Category Sports News

After being unexpectedly called off for the Ashes this winter, England Test captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum say they make new players feel “on top of the world.”

Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, and Jack Leach are all scheduled to play against off-spinner Jacks in their only other Test appearances in 2022, but Shoaib Bashir will be covered there.

Jacks told BBC Radio 5 Live, “You feel like you can take anyone on.”

“For someone who makes their debut on the team, it builds you up quickly and makes you feel like you belong there right away.

Jacks is a regular member of England’s white-ball team, but this year’s first-class cricket team has only taken five wickets in 74.1 overs.

“Baz (McCullum) called me, had a casual chat, then dropped it in, and it completely surprised me,” Jacks said.

I’m happy to fill any position that the team requires. I’ve been playing that game for the white-ball team.

“It was fantastic to be a part of the Stokes-led Test side.” Therefore, I’m eager to participate once more.

Bring on Bethpage !

That was the rallying cry from Rory McIlroy in the immediate aftermath of Europe’s 16½-11½ Ryder Cup victory over the United States in 2023.

The Northern Irishman was on a roll, even though the celebratory champagne had already hit his head.

“One of the big accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup. And that’s what we’re going to do at Bethpage, he triumphantly declared.

As the players and fans revelled in Rome, all demanding “two more years” for skipper Luke Donald, statisticians reached for the record books.

With margins of five, ten, seven, six, and five points, they would have revealed that the home side had won the previous five Ryder Cups on a canter.

There have been six away wins in the 22 matches since 1979, when the contest became Europe v the US. Since 1993, the once dominating US side hasn’t won.

Let’s get to the big one first, before we get started. Even Donald is expecting a “bear pit” at Bethpage and the skipper has handed out virtual reality headsets to the players to replicate the abuse they are expecting.

Although most of the partisan support is good-natured, it occasionally crosses the line. Raucous home crowds have become a recurring theme at Ryder Cups.

“It’s not going to come as a shock”, Sir Nick Faldo, a stalwart of 11 Ryder Cups, told BBC Sport. You’ll need to be mentally prepared for it, they say.

” It’s going to be down to discipline – something’s going to go on, something’s going to be said and we’re saying to Luke, could you make it a rule that nobody will crack, or over-react.

“I believe your caddie and you have a secret conversation.” You turn and look and say something, have a little laugh and then he says ‘ right job at hand, get on with it’. re-enter the golfer after they click. This is a great golf course, we’ve got to play a great shot, that will keep you 100% focused”.

However, it’s difficult to block out.

Colin Montgomerie was subjected to such bad abuse at Brookline in 1999 that his late father was forced to walk away from his singles match against then US Open champion Payne Stewart.

When “things changed on the ninth tee,” The Scot was three holes clear of the Scot.

“It got ugly, somebody shouted out and didn’t allow me to hit my tee shot”, he recalled.

“I turned around to the crowd and said that I’ll have to walk in if this happens again, or that I’m not allowed to play.”

” I was shaking at the time, I’m feeling it now talking about it. This is a round of golf.

Despite his own reaction, Montgomerie echoed Faldo’s thoughts on focusing on the task ahead and how crucial a fast start could be.

He said, “Friday is huge for Europe.” If we can get ahead and stay ahead, you’ll probably find the American hostility could be directed at their own players. “

Justin Rose, who will make his seventh appearance for Europe this week, has direct experience from the epic Medinah comeback in 2012.

” The crowd in Chicago were rough and tough but for the most part the Americans had the upper hand, “he said.

The crowd did change, and they did go quiet as soon as we were able to change the script. They didn’t like it and that’s going to be our goal, to pacify the crowd.

“I don’t believe it’s going to be simple.” I don’t think we should expect to pacify the crowd, that might not be possible. Simply put, we must be steadfast as a team.

” But Medinah proves it’s possible. “

And he thinks the domestic fans’ expectations might be just as difficult for the US players to handle.

” It’s about not letting the environment affect us, “he said.

The fans chanting” two more years “towards Donald at Marco Simone in Rome was one thing, but the players joining in was the rubber stamp he needed to continue.

The European captaincy hasn’t been anything more than a one-and-out deal since Tony Jacklin and Bernard Gallacher were in charge in the 1980s.

But Donald has the continent’s golden touch. Four out of four players, with two of them being from America, win. One out of one as skipper.

Crucially, he was the only player to win the match and set the tone for the 2012 Sunday singles singles by coming out first and defeating Bubba Watson to start the record-setting turnaround from 10-6 down.

And that experience and nous will be needed to deal with some of the feistiest fans in American sport and home players desperate to regain the trophy.

He responded, “This is a different challenge.” I am aware we have lost three of the past four away Ryder Cups by significant margins. Some of Rome’s benefits are undoubtedly no longer.

“A lot of my thinking revolves around crowd management and how we react as a team.

That process began 15 months ago in terms of communication to get my message across. Hopefully they will see some good results. “

Rose and Donald shared a team-mate in 2012 and are aiming for a fifth Ryder Cup victory.

The Englishman told BBC South:” Luke has a plan. The message was consistent. He’s not adding to the noise and keeping it as simple as possible for us.

The visitors’ team hasn’t changed much in the 98-year history of the event, and this is their 45th year.

As Europe, the next fewest number of changes was three in 1985, 1987 and 2006 – and all three ended in victories.

The solitary change is Dane Rasmus Hojgaard, who was a member of the team in Rome after his twin brother Nicolai, who had already made his debut through the ranking system.

Montgomerie, who led the side to victory in 2010 and won five out of eight as a player, joked on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Ryder Cup preview programme: “With all due respect Rasmus and Nicolai are the same person really. We have the same team because they both had the same egg, which is fantastic.

With Donald looking to emulate Jacklin as the only captain to win home and away matches and cement his place alongside Europe’s greats, he opted not to include any rookies in his six selections.

“If I were going to win a Ryder Cup home, I would be comfortable with a few rookies and members of the next generation coming through,” Rose said.

“There is still tons of pressure, don’t get me wrong, but I’m really happy the boys have experienced a Ryder Cup and they know what to expect in terms of the rhythm and flow of the week and the emotion”.

And you get the idea that Donald is trying to turn a once-established community into a “cauldron” according to Montgomerie.

“It’s important we have a good amount of experience in that team room with people that have dealt with it”, said Donald.

Faldo added: “Your big guys have got to do the heavy lifting. He came in second only to Sergio Garcia for 25 points in 11 appearances.

” You need half the team playing great, winning the point and hope one or two others have a great period. You only need four out of the first twelve points in the singles if you can score close to ten in the first two days. That’s the gameplan. “

Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Rose, and others who have all won more than 50% of the points they have contested were mentioned by Faldo in his remarks.

Major winners McIlroy (18 points) and Rose (15.5) also bring seasoned know-how, having been in the victorious 2012 side alongside Donald.

Rahm was LIV Golf’s individual player of the year for the second time after Fleetwood won the season-ending Tour Championship last month.

Hatton’s major performances meant he claimed an automatic place despite also playing on the Saudi circuit and having limited qualification opportunities.

Given his performances since then, Robert MacIntyre, an inspired wildcard pick in Rome who qualified this time round, might be a member of that quintet.

After going unbeaten on his Ryder Cup debut, he has won the Scottish and Canadian Open titles – as well as finishing runner-up at the US Open in June.

Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg impressed as a pairing in Rome with two victories out of three matches, just like Rahm and Hovland were both in need of a wildcard pick.

Donald has also put his faith in Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka – who won one and lost one of their two outings together in 2023 – and Matt Fitzpatrick, despite his poor record of one point in three appearances, two of which were heavy away defeats in 2016 and 2021.

The pairings have been made work and have had a dry run, according to Jacklin, the first captain to win the Ryder Cup.

Scottie Scheffler, the game’s standout talent, leads the American team. Two more major titles in 2025, among six victories, have solidified his position as the world’s best.

Faldo contends that only the four-time major winner will be feared in Europe.

” Scottie will be a target because he’s meant to win, “he said”. That is a victory if you only manage to score him one point.

Scheffler went unbeaten as a rookie in the US ‘ record 19-9 mauling at Whistling Straits in 2021, but was reduced to tears in Rome after he and Brooks Koepka suffered a record 9&amp, 7 defeat at the hands of Hovland and Aberg.

Will he be motivated by McIlroy’s “revengeance,” which he cried when he left Michigan two years later after placing fourth overall in Europe, at Marco Simone,?

Scheffler, the Open champion, won two fourball matches alongside Bryson DeChambeau on the banks of Lake Michigan four years ago and the big-hitting LIV player returns in New York after sitting out last time.

“But consider the other names, “added Faldo.” They don’t scare me. Xander Schauffele is present, but he’s a little off the mark. There’s nobody in the team that any of our guys will look at]and fear]. “

Schauffele started the year slowly due to a broken rib, and while the 2024 champion had top-10 finishes in both the Masters and Open Championship, he had a inconsistent year that made him miss the Tour Championship for the first time in nine years.

Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay may have something to say about Faldo’s comments though, given they have the best Ryder Cup records on the US team.

In 2021, Thomas, who has eight points from 13 games, slammed the can before downing a celebratory beer on the first tee at Whistling Straits on the Saturday following just three of the five game practices.

Cantlay was the pantomime villain in Rome with ‘ cap-gate ‘ and his caddie’s spat with McIlroy. However, he has won five of his eight matches and a gnarly singles victory over Rose.

Both were given wildcard picks by captain Keegan Bradley, as was two-time major winner Collin Morikawa, who has been out of sorts since two early-season runners-up finishes.

Ben Griffin and Cameron Young, both of whom won on the PGA Tour in 2025, were also chosen by the skipper because he made the decision to not participate.

Bradley’s ‘ will he, won’t he ‘ be a playing captain dilemma dominated the build-up and the world number 12 would likely have been in the team had he not been skipper.

The home side is rifling four rookies, including US Open champion JJ Spaun, who was defeated by McIlroy in March and Tour Championship runner-up Russell Henley, who both qualified.

Since Jacklin’s dozen sneaked home in Ohio 38 years ago, Europe have won away once in every decade – 2012, 2004, 1995 and that all-important first one in 1987.

In 1981 and 1993, the US only managed to win Europe. Slim pickings. And you begin to feel pressure when a home game occurs.

Both sides will claim underdog status this week, but as American golf writer Alex Miceli told BBC Sport:” Our top six is good, the bottom six is not.

Because of their superior bottom six, the Europeans are “slight favorites.” Only slight, because they are away from home”.

It is a thought that Montgomerie shares. “I don’t fear the American team the way I have in the past and I think Europe are going to do this.

I don’t mean this as a fan of Europe. They are a stronger team, a stronger 12. “

Bring on Bethpage !

That was the rallying cry from Rory McIlroy in the immediate aftermath of Europe’s 16½-11½ Ryder Cup victory over the United States in 2023.

The Northern Irishman was on a roll, even though the celebratory champagne had already hit his head.

“One of the big accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup. And that’s what we’re going to do at Bethpage, he triumphantly declared.

As the players and fans revelled in Rome, all demanding “two more years” for skipper Luke Donald, statisticians reached for the record books.

With margins of five, ten, seven, six, and five points, they would have revealed that the home side had won the previous five Ryder Cups on a canter.

There have been six away wins in the 22 matches since 1979, when the contest became Europe v the US. Since 1993, the once dominating US side hasn’t won.

Let’s get to the big one first, before we get started. Even Donald is expecting a “bear pit” at Bethpage and the skipper has handed out virtual reality headsets to the players to replicate the abuse they are expecting.

Although most of the partisan support is good-natured, it occasionally crosses the line. Raucous home crowds have become a recurring theme at Ryder Cups.

“It’s not going to come as a shock”, Sir Nick Faldo, a stalwart of 11 Ryder Cups, told BBC Sport. You’ll need to be mentally prepared for it, they say.

” It’s going to be down to discipline – something’s going to go on, something’s going to be said and we’re saying to Luke, could you make it a rule that nobody will crack, or over-react.

“I believe your caddie and you have a secret conversation.” You turn and look and say something, have a little laugh and then he says ‘ right job at hand, get on with it’. re-enter the golfer after they click. This is a great golf course, we’ve got to play a great shot, that will keep you 100% focused”.

However, it’s difficult to block out.

Colin Montgomerie was subjected to such bad abuse at Brookline in 1999 that his late father was forced to walk away from his singles match against then US Open champion Payne Stewart.

When “things changed on the ninth tee,” The Scot was three holes clear of the Scot.

“It got ugly, somebody shouted out and didn’t allow me to hit my tee shot”, he recalled.

“I turned around to the crowd and said that I’ll have to walk in if this happens again, or that I’m not allowed to play.”

” I was shaking at the time, I’m feeling it now talking about it. This is a round of golf.

Despite his own reaction, Montgomerie echoed Faldo’s thoughts on focusing on the task ahead and how crucial a fast start could be.

He said, “Friday is huge for Europe.” If we can get ahead and stay ahead, you’ll probably find the American hostility could be directed at their own players. “

Justin Rose, who will make his seventh appearance for Europe this week, has direct experience from the epic Medinah comeback in 2012.

” The crowd in Chicago were rough and tough but for the most part the Americans had the upper hand, “he said.

The crowd did change, and they did go quiet as soon as we were able to change the script. They didn’t like it and that’s going to be our goal, to pacify the crowd.

“I don’t believe it’s going to be simple.” I don’t think we should expect to pacify the crowd, that might not be possible. Simply put, we must be steadfast as a team.

” But Medinah proves it’s possible. “

And he thinks the domestic fans’ expectations might be just as difficult for the US players to handle.

” It’s about not letting the environment affect us, “he said.

The fans chanting” two more years “towards Donald at Marco Simone in Rome was one thing, but the players joining in was the rubber stamp he needed to continue.

The European captaincy hasn’t been anything more than a one-and-out deal since Tony Jacklin and Bernard Gallacher were in charge in the 1980s.

But Donald has the continent’s golden touch. Four out of four players, with two of them being from America, win. One out of one as skipper.

Crucially, he was the only player to win the match and set the tone for the 2012 Sunday singles singles by coming out first and defeating Bubba Watson to start the record-setting turnaround from 10-6 down.

And that experience and nous will be needed to deal with some of the feistiest fans in American sport and home players desperate to regain the trophy.

He responded, “This is a different challenge.” I am aware we have lost three of the past four away Ryder Cups by significant margins. Some of Rome’s benefits are undoubtedly no longer.

“A lot of my thinking revolves around crowd management and how we react as a team.

That process began 15 months ago in terms of communication to get my message across. Hopefully they will see some good results. “

Rose and Donald shared a team-mate in 2012 and are aiming for a fifth Ryder Cup victory.

The Englishman told BBC South:” Luke has a plan. The message was consistent. He’s not adding to the noise and keeping it as simple as possible for us.

The visitors’ team hasn’t changed much in the 98-year history of the event, and this is their 45th year.

As Europe, the next fewest number of changes was three in 1985, 1987 and 2006 – and all three ended in victories.

The solitary change is Dane Rasmus Hojgaard, who was a member of the team in Rome after his twin brother Nicolai, who had already made his debut through the ranking system.

Montgomerie, who led the side to victory in 2010 and won five out of eight as a player, joked on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Ryder Cup preview programme: “With all due respect Rasmus and Nicolai are the same person really. We have the same team because they both had the same egg, which is fantastic.

With Donald looking to emulate Jacklin as the only captain to win home and away matches and cement his place alongside Europe’s greats, he opted not to include any rookies in his six selections.

“If I were going to win a Ryder Cup home, I would be comfortable with a few rookies and members of the next generation coming through,” Rose said.

“There is still tons of pressure, don’t get me wrong, but I’m really happy the boys have experienced a Ryder Cup and they know what to expect in terms of the rhythm and flow of the week and the emotion”.

And you get the idea that Donald is trying to turn a once-established community into a “cauldron” according to Montgomerie.

“It’s important we have a good amount of experience in that team room with people that have dealt with it”, said Donald.

Faldo added: “Your big guys have got to do the heavy lifting. He came in second only to Sergio Garcia for 25 points in 11 appearances.

” You need half the team playing great, winning the point and hope one or two others have a great period. You only need four out of the first twelve points in the singles if you can score close to ten in the first two days. That’s the gameplan. “

Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Rose, and others who have all won more than 50% of the points they have contested were mentioned by Faldo in his remarks.

Major winners McIlroy (18 points) and Rose (15.5) also bring seasoned know-how, having been in the victorious 2012 side alongside Donald.

Rahm was LIV Golf’s individual player of the year for the second time after Fleetwood won the season-ending Tour Championship last month.

Hatton’s major performances meant he claimed an automatic place despite also playing on the Saudi circuit and having limited qualification opportunities.

Given his performances since then, Robert MacIntyre, an inspired wildcard pick in Rome who qualified this time round, might be a member of that quintet.

After going unbeaten on his Ryder Cup debut, he has won the Scottish and Canadian Open titles – as well as finishing runner-up at the US Open in June.

Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg impressed as a pairing in Rome with two victories out of three matches, just like Rahm and Hovland were both in need of a wildcard pick.

Donald has also put his faith in Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka – who won one and lost one of their two outings together in 2023 – and Matt Fitzpatrick, despite his poor record of one point in three appearances, two of which were heavy away defeats in 2016 and 2021.

The pairings have been made work and have had a dry run, according to Jacklin, the first captain to win the Ryder Cup.

Scottie Scheffler, the game’s standout talent, leads the American team. Two more major titles in 2025, among six victories, have solidified his position as the world’s best.

Faldo contends that only the four-time major winner will be feared in Europe.

” Scottie will be a target because he’s meant to win, “he said”. That is a victory if you only manage to score him one point.

Scheffler went unbeaten as a rookie in the US ‘ record 19-9 mauling at Whistling Straits in 2021, but was reduced to tears in Rome after he and Brooks Koepka suffered a record 9&amp, 7 defeat at the hands of Hovland and Aberg.

Will he be motivated by McIlroy’s “revengeance,” which he cried when he left Michigan two years later after placing fourth overall in Europe, at Marco Simone,?

Scheffler, the Open champion, won two fourball matches alongside Bryson DeChambeau on the banks of Lake Michigan four years ago and the big-hitting LIV player returns in New York after sitting out last time.

“But consider the other names, “added Faldo.” They don’t scare me. Xander Schauffele is present, but he’s a little off the mark. There’s nobody in the team that any of our guys will look at]and fear]. “

Schauffele started the year slowly due to a broken rib, and while the 2024 champion had top-10 finishes in both the Masters and Open Championship, he had a inconsistent year that made him miss the Tour Championship for the first time in nine years.

Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay may have something to say about Faldo’s comments though, given they have the best Ryder Cup records on the US team.

In 2021, Thomas, who has eight points from 13 games, slammed the can before downing a celebratory beer on the first tee at Whistling Straits on the Saturday following just three of the five game practices.

Cantlay was the pantomime villain in Rome with ‘ cap-gate ‘ and his caddie’s spat with McIlroy. However, he has won five of his eight matches and a gnarly singles victory over Rose.

Both were given wildcard picks by captain Keegan Bradley, as was two-time major winner Collin Morikawa, who has been out of sorts since two early-season runners-up finishes.

Ben Griffin and Cameron Young, both of whom won on the PGA Tour in 2025, were also chosen by the skipper because he made the decision to not participate.

Bradley’s ‘ will he, won’t he ‘ be a playing captain dilemma dominated the build-up and the world number 12 would likely have been in the team had he not been skipper.

The home side is rifling four rookies, including US Open champion JJ Spaun, who was defeated by McIlroy in March and Tour Championship runner-up Russell Henley, who both qualified.

Since Jacklin’s dozen sneaked home in Ohio 38 years ago, Europe have won away once in every decade – 2012, 2004, 1995 and that all-important first one in 1987.

In 1981 and 1993, the US only managed to win Europe. Slim pickings. And you begin to feel pressure when a home game occurs.

Both sides will claim underdog status this week – although the US are favourites according to bookmakers – but as American golf writer Alex Miceli told BBC Sport:” Our top six is good, the bottom six is not.

Because of their superior bottom six, the Europeans are “slight favorites.” Only slight, because they are away from home”.

It is a thought that Montgomerie shares. “I don’t fear the American team the way I have in the past and I think Europe are going to do this.

I don’t mean this as a fan of Europe. They are a stronger team, a stronger 12. “

Wales now has three clubs in the fourth round for the first time in the competition’s history thanks to the Carabao Cup victories of Cardiff City and Wrexham.

The League Cup, as it was known at the time, was first played in 1960.

Wales has only ever had more than one side in the final 16, in the 65 previous competitions, including Swansea City and Wrexham, in 1976-77.

In this year’s competition, The Swans defeated Plymouth Argyle and Crawley Town.

Joel Colwill and Callum Robinson’s goals on Tuesday gave Cardiff, along with their south-south rivals, a 2-1 victory over Burnley.

The Bluebirds previously defeated Swindon Town and Cheltenham Town, winning just one game overall this season.

After beating Reading 2-0 on Tuesday, Nathan Broadhead scored both goals at the Stok Cae Ras, making it their first appearance in the top four since 1977-78.

Swansea, one of Wales’ four EFL clubs, won the League Cup in 2012-3 with a 2-1 win over Bradford City at Wembley, which was the best run of all of its teams.

Overall, Swansea have advanced to round four eight times, with Cardiff going that far six times, and Wrexham the fourth time at this point.

Newport County only made their final 16 appearance in 2020-21 when Newcastle United beat them on penalties.

Wrexham have twice advanced to the quarter-finals, most recently in 1977-78, while Cardiff’s best run came in 2011-2012, when Malky Mackay’s team famously led Liverpool to the final at Wembley only to lose on a penalty shootout.

Since then, League One side Wycombe Wanderers and League Two club Grimsby Town have seven Premier League teams in the top seven: Liverpool, Chelsea, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Brentford, Fulham, and Wolves. They also belong to League One and League Two, and they defeated Manchester United in round two.

Manchester City will play at Huddersfield Town on Wednesday in addition to the Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur and Bradford City host Bradford City at home.

Therefore, Cardiff, Swansea, and Wrexham could face heavyweight opposition as they prepare to advance to the quarter-finals.

The start of the 2025-26 season in English rugby’s top flight has arrived much the same as any other year, but with some noticeable differences.

The Premiership has been rebranded the ‘Gallagher Prem’ for the new campaign and comes with a new logo too as part of a drive to market the game to more fans.

It also begins with a Thursday night match between Sale and Gloucester, for the first time in its history.

But there are still 10 clubs and 18 rounds of regular-season matches before the play-offs and a Twickenham final where the champions will be crowned on 20 June, 2026.

BBC Sport examines the prospects for each of the 10 clubs.

2024-25: First, champions

Key signing: Henry Arundell, winger

Gareth ‘Cooch’ Chilcott, former Bath prop and BBC Radio Bristol commentator

What a season for Bath, the challenge now is to maintain the standards of 2024-25.

The European Champions Cup still eludes them and must be their goal for the forthcoming season, but the treble in all other tournaments last season was a massive achievement and rightly enters the record books.

The club continues to bring in world-class competitors, with Santi Carreras and Henry Arundel both joining, while the renewal of Finn Russell’s contract adds even more depth to Bath’s star-studded squad.

They will have to rearrange the backroom staff, however, as a result of highly respected attack coach Lee Blackett’s move to England and it will need all of Johann van Grann’s vast skills to steer this well-funded group of star performers through the season and manage the expectations of his players.

It’s hard to look anywhere else in the Prem considering the size and quality of the squad, so it should be another great season.

2024-25: Fourth, semi-finalists

Key signing: Louis Rees-Zammit, winger

Dan Albutt, BBC Radio Bristol commentator

Bristol will feel the NFL’s loss is very much their gain with Wales and Lions wing Louis Rees-Zammit returning to rugby to add to the excitement at Ashton Gate.

He’s perfect for the Bears’ style of play and a pairing with Gabriel Ibitoye gives Bristol one of the most dangerous wing duos in the Prem.

The signing of versatile Scotland back Tom Jordan has somewhat gone under the radar following the arrival of Rees-Zammit, but he’s another exciting player who gives fans genuine belief of bettering last season’s semi-final finish.

Those additions, along with impressive Argentina lock Pedro Rubiolo, add to the optimism. Although the squad is smaller, it’s very talented.

If Bristol hit their straps consistently, maybe now is the time for them to be serious title contenders.

2024-25: Ninth

Key signing: Len Ikitau, centre

Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport England, south-west:

When Exeter were on their way to a league and European double five years ago, few would have thought that come 2025 we would be talking about a side having ended the 2024-25 season with their worst top-flight record in history and a fourth successive campaign outside the play-offs.

But such has been the churn over those years that Exeter now rank as an outsider rather than a certainty.

Huge coaching upheaval at the end of last season has to pay dividends this term – Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher are no longer involved and long-serving director of rugby Rob Baxter has a more hands-on role alongside new attack coach Dave Walder.

On the field, the Chiefs have recruited strongly from Australia in the shape of Wallabies centre Len Ikitau and lock/flanker Tom Hooper, plus hooker Julian Heaven, while Italy scrum-half Stephen Varney has also joined.

2024-25: Fifth

Key signing: Ross Byrne, fly-half

Andrew Pugh, BBC Radio Gloucestershire commentator:

Gloucester Rugby finished last season in a frustrating fifth place, but their change to a more expansive, entertaining style made them many friends.

The outstanding Tomos Williams was the catalyst for much of that success, but the departures of Gareth Anscombe, Zach Mercer, Ruan Ackermann, Chris Harris and Santi Carreras leaves big boots to fill.

Director of rugby George Skivington has made significant squad changes, including investing in the experience of Ireland fly-half Ross Byrne to provide control, and former All Black Nepo Laulala to add power to the front row.

In addition, Gloucester’s loyal supporters will hope that new England caps Seb Atkinson and Arthur Clark continue to prosper.

2024-25: Seventh

Key signing: Guido Petti, lock

Andrew Rowley, BBC Radio London commentator:

It’s hard to think there hasn’t been major disruption with the departure of head coach Danny Wilson to join Wales’ coaching staff on the eve of the new season.

Quins have been here before, when Paul Gustard left and ‘the coaching collective’ went on to win the title but still, the timing is far from ideal.

Behind the scenes, the club have worked hard to tie down their star English players and with most of them in the mid-to-late 20s age range, the hope is they are entering their peak years.

The Twickenham side have a strong back row and a richly talented backline. They have also worked to bolster the front row, second row and half-backs. Guido Petti is the stand-out signing; the imposing forward has featured in three World Cups for Argentina and arrives from Bordeaux-Begles as a Champions Cup winner.

2024-25: Second, beaten finalists

Key signing: James O’Connor, fly-half

Adam Whitty, BBC Radio Leicester sports editor:

Leicester really are this season’s unknown proposition.

Geoff Parling has the potential to do very well at Welford Road. His time coaching, most recently with Australia, combined with a trophy-laden time as a player at Tigers, has fans excited. But he needs time to get things the way he wants, which is not something Leicester’s hierarchy have offered in the past.

They begin this season without some of the talismanic figures that have defined their recent past. International players like Julian Montoya and Handre Pollard have been replaced by Newcastle’s Jamie Blamire, and two fascinating fly-halves – Orlando Bailey from Bath and Wallabies playmaker James O’Connor respectively.

The retirement of Ben Youngs and Dan Cole also leaves room for a new generation. Home-grown talent such as Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet, George Martin and Ollie Chessum are perfectly suited to taking on the mantle. They will also be responsible for opening Tigers’ game up, bit by bit, while keeping their gnarly edge.

Last season’s runners-up could continue the form they found under Michael Cheika and hit the ground running. But I wouldn’t be stunned if they fell flat on their face either.

2024-25: 10th

Key signing: Simon Benitez Cruz, scrum-half

Dean Gray, BBC Radio Newcastle commentator:

In recent seasons the Falcons have lost their best players and most promising youngsters, lured away by the prospect of bolstering their international ambitions, their bank balances and their job security.

This led to them finishing bottom of the Premiership in the last three seasons and the owner, Semore Kurdi, putting the club up for sale.

The takeover by Red Bull and the inevitable renaming of the team to Newcastle Red Bulls came late in the day, but come it did, and the promotional and marketing expertise of the energy drink giant, coupled with its huge financial clout, will make a massive difference.

Director of rugby Steve Diamond has done well to assemble another dozen or so hard-nosed players in a short period of time before the start of the season, but the true potential for the team is yet to be realised and some superstar signings have been whispered about.

2024-25: Eighth

Key signing: Callum Chick, back-row

Graham McKechnie, BBC Radio Northampton commentator

Although they reached the Champions Cup final, beating Leinster in Dublin along the way, Saints coaches and players view last season as a disappointment.

As defending champions, finishing eighth in the league wasn’t good enough and something everyone wants to put right.

Some big names left over the summer, notably Juarno Augustus and Temo Mayanavanua, but there’s a sense that the squad should be stronger this season, with JJ van der Mescht, Callum Chick and Anthony Belleau all arriving.

They will need their returning quartet of Lions back on form too, when they are able to play again.

Much will depend on keeping the whole squad fit.

Last season Saints suffered more than most with international call-ups, which is likely to be the same this time. If they can avoid last season’s injury problems, breaking back into the top four this season is their priority.

The Champions Cup run was a lot of fun – more of that would be very welcome too.

2024-25: Third

Key signing: Jacques Vermeulen, back row

Robin Grey, BBC Radio Manchester commentator:

After making the top four in the past three seasons, Sale Sharks have been tantalisingly close to Premiership glory for some time.

With their core of youth players at the heart of their progress, how they cope without departed forwards Jonny Hill and Jean-Luc du Preez will be a test.

Jacques Vermeulen brings plenty of experience from Exeter Chiefs and the South African contingent continues with centre Marius Louw tasting English rugby for the first time in his career.

A top-four finish is expected at Sale, but if they can keep the Curry brothers fit and the likes of Asher Opoku-Fordjour continue to progress, there will be hopes of a top-two finish and Twickenham glory.

2024-25: Sixth

Key signing: Owen Farrell, fly-half

Andrew Rowley, BBC Radio London commentator:

Saracens re-signing Owen Farrell was the headline but they have also managed to bring versatile winger/full-back Max Malins back into the fold from Bristol.

The north Londoners have also added some bulk in the front five which will complement their excellent back row and combination of experience and potential in the backline.

Last season saw too much of a disparity between their best and worst performances, so what they might be aiming for more than anything is consistency.

NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings

Date: Sunday, September 28th, 2018 Kick-off: 14:00 BST

When the Dublin announcement was made, NFL broadcaster Michael McQuaid was in New Orleans to watch the Super Bowl last year.

Nothing had prepared the Irish Steelers Podcast host for that fateful February day that the NFL would be making a long-awaited return to Ireland.

He told BBC Sport, “The way it was announced at the Super Bowl, at the time it was already feverish that week, was really special.”

“It really hit home in that moment that so many people on the island of Ireland have achieved what so many people have wanted for a long time,” he said.

The Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park on Sunday, making Dublin the fourth city in Europe to host a regular-season game.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, which won six Super Bowls, are one of the NFL’s most legendary franchises, sharing the same record as the New England Patriots.

The Rooney family, whose ancestors immigrated from Newry in Northern Ireland in the 1840s, still owns The Steelers, which were founded in 1933 by Art Rooney.

More than 25 000 people watched Pittsburgh beat the Chicago Bears at Croke Park, the home of Gaelic games, in 1997, as a result of the family’s efforts to maintain close ties to their Irish heritage.

The NFL now estimates that there are 350, 000 fans on the island of Ireland, and the Steelers stated that they wanted to introduce a new game there in 2023 when they were granted marketing rights there.

According to McQuaid, “This is really the encapsulation of the “American Dream.” This family made a real journey by leaving Ireland in the 1840s, crossing over to North America, and then returning almost 200 years later.

“It’s been very fortunate for me to see first-hand how much this family means to them, and they are doing so much this week on this island.

This is going to be on par with everything they’ve done over the past two to three years, and for a family that has been successful for the past two centuries, they’ve done so much.

Over the past two years, the Steelers have visited Ireland numerous times, holding watch parties and football clinics to promote the sport and increase attendance for Sunday’s game.

It will be a lot bigger than their 1997 pre-season trip. The NFL predicts that there will be “a mini Super Bowl coming to town.”

More than 30 000 foreign visitors are expected, many of whom are domestic fans who have attended the London games, many of whom are either fans of other teams or fans of domestic teams.

For those who aren’t heading to Croke Park, there will be free fan events throughout the city starting on Thursday, including Dublin Castle and Dublin City Hall, as well as a three-day tailgate party at Merrion Square.

According to NFL pundit Phoebe Schecter, “They show up just to be a part of the noise, the excitement, and knowing that the NFL is in town, and all 32 teams are represented with the different jerseys.” The Steelers are renowned for having a lot to look forward to.

If you’ve ever attended a sports or entertainment event in Dublin, you’ll know that the city truly embraces it, according to Henry Hodgson, general manager of NFL UK and Ireland.

“It’s difficult to get away from the feeling that the event is completely overtaking.” Over the coming days, we’re very excited to consider all those NFL jerseys in Temple Bar and beyond.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers are staging pub takeovers in Dublin, just like the Steelers and Vikings. The NFL claims that other teams have contacted them and that the Chiefs have publicly expressed interest in playing in Ireland.

In Dublin, The Steelers have also set up a store that will be open all year long. It sells all the team goods you would expect, as well as the small ” rally ” towels that Pittsburgh fans are known for.

They were introduced during the team’s 1976 Super Bowl victory, and former player Max Starks has been traveling Ireland this week to distribute them to locals. They are known as “Terrible Towels.” He even bumped into two Mexican Steelers fans.

The Steelers have produced a special edition with the Irish tricolour, which McQuaid described as “a historical item.” The towels are traditionally yellow.