regular-season games, all against opponents in its conference, with seven home and seven away matches.
Decision Day is scheduled for 8 May, with each conference playing its full slate in consecutive time slots.
The top eight teams in each conference will advance to a single-elimination postseason.
MLS Cup is planned for 28–31 May.
MLS says every match, from the season opener through the championship, will stream on Apple TV without local blackouts.
Minnesota United will begin its season on 28 February, hosting Seattle at 2 p.m. local time.
Thomas Müller has said he will remain with the Vancouver Whitecaps for the sprint season.
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The Scottish Professional Football League is inviting broadcasters to propose coverage for the 2029-30 season onward, including the option to show every match live. That could open the way to end Scotland’s Saturday 3pm blackout, but the clubs must approve any deal, and a change in Scotland would not automatically apply elsewhere in the UK.
Key Facts
The SPFL says it is flexible about how many games a broadcaster may show under its next deal, which begins in 2029-30.
The tender allows broadcasters to propose live coverage of all matches, including Saturday afternoon games.
Uefa Article 48 lets leagues ban live broadcasts at specific times if at least half of matches in a country’s top two divisions are played simultaneously.
The current UK blackout runs from 2:45pm to 5:15pm on Saturdays.
Under the current deal, Sky Sports can show up to 60 Scottish Premiership matches a season and Premier Sports up to 22 of the league’s 228 games.
The Cymru Premier removed its blackout in the summer and adopted a streaming model for all matches.
The Scottish Premiership’s 12 clubs would decide whether to accept a deal; at least eight votes are needed for approval.
The Premier League, EFL and SPFL broadcast deals all end after the 2028-29 season, creating an opportunity for the leagues to discuss the blackout together.
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Kimi Antonelli will miss Thursday’s Mexico City Grand Prix media day because of a viral illness. Mercedes expects him to return Friday, ahead of practice, as he approaches a chance to clinch the Formula 1 drivers’ title this weekend.
Key Facts
Mercedes said Antonelli was excused from Thursday’s media duties as a precaution so he could rest.
Antonelli will clinch the title if he loses no more than two points to George Russell and one point to Lewis Hamilton in Sunday’s race.
A win by Russell or Hamilton is the only way to prevent Antonelli from securing the title this weekend, according to the article.
Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas will also miss media day because he is unwell; the team said this does not currently affect his participation in the rest of the weekend.
Cadillac said it will monitor Bottas’s condition and provide updates if needed.
Cadillac announced that Sergio Perez has signed a new contract through at least 2029.
Colton Herta will drive in Friday practice as he seeks the mileage needed for an F1 super licence.
Cadillac has not decided whether Bottas or Herta will partner Perez in 2027.
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