2 h. ago ‘New Zealand outplayed us’: Brook admits England failings as series is lost

2nd ODI: New Zealand, 177-5, bt England, 175, by five wktsDaryl Mitchell hits 56no, Jofra Archer fires on returnFor the second time in four days, England’s blundering with the bat doomed them to defeat, the tourists skittled for just 175 to leave New Zealand with less of a chase than a stroll.Half-centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell carried the Black Caps to a victory sealed with nearly 17 overs to spare, England consigned to a ninth consecutive away defeat in ODIs, and a sixth lost series in their last seven attempts. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago All is not lost for England but Shaun Wane needs to be bold in second Test

The coach should rethink his halfback combination and stand down his old pack for the game at Everton’s stadiumBy No Helmets RequiredHaving bet the house on Hull KR hero Mikey Lewis being the problem that Australia could not solve, England coach Shaun Wane has retreated home to Wigan to ponder whether he should have stuck rather than twisted. Dropping Harry Smith for the Ashes opener, and favouring treble-winner Lewis to partner captain George Williams in the halves, was surprising but understandable. Lewis, the player of the match in the Super League Grand Final, was in the form of his life. But the Williams-Lewis combination struggled to open up Australia. If they fail again on Saturday in Liverpool, Wane’s dream of winning the Ashes will be over.“Our last plays disappointed me most,” said Wane after the 26-6 defeat at Wembley. “They outkicked us.” It’s rare anyone outkicks Wigan player Smith. Lewis mixed up his kicks under the arch, but very little troubled Australia. The best at...

Politics

19 h. ago Shaun Wane to make changes as England seek ‘proper Test match’

The hosts were beaten 26-6 by Australia in last week’s Ashes opener.

Politics

2 d. ago Shaun Wane requires herculean Ashes effort after Wembley mauling

England head coach must add steel to halt Australia, with Morgan Smithies and AJ Brimson pushing for startsThe scoreline alone offers concrete evidence of how underwhelming England were against Australia in the first Ashes Test on Saturday, but if anyone needed further proof, a glimpse around the Wembley crowd was somewhat telling, too.As a one-sided contest ebbed towards a predictable conclusion, there were cheers among those sat near the press box. Not for an England try, but for a paper aeroplane crafted by a home supporter that had successfully made its way from the top of one tier on to the pitch. It was about the only thing that went right for those of an English persuasion. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago Shaun Wane requires herculean Ashes effort after England’s Wembley mauling

The head coach must add steel to halt Australia, with Morgan Smithies and AJ Brimson pushing for startsThe scoreline alone offers concrete evidence of how underwhelming England were against Australia in the first Ashes Test on Saturday, but if anyone needed further proof, a glimpse around the Wembley crowd was somewhat telling, too.As a one-sided contest ebbed towards a predictable conclusion, there were cheers among those sitting near the press box. Not for an England try, but for a paper aeroplane crafted by a home supporter that had successfully made its way from the top of one tier on to the pitch. It was about the only thing that went right for those of an English persuasion. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago England boss Shaun Wane laments ‘torture’ of heavy Ashes defeat by Australia

The hosts’ bid to win the three-match series for the first time since 1970 was dealt a sobering blow.

Politics

3 d. ago Rugby League Ashes live: Underdogs England thrashed by Australia at Wembley in first Ashes Test for 22 years

Shaun Wane’s England face huge challenge against the Kangaroos, rugby league’s dominant force, as Ashes returns for first time since 2003

Sport

3 d. ago Rugby League Ashes live: Underdogs England trail Australia at Wembley in first Ashes Test for 22 years

Shaun Wane’s England face huge challenge against the Kangaroos, rugby league’s dominant force, as Ashes returns for first time since 2003

Sport

4 d. ago Rugby League Ashes live: Underdogs England face Australia at Wembley in first Ashes Test for 22 years

Shaun Wane’s England face huge challenge against the Kangaroos, rugby league’s dominant force, as Ashes returns for first time since 2003

Sport

5 d. ago England captain George Williams relishing chance to end long Ashes heartache

The last time a British team raised the famous Ashes trophy was with a 28-7 win in a decisive third match in Sydney in 1970.

Politics

5 d. ago England’s Shaun Wane banks on experience as rugby league’s Ashes ends 22

Australia are dominant but Shaun Wane hopes some wise heads and exciting Mikey Lewis could cause an upsetIt has been a long time between drinks – 22 years to be exact. The Ashes were last staged in 2003, meaning more than two decades have elapsed without international rugby league’s greatest rivalry, a wait which finally ends on Saturday at Wembley. For Shaun Wane, the wait must have felt like an eternity.If you were fortunate enough to be there when Wane was appointed as England coach in February 2020, it is easy to remember that he could not hide his delight that his first assignment was an Ashes series that autumn. Of course, within weeks the world had ground to a halt thanks to Covid-19 and the chance of taking on Australia on home soil disappeared. Continue reading...

Sport

5 d. ago England face Ashes mountain but international rugby league set for long

England face Australia in a first Ashes series for 22 years, starting at Wembley on Saturday, and the whole sport may about to be given a lift.

Sport

5 d. ago Alex Walmsley aims to make most of unlikely England recall and targets Ashes win

Walmsley made the cut for England’s final squad of 19 on Thursday.

Events

8 d. ago Stuart Pearce receives message of support from Pep Guardiola and Man City after England legend's son was killed in tractor crash the the age of 21

The former England international is grieving after his son Harley Pearce lost control of the farm vehicle on a country road some 50 miles from his family home in Wiltshire. Harley died at the scene.

Events

9 d. ago England legend Stuart Pearce’s 'beautiful' son Harley, 21, killed in tractor crash as family pay tribute

Former England football international’s son is believed to have lost control of a farm vehicle on a country road

Events

9 d. ago England football legend Stuart Pearce’s son Harley, 21, killed in tractor crash

Former England football international’s son is believed to have lost control of a farm vehicle on a country road

Events

9 d. ago Salt marvels at Brook after England thrash New Zealand in second men’s T20I

England, 236-4, beat New Zealand, 171, by 65 runsRashid takes four wickets after Salt’s 85 and Brook’s 78If the first game of this series was ruined by a downpour, the second was won by a deluge. A 129-run partnership between Phil Salt and Harry Brook powered the tourists towards a score of 236 for four, England smashing 34 boundaries and the record score on this ground, leaving New Zealand a forlorn chase which ended when their last wicket fell with two overs remaining and 65 still required.The Black Caps demonstrated some mighty power-hitting of their own but they simply could not do it often enough, and too regularly lost wickets in trying, with England’s fielding despite a swirling wind as impeccable as their opponents’ had been unreliable. Adil Rashid took four wickets, and Jordan Cox three catches, as New Zealand were dismissed for 171. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Today's rugby news as England axe top star and pundit 'lost for words' before call

The latest rugby news stories from Wales and the wider world

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Not difficult’: Wane explains omission of Jake Connor from England Ashes squad

Leeds half-back won the 2025 Man of Steel awardFirst Test against Australia at Wembley on 25 OctoberThe England head coach, Shaun Wane, has said the decision to leave Super League’s Man of Steel, Jake Connor, out of his squad for the Ashes was “not really difficult”. He added that he does not understand the obsession surrounding the exile of the Leeds Rhinos half-back.Connor is by far the most notable omission from the 24-man squad to take on Australia in the first Ashes series since 2003. It begins on 25 October at Wembley, with Tests at Everton and Headingley to follow on successive Saturdays. There are a number of surprise inclusions, including a returnfor Hull KR’s Joe Burgess after his two-try performance in the Super League Grand Final on Saturday. The winger has been out of the national side for a decade. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Brad O’Neill keen to savour every moment of Wigan bid for Grand Final hat

O’Neill has reaffirmed his place as Matt Peet’s first-choice hooker.

Politics