Archive July 1, 2025

Bordeaux and Saints drawn in same Champions Cup pool

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Holders Bordeaux-Begles and last season’s finalists Northampton Saints have been drawn in Pool 4 for the 2025-26 Investec Champions Cup.

In May, Bordeaux defeated Saints 28-20 in Cardiff to lift their first Champions Cup title.

Premiership semi-finalists Bristol Bears, Scarlets, Top 14 side Pau and United Rugby Championship (URC) runners-up Bulls are also in Pool 4.

Three-time winners Saracens are in Pool 1 alongside record six-time champions Toulouse.

They are joined by Glasgow Warriors, Sale Sharks, Clermont Auvergne and South African side Sharks.

Premiership champions Bath, who won last year’s Challenge Cup, are in Pool 2 with Munster, Gloucester, Edinburgh, Castres and three-time winners Toulon.

In Pool 3, Leinster, who lost to Northampton in last year’s semi final, again are drawn in the same pool as Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle, who defeated the Irish province in back-to-back finals in 2022 and 2023.

Leo Cullen’s team squeezed past the Top 14 side 16-14 in last year’s pool stage.

Leicester Tigers and Harlequins are also in Pool 3, with Bayonne and South African side Stormers.

Each team will play four different opponents in the pool stage, but not teams from their own league, with fixtures still to be announced.

In the Challenge Cup, Ulster, who finished 14th in last season’s URC have been drawn in the same pool as Parisian rivals Racing 92 and Stade Francais in Pool 3.

Champions Cup draw

Pool 1: Toulouse, Clermont, Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Sale Sharks

Pool 2: Bath, Toulon, Munster, Castres, Edinburgh, Gloucester

Pool 3: Leinster, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, La Rochelle, Bayonne, Stormers

Challenge Cup draw

Pool 1: Ospreys, Connacht, Zebre, Montpellier, US Montauban, Black Lion

Pool 2: Newcastle, Dragons, Benetton, Lions, Lyon, USAP

Fixtures – Champions & Challenge Cup

Round one: 5-7 December

Round two: 12-14 December

Round three: 9-11 January

Round four: 16-18 January

Last 16: 3-5 April

Quarter-finals: 10-12 April 2026

Semi-finals: 1-3 May

Challenge Cup final: Friday, 22 May

Champions Cup final: Saturday, 23 May

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Ukraine drone attack on central Russia kills three, wounds 35

A Ukrainian drone attack at an industrial plant in central Russia has killed three people and injured 35 others, a Russian regional governor has said.

Alexander Brechalov, head of the Udmurt Republic, said in a post on Telegram on Tuesday that the attack took place at a factory in Izhevsk city. Ten of the wounded were in a serious condition, he noted.

There was no immediate official comment from Kyiv. But a Ukrainian security official confirmed the attack, telling the news agency Reuters that the Kupol plant had been hit, with a fire breaking out as a result.

The facility, which produces air defence systems and drones for the Russian army, is located roughly 1,300km (800 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

If confirmed, the Ukrainian mission would be one of the deepest attacks of its kind inside Russia since the start of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion.

However, it is not as far as one Kyiv claimed last May, which reportedly hit an early-warning radar in the Russian city of Orsk, some 1,800km (1,120 miles) from Ukraine.

Speaking to the AFP news agency on Tuesday, an unnamed Ukrainian security service (SBU) official hailed the most recent drone mission.

“Each such special operation reduces the enemy’s offensive potential, disrupts military production chains and demonstrates that even deep in Russia’s rear, there are no safe zones for its military infrastructure,” they said in written comments.

The attack came a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine would increase its drone production, following a surge in Russian drone attacks.

Moscow fired some 5,438 long-range drones at Ukraine in June, its highest monthly total yet, according to an analysis by AFP.

“The priority is drones, interceptor drones and long-range strike drones,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram late on Monday about Ukraine’s manufacturing drive.

The message followed a promise last month by Ukraine’s top military commander to improve the “scale and depth” of strikes on Russia.

In other developments, the Kremlin has denied the suggestion from one of United States President Donald Trump’s special envoys that it was deliberately stalling ceasefire talks.

Keith Kellogg, Trump’s Ukraine envoy, said on Monday, “Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine. ”

In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that Russia was “not interested in drawing out anything”.

A date for a third round of negotiations has yet to be agreed.

Chelsea defender Lawrence joins Lyon

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Canada international Ashley Lawrence has left Chelsea to join Lyon after two years at the club.

The 30-year-old won four trophies during her time at Chelsea, including the Women’s Super League title in both seasons.

She made 60 appearances, scoring three goals and picking up eight assists as an attacking full-back.

Last season she featured 30 times for Chelsea and helped them win an unbeaten domestic Treble in manager Sonia Bompastor’s first season.

Prior to joining Chelsea, Lawrence played for Paris St-Germain, ending Lyon’s run of 14 successive French titles in 2021.

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INEC Moves To Clarify Section 65, Drafts Supplementary Guidelines On Election Result Reviews

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is drafting supplementary regulations to clarify Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022, amid growing concerns over varied interpretations of the law regarding the review of declared election results.

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Tuesday at the Commission’s second quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.

Yakubu explained that the new guidelines will help provide clarity on how the Commission can exercise its powers under the Act, especially ahead of upcoming bye-elections, off-cycle governorship polls, and the 2027 general election.

“As we approach the bye-elections, the off-cycle governorship elections and ultimately the 2027 general election, the Commission is concerned with the various interpretations given to the provision of Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 on the review of election results.

“Pursuant to our powers to issue regulations, guidelines and manuals to give effect to the provisions of the Electoral Act and for its administration, the Commission is working on a supplement to the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022 to provide clarity on the review of declaration and return at elections,” the commission chairman stated.

According to him, once a decision is reached—possibly as early as this week—the supplementary regulations and guidelines will be uploaded to INEC’s website and other public platforms.

Section 65 of the Electoral Act allows INEC to, within seven days, review any result where the returning officer is found to have acted under duress or contrary to the law.

However, the provision has been the subject of differing legal and political interpretations, prompting the Commission to seek clarity through updated operational guidelines.

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During the meeting, Yakubu also charged RECs with taking full ownership of the electoral process within their respective states, reminding them that they are full-time officials whose responsibilities should not depend on directives from Abuja.

“You are full-time commissioners and should already be implementing existing policies,” he said.

He called for greater commitment to staff training, stakeholder engagement, electoral logistics, and coordination with security agencies.

Yakubu also welcomed six newly appointed RECs and expressed satisfaction that all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory now have full representation. He said the performance of future elections would depend heavily on the dedication and initiative shown by the RECs in discharging their responsibilities.

Meanwhile, the INEC Chairman announced that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will resume nationwide from 18th August 2025 for online pre-registration, while in-person registration will begin on 25th August.

However, in Anambra State, the CVR will commence next week and will be held simultaneously in all 326 wards ahead of the state’s governorship election scheduled for 8th November 2025.

He noted that the early start is to ensure the completion of the updated voters’ register within the legal timeframe of 90 days before the election date.

Yakubu also outlined the Commission’s electoral calendar for the next year. According to him, five major elections will be conducted between August 2025 and August 2026.

These include bye-elections in 12 states on 16th August 2025; the Anambra governorship election on 8th November 2025; the FCT Area Council elections on 21st February 2026; the Ekiti governorship election on 20th June 2026; and the Osun governorship election on 8th August 2026.