Archive June 6, 2025

Warrington Wolves vs. Hull KR final of the Betfred Men’s Challenge Cup

Warrington Wolves make history again for the Challenge Cup final this year after a year-long hiatus under the Wembley arch.

Sam Burgess’ efforts to win a trophy in his first season as head coach were foiled by Wigan Warriors a year ago.

Now it is Hull KR, who appear to be formidable as they currently lead the Super League standings.

Burgess’ squad has suffered injuries so far in 2025, and despite putting together another cup run, they have struggled in the Super League with just six victories in 13 games thus far.

Is this the point where they can turn their season around now that they have George Williams back from the talisman for the trip to Wembley?

In Warrington’s history, a victory at the national stadium would mark the company’s tenth victory.

However, one of the biggest players in contemporary northern hemisphere rugby league will have to defy the odds to defeat a runaway Hull KR side, who has only lost once in all competitions this season.

Matt Dufty scored a late try to give the Wire hope against Wigan in the final game of last season’s final at Wembley and had an action-packed 80 minutes of sin-binned within the first five minutes.

He acknowledged that his side had been overawed by the occasion and that they had to put up with the pressure of playing at Wembley.

“We probably outperformed ourselves in the first half last year,” we said. He told BBC Sport, “The circumstance probably got to us a little bit.

“We lost the game before we even started,” he said. We can hopefully start with a head on level this year. We can enter with a clear mind, clear strategy, and commitment.

Hull KR are “probably the in-form team at this point,” he said. We must step up and put our best foot forward.

Warrington, who defeated St Helens and Leigh Leopards in the Challenge Cup to reach this year’s final, has performed well in Super League and is currently eighth in the table.

Our gameplan probably has been a little stymied this year, according to us. Our spine hasn’t been active all year. We have to make decisions and adjust game plans every week, he continued.

Ben Currie is aware of the term “squad rotation.”

Due to the fact that Currie’s team has struggled with injuries throughout the entire 2025 season, they have played across the field for the Wire this season.

Talismanic captain Williams has been sidelined for the past few months with an ankle injury, while Oli Leyland and Sneyd, a newly acquired half-back, have also been out.

After a season of changing and chopping, would Currie prefer to continue his transition across the lineup or to return to playing loose forward?

He told BBC Sport, “Obviously we don’t want to give away our team, but that would be ideal in order to stay in the position I’m set to play at.”

Every week, no matter who we bench, there is a situation where I end up changing jobs.

“Once or twice in a 15 games, I’ve been able to hold onto one position.” But I’ve really embraced it and found enjoyment in it. At the age of 30, I’ve had the opportunity to play in the middle and center for the first time in my career.

Sneyd has made a formidable Wire pack since joining from Salford Red Devils, a financially troubled Super League team, this year.

The 34-year-old has recovered from injury and will likely play opposite George Williams.

Sneyd has won the Challenge Cup and the Lance Todd Trophy with Hull FC in 2016 and 2017, and he also has a pedigree for the cup.

Sneydy has won two of his matches there, and I’m certain he knows what to do. We need to capitalize on his kicking ability and defend well, Dufty added.

We have to put our efforts where it belongs because Hull KR are probably the best defensive team in the competition.

Despite their form in relation to Hull KR’s current standing, Currie does not think his side will be fazed by the underdog tag.

Everyone keeps tagging the underdog, everyone. Evidently, that is what a large number of people think of the game. However, he said, “It’s difficult to be the underdog in a two-horse race.”

They are the team to beat, and they are known for their leadership in the Super League. They consistently perform very well. We’re anticipating a difficult game for sure.

For the Slovakian Under-21s European Championship this month, Liam Delap was not selected for the England Under-21s squad.

The 22-year-old has just completed a £30 million move from Ipswich to Chelsea and is scheduled to represent his country at the Club World Cup in the United States.

Lee Carsley, the head coach of England Under-21s, expressed his “delighted” with Delap despite being unable to choose a striker for his squad.

“Playing for such a prestigious club as Chelsea is a fantastic thing for an English centre-forward.” He added that he hopes to do really well there and encourage the [England] senior team.

Jobe Bellingham of Sunderland is a member of the squad despite interest from Borussia Dortmund, a German club that also participates in the Club World Cup, which begins on June 14 and runs until July 13.

Bellingham’s signing would need to be completed by the deadline of June 10 for Dortmund to be eligible for the tournament. The transfer window reopens on June 16th.

From 11 to 28 June, Slovakia will host eight host cities for the U21 Euros.

The squad includes both Jarell Quansah and Harvey Elliott, along with Tino Livramento and James McAtee from Newcastle.

England are attempting to defend the title they won in Georgia in 2023.

Only two other members of that squad are currently playing in this year’s set-up, Elliott and Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell.

Tom Fellows, a West Brom player, will also be a squad member for additional training.

On Thursday, June 12 (2:00 BST), England will begin their campaign against the Czech Republic.

Defenders: Ronnie Edwards (Southampton), Ronnie Cresswell (FC Toulouse), CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Brooke Norton Cuffy (Genoa), and Jarell Quansah (Liverpool).

Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland), Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), Tyler Morton (Liverpool), and Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth) are the midfielders.

For this month’s European Championships in Slovakia, Liam Delap was not chosen for England’s under-21 squad.

The 22-year-old has just completed a £30 million move from Ipswich to Chelsea and is expected to represent his country at the Club World Cup in the United States.

Jobe Bellingham of Sunderland is a part of the squad despite interest from Borussia Dortmund, who also plays in the club world cup, which starts on June 14 and runs until July 13.

Bellingham’s signing would need to be completed by the deadline of June 10 for Dortmund to be eligible for the tournament. The transfer window reopens on June 16th.

From 11 to 28 June, Slovakia will host eight host cities for the U21 Euros.

England are attempting to defend the title they won in Georgia in 2023.

Only two other members of that squad are currently playing in this year’s set-up, Elliott and Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell.

Tom Fellows, a West Brom player, will also be a squad member for additional training.

On Thursday, June 12 (2:00 BST), England will begin their campaign against the Czech Republic.

Defenders: Ronnie Edwards (Southampton), Ronnie Cresswell (FC Toulouse), CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Brooke Norton Cuffy (Genoa), and Jarell Quansah (Liverpool).

Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland), Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), Tyler Morton (Liverpool), and Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth) are the midfielders.

Nemanja Matic, a Lyon midfielder, was taped to an anti-homophobia message that was written on his shirt, and he has received a two-game ban.

During Lyon’s 2-0 win over Angers on May 17, the Serb, 36, threw an anti-homophobia display on his sleeve.

The Ligue 1 campaign is currently in its fifth year, and it includes the anti-homophobia message. In stadiums, banners, and other common attire are displayed alongside rainbow-colored symbols.

However, Matic, a former Chelsea and Manchester United player, and Ahmed Hassan, a 32-year-old Le Havre striker, taped the messages on their sleeves.

The pair received two match bans and two additional suspended matches from Ligue 1.

In recent years, the annual awareness campaign has met resistance, with some participants citing their religious convictions as justifications.

Mostafa Mohamed, 27, withdrew from Nantes’ final game of the season against Montpellier.

I think that we must treat each other with the respect we owe both to ourselves and our beliefs. Before the match, Nantes’ Mohamed said on Instagram that his deep-rooted values are related to my background and beliefs, which make my involvement in this initiative challenging.

Mohamed Camara, 25, from the then-Monaco midfielder, was banned from four games last season for taping over a homophobic logo on his shirt.

After agreeing to join the Pittsburgh Steelers, veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers will start in the NFL for at least one more season.

After agreeing to a one-year deal, the NFL’s four-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) will take over as the Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2025.

The 41-year-old had spent months considering his options after registering as a free agent for the first time in his 20-year career.

The New York Jets signed the 2011 Super Bowl champion after a disappointing second season, with his first one being caused by an Achilles tendon injury he sustained on his debut.

Rodgers reportedly spoke with the Minnesota Vikings, but the New York Giants and New York Giants decided against striking a deal.

Rodgers stated in April that retirement was “possible” and that he was “open to anything.”

Rodgers, who spent his first 18 years playing for the Green Bay Packers, spoke with head coach Mike Tomlin throughout his first 18 years with the team.

Before selecting Jaxson Dart with a first-round draft pick, the Giants made the decision to go in a different direction by selecting Wilson and another veteran Jameis Winston.

Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson were Pittsburgh’s backup quarterbacks, and only Will Howard, a sixth-round pick, was their other quarterback.

Rodgers has the best career quarterback rating of all time, but his production has decreased since then, either as a result of his torn Achilles tendon injury in 2023.

He won the league’s MVP in the years of 2020 and 2021, but he has since had his lowest QB ratings since joining Green Bay as starter in 2008 and to have thrown the most interceptions since then.

The Packers defeated Pittsburgh 31-25 at Cowboys Stadium in Texas that year, going against a 10-5 record to win the Super Bowl.

Tomlin has been in charge of the Steelers since 2007, winning the Super Bowl in 2009, and they have not won a play-off game since 2017. In his 18 years in charge, Tomlin has won the Super Bowl.

Rodgers is expected to join Pittsburgh for mandatory minicamp on June 10th, as their off-season program kicked off with planned team outings on May 27.

Rodgers has started 248 of his 241 games over the past 20 seasons. He has completed 5, 369 of 8, 245 passes, 65.1%, for 62, 952 yards and 503 touchdowns.

He has at least 55,000 passing yards and 3 000 rushing yards, making him the top 10 quarterback in NFL history.