George backs Borthwick to lead England at World Cup and takes aim at South Africa

Jamie George has insisted England can go toe-to-toe with South Africa when they lock horns with the world champions in July and believes his side will be among the favourites for next year’s World Cup if Steve Borthwick remains as head coach.England are on a disappointing run of four straight defeats but, while Saturday’s 48-46 loss to France condemned them to their worst Six Nations campaign, the manner in which Borthwick’s side performed – scoring seven tries in Paris – has given rise to renewed optimism.Borthwick remains under scrutiny and he will face the music with the Rugby Football Union conducting a review into the Six Nations, vowing to establish why the wheels fell off for England after they began the championship on the back of 11 straight wins. Last week the RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney took the unprecedented step of offering Borthwick qualified support, promising to “work together to understand and rectify why we have been unable to meet expectations”. It is understood that despite England’s upturn in performance in Paris, the RFU’s position remains the same

Britain to raise Winter Paralympic targets after finishing Games with solitary medal

UK Sport is set to raise performance targets for the next Winter Paralympics after Great Britain returned from Milano Cortina with only a single silver medal.ParalympicsGB failed to hit a reduced target of two to five medals in Italy, with only Neil Simpson making the podium following a second-placed finish in the men’s visually impaired alpine combination skiing. On Sunday Simpson did not finish either of his runs in the VI slalom, putting a final end to hopes of further success.UK Sport determines public funding for Olympic and Paralympic sport and their director of performance, Dr Kate Baker, said there was pride to be taken from many performances at the Games. However, she said questions would also have to be asked over the future direction of the British winter Paralympic programme

Grounds for optimism at North Melbourne as emerging talents give glimpse of rosy future | Jonathan Horn

For most of his tenure at North Melbourne, Alastair Clarkson’s eyebrows have been arched in a kind of perma-frown. The bigger the deficit, the steeper the arch.It’s not as though his team has been completely hopeless. Most of the time, they’ve tried their guts out. They’ve just been incredibly frustrating

‘I’m back to my best’: Lewis Hamilton marks Ferrari revival with Chinese GP podium place

Lewis Hamilton said he is “back to his best” after he finished third at the Chinese Grand Prix to claim his first podium at Ferrari.The 41-year-old Briton beat his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc after a thrilling duel and praised Formula One for delivering what he claimed was the best racing he had ever experienced.The race in Shanghai was won by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, his first F1 victory, from his teammate George Russell in second. But Hamilton delivered a feisty performance in an almost race-long scrap with Leclerc to take third, his first podium since the Las Vegas GP in November 2024.“I definitely feel like I’m back to my best, both mentally and physically,” Hamilton said

Kimi Antonelli wins F1 Chinese GP from pole as Lewis Hamilton claims first Ferrari podium

Teenage dreams so hard to beat, and what a moment when realised for Kimi Antonelli as he took his first Formula One victory at the Chinese Grand Prix.There were tears from the 19-year-old who delivered on his enormous promise in Shanghai, but behind them no little steel as the Mercedes driver demonstrated he is in the world championship fight.“Thank you so much to my team because they have helped me to achieve this dream,” said Antonelli, who was heartily congratulated by a driver eager to remind the sport that his career is far from over yet, having made his debut when Antonelli was not even 12 months old.That was Lewis Hamilton, who claimed third place, his first podium for Ferrari after a blow-for-blow street fight with his teammate Charles Leclerc. The seven-time world champion gave notice he has lost none of his edge, nor his competitive spirit

Formula One: Kimi Antonelli wins Chinese Grand Prix race updates – as it happened

And here’s Giles’s race report:But that’s about all that’s needed from me today. The championship will be back in action in a fornight’’s time in Japan, before going on something of an extended break due to the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi GPs.Be sure to check back for Giles Richards’ full report and wash-up!Achieving his dream 🤩🥹#F1 #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/tya9mvcREqLewis Hamilton on the broadcast