World Rugby finds no medical evidence to outlaw 7-1 bench splits

World Rugby insists there is no medical evidence that 7-1 bench splits will lead to more injuries and the governing body has no plans to outlaw the tactic as a result.France deployed a bench of seven forwards and one back to devastating effect in three matches during the Six Nations, particularly during the 42‑27 victory against Ireland in Dublin. The strategy was introduced by South Africa in a warmup match against New Zealand before the 2023 World Cup, and they have used it on a number of occasions since.The Scotland head coach, Gregor Townsend, expressed concerns at a World Rugby “Shape of the Game” conference during the Six Nations and also stated his views after his side’s win against Wales. “I don’t think the bench was set up to suddenly have a new forward pack coming on,” he said

Trump praises Ohtani’s ‘movie star’ looks and attacks senators during Dodgers’ visit

Donald Trump praised Shohei Ohtani’s “movie star” looks while also insulting unnamed senators during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ visit to the White House on Monday.“He looks like a movie star,” said Trump after shaking Ohtani’s hand. “He’s got a good future, I’m telling you.”Ohtani propelled the Dodgers to victory in last year’s World Series after one of the finest individual seasons in history, during which he became the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.Trump then turn his attention to two senators, although he did not say who they were

Red Sox All-Star Jarren Duran says he attempted suicide during mental health struggles

Boston’s All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran said he tried to take his own life as he struggled with his mental health during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.In the Netflix docuseries The Clubhouse: A Year With the Red Sox the 28-year-old said struggles with his form during his rookie season in 2021 deeply affect him. His life was saved when he tried to shoot himself but the gun did not go off.“I was already hearing it from fans,” Duran says in the series, which premieres in the US on Tuesday. “And what they said to me, [it was like], ‘I’ve told myself 10 times worse in the mirror

Brook named men’s white-ball captain as England opt against Stokes split

Harry Brook has been confirmed as England’s white-ball captain after a brief flirtation with handing Ben Stokes the reins of the one-day team was trumped by concerns over the all-rounder’s fitness and workload.Brook was previously vice-captain to Jos Buttler and so always favourite to step up when England’s poor Champions Trophy in February created the vacancy. But that did not stop Rob Key, director of men’s cricket, openly pondering a move to split the white‑ball roles and see if Stokes could combine the 50-over job with his Test duties.In the end, mindful that Stokes is on the comeback trail from hamstring surgery, and about to start an Ashes year that will define his Test captaincy, Key offered both the Twenty20 and one‑day international jobs to Brook.It hands the 26‑year‑old the chance to lead England during the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year, plus its 50-over equivalent in Africa in 2027

March Madness men’s final predictions: the winner and a missing giant

Will Walter Clayton Jr’s ongoing Steph Curry impression carry the Gators to a third national title? Or will the Cougars’ suffocating defense unlock the program’s first?The Gators need to push the pace and turn it into a high-possession game, disrupting the Cougars’ grind-it-out style. They also must knock down perimeter shots early to stretch Houston’s stingy defense, which is the best in the country by any metric. Limiting turnovers against the Cougars’ ball pressure and winning the rebounding battle to create second-chance points will be critical, same for composure in late-game possessions against Houston’s relentless physicality. Bryan Armen GrahamGet scoring and playmaking from their perimeter players and hold the Cougars to one shot on each possession. Houston had 18 offensive rebounds in Saturday’s win over Duke leading to 19 points

The national title was a test the great Paige Bueckers didn’t need to pass

The UConn guard’s achievements are too broad and impressive to merely be measured in trophies. But she went and got one anywayThe fact that Paige Bueckers wasn’t already considered the undisputed gold standard of 21st-century women’s college basketball says more about her competition than it does about her.Bueckers’ resume is extraordinary: a No 1 overall recruit who joined Connecticut in 2020, immediately averaged 20 points per game and became National Player of the Year as a true freshman, and went on to earn first-team All-American honors three times. She is a household name and will soon be the No 1 pick in the WNBA Draft. She has struck endorsement deals that are estimated to have earned her more than $1m this season alone