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Vincent Kompany’s contract, which extends for two years, will keep him with Bayern until June 2029.

The former Manchester City great left the Bavarian club in May of 2024, when his initial contract was set to expire in 2027.

The Belgian, 39, won 49 of his 67 games across all competitions, helping Bayern win the Bundesliga title last season.

“I’m grateful, honoured, and would like to thank Bayern for the trust and working environment they’ve provided me from day one,” Kompany said.

“It seems like I’ve been here a lot longer and have a good sense of club life.” So far, it’s been a fantastic experience.

Bayern are five points clear of the top of the Bundesliga after winning the German Super Cup to begin the 2025-26 campaign.

After the excellent job he’s done up until now, the club’s extension of his contract shows a strong sign of continuity and stability, according to club president Herbert Hainer.

The players, club management, and fans hold Vincent in high regard. We’re pleased that our cooperation has grown more quickly.

Kompany became known with his trophy-heavy playing career at Manchester City, where he led the team, made 360 appearances, and won four Premier League titles.

The defender, who had previously announced his retirement from playing, secured his first position in the dugout as a player-manager with boyhood club Anderlecht in 2019.

Before being appointed manager of Burnley in 2022, he led the Belgian club to two league titles.

Before Ireland’s Test against New Zealand in Chicago on Tuesday, John Fogarty insists that the squad’s coaches are not concerned about the team’s performance.

Following Munster’s resounding 31-14 victory over rivals Leinster at Croke Park on Saturday, Ireland assembled in Dublin on Monday.

Leo Cullen, the province’s head coach, has acknowledged that his side are “not battle-hardened at the moment,” but Fogarty is confident that the national team will be ready for their encounter with the All Blacks at Soldier Field on November 1. There are 22 Leinster players in Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad.

“Sometimes, just checking yourself can be a really good thing,” said scrum coach Fogarty.

“But I firmly believe that knowing what’s in store for them, knowing the opportunities that are open to us, knowing the significance of it, and wearing a green jersey to represent Ireland,”

Fogarty continued, “It will be addressed immediately if we’re not seeing progress or if we’re not seeing the right levels.”

Fogarty added that a Test match against New Zealand would be the “perfect” challenge to help Ireland’s squad focus more.

In their past 10 games, which date back to Ireland’s first victory in Chicago in 2016, New Zealand have won five of those games.

After the series win over Australia, Ireland’s British and Irish Lions squad took a break, but New Zealand won six games and finished second behind South Africa in the rugby championship.

Every time we play on the field, the group should be expected to be competing with these teams, Fogarty said.

Nothing else should be thought of, they say. We must have that mindset, and that’s why I’m referring to how we should push ourselves right away rather than wait and see what happens or hope things turn out well.

Due to foot injuries, Ireland will be without lock Joe McCarthy and wing Mack Hansen, and center Robbie Henshaw (groin) and Bundee Aki (hip) have emerged as doubts for the New Zealand game.

Caelan Doris, the team’s captain, will still need to be fit for Soldier Field, according to Fogarty.

Number eight Doris hasn’t played since having shoulder surgery in May, which ended his eligibility for the British and Irish Lions’ summer tour to Australia.

He has already returned, I am aware. He made some modifications to contact last week, according to Fogarty.

He is in excellent form and “fizzing away,” he said. He seems to be in a good mood when he speaks to young people and when he speaks to us. He is a very cautious person.

He appears to be very good, Fogarty continued. We have two, three practice sessions on the pitch, and Saturday and Thursday will be performance days, so if he plays those games, we’ll see where he’s going for New Zealand.

We are hearing, “He’s in a great place,” he said.

Hannibal Mejbri, a Burnley midfielder, allegedly spat at Leeds United fans during the Clarets’ Saturday victory at Turf Moor, according to the Football Association.

Following a complaint from a Leeds fan in the stadium’s away section, Lancashire Police is also “establishing the facts” surrounding the alleged incident.

Mejbri, 22, made a comeback in the 83rd minute when he confronted Gabriel Gudmundsson in front of the dugouts after making a powerful tackle on the Leeds defender.

The FA is reportedly undergoing a full investigation, but it has not yet begun a full investigation.

Lancashire Police said it was aware of an alleged incident involving a Burnley player during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Burnley on Saturday at Turf Moor.

The organization continued, “We are currently working with Burnley Football Club to establish the facts.”

Leeds have made the claim, but they haven’t made any comments on it.

In the opening Rugby League Ashes Test against England on Saturday at Wembley, Reece Walsh, Gehamat Shibasaki, and Mark Nawaqanitawase will make their Australia debuts.

Walsh, 23, defeats Dylan Edwards at full-back after giving the Brisbane Broncos a man-of-the-match performance against Melbourne Storm in the NRL Grand Final at the start of the month.

In that final, Shibasaki, 27, scored two tries for the Broncos. Since he only started the season on trial with the Broncos, his selection for Saturday marks a remarkable personal comeback.

The former home of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Queensland Cowboys had only ever played three NRL games before that.

Fourth-year starting forward Keaon Koloamatangi will start on the bench. He has resisted Tonga, who he once played for at the previous World Cup three years ago. In their three-game series against England in 2023, he also played for them.

For the first time in a Test match at such an iconic venue, the four of them will be a huge thrill, according to Australia head coach Kevin Walters.

“I’m looking forward to them and to all of our players,” I said. This Saturday at Wembley, every member of our squad will experience something incredibly special, regardless of whether they take the field or not.

We’re going on this Ashes journey together because it will require a lot of effort from everyone involved, I’ve said from day one of our preparations here in England.

Reece Walsh, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Kotoni Staggs, Gehamat Shibasaki, Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster, Nathan Cleary, Patrick Carrigan, Harry Grant, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Angus Crichton, Hudson Young, and Isaah Yeo (captain) are the Australian team.

Tom Dearden, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, and Keaon Koloamatangi make the changes.