Peres Jepchirchir, the world and Olympic marathon champion, is provisionally suspended after a test taken before her Sydney win found EPO, a banned blood booster

The rest of the day

44 more stories on this beat.

Each with its own sources. None of these is a link to the story above.

1. 02

   Hatton and Poulter leave LIV Golf

   Tyrrell Hatton and Ian Poulter, two English golfers, said on Friday they will not play in LIV 2.0, the rebuilt version of the breakaway LIV Golf tour. [5][6] Tom McKibbin of Northern Ireland, Branden Grace and Lucas Herbert also left, two days before the 25 October deadline for players to commit. [9][8] LIV began in 2022 on more than $5bn from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which stopped paying in April. [5] LIV then filed for bankruptcy protection in the US, and only a handful of players have signed up for 2027. [5]

   Why it matters — Most of those leaving can go back to the DP World Tour, Europe's main men's tour, whose end-of-season play-offs start in Abu Dhabi on 5 November. [9][7] McKibbin walked away from several years left on his LIV contract. [8]

2. 03

   Sparks put up for sale at $700m

   Mark Walter, the billionaire who controls baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers, is trying to sell the Los Angeles Sparks, a WNBA women's basketball team, with its new training centre, Bloomberg reported on Friday. [10][11] He reportedly wants $700m. [10] He bought the Sparks for about $10m in 2014, and the record price for a WNBA team is $300m, paid this year for the Connecticut Sun. [11] Walter sold the Lakers at a $12.5bn value in August and his stake in Chelsea soon after. [10]

   Sparks, bought 2014$10m

   Sun, WNBA record$300m

   Sparks, asking price$700m

   Why it matters — US prosecutors and the SEC, the US markets regulator, are looking into about $16bn of loans to firms tied to Walter that ended up with insurance companies he owns. [11] His company denies any wrongdoing. [10] Even without the $150m training centre, the asking price would beat the WNBA record by about $250m. [11]

3. 04

   Cowboys cheerleaders get a union

   The Dallas Cowboys agreed on Friday to recognise the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association as the union that bargains for the squad. [12][13] A union lets workers agree pay and conditions as one group instead of one by one. In 2018 a cheerleader sued, saying she averaged about $15,000 a season and earned less than the team's mascot. [14] A lawsuit the Cowboys settled in 2019 led to game-day pay doubling to $400. [13] The squad then got a 400% raise before the 2025 season. [12]

   Why it matters — The two sides now start bargaining over a contract. [14] The first NFL cheerleaders to form a union were the Buffalo Jills, after a ruling by the US labour board in 1995. [13]

4. 05

   Baseball's pay fight comes to the World Series

   Baseball's commissioner, Rob Manfred, and the players' union leader, Bruce Meyer, gave opposite readings of the World Series before Game 1. [28] The Rays and Brewers rank 19th and 27th by payroll. [28] Meyer said that undercuts the owners' case for a salary cap, a limit on what each team may spend on players. [28] Manfred called the series an outlier and said big-city teams make the playoffs far more often. [28] Bud Selig, the former commissioner who brought the Brewers to Milwaukee in 1970, called the owners' plan essential. [29]

   Why it matters — The deal between owners and players ends on 1 December, when the owners are expected to lock the players out. [30][28] Free agents can sign from five days after the World Series, and the agent Scott Boras says many teams are better off signing players before the new deal. [30]

5. 06

   Brewers win World Series Game 1

   The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in Game 1 of baseball's World Series on Friday, Milwaukee's first World Series game since 1982. [23] Tampa Bay ran into outs on the bases in back-to-back innings. [24] In the ninth, what looked like a game-ending double play was overturned on video, because shortstop Cooper Pratt's foot had left the base. [23][25] A run scored, then Trevor Megill struck out Jonny DeLuca to end it. [23][25]

   Why it matters — Game 1 winners have gone on to win the series 62.8% of the time, and neither team has ever won one. [23] The cheapest resale seat for Game 1 was $2,188 hours before the start, on course for a World Series record. [26]

6. 07

   Asia's football body backs Infantino

   Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa, head of the Asian Football Confederation, endorsed Gianni Infantino for another term as president of FIFA, world football's governing body, at a congress in Tokyo on Friday. [19][20] In August the same confederation had joined Europe's UEFA and Concacaf in accusing Infantino of a fundamental breach of trust. [19] That was over a scrapped $4.2bn plan to sell parts of the World Cup to private investors. [19] Nominations close on 18 November, and nobody is standing against him yet. [19][20]

   Why it matters — Asia will have 46 votes at the election in Rabat in March, against UEFA's 55 and Africa's 54. [20] With Africa and South America already behind him, Infantino could win a fourth term unopposed. [20]

7. 08

   Athletes sue over a ban on sports scholarships

   Three athletes sued the NCAA, the body that runs US college sport, on Friday over its ban on sports scholarships in Division III, its lowest level. [18] Division III has more than 400 schools and about 210,000 athletes a year, and its rule forbids any money given for athletic ability. [18] The suit, filed in a federal court in California, says the schools have agreed to hold the price of athletes' work at zero. [18] A court threw out a similar claim in 2013. [18]

   Why it matters — Since then the US Supreme Court ruled, in a case called Alston, that NCAA limits on athletes' benefits can be tested under antitrust law, the rules against firms agreeing prices. [18] If the athletes win, the NCAA could owe billions of dollars, depending on how many athletes the case covers. [18]

8. 09

   NWSL opens top pay to every player

   The NWSL, the top US women's football league, and its players' union settled six disputes on Friday. [15] The biggest ends the limits on the High Impact Player rule, which lets clubs pay stars up to $1m above the salary cap. [15][17] Until now a player had to meet criteria such as national-team minutes, Ballon d'Or votes or a place on a ranking of marketable athletes, and about 100 did. [15][17] From 1 January 2027 any player can be named, if paid at least 12% of the base cap of $3.5m. [16][17]

   Why it matters — The rule was written after Trinity Rodman, a Washington Spirit forward, drew bigger offers from European clubs, which have no salary cap. [15] The union had argued that sorting players by outside lists broke US labour law. [17]

9. 10

   Football's new regulator will cost clubs 20m pounds

   England's new Independent Football Regulator, which will license clubs and check their finances, expects to charge the 116 clubs in the top five divisions 20.3 million pounds in its first licensing year, 2027-28. [21] That is double the UK government's original estimate of about 10 million pounds a year. [21] The richest Premier League clubs will pay up to 1.8 million pounds, most Premier League clubs 600,000 pounds, and National League clubs about 600 pounds. [21] Setting up the regulator cost about 45 million pounds, and only 1 million of that is recovered in the first year. [21]

   Government's estimate10 m pounds

   Regulator's first year20.3 m pounds

   Why it matters — About 42 million pounds of set-up costs is still to be recovered over the next eight years, so the bill may rise. [21] The regulator's chair said clubs would also cover the cost of any legal action it takes over Manchester City. [21]

10. 11

    Germany skips FIFA's Under-15 World Cup

    FIFA's first Under-15 World Cup began this week in Azerbaijan, with 189 teams and nearly 1,000 matches. [22] Germany's football association chose not to send a team. [22] It said players that young should not face the pressure, public judging and agents that come with professional football. [22] Twenty-two countries refused, 18 of them from Europe, and the US and Ukraine are among them. [22] Russia is taking part, though its national teams have been banned from international football since it invaded Ukraine in 2022. [22]

    Why it matters — FIFA says young players everywhere need meaningful matches, and teams from Bhutan, the Seychelles and Vanuatu are playing. [22] The tournament runs until 30 October, and next year's edition will be for girls only. [22]

11. 12

    French police move PSG v Lyon

    France's football league moved Paris Saint-Germain's home match against Lyon from Sunday to Monday night, after French police banned it on its original date. [31] Another weekend of protests is planned in Paris, over fuel prices, schools and the cost of living. [31] About 550,000 people marched across France last Saturday. [31] Toulouse's home game against Troyes was also moved, from Saturday to Sunday, at the authorities' request. [31]

    Why it matters — Lyon lead the French league on 14 points and PSG are second, so the top game of the weekend loses its slot. [31] The police must also cover Sunday's NFL game at the Stade de France, about 10km from where the protests begin. [31]

12. 13

    NFL keeps its Paris game and eyes Tokyo

    US President Donald Trump said on Friday the NFL could probably have postponed Sunday's game in Paris, because of unrest in France. [32] The league said all week the game would go ahead. [32] The owners of the Saints and Steelers met France's president, Emmanuel Macron, with commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday. [32] Goodell also said a regular-season game in Tokyo could come in 2027 or 2028. [33]

    Why it matters — The players' contract allows up to 10 NFL games abroad a season, and the league plays nine this year, including the first in Paris. [33] A league executive, Peter O'Reilly, said going to 10 is being considered for 2027. [33]

13. 14

    Kompany taken to hospital

    Vincent Kompany, the 40-year-old manager of the German club Bayern Munich, collapsed on Friday while watching the club's reserve team train. [35][36] He is having tests in hospital, and reports in Germany say he is stable. [35] He had been ill with a virus that affected his legs for about a week. [36] He was still on the touchline for Wednesday's Champions League draw with Arsenal. [35] His assistants will run training and matches until further notice. [35]

    Why it matters — Bayern play Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday. [35] Max Eberl, the club's sporting director, said Kompany would be given all the time he needs. [36]

14. 15

    Blakely wins the world all-around title

    Skye Blakely, 21, of the US won the women's all-around title at the world gymnastics championships in Rotterdam on Friday, with 55.733 points over four apparatus. [37][38] Russia's Liudmila Roshchina was second and China's Ke Qinqin third. [37] Blakely tore an elbow ligament before the Tokyo Olympic trials in 2021. [37] She ruptured an Achilles tendon two days before the Paris Olympic trials in 2024. [37] It is her first individual world title. [38]

    Why it matters — Two days earlier the US team lost the team title to China by 0.233 points, ending its run of seven world team titles. [39] Part of that gap came from a leap of Blakely's on the beam, judged short, which cut her difficulty score by 0.9. [39]

15. 16

    Canada beat England for a second week

    Canada beat England 31-22 in Ottawa on Friday in the WXV series, a women's rugby union competition. [41] A week earlier Canada won 24-21 in Toronto and ended England's run of 41 matches unbeaten. [41] It is the first time in a decade that England, the world champions, have lost twice in a row. [41][40] Canada's captain, Sophie de Goede, scored three tries. [41]

    Why it matters — Canada lost the 2025 World Cup final to England, and the Guardian calls them serious contenders for the next World Cup, in 2029. [40] England play the USA in New Jersey next Friday. [41]

16. 17

    Fever's president leaves and the GM is fired

    The Indiana Fever, the WNBA team of the star guard Caitlin Clark, said on Friday that president Kelly Krauskopf is stepping down. [42][43] Hours later it fired general manager Amber Cox. [43] Krauskopf built the team that won its only title, in 2012. [42] The Fever made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons but never got past the semi-finals. [42] Coach Stephanie White, with one year left on her contract, is expected to stay. [42]

    Why it matters — The new bosses must try to keep Kelsey Mitchell, a free agent, while three players already take about 60% of the salary cap. [42]

17. 18

    Coaches' $250,000 fines put on hold

    The NFL fined three head coaches $250,000 each over how they treated referees: Mike Vrabel of the Patriots, Nick Sirianni of the Eagles and Aaron Glenn of the Jets. [34] The fines are on hold and will be dropped if a coach does not do it again, three sources told Front Office Sports. [34] Vrabel was penalised on 4 October for swearing at an official. [34] In its second week alone the league fined 13 players a total of $300,089 for bad conduct. [34]

    Why it matters — The league also suspended two of its own game officials this month, and the referees' union is contesting that. [34]

18. 19

    Apple says F1 is boosting its adverts

    Apple, which took over Formula One's US television rights this season, says its F1 audience is up by double digits on what ESPN drew last season. [66] ESPN averaged 1.3 million viewers in its last F1 season. [66] Apple's advertising chief, Todd Teresi, said brands such as American Express and Ford saw better results than usual for streamed TV. [66] Apple shows adverts only around live sport, such as F1 and MLS. [66]

    Why it matters — Teresi said F1's US viewers earn more on average than NFL or NBA viewers, which draws expensive brands. [66] He said the audience is US-only and much smaller than Apple's other ad businesses. [66]

19. 20

    IndyCar will race in Spain

    IndyCar, the top US open-wheel racing series, will race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on 18 July 2027, its first race in Europe in 20 years. [44] The promoters, Spanish government officials and IndyCar signed a 10-year deal with options for each side. [44] The track is near the hometown of Alex Palou, a five-time IndyCar champion. [44] The 17-race 2027 calendar drops Nashville Superspeedway and this year's one-off race in Washington. [45]

    Why it matters — It is IndyCar's first race outside North America since 2013. [44] Every race will again be shown on Fox in the US. [45]

20. 21

    SEC games rule US college TV

    Seven of the 10 most-watched college football teams this season play in the SEC, a conference of mainly southern US universities, Nielsen figures show. [46] Texas averaged 8.40 million viewers a game through seven weeks. [46] Its win over Ohio State drew 13.99 million on ABC, the season's biggest audience. [46] ABC, ESPN's sister channel, has eight of the season's 10 biggest audiences. [46]

    Texas, per game8.4 m viewers

    Ohio State, per game7.46 m viewers

    Why it matters — ESPN pushed for the playoff to grow to 24 teams, and an Athletic survey found 82% of fans against it. [46] One SEC fan, speaking on Paul Finebaum's ESPN show, complained it would put half the SEC in the playoff. [46]

21. 22

    Leclerc fastest as Antonelli nears the title

    Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fastest in Friday practice at the US Grand Prix in Austin, 0.042 seconds ahead of Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli. [48] Antonelli, 20, wins the world title on Sunday only if he wins the race while George Russell finishes below eighth and Lewis Hamilton below fourth. [48] He would be the youngest champion in Formula One history. [49] Red Bull's Max Verstappen looked quickest on the long runs that copy race conditions. [48]

    Why it matters — If it does not happen in Austin, the next chance is the race in Mexico, and the Guardian calls the title all but assured. [49]

22. 23

    Bucks move their opener for the Brewers

    The Milwaukee Bucks, the city's NBA team, moved Friday's home opener against the Chicago Bulls from 7pm to 3pm local time. [27] That left the evening clear for the Brewers' first World Series home game in 44 years. [27] The Bucks made the change with the NBA, and set up a watch party for the baseball outside their arena. [27]

    Why it matters — The Bucks said a normal evening start would have clashed for local fans. [27] Both stadiums are in Milwaukee, so a fan could go to both games on the same day. [27]

23. 24

    Texas builds AI tools for its teams

    The University of Texas launched Bevo Lab on Friday, which will build artificial-intelligence tools for coaches and athletes in its 21 varsity sports. [47] They include chatbots for each sport and models that judge players for the roster. [47] Dell, Google Cloud and SHI International back it. [47] It is led by Kirk Goldsberry, a data analyst who ran analytics for the San Antonio Spurs and for USA Basketball at the 2016 Olympics. [47]

    Why it matters — Texas's athletic director, Chris Del Conte, announced it as a way to give the school an edge over its rivals. [47]

24. 25

    Judge lets Avila play a fifth college season

    A judge, Jason Sengheiser, granted Robbie Avila a temporary order on Friday letting Saint Louis University put him on its basketball roster for another season. [62] Avila had gone to court for a fifth year of eligibility. [62] He was not picked in the 2026 NBA draft and averaged 12.8 points last season. [62] Saint Louis open on 2 November, and Avila is due back in court on 4 November. [62]

    Why it matters — College players are winning a wave of such orders, and the schools that sign them belong to the NCAA whose rules the orders block. [63]

25. 26

    Saka faces at least six weeks out

    Arsenal fear Bukayo Saka will miss at least six weeks, and possibly longer, with a thigh injury from Wednesday's 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich. [64] Fluid around the muscle made it hard to diagnose, and he was due a scan on Friday. [64] He would miss England's Nations League games against Croatia and Spain. [64] He also misses Saturday's home game against Everton. [64] An Achilles injury in March kept him out of seven Arsenal games before he returned to help them win the Premier League for the first time in 22 years. [64]

    Why it matters — Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, said more scans and specialists' opinions were needed. [64]

26. 27

    Forest held at Ipswich

    Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 at Ipswich in the Premier League on Friday. [67] Neco Williams scored for Forest, and Julio Enciso equalised in the first half. [67] Forest have six points from eight matches and one win. [67] Ipswich's Issa Diop was not sent off for a foul on James McAtee, which Forest's manager, Oliver Glasner, said felt like a red card. [67]

    Why it matters — Glasner said he was still waiting for the team to click. [67] The Guardian says time may be short, because Forest's president, Evangelos Marinakis, tends to act fast in a bad run. [67]

27. 28

    Flagg hurt by a flagrant foul

    Cooper Flagg, the NBA's rookie of the year last season, left the Dallas Mavericks' 121-105 win at Indiana on Friday with a left shoulder injury. [54] The Pacers' Aaron Nesmith knocked him down from behind on a fast break just before half-time. [54][55] The foul was ruled flagrant, and Nesmith and the Mavericks' Naji Marshall each got a technical foul after a scuffle. [55] Coach Dusty May said Flagg would be assessed over the next couple of days. [54]

    Why it matters — Dallas play the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday and the Miami Heat on Monday, and it is not clear whether Flagg plays in either. [54]

28. 29

    Colts quarterback charged over marijuana

    Anthony Richardson Sr., the Indianapolis Colts quarterback, was charged with a misdemeanour, a minor crime, for marijuana possession, Indiana court papers show. [60] The charge stems from a traffic stop on 12 October. [60] Marijuana is legal for adults in 24 US states, but Indiana has not fully decriminalised it. [60] Richardson, 24, was the fourth pick of the 2023 draft and is in the last year of his first contract. [60]

    Why it matters — The Colts said they are gathering more information and will not comment further. [60]

29. 30

    Bears lose Kmet for the season

    Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet will miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury from Thursday's win over New England, coach Ben Johnson said on Friday. [61] He was hurt at the end of an 8-yard catch in the fourth quarter and left on a cart. [61] Kmet, a second-round pick in 2020, goes on the injured list. [61]

    Why it matters — The Bears will lean on Sam Roush, a third-round rookie, and two players from their practice squad. [61]

30. 31

    Showjumping comes to the Pyramids

    The Global Champions Tour, a showjumping series, held its first event in Egypt this weekend, in front of the Pyramids of Giza near Cairo. [65] Fifty of the world's best riders are competing for a prize fund of 1.75 million euros, and opening night sold out. [65] It is the tour's second-to-last stop before next week's finals in Rabat, Morocco. [65]

    Why it matters — Jan Tops, a Dutch Olympic champion, started the tour in 2006 with six events, and it now goes to 17 places. [65]

31. 32

    Wade equals the Prem try record

    Christian Wade scored his 101st try in the Prem, England's top rugby union league, to equal Chris Ashton's record as Newcastle Red Bulls beat Sale 17-3 on Friday. [51] It was Newcastle's first league win of the season, and only their fifth in four seasons. [51] Sale had been unbeaten in their two previous league games. [51] Wade's try came nine minutes into the second half, after Newcastle chose to kick a penalty to the corner instead of at the posts. [51] The result leaves Harlequins as the only Prem team yet to win a match this season. [51]

    Why it matters — Sale were among the teams named as title contenders before the season. [51]

32. 33

    Gloucester beat Bath at home at last

    Gloucester beat Bath 23-5 at Kingsholm on Friday, their first Prem home win over their oldest rivals since April 2022. [68] They held out with 13 men for part of the first half and led 9-5 at the break. [68] George Barton kicked three penalties, and Freddie Thomas and Max Llewellyn scored tries in the second half. [68]

    Why it matters — The win keeps Gloucester top of the league. [68] Their last win in the fixture, 64-0, came months before Johann van Graan took over Bath and rebuilt the team. [68]

33. 34

    Picklum takes the surfing lead

    Molly Picklum of Australia, the reigning world champion, won the Portugal Pro at Supertubos on Friday, her first win of the year. [50] It took her to the top of the World Surf League rankings with two events left. [50] Griffin Colapinto of California beat Brazil's Gabriel Medina in the men's final, his third win at that beach. [50]

    Why it matters — Picklum, 23, had reached only one final this season before Portugal, and the season ends in Hawaii in December. [50]

34. 35

    Littler through, Van Gerwen out

    Luke Littler, the 19-year-old world darts champion, beat William O'Connor 6-3 in the first round of the European Championship in Dortmund on Friday. [52] He hit six 180s, the highest score possible with three darts. [52] It was his first match since a surprise semi-final defeat at the World Youth Championship in early October. [52] Michael van Gerwen, 37, a three-time world champion, lost 6-3 in the first round to his fellow Dutchman Kevin Doets after falling 5-1 behind. [52] Littler plays Nathan Aspinall next. [52]

    Why it matters — The European Championship is the only major title Littler has not yet won. [52]

35. 36

    Boulter back as British number one

    Katie Boulter beat Antonia Ruzic 3-6 6-3 6-3 to reach the Japan Open semi-finals in Osaka. [53] The win puts her back above Sonay Kartal as Britain's top-ranked woman, and back in the world top 50 on Monday. [53] Kartal had passed her on Monday after reaching the final in Wuhan. [53] Boulter, 30, plays Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic next. [53]

    Why it matters — It is Boulter's first semi-final since Queen's in June. [53]

36. 37

    Hawks win by a club-record 47 points

    The Atlanta Hawks beat the Charlotte Hornets 128-81 on Friday, the biggest winning margin in the team's history. [56] The old record was a 46-point win over Sacramento in 2017. [56] Atlanta led 68-43 at half-time, with CJ McCollum scoring 11 points in the first quarter. [56] Jalen Johnson had 19 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. [56] Atlanta forced 27 turnovers, the times Charlotte lost the ball, and scored 25 points from them. [56] Charlotte made only 34% of their shots. [56]

    Why it matters — Atlanta have won both their first two games of the NBA season. [56]

37. 38

    Tatum says there is no feud with Brown

    Jayson Tatum scored 36 points as the Boston Celtics beat the New York Knicks 107-103 on Friday. [69] Afterwards he said there was no feud with Jaylen Brown, his old teammate, whom Boston traded to Philadelphia for Paul George and four draft picks. [69] Brown had posted an emoji suggesting Tatum lied about being surprised by the trade. [69] Tatum said he called and texted Brown the day of the trade. [69]

    Why it matters — The two won the 2024 NBA title together and now play for rival teams in the same conference. [69]

38. 39

    Boozer's late shot beats the Warriors

    The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Golden State Warriors 111-108 after a 17-0 run late in the fourth quarter. [70] Memphis had been 11 points down with five minutes left. [70] Cam Boozer put them ahead with 20.1 seconds to go. [70] He had 25 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, after making only 2 of 15 shots in his debut. [70]

    Why it matters — It was Memphis's first game of a four-game road trip. [70]

39. 40

    New Hampshire beat No. 2 Michigan State again

    The University of New Hampshire beat Michigan State, ranked second, 1-0 in college ice hockey on Friday, a year after beating them on the Spartans' own ice. [57] Freshman Emile Guite scored on the power play in the third period, and New Hampshire outshot them 34-14. [57] Michigan State's roster holds 17 players picked in an NHL draft. [57] New Hampshire has six, none picked higher than the third round. [57]

    Why it matters — Nine of Michigan State's drafted players were first-round picks. [57]

40. 41

    Duke edge Virginia in a rematch

    Duke beat Virginia 19-16 in Charlottesville on Friday night in college football, a rematch of last season's ACC championship game. [72] The ACC is a conference of mostly east-coast US universities. Duke had lost its two previous games. [72] Quarterback Walker Eget missed the first half with a finger injury and threw for 211 yards after he came back. [72]

    Why it matters — Duke now face Boston College and NC State before a big game against Miami. [72]

41. 42

    Edendork win their first Tyrone title

    Edendork won Tyrone's senior Gaelic football championship for the first time on Friday, beating Errigal Ciaran with the last kick of the game. [58] Niall Morgan scored the winning two-point kick. [58] Gaelic football is an Irish sport played with a round ball that can be kicked or carried. Morgan has already won an All-Ireland title with Tyrone, in 2021. [58]

    Why it matters — Morgan called it the pinnacle, and said that wherever he goes, his parish of Edendork comes first. [58]

42. 43

    Edinburgh make it four wins from four

    Edinburgh beat the Lions, a South African team, with a bonus point in rugby's United Rugby Championship on Friday. [71] Scrum-half Hector Patterson, 21, scored two tries and set up two more, two days after signing a better contract. [71] Matt Currie scored the first try after a move with Patterson down the left. [71] It is Edinburgh's fourth league win in four games. [71]

    Why it matters — Edinburgh's line-out, where the ball is thrown back into play, won almost everything in wet and windy weather. [71]

43. 44

    Wilson and Williams reach the snooker semi-finals

    Kyren Wilson beat Anthony McGill 6-1 and Mark Williams beat David Gilbert 6-4 in the Northern Ireland Open quarter-finals in Belfast on Friday. [73] Both have won the tournament before, and Wilson won it and the world title in 2024. [73] Wilson plays Sam Craigie next, in only Craigie's second ranking-event semi-final. [73] Williams, 51, a three-time world champion from Wales, came back from 3-1 down by making three centuries, breaks of 100 points or more, in a row. [73] He plays Jak Jones, another Welshman, in Saturday's other semi-final. [73]

    Why it matters — It is Wilson's first semi-final at a ranking event since March 2025. [73]

44. 45

    Former AFL player Daniel Stewart dies at 37

    Daniel Stewart, who played 36 games and kicked 31 goals for Port Adelaide in the AFL, Australia's top Australian rules football league, has died suddenly at 37. [59] He played for the club from 2010 to 2013. [59] He was a 200cm forward, picked 35th in the 2009 rookie draft from North Adelaide. [59] Port Adelaide confirmed his death on Saturday and said it was deeply saddened. [59]

    Why it matters — He leaves a wife and two sons. [59]