42 h. ago Northampton’s Champions Cup final date with Bordeaux should be all

We can expect Phil Dowson’s Saints to hit the accelerator in Cardiff against a French side packed with creative talentHow do Northampton Saints go again? After pulling off a stunning upset to avenge last season’s semi-final defeat by Leinster and take their place in Saturday’s final, the question is how do Phil Dowson’s side overcome one of the French giants, Bordeaux, to clinch the Champions Cup?Had the final been a week later I’d have feared for Northampton but they are helped by the ability to distract themselves with Premiership action, and I think the manner of victory over Leinster plays into their hands. Northampton need to focus on being unashamedly themselves. In Dublin the gameplan was to put the car into fifth gear from the first whistle and that’s precisely what they did. When your approach is so authentic and in keeping with your culture, it makes it that much easier. Continue reading...

Sport

56 h. ago Man Utd and Spurs fans branded 'animals' as furious Spanish locals confront supporters

Manchester United and Tottenham supporters have descended on Bilbao before the Europa League final but their behaviour has stunned the locals amid reports of widespread vandalism

Politics

3 d. ago Man City vs Bournemouth LIVE: Omar Marmous stunner launches City into the lead in Kevin De Bruyne’s final home game

Defeat for City would leave their Champions League hopes out of their hands

Society

3 d. ago Tom Cruise says it ‘took decades to figure out’ latest Mission Impossible stunt

Cruise debuted the latest installment of the ‘Mission Impossible’ franchise at the Cannes Film Festival

Events

6 d. ago Pep Guardiola confronts Dean Henderson after Man City stunned in FA Cup final

Henderson was fortunate to stay on the pitch with Guardiola frustrated after the FA Cup final

Politics

8 d. ago ‘Proving people wrong’: how Central Coast Mariners reached A

Emily Husband, one of only two female coaches in the league, can create history against Melbourne Victory on SundayThe Central Coast Mariners weren’t supposed to crash the A-League Women grand final, but they face Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Sunday.Two years ago they didn’t even exist. The Mariners’ women’s programme was in its 13th year of inactivity after being mothballed for financial reasons (serious concerns over the ever-impecunious club’s viability still linger). On the field, they made a celebrated return for the 2023–24 season, riding the wave of momentum born from Australia hosting the 2023 Women’s World Cup to stun Victory in an elimination final, before running into the eventual champions Sydney FC in the semi-finals. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago ‘We couldn’t tell if he was conscious’: Tom Cruise got stuck on top of biplane shooting Mission: Impossible sequel

The star, who at 62 performed his own stunts for the forthcoming Final Reckoning, tells Cannes press conference ‘I don’t mind encountering the unknown’Tom Cruise got stuck on the wing of a biplane shortly before it ran out fuel during the filming of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the director of the eighth instalment of the action franchise has revealed.Speaking to an audience at the Cannes film festival hours before the film’s premiere, director Christopher McQuarrie recounted the filming of a stunt sequence in which Cruise, in his long-running role as the field agent Ethan Hunt, walked between between the two wings of a biplane as the aircraft was mid-air over South Africa. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Brendan Rodgers reveals final Celtic targets to complete 'stunning season' as boss makes one thing clear over Treble

The Hoops gaffer is honing in on yet another clean sweep - which would be a record breaking third for the Irishman

Events

1 week ago Britain's Got Talent judges left 'horrified' over act as they're forced to look away

Bao Cuong, a danger act, took to the stage to perform a terrifying stunt during Saturday's (10 May) third live semi-final

Events

1 week ago Ebbw Vale RFC reach final of Super Rygbi Cymru with stunning comeback

Ebbw Vale were 21-5 down at half-time before a remarkable fightback in the secod period

Politics

1 week ago Frank Lampard makes feelings clear on Coventry star who left stadium in tears

Coventry City were stunned in their play-off semi-final first leg showdown with Sunderland, after a horrendous late error from Milan van Ewijk handed the Black Cats a late winner in the Midlands

Politics

2 w. ago Man United v Athletic Bilbao LIVE: Mason Mount stunner sends hosts into Europa League final

Manchester United took a huge step towards the Bilbao final with a 3-0 win last week and need to finish the job at Old Trafford

Sport

2 w. ago Bodo/Glimt v Tottenham LIVE: Pedro Porro bends in stunner with Spurs on brink of Europa League final

Tottenham are on the brink of a Europa League final but will need to overcome an Arctic expedition to get there

Sport

2 w. ago Bordeaux set up Champions Cup final with Northampton after beating Toulouse

Louis Bielle-Biarrey stars with two tries in 35-18 winOwen Farrell hurt in Racing 92’s Challenge Cup defeatLouis Bielle-Biarrey’s stunning first try of two highlighted Bordeaux Bègles’ 35-18 win over Top 14 rivals Toulouse as they set up a Champions Cup final meeting with Northampton. Saints stunned Leinster in Saturday’s first semi-final.Bordeaux had raced into a 10-0 lead with a try from Pete Samu and a Matthieu Jalibert penalty, but Toulouse edged 11-10 up with a pair of Juan Cruz Mallia penalties either side of Dimitri Delibes’s try. Continue reading...

Sport

2 w. ago London City Lionesses survive Birmingham comeback to win WSL promotion

Birmingham 2-2 London City LionessesLionesses earn only promotion spot to WSLLondon City Lionesses were promoted to the Women’s Super League after an outstanding individual goal from Isobel Goodwin helped them edge to a dramatic 2-2 draw away to their nearest title rivals Birmingham City on a gripping final day of the Women’s Championship season.Goodwin’s stunning long-range strike and a Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah header put the visitors 2-0 up and Birmingham, backed by a club-record crowd of 8,749 knowing they had to win to be promoted, fought back valiantly through Emily van Egmond’s header and Cho So-hyun’s volley – four minutes from time – to set up a frantic finish but the visitors clung on to the draw they needed to clinch top spot. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Northampton stun Leinster with heroic victory to reach Champions Cup final

Leinster 34-37 NorthamptonSaints cling on for win following first-half blitzThis competition has seen a few remarkable results over the years but few to match this sweetest of Saints days. Maybe Leinster thought that a fourth successive Investec Champions Cup final appearance was a formality against supposedly outgunned English opposition. If so they were made to pay a heavy price as a triple whammy of tries from Tommy Freeman helped Northampton pull off one of the all-time great knockout heists.The Irish province, beaten in the final in the last three consecutive seasons, were stunned at the final whistle. But the Saints had led 27-15 at half-time and, even after Leinster had charged back to within three points the visitors came knocking again via a 62nd minute score from James Ramm. The final quarter was frantically tense, settled in contentious fashion after an aghast Leinster had a possible 79th-minute score disallowed. Continue reading...

Sport

3 w. ago Tom Cruise risked his life breathing CO2 for one of his most dangerous Mission: Impossible stunts yet

The 62-year-old actor has opened up about his most recent challenge in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Events

3 w. ago Arsenal: Renee Slegers hails investment in women's football after Champions League final progress

Gunners staged a remarkable comeback to oust Lyon and tee up Barcelona showpiece in Lisbon on May 24

Sport

3 w. ago Arsenal into Women’s Champions League final with stunning comeback win over Lyon

Arsenal 4-1 Lyon (5-3 on aggregate): Gunners stun five-time champions to reach only a second-ever final

Sport

3 w. ago Arsenal trio stage stunning comeback against Lyon to book WCL final place

Arsenal reached their first Women’s Champions League final since 2007 with an impressive comeback victory in France. They defeated Lyon 4-1 at the Groupama Stadium thanks to an own goal from Christiane Endler and strikes from Mariona Caldentey, Alessia Russo and Caitlin Foord.On a beautifully balmy day in the south east of France, there was a discernible buzz around the Groupama Stadium. The local bars were awash with fans, enjoying the afternoon sun in nervous anticipation for the match ahead. Among them, the several hundred travelling Arsenal fans, decked out in their customary red and white, seemed in a jubilant if wary mood as they contemplated their side’s chances. Continue reading...

Sport