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  • Partey in preliminary Ghana squad for World Cup

    Partey in preliminary Ghana squad for World Cup

    One of Ghana’s most high-profile football stars, former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, has been selected for the West African nation’s preliminary squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a decision that comes as the 32-year-old prepares to stand trial on multiple sexual offense charges next year.

    Partey, who currently plies his trade for Spanish La Liga club Villarreal after leaving Arsenal this past summer when his contract at the North London side expired, has formally pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one additional count of sexual assault. The charges stem from allegations made by four separate women dating back to incidents between 2020 and 2022. His trial is scheduled to get underway in 2026.

    Across his five-year tenure with Arsenal between 2020 and 2025, Partey earned 167 appearances across all domestic and European competitions for the Gunners. Capped 58 times for Ghana to date, the midfielder currently serves as vice-captain of the national team, a status the Ghana Football Association has reaffirmed in the wake of the charges.

    “Thomas is our vice-captain. He is one of the top midfielders in the world and we stand by him shoulder to shoulder,” GFA President Kurt Okraku told BBC Sport in a public statement confirming the association’s support for the player.

    Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz named Partey as part of his 28-man preliminary group for a pre-World Cup training camp, which will be capped off with a friendly fixture against Wales in Cardiff on June 2. Queiroz is required to cut his final roster down to the 26-player limit mandated by FIFA before the tournament kicks off.

    Alongside Partey, other notable call-ups include Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo, Coventry City striker Brandon Thomas-Asante, and Leicester City pair Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu. Five goalkeepers were included in the preliminary squad, among them Joseph Anang, who currently plays for League of Ireland Premier Division side St Patrick’s Athletic. The only major absentee from the group is Tottenham Hotspur winger Mohammed Kudus, who has not featured since January due to a persistent quad injury.

    Ghana will kick off their Group L campaign at the 2026 World Cup against Panama in Toronto on June 17, before subsequent group stage matches against England in Foxborough and Croatia in Philadelphia respectively.

  • Sabalenka thrives in French Open heat, Sinner waits in wings

    Sabalenka thrives in French Open heat, Sinner waits in wings

    The opening day of main draw action at the 2025 French Open delivered a mix of dominant wins, shocking upsets and highly anticipated upcoming matches on Tuesday, as top seeds navigated soaring Paris temperatures and tricky first-round hurdles to kick off their fortnight at Roland Garros.

    Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka got her tournament campaign off to a flying start, wrapping up a straight-sets 6-4, 6-2 victory over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, the world No. 50, in just 75 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier. The Belarusian 28-year-old, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, only faced one minor scare when she failed to close out the match on her own serve, but responded immediately with a break in the next game to seal her spot in the second round.

    The result marked a strong bounce-back for Sabalenka, who suffered a surprise early exit at the Italian Open earlier this month. Speaking after her win, the top seed acknowledged that first-round matches at major tournaments always carry extra pressure. “I’m super happy to be through. I feel like it was a tricky first-round opponent,” she said. “I’d say that for me the first rounds are always not easy. And then, as I get further in the tournament, as I get more comfortable, my level becomes better.”

    Sabalenka will next face the winner of the opening-round match between French wildcard Elsa Jacquemot and Czech qualifier Linda Fruhvirtova in the round of 64. She also noted that the unseasonably hot conditions at this year’s tournament actually worked in her favor, a stark contrast to the cold, wet weather she faced in Rome and during her first week of practice in Paris. “I’d say that it was a bit warm,” she joked. “Especially compared to the first days when I first got here, it was like 14C, freezing. Now it’s boiling hot and balls are flying, everything is much faster. But physically I feel strong, so I feel like it can benefit me.”

    As Sabalenka wraps up her opening match, all attention turned to the evening’s night session, where men’s world number one Jannik Sinner was set to make his 2025 French Open debut. The Italian 24-year-old is one win away from completing a career Grand Slam, with the Paris title the only major still missing from his trophy cabinet. With double defending champion Carlos Alcaraz sidelined through injury and Sinner bringing a 29-match winning streak into the tournament, he enters as the overwhelming favorite to lift the trophy. Still, six matches stand between him and the men’s final on June 8, and he will open against French wildcard Clement Tabur, who is expected to receive a rapturous welcome from the home crowd on Chatrier. Tuesday’s match marks almost exactly one year since Sinner’s heartbreaking five-set loss to Alcaraz in the 2024 final, where he held three championship points before being overturned.

    Before Sinner takes the court, women’s defending champion Coco Gauff will face off against compatriot Taylor Townsend in the preceding match on Chatrier.

    The opening day also brought a major upset when Russia’s sixth seed Daniil Medvedev suffered a five-set first-round exit at the hands of Australian wildcard Adam Walton. The result extends Medvedev’s poor run of form at Roland Garros: it is now the seventh time he has been knocked out in the opening round in 10 tournament appearances. Despite the disappointing loss, the former world number one insisted he remains committed to competing in Paris. “I know that I am in good shape and I can play well in Roland Garros. I can,” Medvedev said. “It’s just tougher for me, and first rounds are usually tougher for me, but I will always come here.”

    Elsewhere in the draw, 18-year-old American rising star Iva Jovic continued to turn heads with a dominant 6-4, 6-2 win over Philippines’ Alexandra Eala, booking a second-round clash with compatriot Emma Navarro, the former world No. 8 who eased past Indonesia’s Janice Tjen in straight sets. 2021 French Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas also advanced after his opponent Alexandre Muller was forced to retire through injury early in the match. The Greek 27-year-old, who has plummeted to No. 79 in the ATP rankings after a poor run of results, could reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in seven appearances when he faces Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi next. The day ended with a fairy-tale win for home crowd favorite Moise Kouame: the 17-year-old French wildcard notched his first ever Grand Slam match win with an impressive 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-1 victory over 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic of Croatia.

  • DR Congo seeks World Cup ticket refunds after Ebola outbreak

    DR Congo seeks World Cup ticket refunds after Ebola outbreak

    Fifty-two years after their last appearance at football’s global showcase, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s men’s national team – known affectionately as the Leopards – is set to make a historic return to the FIFA World Cup this summer. But a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak centered in the Central African nation has thrown a wrench into plans for hundreds of home fans, who are now barred from entering the United States to cheer on their side, prompting the country’s football governing body to push FIFA for full ticket refunds.

    The World Health Organization designated the ongoing Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 16, triggering sweeping travel restrictions from the United States, one of three co-hosts for the 2026 tournament alongside Canada and Mexico. As of late May, regional health officials have recorded more than 900 suspected Ebola cases and 223 suspected deaths across Central and East Africa, over 90% of which are concentrated in DR Congo. In response to the public health crisis, the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa has suspended routine visa processing, and Washington has implemented an entry ban barring all non-U.S. citizens who have traveled to DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the prior 21 days.

    While the WHO has refrained from issuing official recommendations for cross-border travel restrictions, the U.S. policy has effectively locked hundreds of DR Congo-based fans out of matches scheduled on U.S. soil. Veron Mosengo-Omba, president of the Fédération Congolaise de Football (Fecofa), told BBC Sport Africa that the federation has formally asked FIFA to issue refunds for hundreds of tickets purchased by fans who now cannot travel. Ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup are already exponentially higher than the 2022 edition in Qatar, reaching up to seven times the cost due to FIFA’s controversial dynamic pricing model.

    “They are punished because they cannot get to see the World Cup (in the USA) to support their team,” Mosengo-Omba said. “We don’t want our supporters who love football, who love the World Cup, to lose everything.”

    FIFA, the global governing body for football, told reporters it will review Fecofa’s request in due course. Under the organization’s standard ticketing policy, refunds are only issued in exceptional cases such as match cancellations, with fans typically limited to reselling or transferring tickets to other attendees. It remains unclear whether the organization will grant an exception for the affected DR Congo fans.

    The timeline of the tournament puts additional pressure on stakeholders: the Leopards kick off their Group K campaign against Portugal in Houston on June 17, meaning fans traveling from DR Congo would have needed to depart by the end of May to meet the 21-day entry requirement. Following their opening match, DR Congo will face Colombia in Guadalajara, Mexico, and most displaced fans have already shifted plans to attend that fixture, which is not subject to U.S. entry rules. If the Leopards advance to the round of 16 as group runners-up, their next match would be held in Toronto, Canada, which currently does not enforce the same entry restrictions as the United States.

    Notably, the DR Congo national squad itself remains unaffected by the travel ban. All 26 players in head coach Sebastien Desabre’s squad and nearly all technical staff are based at clubs outside DR Congo. The few Fecofa officials traveling with the team from the country departed weeks ago to satisfy the 21-day waiting period, and the federation canceled a planned pre-tournament training camp in Kinshasa, opting to assemble the squad in Belgium for warm-up friendlies before moving to their tournament base in Texas.

    For DR Congo, this World Cup marks more than just a football competition: it is the first time the nation has qualified for the tournament since 1974, when it competed as Zaire, making it the first sub-Saharan African nation to ever compete at the World Cup. Mosengo-Omba, who was elected Fecofa president earlier this May after stepping down from his role as secretary general of the Confederation of African Football, called the long-awaited return a “resurrection” of Congolese football.

    “This is the resurrection of football in this country,” he said. “People forget their problems now they are following the Leopards. The team need to go to the second round (at the World Cup). With the new leaders, we bring the football of this country to the very highest level. We are not saying that we will win the Afcon or World Cup, but we will build a solid foundation for the future.”

    Mosengo-Omba also pushed back against widespread global anxiety over Ebola, noting that the outbreak is concentrated in rural eastern regions of the large country, and that DR Congo has far more experience containing the virus than any other nation. However, public health experts warn that this outbreak presents unique challenges: it is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, which has not circulated globally in more than a decade, and no licensed vaccine is currently available for the variant. Containment efforts have also been hampered by armed conflict in eastern DR Congo that has displaced tens of thousands of people, and widespread community distrust of public health workers.

    FIFA added that it remains in close contact with Fecofa, the three host governments, and global health authorities to ensure full compliance with all medical and security protocols for the tournament.

  • From McEnroe to Medvedev, meltdowns on tennis courts are part of the sport’s mental challenge

    From McEnroe to Medvedev, meltdowns on tennis courts are part of the sport’s mental challenge

    As the 2024 clay court swing reaches its peak with the French Open underway, a familiar, dramatic staple of professional tennis has returned to the spotlight: explosive on-court temper outbursts, most commonly marked by violent racket-smashing. For a sport universally recognized as one of the most psychologically demanding in the world, moments where even top-ranked competitors lose their composure in front of thousands of live spectators and millions of global viewers are far from a new phenomenon.

    Recent weeks have already delivered multiple high-profile meltdowns across European clay tournaments. Former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev suffered one of the most humbling defeats of his career earlier this season, dropping a 6-0 6-0 double-bagel loss to Matteo Berrettini at the Monte Carlo Masters. Midway through the lopsided defeat, the Russian star slammed his racket into the red clay seven consecutive times before tossing the completely mangled frame into a court-side trash can. Medvedev later acknowledged that even he did not plan the outburst, noting he had hoped the release of frustration might spark a comeback, though the effort failed to turn his game around.

    Not long after, German competitor Daniel Altmaier saw his frustration boil over during a tournament in Hamburg, where he smashed his racket before kicking the broken frame into the spectator stands. No fans were injured in the incident, but it reignited conversations about the risks of unregulated on-court anger.

    This trend stretches back decades. 1980s legend John McEnroe remains one of the most iconic examples of on-court temper, and even some of the sport’s most beloved and composed greats had their moments early in their careers. Roger Federer, widely hailed as one of the classiest players in tennis history, was known for frequent racket-smashing as a junior before reining in his emotions to build his legendary legacy. Other all-time greats have also had high-profile run-ins with officials over outbursts: Serena Williams was penalized for shouting at a line judge following a foot fault call at the 2009 U.S. Open, while Novak Djokovic was disqualified from the 2020 U.S. Open after accidentally striking a line judge in the throat with a hit ball, ending his 29-match winning streak in stunning fashion.

    Current top players have opened up about the root of these outbursts, explaining that the pressure of tennis amplifies the same frustrations all people experience in daily life. Andrey Rublev, the world No. 13 and a player who has long been open about his own on-court anger, noted that the intensity of the sport can even leave him with cuts after punching racket strings or slamming his knees to release frustration. Rublev’s coach, legendary former player Marat Safin, once estimated he broke more than 1,000 rackets over the course of his own career.

    “It’s not about tennis,” Rublev explained. “All people have this situation in life and you just lose it. What makes tennis different is that you’re completely alone out there, and everyone is watching. Some people handle those emotions better, but I’m one of the people who let them take over.”

    World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who has worked for years to manage her own temper, says that unchecked anger used to tank her performance. “My emotions were destroying my game and my level was dropping dramatically when I would start overreacting on everything,” she said. “Opponents would see that weakness, step up, and play even better. Learning to keep those emotions in check has been a huge improvement for my career, and it really helped me level up.”

    Some players have adapted by channeling their frustration away from the public eye. After Coco Gauff’s off-court post-match meltdown was caught on camera at the Australian Open, it sparked broad debate about athlete privacy. World No. 5 Jessica Pegula says she intentionally reserves any racket-smashing for private spaces away from crowds. “I go find some place that’s maybe not near people and then I can break a racket,” she said, noting that on the court she is able to stay composed. “I’m not a super emotional person in general, so getting to that point takes a lot for me. But I do think it’s entertaining to watch – sometimes I wish I could wear my heart on my sleeve more, that’s just not who I am.”

    Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka similarly developed a private way to handle frustration, after her father corrected her poor on-court attitude when she was young. Now, Osaka releases her anger quietly enough that it rarely draws attention. “I actually do curse a lot on the court, I say it so softly you can’t hear it,” she explained. “I’m really glad about that, because I don’t want to get fined for it.”

    36-year-old Sorana Cirstea, who recently became the oldest player to debut in the WTA top 20, summed up the prevailing perspective among players: professional tennis is a uniquely grueling mental test, and competitors are only human. “It’s such a mental sport,” Cirstea said. “To be able to sustain that mentality for three long hours with all the adrenaline and the pressure, sometimes you don’t handle it the best. We are human.”

  • Yomiuri Giants baseball manager Abe resigns after arrest over allegedly assaulting his daughter

    Yomiuri Giants baseball manager Abe resigns after arrest over allegedly assaulting his daughter

    In a sudden development that has sent shockwaves through Japan’s professional baseball community, 47-year-old Shinnosuke Abe has stepped down from his post as manager of the iconic Yomiuri Giants, one of the nation’s most storied sports franchises, following his arrest on allegations of assaulting his teenage daughter. The incident unfolded on Monday at Abe’s Tokyo residence, where he intervened to break up a physical altercation between his two daughters. According to the Yomiuri newspaper — the parent company that owns the Giants — Abe grabbed his 18-year-old elder daughter by the collar and threw her to the ground during the intervention. He later admitted to losing his temper during the confrontation, confirming the core of the allegation against him.

  • Essendon star Zach Merrett on Brad Scott sacking, his future at the club

    Essendon star Zach Merrett on Brad Scott sacking, his future at the club

    In a startling revelation that lays bare the messy behind-the-scenes chaos of top-tier Australian rules football, Essendon’s star veteran Zach Merrett has shared that news of head coach Brad Scott’s dismissal reached him via an unexpected source: a random stranger at a neighborhood coffee shop, before the club officially notified its playing group.

    Merrett was quietly drafting training notes over a morning brew at a cafe near Essendon’s headquarters this Tuesday when the unknown patron approached him with the bombshell announcement. While club executives formally confirmed Scott’s termination soon after Merrett arrived at the facility, the six-time best and fairest winner says the unorthodox reveal left him stunned.

    Scott’s departure from the Bombers came after a dismal 12-month stretch that has left the club languishing at the bottom of the AFL ladder. The coach was let go Monday night, following a run that saw Essendon secure just one victory from 24 matches dating back to the middle of the 2025 season. The 2026 campaign has been equally underwhelming, with the side holding a 1-10 win-loss record halfway through the regular season.

    For Merrett, who served as captain for three of Scott’s four years at the helm, the coaching exit is a somber turning point for the club. “It’s always really difficult when you spend four years with someone, anyone, but particularly the head coach,” Merrett explained during an appearance at Sapporo Premium Beer’s 150th birthday celebration at Melbourne’s Rising Festival. “You spend a lot of time together… so it’s a sad moment and I’m more so thinking of him and his family. It’s a pretty stressful role for anyone in that position around the competition, so I hope he’s holding up all right.”

    Merrett’s own future at Essendon has been the subject of intense speculation since the end of the 2025 season, when he stepped down from the captaincy after a failed attempt to engineer a trade to Hawthorn. The club blocked the move, holding Merrett to his existing contract, which keeps him tied to Essendon until the end of the 2027 season. When asked whether Scott’s departure would change his plans long-term, Merrett said it was too early in the process to make any definitive calls.

    “Yeah, it’s probably all so raw right now, I’ll have a bit of time and space to reflect and think through that in the not-so-distant future,” he said. “But for now, to be honest, it’s about getting through the day… gather your thoughts and then make sure the young boys are focused on the game. There’s a game in five days’ time we want to perform in, I want to perform in, so making sure there’s no distractions. That (decision) will happen in time, for now I just feel like I need to hold my end of the bargain, make sure I am trying to lead these young boys through this weird phase.”

    As a seasoned player who has now experienced five separate coaching changes throughout his tenure at Essendon, Merrett is leaning on that experience to steady the young playing group through the transition. He emphasized that players bear responsibility for their own on-field performance regardless of off-field front office decisions.

    “Unfortunately I’ve been through this maybe five times now,” he said. “Not to make excuses, we’re paid to perform as players, we’re not on the board, we’re not there to make those decisions. We need to look after our own backyard so to speak, and perform and play our role. For me, it’s not getting distracted, still training extremely hard, locking in for what you need to do to prepare for a big game on Sunday night. And seeing it as an opportunity to respond and play in a way the fans can hopefully be proud of in the back-end of the year.”

  • Knicks reach NBA Finals for first time in 27 years

    Knicks reach NBA Finals for first time in 27 years

    After nearly three decades of waiting, the New York Knicks have officially secured their spot in the NBA Finals, capping off a dominant 130-93 Game 4 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers to complete a 4-0 sweep of the Eastern Conference Finals. The historic win extends the franchise’s all-time playoff winning streak to 11 consecutive games, marking one of the most impressive post-season runs in modern Knicks history.

    In a balanced offensive performance, Karl-Anthony Towns led all New York scorers with a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson, named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, added 15 points to the final tally. For the 29-year-old Brunson, this milestone carries unique personal weight: he was just two years old when the Knicks last made the Finals in 1999, a run that ended with a 4-1 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. That 1999 squad included his father Rick Brunson, who now serves as an assistant coach for the current Knicks roster.

    Reflecting on the breakthrough, Brunson credited his team for the collective success: “It means a lot, but I wouldn’t be here without my team-mates, the belief they had in me. They give me the confidence. They let me be me. Most importantly, we all believe in each other from top to bottom. It’s an honour to play with them.”

    Sharpshooter Landry Shamet, who turned in a perfect shooting performance off the bench with 16 points on 4-for-4 three-point shooting, emphasized that the squad has no intention of celebrating early. “We are remaining focused on the larger goal rather than dwelling on our victory over the Cavaliers,” he said. “We’ve got four more wins to try and go get and we know it’s going to be even harder. Being in this position with this team, it’s pretty special.”

    The Knicks’ next challenge will wait for the outcome of the Western Conference Finals, where defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs are deadlocked at two games apiece. Game 5 of that series is scheduled to tip off Tuesday, with tipoff set for 01:30 BST on Wednesday.

    From the opening moments of Game 4 against Cleveland, New York controlled the tempo. The squad closed the first quarter on an 8-0 run, then opened the second quarter with 12 straight unanswered points to build a commanding 50-26 halftime lead. Shamet’s third three-pointer of the night pushed the Knicks advantage to 61-32, and the team never surrendered its momentum, forcing 22 Cleveland turnovers throughout the contest to keep the Cavaliers from mounting a comeback. Donovan Mitchell finished as Cleveland’s top scorer with 31 points in the losing effort.

    If New York can keep its win streak alive and claim the championship, a sweep of the Finals would see the Knicks tie the NBA’s all-time record for consecutive playoff wins: 15 straight victories, a mark set by the 2017 Golden State Warriors. The franchise, which has not claimed an NBA title since 1973, is now just four wins away from lifting its third championship banner.

  • Round 13 team lists: Sharks lose Hynes for Manly blockbuster as Blues hopefuls return from injury in time for game two

    Round 13 team lists: Sharks lose Hynes for Manly blockbuster as Blues hopefuls return from injury in time for game two

    Just 48 hours after the opening match of the 2026 State of Origin series, NRL clubs have locked in their Round 13 lineups, delivering a mixed bag of injury updates that have reshaped upcoming fixtures across the league. While most clubs are taking a cautious approach to their representative Origin players, naming them to extended benches for fitness assessments later in the week, multiple teams have landed welcome boosts with key stars cleared to return from long injury layoffs.

    Cronulla Sharks have suffered an early setback ahead of their Friday night clash against the in-form Manly Sea Eagles, with star halfback and former Blues playmaker Nicho Hynes ruled out entirely. Scans conducted earlier this week confirmed a minor calf strain sustained during training, and the club confirmed further testing will be required to confirm the length of his stint on the sidelines. In Hynes’ absence, rookie Niwhai Puru has been named in the coveted number 7 jersey, pairing with Braydon Trindall in the halves for the Sharks. For Manly, the Sea Eagles have kept their own Blues representatives — Haumole Olakau’atu and Tolu Koula — on an extended bench, aligning with the league-wide cautious approach to monitoring Origin players post-series opener.

    The biggest boost of the round goes to the Brisbane Broncos, who have secured the return of superstar prop Payne Haas, who has made a full recovery from a knee injury. The NSW Blues mainstay is now on track to rejoin the state’s pack for the second Origin game, and will take the field for Brisbane this weekend against the St George Illawarra Dragons. Fellow Bronco Brendan Piakura has also earned a spot in the starting back row, with all of the club’s Origin representatives named to back up this weekend. The Dragons, for their part, have welcomed experienced hooker Jacob Liddle back to the squad, naming him on the bench for the Sunday clash.

    Wests Tigers have also earned a significant boost to their lineup ahead of their match against the Canterbury Bulldogs, with multiple key players cleared to return: representative fullback Jahream Bula, hooker Api Koroisau, and promising young centre Heamasi Makasini. Makasini will partner with winger Sunia Turuva in the centres for the Tigers, while Canterbury has retained Jacob Kiraz in the starting fullback role. Regular starting fullback Connor Tracey will join captain Stephen Crichton on the Bulldogs’ extended bench for this round.

    The Parramatta Eels are facing mixed injury fortunes ahead of Round 13: star halfback Mitch Moses remains sidelined with the hamstring strain that already ruled him out of the Origin series opener, but the club has welcomed dynamic fullback Isaiah Iongi back from an extended injury layoff. Long-time Eels prop and club great Junior Paulo recently underwent an arthroscopic procedure to treat a chronic right knee injury he had been playing through for the preceding three weeks, and is expected to make his return to the side in Round 21.

    Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco has been named in the starting fullback spot for the club’s away trip to face Melbourne Storm, with utility Cody Ramsey primed to shift into the role if the Blues star is rested for the round. The Storm will be without back-rower Shawn Blore, who was ruled out after suffering a head knock in training.

    For NSW Blues and Penrith Panthers fans, there is excellent news ahead of Sunday’s top-billed clash against the New Zealand Warriors: star back-rower Liam Martin has been officially cleared to return from injury. All of Penrith’s Origin representatives have been named to an extended bench and will undergo final fitness assessments later in the week. For the Warriors, incoming Dragons playmaker Luke Metcalf has been named in the reserves as he pushes for a return to the active playing lineup. The official NRL shared full details of all Round 13 team lists via social media on May 26, 2026.

  • ‘Life of the party’: Billy Slater hopes time in Maroons camp can help Jai Arrow after devastating MND diagnosis

    ‘Life of the party’: Billy Slater hopes time in Maroons camp can help Jai Arrow after devastating MND diagnosis

    In a moving show of team solidarity just days after Jai Arrow’s forced retirement from professional rugby league following a devastating motor neurone disease (MND) diagnosis, Queensland Maroons head coach Billy Slater has opened up about the decision to welcome the veteran forward into the team’s pre-series camp ahead of the State of Origin opener in Sydney.

    Arrow, a 12-game veteran for the Maroons and respected NRL forward with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, announced his medical retirement last week, shocking the Australian rugby league community. Slater, who shared the field with Arrow during the 2018 Origin series, made it a priority to bring the popular forward into the Maroons’ team environment ahead of the first match, with Arrow joining the entire squad for a team dinner in Parramatta on Monday night.

    “Jai is one of those guys that thrives around his mates, his teammates, and the footy environment. He’s always been the life of the party, and that didn’t change last night,” Slater told reporters. “To see Jai laughing and joking with the boys, it made for such a special environment. We just knew it was really important to have Jai here for Jai. This was also a chance to honor his incredible career. We all understand the journey he’s starting now, and it’s going to be incredibly tough. Every Queenslander, every member of the rugby league community, is right behind him.”

    Slater also paused to pay tribute to Australian AFL legend Neale Daniher, who passed away on Monday after a years-long public battle with MND. Daniher, named 2025 Australian of the Year, raised millions of dollars for critical MND research during his fight, leaving a lasting legacy for those impacted by the disease. Acknowledging the difficult road ahead for Arrow, Slater said the forward’s presence in camp had already left a profound mark on the entire Maroons squad, even though the decision to invite him was rooted purely in support, not inspiration.

    “The thing I admire most about Jai is how reliable he is. He’s a tough, hardworking player, but more than that, he’s a reliable mate and a reliable teammate — that’s what I love about him,” Slater said. “When he gave his interview with Danika Mason, I was so struck by the fact that even now, he wants to inspire other people going through tough times. When someone faces this kind of adversity and still thinks about what they can give to others, that’s an incredible legacy to leave.”

    While Arrow’s speech has started to decline due to the progression of MND, Slater said the forward retained his signature sense of humor and love for Queensland rugby league. “He’s still the same Jai. The boys love having him here, and he’ll remain with the group through game night. He’ll ride on the team bus to the stadium and be right there with the squad on match day,” Slater confirmed.

    Beyond the emotional team news, Slater addressed on-field preparations, downplaying injury concerns around Queensland captain Cameron Munster, who sat out Sunday’s training session. “He just had a bit of muscle tightness. He’s totally fine,” Slater joked. “As players get a little older toward the end of their careers, you need to adjust training loads to make sure you’re at your best on game day. We made the call to give him the session off to freshen up, he’ll train this afternoon, and he’s 100% good to go tomorrow night.”

    Munster will partner rookie half Sam Walker, who makes his State of Origin debut in front of a projected 80,000 fans at the Sydney ground. Both Slater and Munster have encouraged the young playmaker to lean into his unique playing style instead of trying to emulate past Queensland halves.

    “He’s such a one-of-a-kind player, and I’ve been so impressed by his skill level spending this week with him,” Slater said. “We all know how creative he is, and that impression has only gotten stronger this week. He’s a level-headed, quiet kid, and he’s handled his first Origin week really well. I can’t wait to see him get out there and show what he can do — that’s our whole goal for him this game.”

    The entire rugby league community has rallied around Arrow since his diagnosis was announced, with messages of support pouring in from clubs, players and fans across the country ahead of the opening Origin match.

  • AFL 2026: Essendon refuses to rule out James Hird as potential Brad Scott replacement

    AFL 2026: Essendon refuses to rule out James Hird as potential Brad Scott replacement

    The Essendon Bombers have made a high-stakes coaching change, cutting ties with senior coach Brad Scott just weeks into the 2026 Australian Football League season following a brutal slump in on-field performance. The decision comes after the club secured only a single win across Scott’s final 24 matches, a stretch that spans the end of the 2025 campaign and the opening weeks of 2026. Almost immediately after Scott’s dismissal was announced, former Essendon coach and club legend James Hird emerged as a fan-favorite candidate to return to the top job – a position Hird held more than a decade ago before his resignation in the wake of the club’s infamous supplements scandal.

    In comments to reporters on Monday, Essendon president Andrew Welsh, a former teammate of Hird’s, declined to give a definitive answer on whether the club legend would be in the running for the vacant role, stopping short of both confirming and ruling him out entirely. “I haven’t spoken to Hird, no. We’re not ruling anyone in or anyone out of this. I am sure that there will be a lot of people interested in this role,” Welsh told media. The Essendon chief added that the club will first lay out clear criteria for the characteristics and qualifications it wants in its next senior coach, before narrowing down the pool of potential candidates.

    Hird, who was a finalist for the Essendon senior coaching job back in 2022 before the board ultimately selected Brad Scott, has remained active in Australian rules football in recent years, currently serving in a coaching role with Port Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL), the top feeder competition for the AFL.

    To steer the club through the upcoming transition period, Essendon has appointed club great Dean Solomon as interim senior coach. The appointment follows Solomon’s move from the club’s board of directors to an assistant coaching role in the pre-season, a shift that fueled speculation the club was already planning for Scott’s dismissal. Welsh rejected those claims outright in Monday’s press conference.

    The Essendon president also pushed back on narratives that the club was determined to fill the role with a so-called “old Essendon” figure – a person with deep ties to the club’s history, along the lines of Welsh and Solomon himself. While Welsh emphasized that he values the passion and institutional knowledge that former Essendon players bring to the table, he noted that the club is open to any qualified candidate regardless of their past connection to the Bombers.

    That said, Welsh pointed to multiple recent successful examples of former players returning to lead their old AFL clubs, arguing that when the right candidate is a former club great, the arrangement can deliver strong results. “I look at other clubs, respectfully Sam Mitchell has gone back to Hawthorn and doing an amazing job,” Welsh said. “I look at Justin Longmuir over at Fremantle, Josh Carr has gone back to Port Adelaide. I think there’s really good history around players going back to clubs and the right people for those groups going to those clubs. I don’t shy away from Essendon people being great people and I want great people – Essendon people – to continually be involved in the footy club.”

    Essendon’s coaching change marks the second high-profile AFL vacancy in just a matter of weeks, coming after Carlton senior coach Michael Voss stepped down abruptly earlier this month. It also coincides with a search for a new coach for the AFL’s upcoming expansion club in Tasmania. When asked if the timing of those other vacancies factored into Essendon’s decision to move on Scott now, Welsh said the club did not consider that timeline at all when making the call. “That didn’t come into our consideration at all surrounding this decision,” he confirmed.