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Senior figures believe a summer filled with major sporting events could be “era-defining” and contribute to the development of change that would encourage more women and girls to play sport.

The Red Roses want to make the same kind of impact as their footballing counterparts in 2022 when England hosts the Rugby World Cup in August.

The Lionesses’ victory at home helped boost girls’ soccer participation.

On a special Radio 5 Live program called “Names Will Be Made” to celebrate BBC Women’s Summer of Sport, Sally Horrox, director of women’s rugby at World Rugby, said, “The World Cup is going to raise the bar for women’s rugby.

It will be a truly defining moment, I believe.

It will become a mainstream sport, which will greatly affect girls around the world.

Meanwhile, the footballers under Sarina Wiegman are preparing to defend their European crown in Switzerland.

After the success of 2022, it’s incredible to think where the sport is right now, and the Euros this summer will give us another opportunity to continue the growth of women’s football in this country, said Kelly Simmons, a former director of women’s football at the Football Association.

There were 80 girls and women’s teams when I first arrived at the FA, and today there are more than 3 million girls and women playing the sport.

Olympic 800-meter champion Keely Hodgkinson, a world record holder, will compete at the September World Athletics Championships.

The summer of sport is a “unique opportunity to really make change,” according to British Olympic Association chair Dame Katherine Grainger, and it is a chance to work on ways to break some of the barriers that women face in the sport.

If we were to meet in a year, Grainger said, “This is now different,” and I would want us to all take a seat.

Although the mother of three, age 38, Cassie Patten can still recall how angry she was at a male coach’s decision to stop training while on her period.

The 2008 bronze medalist described how a male coach “looked me in the eye and said, “I’m so disappointed in you,” while she was unable to work through period cramps. You have no idea, I said.

And many of her fellow guests, who were mostly famous and those just beginning their elite sports journeys, shared this theme.

Boxing champion Tia Miah-Ayton, 18, said, “I can put on three kilos on my period, and I can’t fight if I don’t make my weight.”

Being predominately male coaches who have little knowledge of a woman’s body was cited as a barrier to participation and top performance.

Although there were improvements, many believed there were still needs for more female coaches.

Olympic champion in track cycling Sophie Capewell outlined how a better understanding had contributed to the development of the women’s team.

We aren’t as consistent, she said, and periods have had a significant impact on our ability to communicate. It wouldn’t have been possible to have a conversation openly a few years ago.

Research on women’s sport was “woefully lacking,” according to Dr. Pippa Bennett, the UK Sports Institute’s director of clinical governance and chief medical officer.

Dr. Emma O’Donnell, a physiology expert, advocated for higher-quality studies into the impact of menstrual cycles on performance.

We are still not much closer to the solution, she said, despite 40 years of research.

And other body issues that female athletes face were discussed.

The University of Plymouth’s biomechanics professor, Professor Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, explained how the right sports bra and support can affect performance. She claimed that it can shorten a marathon run by 4 cms, or 1 mile.

She cited a “disappointing lack of research in this area” and referenced a study in which 46% of women questioned said they had quit the sport because of breast-related issues.

She did claim that big companies were now funding research in this field.

Even though there have been similar improvements as the sport becomes more inclusive, guests have complained that men’s sports kit has remained a problem.

Body image was also viewed as a hindrance to sport, with athletes who contravened social norms, something that guests agreed could change with more recognizable role models.

Women are 30% more likely to be victims of online abuse than men, according to research cited by World Rugby’s Horrox, which is another problem that women athletes are particularly susceptible to.

Some of England’s Lionesses announced last week that they would not use social media during the summer’s competition, while tennis player Katie Boulter exposed the issue by revealing some of the horrifying abuse she has received from BBC Sport.

Miah-Ayton said, “I’ve had a lot of haters since my fight, and I just think about all the negative comments.”

Horrox claimed that World Rugby was one of the sports that would be conducting abuse against female players and that it would seek to prosecute those responsible.

Walter Benitez from PSV Eindhoven has been free agent for Crystal Palace.

When his PSV contract expires on July 1st, the 32-year-old will relocate to Selhurst Park.

Benitez was a constant presence throughout PSV’s league campaign, helping them retain their lead over Ajax.

He started 11 of PSV’s 12 Champions League games before being defeated by Arsenal 9-3 overall in their final game.

In south London, Benitez will compete with Remi Matthews and Dean Henderson, the Palace’s current first-choice goalkeeper.

Walter, along with Dean and Remi, will add even more experience, competition, and quality to our goalkeeping department, according to Palace chairman Steve Parish.

First Rothesay Test, Headingley (day four of five)

India 471 (Gill 147, Pant 134, Jaiswal 101) & 364 (Rahul 137, Pant 118; Tongue 3-72)

England 465 (Pope 106, Brook 99, Bumrah 5-83) & 21-0

England need 350 more runs, India need 10 wickets

India were given the upper hand by wonderful centuries from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant before Josh Tongue’s devastating burst kept England in the first Test.

Opener Rahul stroked a classical 137 and Pant a typically entertaining 118, putting India on course for a fourth-day declaration.

But Tongue took three wickets in four deliveries to help dismiss India for 364, setting England 371 to win. India lost their last six wickets for 31 runs.

Faced with pulling off their second-highest successful chase in a Test, England survived six overs on Monday, three bowled by Jasprit Bumrah. The hosts are 21-0.

It sets up the prospect of a grandstand finale on Tuesday with all four results possible. It could be another Headingley classic.

Left-hander Pant became only the second batter to make hundreds in each innings in a Test on this ground and the second wicketkeeper to do so anywhere.

Rahul was put down on 58 by Harry Brook at gully, while Pant survived edges though vacant slip regions on 31 and 45, Tongue the bowler on all three occasions. Pant also drove past a diving Ben Stokes on 75 off Shoaib Bashir, but it would have been a sensational catch.

This ground has history for extraordinary finishes and big run chases, though England have to deal with a pitch that is increasingly producing venomous bounce from a length.

Just when this fabulous, fluctuating Test looked to have taken a decisive direction, it turned again. India are strong favourites, even if England chased 378 to beat them at Edgbaston three years ago.

Much of the day belonged to Rahul and Pant. What made their batting all the more impressive was the way they survived the morning session, when England collectively produced their best bowling spell of the match.

After Shubman Gill chopped Brydon Carse on to his stumps from the seventh ball of the day, India were three down and 98 ahead.

The lead was 129 when Brook, arguably England’s best fielder, put down Rahul, while England’s post-lunch tactics were bizarre and not in keeping with Stokes’ usual aggression.

Needing wickets to get into the game, Tongue bowled to Pant without any slips. The first edge went through first slip, so England put a catcher there. The next edge went through second slip.

If England deserve criticism for missing chances, they deserve praise for hanging in the contest. Tongue blew away the lower order to keep the target within reach.

England opted for this scenario when they chose to field first. They now attempt a pursuit on a ground that has produced six successful chases in excess of 250 – only the Melbourne Cricket Ground has had more in Test cricket. Four of those six chases in Leeds have come in the past eight years.

Given England’s regular rate of scoring, a dry day on Tuesday should give them enough time. However, they will be up against the genius of Bumrah on the increasingly difficult surface.

Rahul and Pant are the two most experienced members of the new-look India top order and they needed all of their nous to guide their team into the ascendancy.

They played contrasting roles in their stand of 195. Rahul, with orthodoxy, showed sound judgement and solid defence. When England over-pitched, he played his trademark cover drives.

Pant battled with himself. There were a number of occasions early in his stay when a swipe, dance or attempted scoop could have been his undoing. He chastised himself and settled into a disciplined innings.

England’s chances came either side of lunch. Only after Pant reached 50 did he begin to open his shoulders. Bashir, England’s least-threatening bowler, was belted for two straight sixes in the same over.

Rahul took 202 deliveries to reach three figures, Pant watchfully took 22 balls for his final five runs in the 90s, yet still had a century in 130. Unlike the first innings, there was no sommersault to celebrate.

He eventually holed out off Bashir, opening an end for England with the second new ball. Rahul dragged on off Carse and Karun Nair pushed a return catch to Chris Woakes, but India were still on course for a lead in excess of 400. Enter Tongue.

Charging down the slope, he had Shardul Thakur edge to slip and, next ball, Mohammed Siraj could only glove a vicious bouncer behind. Bumrah survived the hat-trick ball then lost his middle stump trying to slog the next.

The lead when the ninth wicket fell was 355. It said everything about India’s opinion of their advantage that Ravindra Jadeja farmed the strike from number 11 Prasidh Krishna, eking out runs and eating up time before Krishna was well held by a tumbling Tongue at deep mid-wicket off Bashir.

England bowler Josh Tongue, speaking to Test Match Special: “A really grinding day.

“I don’t mind bowling at the tail, all I tried to do was hit the ground hard. I’m happy to do any role in the team.

“It’s been a great game of cricket. It’s all been positive in the changing room, there’s been no negativity at all, hopefully we can get through the line.”

India opener KL Rahul, speaking to Sky Sports: “It’s a blockbuster finish waiting tomorrow.

“At this stage of cricket I’m at, I’m a lot more calm in my head and not chasing numbers.

“Someone’s got to win tomorrow, it’ll be an interesting day. The wicket is not as easy as the first innings, they won’t find it as easy to hit the ball on the rise.”

Former England spinner Phil Tufnell on TMS: “Let’s hope the rain stays away because it will be a cracker of a day five if it does.”