10 h. ago New recipe for success required to stop France’s grands chefs dominating the European Cup

Since 2021, five successive Top 14 sides have have been crowned Champions Cup winners and any side looking to challenge that status quo needs a fast startThere was a time when the European Cup had an overwhelmingly Irish flavour. The organisers’ headquarters were in Dublin and between 2006 and 2012 either Munster or Leinster lifted the trophy five times in seven seasons. Everyone else was forced to scrabble around for the last few uneaten Tayto crisps in the bag.And now? The tournament, officially known these days as the Investec Champions Cup, has tilted so far towards France you can practically smell the garlic. Admittedly its HQ is now in Switzerland for tax reasons but, financially and on the field, the balance of power lies squarely with les grands chefs of the Top 14. Since 2021, there have been five successive French winners and on three occasions in that time, the Challenge Cup has also disappeared across the Channel. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago New recipe for success required to stop France’s grands chefs dominating the Champions Cup

Since 2021, five successive Top 14 sides have have been crowned Champions Cup winners and any side looking to challenge that status quo needs a fast startThere was a time when the European Cup had an overwhelmingly Irish flavour. The organisers’ headquarters were in Dublin and between 2006 and 2012 either Munster or Leinster lifted the trophy five times in seven seasons. Everyone else was forced to scrabble around for the last few uneaten Tayto crisps in the bag.And now? The tournament, officially known these days as the Investec Champions Cup, has tilted so far towards France you can practically smell the garlic. Admittedly its HQ is now in Switzerland for tax reasons but, financially and on the field, the balance of power lies squarely with les grands chefs of the Top 14. Since 2021, there have been five successive French winners and on three occasions in that time, the Challenge Cup has also disappeared across the Channel. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Arsenal v Bayern Munich live: Gunners emerge as Champions League favourites after dominant win over German side

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich: The Gunners took control of the Champions League league phase with a dominant win over the Bavarians

Sport

1 week ago Max Verstappen dominates F1 Las Vegas GP to keep championship hopes alive

Red Bull driver all but untouchable under the lights in NevadaLando Norris took second, George Russell third and Oscar Piastri fourthMax Verstappen has won the Las Vegas Grand Prix with a dominant drive that was enough to just keep his world championship hopes alive. Title leader Lando Norris took second and with his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in fourth he managed to put another six points on him, with the Australian too just hanging on to his title chances.With the second place, Norris, while he will not countenance allowing the thought of it to cloud his approach, must be considered world champion in waiting. He now leads Piastri by 30 points; 58 remain on the table from the final two meetings in Qatar, which includes a sprint race, and Abu Dhabi. If Norris comes out of the meeting in Doha with a 26 point lead he will seal the championship there. As it stands finishing in front of Piastri and Verstappen in both races in Qatar would be enough. Continue reading...

Society

1 week ago Jiménez averts danger for uncertain Fulham with late winner against Sunderland

Uncertain times at Fulham. The word is out that the club’s ownership would like to extend Marco Silva’s stay. The manager himself has been non-committal, having previously been explicit about a lack of summer transfer business. Raúl Jiménez’s winner, coming when it seemed Fulham were incapable of scoring, should at least still choppy waters for now and lifted Silva’s team away from the increasing threat of a relegation battle.The sheen has been fading from his regime, after last season’s record points tally and enterprising football, going a touch stale, though he could successfully argue little of that is of his making. The Khan family gambled on stasis, rarely a recipe for success when others spend money like it is going out of fashion. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Jiménez calms choppy waters at Fulham with late winner against Sunderland

Uncertain times at Fulham. The word is out that the club’s ownership would like to extend Marco Silva’s stay. The manager himself has been noncommittal, while also making explicit his dim view of a lack of summer transfer business. Raúl Jiménez’s winner, coming when it seemed Fulham were incapable of scoring, might still choppy waters for now. It lifted Silva’s team away from the increasing threat of a relegation battle but the manager stayed noncommittal. “I don’t need this type of performance to make important decisions,” he said.Last season’s record points tally and enterprising football has been replaced by staleness and sterility, and Fulham’s manager could argue little of that is of his making. The Khan family ownership gambled on stasis, rarely a recipe for success when others spend big. Jiménez’s goal was a measure of the veteran striker’s determination to keep trying when other heads would have dropped but relying on him remains an indictment of the lack of funding Silva an...

Politics

2 w. ago ROLAND WHITE reviews Celebrity MasterChef: Grace Dent's recipe for success? Make the cooks the stars

Celebrity MasterChef is further proof that you can make successful television from pretty much anything. The cooks' first task was to reveal a piece of food, and prepare something with that ingredient in question.

Society

2 w. ago Who’s next for Islam Makhachev as welterweight prospects shine at UFC 322?

Makhachev dominated Jack Della Maddalena to become a two-weight champion, and fans are already pondering the Russian’s next move at 170lb

Politics

3 w. ago Liverpool player ratings vs Man City as two struggling stars drop 4/10 horror shows

Liverpool season has gone from bad to worse as the hapless champions were played off the park by a dominate Manchester City on Sunday afternoon

Sport

3 w. ago WTA Finals: Aryna Sabalenka beaten ahead of 'Battle of the Sexes' as Elena Rybakina claims title

Former Wimbledon champion dominated in the Middle East

Events

4 w. ago Man City vs Borussia Dortmund LIVE: Champions League result, latest updates and reaction after dominant home win

Man City face free-scoring Dortmund in a tricky Champions League test tonight

Society

4 w. ago Liverpool boss Arne Slot brutally trolls Jamie Carragher after Real Madrid win

There's been a dig at Jamie Carragher from Arne Slot and Dominik Szoboszlai after the Liverpool vs Real Madrid Champions League clash, with the former Reds defender the butt of a joke

Politics

4 w. ago Liverpool vs Real Madrid LIVE: Champions League result, latest updates and reaction after dominant Reds win on Trent's return

The Reds faced their toughest test of the league stage against the hitherto unbeaten Los Blancos

Society