All posts by 234Radio

If perseverance and desire fuelled Stuart McCloskey when chasing down Marcus Smith in the closing stages of Ireland’s 42-21 Six Nations win over England last week, it was perhaps a microcosm of his international career.

The 33-year-old centre made his Test debut at Twickenham during the 2016 edition as England claimed a 21-10 win on their way to a Grand Slam, but appearances during Joe Schmidt’s reign as Ireland coach proved few and far between.

With Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw the preferred midfield partnership at that time, McCloskey found himself out of favour, while Schmidt did not seem keen on the Ulster man who earned just two further caps during his tenure.

Performances for Ulster were catching the eye and McCloskey was beginning to play his way in, despite filling the dreaded 24th man role more times than he would have preferred.

A run in the team during the 2022 autumn wins over South Africa, Fiji and Australia seemed to solidify a partnership with Garry Ringrose and that carried into the following year’s Six Nations with McCloskey starting against Wales, France and Italy.

However, misfortune would be the culprit this time as injury ruled him out of the remaining games against Scotland and England as Ireland won the Grand Slam as Aki seized his opportunity.

“It wasn’t hard mentally as I thought I did pretty well,” McCloskey reflected.

“Unfortunately I had the calf tear and Bundee came in. That was a straight swap and we saw what he did for those last two games which led into the World Cup.

“Back then it wasn’t the done thing to put a 12 on the bench and Bundee was unbelievable during that World Cup cycle and was nominated for World Player of the Year.

It’s been a reversal this time, with Aki suspended for the opening three games of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign, opening the door for McCloskey to stake his claim once again.

While Ireland’s campaign got off to a slow start with an emphatic defeat by France before surviving a scare against Italy, it all came together against England.

McCloskey was a key figure in that game, making line breaks, creating opportunities, putting in the tackles which culminated with that last-ditch tackle on Smith, who seemed to be in the clear to salvage a four-try bonus point as a form of consolation for Steve Borthwick’s team.

Racing back to make that challenge turned McCloskey into something of a viral sensation afterwards, giving him “a few laughs as there are some funny memes going about”.

However, it was an incident during training on the Tuesday before the game when Farrell challenged him for not making the same effort which reminded him of the effort required at Test level.

“It wasn’t like Andy went through us, but just pointed it out and a couple of us were still struggling with soreness from the weekend, but he was right.

Aki is back with the Ireland squad as they prepare for Friday’s game against Wales in Dublin (20:10 GMT), but will he return to the starting line-up?

On current form, many will feel McCloskey deserves to retain his place and he is certainly hopeful that he can continue to make the most of his chances in the green jersey.

“I’ve always said you have to enjoy the environment and even being the 24th man I enjoyed, but you always want the opportunity (to play) and over the last seven or eight months, I’ve had a good run at it,” he said.

“I suppose it’s (praise) vindication for the years of slogging it out and not getting too much love. You’ve got to enjoy to as these things don’t last forever.

The biggest rule change in Formula 1 history has the potential to deliver some surprising results during the 2026 season.

As teams start from scratch this year with a new car, engine and active aerodynamics, how will the drivers’ and constructors’ championships look when the curtain falls in December after 24 races?

Last season, McLaren reigned supreme as Britain’s Lando Norris was crowned champion for the first time and the team secured back-to-back constructors’ titles with six races to spare.

This time around, Mercedes and George Russell have been tagged as early pre-season favourites while Aston Martin, complete with an Adrian Newey-designed car, struggled during the six days of testing in Bahrain.

Before the season begins in Australia next weekend, make your predictions for how the two championships will finish by selecting your drivers’ picks first, followed by teams’ choices.

Britain’s Lone’er Kavanagh claimed the biggest win of his career as he upset former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno in Mexico City.

Kavanagh, who took the fight on just three weeks’ notice, delivered a mature display to win by unanimous decision 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47.

Kavanagh, 26, was unranked heading into the contest, but victory over sixth-ranked Moreno – in front of the Mexican’s home fans – will see him him take a big leap towards the top end of the division.

“I said before this fight – I live for legendary moments,” said Kavanagh.

“This is a legendary moment. Brandon is a legend. Two-time world champ. I’m a big fan. I watched him when I was a kid. To get to fight him is amazing.”

Kavanagh took the fight against two-time flyweight champion Moreno when his original opponent Asu Almabayev withdrew because of injury.

The Briton came into the contest after the first defeat of his 11-fight career against Charles Johnson in August, but took control in the early stages against Moreno.

Kavanagh kept Moreno at bay with a series of leg kicks, before hurting him with a flurry of punches midway through the second round.

Moreno had more success in the third round, but Kavanagh regained control with more thudding leg kicks, before seeing out victory by defending a number of takedowns.

Betfred Super League – Las Vegas

Hull KR (0) 6

Tries: Burgess

Goals: Martin

Leeds Rhinos (28) 58

Tries: Sivo 4, Croft 2, Palasia, Hall, Jenkins 2

Maika Sivo’s stunning four-try display helped Leeds Rhinos thrash Hull KR 58-6 in Las Vegas.

The Fijian winger crossed twice and created a third try as the rampant Rhinos led 28-0 at half-time.

And Sivo scored twice more in the second half as Leeds dismantled the defending Super League champions.

Hull KR beat Brisbane Broncos to win the World Club Challenge just 10 days ago but have now lost their opening two Super League games of the season.

Defeat by newly promoted York was a shock – and the way they were brushed aside at Allegiant Stadium, the home of NFL side Las Vegas Raiders, left head coach Willie Peters warning his side could be facing “a long season”.

Sivo joined the Rhinos before the 2025 season but missed the whole campaign after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.

And following two tries on debut it took him eight minutes to force his way over for the first try of the game after Harry Newman collected Brodie Croft’s high kick and the ball was worked out to the left flank.

After tries from Croft and Keenan Palasia, Sivo claimed the ball from under his own posts and ran 70 metres for an attack which ended with Ryan Hall scoring.

A Hull KR try was disallowed for an earlier obstruction before the end of the first half, but Leeds continued to dominate in the second period – with Croft adding a sixth try before Sivo completed his hat-trick.

His fourth try came after a Joe Burgess consolation for the Robins 15 minutes from time – then a late Cooper Jenkins double sealed a resounding victory for Leeds.

“The people I feel sorry for are the fans who paid hard-earned money to come here today and watch that,” Peters said.

“To spend or save money to come and watch their team play and we deliver a performance like that, it’s just nowhere near good enough.

“We need to all look at ourselves – myself at the top of that – and find out why we got that performance.

“We need to make sure that we action more than words and do something about it, because if that’s the template of what we’re going to do this season, it’s going to be a long season.”

A delighted Leeds coach Brad Arthur said his side had “had a ball” and praised his players’ “real hunger”.

“We wanted to make sure that we did ourselves proud and the fans and did the competition justice,” he added.

“We came here to make a statement and we did it tonight,” Sivo told Sky Sports.

Hull KR: Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Amone, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella.

Replacements: Luckley, Whitbread, Martin, Lawton.

Leeds Rhinos: Miller; Sivo, Newman, Handley, Hall; Croft, Connor; Jenkins, Levi, Palasia, Watkins, McDonnell, C. Smith.

Replacements: O’Connor, Holroyd, Hankinson, Littlewood.

Wales legend Jess Fishlock says she felt compelled to become an ambassador for the 2027 EuroGames in Cardiff because of the “political climate” for LGBTQ+ people.

Fishlock, 39, is Wales’ record appearance-maker and goalscorer, earning 166 senior caps and hitting 48 goals before retiring from international football last October.

She was asked at last year’s Cardiff Pride whether she would take an ambassadorial role for the EuroGames as her hometown becomes the first in the UK to host Europe’s biggest annual LGBTQ+ multi-sports event.

It is expected up to 10,000 participants will compete in venues across the city including Llanrumney – the suburb of Cardiff where Fishlock grew up.

The personal connection, as a Welsh sportsperson and an out gay woman, meant she had no hesitation in accepting.

“It’s something that is important to me, that I resonate with deeply. I see it as an honour, and it is important for visibility,” she told BBC Sport.

The EuroGames were first staged in 1992, and are open to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, skill level or age.

Organisers say the event was set up in response to discrimination and to promote integration in sport.

There are currently no senior men’s footballers who are out as gay in British professional leagues.

Recent reports have indicated growing homophobia in British schools and wider society.

It is widely recognised that LGBT people, including Fishlock, are more openly accepted in women’s football – and she wants to use her status to promote tolerance.

“I’ve been out for many years now, and with deciding to be out while I play, I choose to use my platform within our community,” she said.

“It feels right to be part of this. It feels relevant to who I am as a human being, and to create awareness of these athletes and their lives. And enjoyment is key to this as well – I want to be on the side which is celebrating these athletes.”

Fishlock has featured in the Women’s Super League for Bristol and Reading, and now plays for Seattle Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – the top tier of women’s football in the United States.

She is not intending to enter the football event at the EuroGames – but is still keen to play in a different sport.

The EuroGames were founded in the early 1990s following the second global Gay Games in San Francisco in 1986, as a more accessible event for LGBTQ+ Europeans.

Manchester was due to hold the 1999 edition but it was cancelled amid financial issues – and Birmingham and London have previously made bids to host.

“What’s not fun about these events?” said Fishlock. “They can be so open and caring.

“Sport is such a gateway to amazing life experiences. You don’t have to be a professional to enjoy that.”

The EuroGames are independently governed by the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation and follows its own rules regarding participation, meaning transgender people can compete in the category aligned with their lived gender.

Numerous national and international sports governing bodies have banned transgender women from competing in female categories amid concerns over fairness and safety.

Some acted after a Supreme Court ruling last year that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.

Fishlock hopes the EuroGames can help combat a “stigma” around transgender people in sport.

“That is a big part of the EuroGames,” she said. “It is hard to really address the situation without getting into politics, which is difficult for a lot of people.

“The stigma makes it difficult, so hopefully we can take away some of the fear that creates hate.

“It is a polarising topic, but hopefully by bringing it into Wales we can spread visibility and education.”

A EuroGames spokesperson told BBC Sport conversations were ongoing with the Welsh government on the topic, while saying they fully support trans athletes competing in events aligned with their gender identity.

Wales legend Jess Fishlock says she felt compelled to become an ambassador for the 2027 EuroGames in Cardiff because of the “political climate” for LGBTQ+ people.

Fishlock, 39, is Wales’ record appearance-maker and goalscorer, earning 166 senior caps and hitting 48 goals before retiring from international football last October.

She was asked at last year’s Cardiff Pride whether she would take an ambassadorial role for the EuroGames as her hometown becomes the first in the UK to host Europe’s biggest annual LGBTQ+ multi-sports event.

It is expected up to 10,000 participants will compete in venues across the city including Llanrumney – the suburb of Cardiff where Fishlock grew up.

The personal connection, as a Welsh sportsperson and an out gay woman, meant she had no hesitation in accepting.

“It’s something that is important to me, that I resonate with deeply. I see it as an honour, and it is important for visibility,” she told BBC Sport.

The EuroGames were first staged in 1992, and are open to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, skill level or age.

Organisers say the event was set up in response to discrimination and to promote integration in sport.

There are currently no senior men’s footballers who are out as gay in British professional leagues.

Recent reports have indicated growing homophobia in British schools and wider society.

It is widely recognised that LGBT people, including Fishlock, are more openly accepted in women’s football – and she wants to use her status to promote tolerance.

“I’ve been out for many years now, and with deciding to be out while I play, I choose to use my platform within our community,” she said.

“It feels right to be part of this. It feels relevant to who I am as a human being, and to create awareness of these athletes and their lives. And enjoyment is key to this as well – I want to be on the side which is celebrating these athletes.”

Fishlock has featured in the Women’s Super League for Bristol and Reading, and now plays for Seattle Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – the top tier of women’s football in the United States.

She is not intending to enter the football event at the EuroGames – but is still keen to play in a different sport.

The EuroGames were founded in the early 1990s following the second global Gay Games in San Francisco in 1986, as a more accessible event for LGBTQ+ Europeans.

Manchester was due to hold the 1999 edition but it was cancelled amid financial issues – and Birmingham and London have previously made bids to host.

“What’s not fun about these events?” said Fishlock. “They can be so open and caring.

“Sport is such a gateway to amazing life experiences. You don’t have to be a professional to enjoy that.”

The EuroGames are independently governed by the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation and follows its own rules regarding participation, meaning transgender people can compete in the category aligned with their lived gender.

Numerous national and international sports governing bodies have banned transgender women from competing in female categories amid concerns over fairness and safety.

Some acted after a Supreme Court ruling last year that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.

Fishlock hopes the EuroGames can help combat a “stigma” around transgender people in sport.

“That is a big part of the EuroGames,” she said. “It is hard to really address the situation without getting into politics, which is difficult for a lot of people.

“The stigma makes it difficult, so hopefully we can take away some of the fear that creates hate.

“It is a polarising topic, but hopefully by bringing it into Wales we can spread visibility and education.”

A EuroGames spokesperson told BBC Sport conversations were ongoing with the Welsh government on the topic, while saying they fully support trans athletes competing in events aligned with their gender identity.