Injuries news — SportsCatch

Townsend makes 14 changes as Scotland overhaul XV to face Fiji at Murrayfield

Gregor Townsend has made 14 changes and one positional switch to his Scotland starting XV for Saturday's Nations Championship clash with Fiji at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, leaving Gregor Brown as the only survivor from the side beaten 42-28 by South Africa in Pretoria.

Rugby Jul 16

McGregor demands UFC 329 loss to Holloway be ruled a no-contest after knee injury

Conor McGregor is calling for his TKO defeat to Max Holloway at UFC 329 to be overturned to a no-contest, citing the knee injury he suffered in the opening minute. Regulatory precedent makes the request extremely unlikely to succeed.

MMA Jul 16

Borthwick names unchanged England XV to face Argentina with Iyogun set for debut

Steve Borthwick has retained the same starting XV that crushed Fiji 73-8 last week for England's Nations Championship clash with Argentina in Santiago del Estero, with only two bench alterations — including a first cap for loosehead Emmanuel Iyogun.

Rugby Jul 16

Romane Ménager retires at 29 after recurring concussions end France career

France back-row Romane Ménager has announced her retirement at 29 after repeated concussions made a return to top-level rugby impossible. The 68-cap international won two Grand Slams and two French championships across a career spanning more than two decades.

Rugby Jul 16

Saliba faces up to five months out after surgery blow deepens Arsenal's defensive crisis

William Saliba is set for surgery on a back problem that could sideline him for four to five months, ruling the Arsenal centre-back out of the opening stretch of the Premier League season after he was forced off in France's World Cup semi-final against Spain.

Football Jul 16

Rees-Zammit recalled as fit-again Lake captains Wales against world champions South Africa

Louis Rees-Zammit returns to the Wales starting XV for Saturday's Nations Championship clash with South Africa in Durban, one of six changes made by head coach Matt Tandy. Captain Dewi Lake overcomes a groin injury scare to retain his place at hooker.

Rugby Jul 16

Saliba to undergo surgery, Arsenal without defensive leader for four to five months

William Saliba is set to have back surgery and miss four to five months of competition, according to L'Équipe. The Arsenal defender was forced off in the 30th minute of the World Cup semi-final against Spain (0-2) due to a back injury.

Football Jul 16

Injured McReight drops to bench as Tizzano starts for Wallabies against Italy

Fraser McReight has been ruled out of the Wallabies' starting XV for their Nations Championship clash with Italy in Perth due to a knee injury sustained against France, with Carlo Tizzano stepping in at openside flanker.

Rugby Jul 16

McGregor's UFC 329 knee injury may be less severe than first feared, doctor says

Sports medicine physician Brian Sutterer has offered cautious optimism over Conor McGregor's knee injury sustained at UFC 329, noting the absence of a brace and his range of motion suggest it may not be a high-grade ligament tear.

MMA Jul 16

McGregor demands no contest after knee injury ends UFC 329 return in 69 seconds

Conor McGregor is pushing to have his stoppage loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329 overturned to a no contest, claiming a knee injury sustained on his first kick rendered the fight invalid. The former double champion also wants all bets on the bout refunded.

MMA Jul 16

Waddle questions Van Dijk's place in Liverpool's starting XI under Iraola

Chris Waddle has urged Liverpool to address what he calls the "real issue" at the heart of their defence, questioning whether captain Virgil van Dijk will feature regularly under new head coach Andoni Iraola after the Reds conceded 53 Premier League goals last season.

Football Jul 16

Guskov reveals Blachowicz and Costa turned down Ankalaev before he stepped up in 30 seconds

Bogdan Guskov accepted a short-notice main event against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Abu Dhabi within 30 seconds, after both Jan Blachowicz and Paulo Costa declined the fight on 14 days' notice.

MMA Jul 16

Kuruvoli handed four-game ban for kicking Genge in Fiji's 73-8 rout by England

Fijian halfback Simione Kuruvoli has been suspended for four games after a disciplinary committee found him guilty of physical abuse for kicking Ellis Genge during Fiji's 73-8 defeat to England, with his eight-game entry-point ban halved after he accepted guilt and showed remorse.

Rugby Jul 16

Reece James limps off as Argentina end England's World Cup hopes in semi-final

England's World Cup campaign is over after Argentina came from behind to win 2-1 in the semi-final, with Anthony Gordon's opener cancelled out by Enzo Fernandez and a late Lautaro Martinez winner. Reece James added to England's misery by going off injured in the 80th minute.

Football Jul 15

Quansah suspended for Argentina semi-final as England's other yellow-card risks escape caution

Jarell Quansah remains the only England player banned for the World Cup semi-final against Argentina after Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Marc Guehi and Nico O'Reilly all avoided bookings against Norway. Yellow card tallies were reset after the quarter-finals, meaning only a red card in the semi-final can trigger a final suspension.

Football Jul 15

Djed Spence plays through broken jaw at World Cup with custom carbon-fibre mask

Tottenham full-back Djed Spence has been wearing a custom-fitted carbon-fibre mask throughout England's World Cup campaign while recovering from a jaw fracture sustained in May. The 25-year-old is expected to feature in Wednesday's semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta.

Football Jul 15

Record-breaking referee Barrett-Theron steps away from rugby after breast cancer diagnosis

Aimee Barrett-Theron, the most-capped female Test referee in rugby history with 52 internationals, has stepped away from officiating with immediate effect after being diagnosed with breast cancer. The 39-year-old South African says her condition is treatable and she aims to return to the field within months.

Rugby Jul 15

Coroner rules repeated heading caused Nobby Stiles' fatal brain condition

A coroner has ruled that repeatedly heading a football contributed to the death of 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles, after expert testimony confirmed the England and Manchester United midfielder developed CTE from an estimated 140,000 headers during his career.

Football Jul 15

Gary Mabbutt hospitalised in South Africa with serious blood clot after accident

Former England and Tottenham defender Gary Mabbutt has been hospitalised in South Africa following a serious accident, with a blood clot in his calf leaving him unable to fly home until at least 24th, according to ex-teammate Micky Hazard.

Football Jul 15

Ben Askren returns to wrestling just one year after life-saving double-lung transplant

Ben Askren will compete in a wrestling match at RAF 11 against Belal Muhammad, barely a year after a near-death experience left him comatose and requiring a double-lung transplant. The former UFC fighter and Olympian says the ordeal now feels like 'a bad dream'.

MMA Jul 15