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Leo Cullen to leave Leinster after 12 years as successor search begins
Leo Cullen has confirmed he will depart Leinster at the end of his contract in 2027, with the club already searching for his successor. The announcement comes days after he guided the province to back-to-back URC titles.
Rugby -
Bouaddi tempted by PSG, Al-Khelaïfi ready to break the bank for Lille midfielder
18-year-old Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi reportedly has a clear preference for Paris Saint-Germain, while president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi has personally contacted the player. LOSC, who hold his contract until 2029, are awaiting an "extraordinary" offer.
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Iran players leave heartfelt dressing room note after World Cup draw with Belgium keeps them alive
Iran's players wrote a handwritten message of gratitude in the SoFi Stadium dressing room following a 0-0 draw with Belgium at the 2026 World Cup, declaring they 'leave with dignity' as their knockout-stage hopes remain intact.
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Anderson names Declan Rice as his biggest inspiration ahead of England's World Cup clash with Ghana
Elliot Anderson has singled out Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice as his primary role model after making his World Cup debut in England's 4-2 opening win over Croatia. The Nottingham Forest man is set to earn his 11th cap when England face Ghana in Boston on Tuesday.
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Walsh appointed Rugby Australia Women's High Performance Director after SVNS World Championship triumph
Tim Walsh has been named Rugby Australia's Director of Women's High Performance, starting 1 July. The appointment comes weeks after he guided Australia Women's Sevens to the HSBC SVNS World Championship title, and tasks him with transitioning the Wallaroos to a full-time programme by 2026.
Rugby -
Ibrahim Maza, Bayer Leverkusen midfielder ranked in world top 10 by Romain Molina
Journalist Romain Molina has placed Ibrahim Maza, 20, among the ten best talents of his generation worldwide. The Bayer Leverkusen playmaker chose to represent Algeria rather than Germany, the country where he was born.
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Senior Springbok call-ups force two changes to Junior Boks' World Championship squad
South Africa U20 have reshuffled their squad ahead of the World Rugby Junior World Championship in Georgia after lock Riley Norton and fly-half Vusi Moyo were promoted to Rassie Erasmus' senior Nations Championship squad. Hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele takes over the captaincy.
Rugby -
Arsenal seal £15m move for Leicester wonderkid Monga ahead of United and Chelsea
Arsenal have agreed terms with 16-year-old Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga, beating off competition from Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea. The two clubs must now negotiate a compensation package expected to cost between £10m and £15m.
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Bielsa caught out by fair-play controversy in Uruguay's 2-2 draw with Cape Verde
Uruguay drew 2-2 with Cape Verde in the 2026 World Cup group stage, but a controversial sequence in the first half has drawn criticism. Uruguayan midfielder Federico Viñas was accused of exploiting an injured Cape Verde player to help set up Maximilliano Araújo's 44th-minute equalizer, sparking outrage from Cape Verde's manager Bubista, who criticized Bielsa's apparent departure from the fair-play principles he has long championed.
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Tchouaméni, Theo Hernandez and Doué left out of France's starting XI against Iraq
Didier Deschamps is expected to make three changes to his starting lineup for France-Iraq, the second match for Les Bleus in the 2026 World Cup. Koné, Digne and Barcola are set to start.
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FIFA defends MetLife Stadium pitch after Vinicius and Rabiot call surface unplayable
FIFA has issued a statement insisting the MetLife Stadium pitch is fit for elite competition after Brazil's Vinicius Junior and France midfielder Adrien Rabiot openly criticised its hard, dry playing surface during the 2026 World Cup group stage.
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2026 World Cup: Argentina and France enter the fray on Monday, June 22
The 2026 World Cup continues on Monday with two Group I and J fixtures: Argentina face Austria at 7 p.m., while France take on Iraq at 11 p.m. Only Mexico, the United States and Germany have already qualified for the round of 16.
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World Cup 2026: Algeria threatened with elimination as early as second match against Jordan
Beaten 3-0 by Argentina with a Lionel Messi hat-trick in their opening group match, Algeria could be eliminated as early as Tuesday if they lose to Jordan and Argentina fail to beat Austria.
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2026 World Cup: Argentina faces Cape Verde in Round of 16 according to projections
Before playing their second group match, Argentina's potential Round of 16 opponent has changed in statistical simulations: Cape Verde, likely runners-up to Spain, replaces the previous projection.
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Spence shrugs off Tuchel's viral training outburst as England build World Cup momentum
Djed Spence has played down Thomas Tuchel's televised dressing-down in training, calling it 'part of the game' after the England manager was caught on camera shouting at the Tottenham full-back during a passing drill. Spence made his World Cup debut as England beat Croatia 4-2.
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Arsenal's title heroes racing against time as injury toll threatens 2026-27 season
Arsenal's Premier League triumph has come at a significant physical cost, with Saka, Rice, Odegaard and Saliba all managing serious injuries at the World Cup — leaving Mikel Arteta facing a compressed summer to rebuild before the new season begins.
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Messi completes hat-trick then exits early as Argentina manage 39-year-old's minutes at World Cup 2026
Lionel Messi scored three times in 80 minutes against Algeria in Argentina's opening World Cup 2026 group game before being substituted off, with coach Lionel Scaloni appearing to manage the 39-year-old's workload rather than responding to any injury.
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Cunha plays down Brazil No.10 snub after Neymar's surprise World Cup return
Matheus Cunha had been expected to inherit Brazil's No.10 shirt for the 2026 World Cup, but Carlo Ancelotti's decision to select Neymar ended that prospect. The Manchester United forward, handed the No.9 instead, scored twice in a 3-0 win over Haiti after starting on the bench in the opener.
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Serbian pundit Bogdanović faces backlash after racist on-air comments about Belgium's Ngoy at World Cup
Former Atletico Madrid striker Rade Bogdanović sparked widespread condemnation after making racist remarks about Black players live on Serbian national broadcaster RTS during Belgium's 0-0 draw with Iran in Group G.
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Emma Hayes pauses World Cup coverage to honour late father on his heavenly birthday
Emma Hayes delivered an emotional Father's Day tribute to her late father Sid during ITV's World Cup coverage of Belgium vs Iran on Sunday, pausing her punditry segment to thank him for giving her the confidence to succeed in football.
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