Archive June 9, 2025

Scotland prop Zander Fagerson has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions’ tour to Australia with a calf injury.

His club, Glasgow Warriors, confirmed the news on X, adding: “We’re all behind you, Z – we know you’ll come back even stronger.”

Fagerson, 29, last featured for Glasgow in early April and was absent as they lost Saturday’s United Rugby Championship play-off semi-final to Leinster in Dublin.

Capped more than 70 times by Scotland, the tighthead toured South Africa with the Lions in 2021 and featured against Sigma Lions.

It’s a sad reality that many players achieve their ultimate goal of being selected for the Lions, only to see injury snatch that dream away before they get their hands on that famous red jersey. It happens every four years.

It’s particularly cruel that’s it’s happened to Zander Fagerson, though. He was the only Scot out of eight selected for the 2021 tour to South Africa that did not see any action in the Test series.

On the day it was announced he had been selected for this summer’s tour to Australia, Fagerson spoke to BBC Scotland of how he felt he had not done himself justice four years ago, hampered by niggling injury problems, and the drive he had to go Down Under to show the best of himself.

Scotland prop Zander Fagerson has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions’ tour to Australia with a calf injury.

His club, Glasgow Warriors, confirmed the news on X, adding: “We’re all behind you, Z – we know you’ll come back even stronger.”

Fagerson, 29, last featured for Glasgow in early April and was absent as they lost Saturday’s United Rugby Championship play-off semi-final to Leinster in Dublin.

Capped more than 70 times by Scotland, the tighthead toured South Africa with the Lions in 2021 and featured against Sigma Lions.

It’s a sad reality that many players achieve their ultimate goal of being selected for the Lions, only to see injury snatch that dream away before they get their hands on that famous red jersey. It happens every four years.

It’s particularly cruel that’s it’s happened to Zander Fagerson, though. He was the only Scot out of eight selected for the 2021 tour to South Africa that did not see any action in the Test series.

On the day it was announced he had been selected for this summer’s tour to Australia, Fagerson spoke to BBC Scotland of how he felt he had not done himself justice four years ago, hampered by niggling injury problems, and the drive he had to go Down Under to show the best of himself.

Los Angeles FC striker Jeremy Ebobisse has voiced his support for a fan protest against US president Donald Trump’s deportation policies.

The 28-year-old American said the situation in Los Angeles is “not normal and we can’t treat it as normal”.

Protests began in Los Angeles on Friday after it emerged that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were carrying out immigration raids in the city as part of Trump’s aim to enact the “biggest deportation operation” in US history.

On Saturday, 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed to the city to uphold “very strong law and order” in response to the protests.

In his post-match interview, Ebobisse, who has one US cap, said: “This has been a difficult moment for the city of LA. I live downtown and I’ve been seeing and hearing everything that’s going on. It breaks the heart to see the callous movements that we’re seeing in our streets.”

At Sunday’s Major League Soccer match, LAFC independent supporters union ‘the 3252’ unfurled an “Abolish ICE” banner in the stands prior to kick-off and sat in silence throughout their side’s 3-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City.

“We’re a community, we stand by each other,” Ebobisse added. “It’s important that in these difficult moments, we reaffirm that and don’t back into our corners and be scared because solidarity is the only way through this.

“It’s not normal and we can’t treat it as normal. I fear it’s only going to continue to escalate. I’m with the 3252 and anyone who’s affected.”

Pasadena, a city located about 10 miles from downtown Los Angeles, is scheduled to host six matches at its Rose Bowl stadium during the upcoming Club World Cup, beginning with Paris St-Germain against Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Los Angeles will also host matches during the 2026 World Cup, which is being held across the US, Canada and Mexico, before staging the 2028 Olympic Games.

LAFC defender Eddie Segura called for unity in the city, saying: “We are united and we are giving this victory to those who are suddenly having a hard time because of this situation.”

A pre-match statement from LAFC, released on social media in English and Spanish, hailed the city’s diversity: “LAFC believes that the true strength of our community comes from the people and cultures that make up the tapestry of this beautiful and diverse city.

Legendary racehorse trainer Peter Easterby has died at the age of 95.

Easterby, based in Malton, North Yorkshire, saddled equine greats Sea Pigeon, Night Nurse and Little Owl to big-race victories.

He was champion jumps trainer three times, won the Champion Hurdle on five occasions and the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice.

The figurehead of a renowned racing family, he was the first British trainer to have more than 1,000 winners on both the flat and over the jumps.

Easterby, whose brother Mick is also a successful trainer with his own son David, retired in 1996 when he handed his training licence to son Tim.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of my father Peter Easterby,” said Tim.

“He passed away peacefully in his own home with his family by his side. A true gentleman, legendary racehorse trainer, passionate farmer, lover of country sports and an incredibly proud father and grandfather.”

While Sea Pigeon won both the Champion Hurdle and Chester Cup twice, Easterby said the biggest cheer he heard was was when the horse won the Ebor Handicap on the flat at York in 1979.

“The announcer got ‘Sea’ out and you couldn’t hear the other word ‘Pigeon” because there was such a roar, so that was very exciting,” he recalled.

Night Nurse was another two-time champion hurdler, who was narrowly denied a Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph in 1981, by stablemate Little Owl.

Easterby had also won the Gold Cup two years earlier with Alverton, who was then sent off favourite for the Grand National but died after a fall at Becher’s Brook.