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‘So much pain’: England and Lions wing Anthony Watson retires due to injury

The England and British & Irish Lions wing Anthony Watson has retired from rugby aged 30 on medical grounds, having been advised it was no longer safe to continue playing.Watson, who brings the curtain down with 56 caps, has been beset by injuries of late with a debilitating back problem proving the final straw. Across a career that began with London Irish in 2011, Watson has been blighted by two long-term achilles layoffs, ACL surgery, more recent calf issues and the back injury that left him in “so much pain”.Watson said: “I think my body will carry a significant amount of, I guess, deficiency as a result of playing rugby. Stopping now probably allows me to do the basic things I need to do as a dad, husband and son, so that is the priority

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Rory McIlroy makes weekend at Desert Classic but Rahm and Hovland exit

For a spell on Friday afternoon the organisers of the Dubai Desert Classic had cause for panic. Jon Rahm had already tumbled out of the tournament after 36 holes, Viktor Hovland was heading the same way and Rory McIlroy was dangerously close to the cut line. Not for the first time at the Emirates Club, McIlroy saved the day; a birdie at the 18th meant he survived for the weekend with three shots to spare. Given McIlroy’s specialism here – he is seeking a third win in a row – a deficit of nine to the leader, Ewen Ferguson, is unlikely to faze the Northern Irishman.Rahm’s struggles on his first start of 2025 and debut in this tournament caused widespread shock

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Eliud Kipchoge offers to mentor Alex Yee for Briton’s first London Marathon

Eliud Kipchoge has revealed his admiration for Britain’s triathlon gold medallist Alex Yee – and says he wants to meet and help mentor the Team GB star when they both run the London Marathon in April.The 40-year-old Kipchoge insists he can still compete with the world’s best when he runs in London for the first time since 2020, despite getting injured when bidding for his third Olympic marathon title.But one of his ambitions while in London is to also meet Yee, who memorably won triathlon gold in the final few strides in Paris after a blistering comeback.“I’d love to know him more,” admitted Kipchoge. “I’d like to meet him before the race and share the lives we live

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Glasgow, Scotland, the Lions? The unstoppable rise of ‘Huwipulotu’ duo

There will be talk over the next week or two, as there usually is in the buildup to any Six Nations these days, of the possibility of a first Scotland title since five became six at the start of the millennium. The weary will roll their eyes, so familiar is the pang of yet more Scottish disappointment, but if this time, seriously, a title really, really is on the cards, the reason might be found in midfield.The Scotland centre pairing is so established now, for club and country, it comes with its own compound name: Huwipulotu. As Brangelina could have told them, or any cockapoo, the conferring of a portmanteau indicates a special place in the firmament. Sure enough, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones are on most rugby folk’s shortlists for the Lions tour this year

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Australian Open 2025: Draper beats Vukic in another five-set thriller – as it happened

Right, phew. That’s it from us for today, but do join us again tomorrow for Emma Raducanu v Iga Swiatek, while Jannik Sinner, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina are all in action. Thanks for your company and comments. Bye!So next up for Draper is the unenviable assignment of facing Alcaraz in the last 16. That would be a hard enough task, even if Draper didn’t already have 15 sets on the clock after only three rounds

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My granny’s induction to Australia’s tennis hall of fame has proved a family journey of discovery | Ruaridh Nicoll

Early in December, my nephew Tom received a message on a genealogy website asking if he was related to Esna Boyd. Esna was the winner of the 1927 Australian Open, and Tennis Australia was looking for descendants because they are about to induct her into the Australian tennis hall of fame.Esna was also my grandmother, Tom’s great-grandmother. In Scotland, where we live, my family WhatsApp group lit up.It’s been an odd experience