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Fox Sports
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 UFL Power Rankings: Defenders take over top spot
Week 8 of the 2025 UFL season featured four games that were decided by 12 points or less. The week kicked off on Friday night with the Memphis Showboats earning a thrilling 24-22 victory over the San Antonio Brahmas in overtime. Saturday included two competitive games, highlighted by the St. Louis Battlehawks' impressive 29-28 win over the Birmingham Stallions. The DC Defenders closed out the week with a 33-30 victory over the Arlington Renegades. Following this week's action, the stage is set for the UFL Conference Championships as the Panthers will battle the Stallions on the USFL side, while the Defenders will go up against the Battlehawks in the XFL conference. [MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League ] As the regular season winds down, here's a look at my updated UFL Power Rankings following Week 8: 8. San Antonio Brahmas (1-7) Current odds to win 2025 title: N/A In the battle to avoid the UFL's Wooden Spoon, the Brahmas came up short in their overtime loss to Memphis. One bright spot for the Brahmas has been the steady emergence of Jashaun Corbin as the feature back in an offense that struggled to run the ball with consistency prior to his arrival. In the loss, Corbin carried the ball 25 times for 143 yards and a touchdown. San Antonio fans would be right to wonder what their team's win-loss record might look like had he been on it from the beginning. 7. Memphis Showboats (2-6) Current odds to win 2025 title: N/A The Showboats mustered just 167 yards of offense, and quarterback Troy Williams completed just 5 of 11 passes for 36 yards. It didn't matter. The Memphis defense created three turnovers — all interceptions — and bowed its back in the second half and OT to seal the victory. After allowing 14 points in one quarter, the Showboats allowed just eight in the second half and overtime combined. 6. Houston Roughnecks (3-5) Current odds to win 2025 title: N/A Quarterback Jalan McClendon threw the ball 50 times, completing 30 passes for 318 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in a loss that knocked Houston out of postseason contention. However, the Roughnecks still have a chance to finish the season without a losing record, which would be a first for a CJ Johnson-led team. While the offense did its job, scoring 18, converting 7 of 14 third-down attempts and racking up 441 yards of offense, the Roughneck defense had few answers for a Michigan team that managed to score 27 in the first three quarters of the game. 5. Arlington Renegades (3-5) Current odds to win 2025 title: N/A Luis Perez's final pass of the game was picked off, which ended Arlington's chances of making the postseason. It was a cruel way to finish the game for Perez, who threw for 350 yards and completed at least two passes to seven different receivers in the loss. With less than a minute to play and in field-goal range, Perez opted for a fake spike and then threw the ball into the waiting arms of a DC Defender who ran out the clock. The Renegades will have to watch the Defenders and Battlehawks play for the right to call themselves XFL Conference Champions. 4. Birmingham Stallions (5-3) Current odds to win 2025 title: +320 In his first start, J'Mar Smith completed 14 of 27 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. His 65-yard TD pass to wideout Deon Cain was the longest scoring play of the season for the Stallions. The Stallions secured a spot in the USFL Conference title game with Houston's loss to Michigan, despite their one-point loss to St. Louis. 3. St. Louis Battlehawks (6-2) Current odds to win 2025 title: +225 The Battlehawks ran through the Stallions for 173 rushing yards. St. Louis clinched a spot in the XFL Championship Game and earned a big win against the defending UFL champs, who they could meet again in the UFL title game. 2. Michigan Panthers (6-2) Current odds to win 2025 title: +175 With MVP hopeful Bryce Perkins suddenly pulled out of the contest due to an ankle injury just before kickoff, Danny Etling was inserted into the starting lineup and helped the Panthers clinch their berth to the postseason. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 167 yards with three TDs — including one for 35 yards to wideout Devin Ross. The Panthers will play the defending UFL champions twice in the next three weeks and find out just whether they're the best team in the USFL. 1. DC Defenders (6-2) Current odds to win 2025 title: +425 The Defenders clinched a spot in the UFL playoffs for the first time after former Thorpe Award winner Deandre Baker picked off the final pass in their 33-30 win over Arlington. MVP contender Jordan Ta'amu threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns in the win. A big-play offense and aggressive defense have made DC one of the two best teams in the league all season. RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him at @RJ_Young . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience United Football League recommended Get more from United Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Wales Online
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Sir Clive Woodward picks his Lions squad and just two Welshmen make it
Sir Clive Woodward picks his Lions squad and just two Welshmen make it Sir Clive Woodward selected England international Maro Itoje as his captain. Sir Clive Woodward has picked his Lions squad (Image: Clive Rose - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images ) Sir Clive Woodward has named two Wales internationals in his British & Irish Lions squad. Andy Farrell will make his announcement for the summer series in the afternoon of next Thursday, May 8. With Wales enduring a tough period on the field, picking up another Wooden Spoon in the Six Nations, the touring squad is expected to have the lowest Welsh representation of any tour. Having won the World Cup with England as coach in 2003, and then going on to coach the Lions in 2005, Woodward is well placed to make judgements on who is most likely to be selected, and has chosen Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams in his squad. However, despite picking those two Wales stars, he does not think they will be selected in the starting XV. Woodward believes Morgan will prove valuable with his ability to play on blind and open side flanker, but thinks that Jack Willis, Caelan Doris and Tom Curry will make up the back row. 25% OFF DEAL NOW: Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby Article continues below "Curry, Van der Flier and Morgan are brilliant players too," says Sir Clive in his Daily Mail column. "And it's an advantage that both Curry and Morgan are comfortable both sides of the flank as well. "Versatility is a priceless commodity on a Lions tour." He adds that Willis is the best player in Europe right now and says it's ridiculous he is ineligible for England. At scrum-half, despite Williams' sizzling form for Gloucester in the English Premiership, he has him down as a third-choice nine. "Gibson-Park is a certain starter," continued Woodward. "And Mitchell's importance to Northampton and England is undisputed. "He'll likely be back-up to the Irishman, though I think Williams will have something to say about that. "He's one of only two Welshmen in my squad. Sadly, that reflects their demise as a nation. "But Williams is undoubtedly deserving of his spot. Just look at the way he's been playing for Gloucester." Article continues below He also left out rising star Henry Pollock, who has been touted as a potential bolter for the tour. Despite his red-hot form, Woodward thinks the tour has come a little early for him, and thinks that going to Argentina and USA with England may provide him with an opportunity to be called up to the Lions if and when an injury arises.
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Is it time for change in the Women's Six Nations?
Saturday at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham saw a thrilling 43-42 spectacle between England and France for the Women's Six Nations Mitchell's side managed to hold on for victory to secure their fourth consecutive Grand Slam and seventh title in a competition had the finale it needed, but it also remained was the fourth time in a row that both France and England played in the final round with the Grand Slam on the decider may live up to the hype, with three out of those four games finishing within a score, but the gap to the rest of the teams remains since Ireland's triumph a decade ago has there been a tournament winner other than the Red Roses or Les a change to the format improve the competitiveness of the tournament? Success with previous change In 2022, the tournament fixture list changed so England and France were guaranteed to play each other in the final differs to the men's Six Nations, won by France in March, which has a different fixture schedule every idea was to keep Grand Slam interest alive by holding back the likely title has come, with final fixtures between Ireland, Scotland, Italy and Wales also adding interest as they battle for places and to avoid the Wooden the competitiveness of their games against the top two is a growing the last team to beat England in the Six Nations in 2018, have been less dominant, but have still recorded a full house of wins against the other teams in each of the past four used 34 players this campaign and despite regularly rotating scored 33 tries and conceded only five before the Grand Slam decider.A reason for the gulf in quality comes from the fact England awarded 28 full-time professional contracts in 2019 and that level of investment left the other nations began handing out deals at the start of 2022, followed by Ireland in August 2022, while Scotland announced their professional plans at the end of that the 2023 Six Nations, Italy announced 22 professional contracts had been given out to their defeated Ireland on Saturday to end their campaign on a high, with Ireland's highlight coming in a hammering of Italy. Italy ran France close and finished with a thumping win over Wales to show signs of new head coach Sean Lynn, Wales lost every game to pick up the Wooden Spoon, but will be hopeful of improvement after the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) this month confirmed a revamp of its top women's teams to develop the pathway and depth of asked on the BBC's Rugby Union Weekly how long it would take for a different winner of the Six Nations, Scotland head coach Bryan Easson replied: "It will take time but I genuinely believe someone else will eventually win it."His side suffered heavy defeats by both England and France, who have much wider player pools because of investment into their domestic leagues, with the Premiership Women's Rugby league going from strength to strength."The gap will get closer," added Easson. "But it will be a little bit longer than everybody expects in terms of professionalism."We've only been professional now for 18 months. Wales, Ireland, Italy, and ourselves are all pretty much in the same boat." Two-tier system & triple-header finals day To avoid too many one-sided scorelines, BBC Sport's Sara Orchard, speaking on Rugby Union Weekly, suggested a two-tier system where teams are ranked before the idea was backed by former England fly-half Katy Daley-McLean, who lost titles to France and Ireland during her playing days, with the 2014 World Cup-winner saying the tournament must be "brave" in trying something new., externalThe Rugby Football Union's director of women's game Alex Teasdale told BBC that the RFU would "listen to any proposals"."I think Six Nations as a tournament across men's and women's is steeped in that kind of background in history and its format is quite special," she said."It would probably take quite a lot to change that. But look, it's the women's game and we want to stay agile and do what's in the best interests of the game."The proposed idea would follow a similar format to the 2021 Six Nations, which was spilt into two pools because of Covid idea would see the number one ranked team play home and away fixtures against those ranked second and third, with the second pool - ranked three to six - following the same then follow to determine the final standings, with the top team in pool one facing the second team in their group for the Six Nations side who finished third in pool one would play against first team in pool two for a place in the following year's top group, while fifth and sixth see who picks up the Wooden those games would take place on a triple-header finals day in the same venue that is rotated around a different nation every year."Being the women's version of the Six Nations means you don't have to do it the same as the men," former Wales captain Philippa Tuttiett told BBC Radio 5 Live."I have to agree that the changes make a lot of sense but I don't like it."I like the aspiration, build-up and feeling of just maybe this year."
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales' imperfect 10 as Six Nations misery complete
Played 10, lost 10. That is the dismal record of Wales' two national sides in the 2025 Six Nations in the space of 86 difficult days. From the 43-0 Friday night Paris mauling dished out by France to Wales' men's side in January, to the 44-12 hammering inflicted by Italy's women in late April, it has been a miserable and tumultuous three Welsh rugby's new performance director Dave Reddin needed a reminder of the monumental task he is taking on, he would have just had to watch events unfold in Parma on manner in which Wales women miserably collapsed against Italy in the second-half of the Six Nations finale demonstrated how much Reddin has to do to lift Wales from almost rock bottom. Sean Lynn's side became the first Welsh women's team to lose all five matches in a Six Nations men have managed that dubious accolade in successive years with Wales propping up the Six Nations table in 2024 and has only been one win in the 20 matches played in the four tournaments over the last 16 months - Wales women sneaking a victory against Italy at the Principality Stadium in April 2024, a triumph celebrated as if the hosts had won the World Cup. Reddin used phrases like "low ebb" to describe Welsh rugby in his opening press conference last week. He was not wrong. Now the former FA and Team GB performance expert has the unenviable task of transforming Wales' sorry national sides, with at least 11 more fixtures on the calendar in new Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) employers has overseen a couple of years of misery. Reddin is the man they have chosen to sort out their mess. The unwanted history boys Reddin does not officially start his role on a full-time basis until 1 September but he will lead the immediate task in finding a new permanent men's head coach to replace Warren Gatland, who departed after February's Six Nations defeat to Italy in coach Matt Sherratt took over in a caretaker capacity and oversaw three further defeats. Sherratt could be asked to take Wales to Japan in July if the new coach is not in place in the successful candidate begins, they will be starting from the bottom. This Wales team have become the unwanted history boys with 17 successive international defeats, the most for a tier-one nation in the professional era and equalling Scotland's losing streak between 1951 and most recent Test victory came in October 2023 when they beat Georgia at the World Cup in latest loss was the record 68-14 defeat to England in Cardiff in March. The defeat ensured it was the first time Wales have lost every game in two successive tournaments and picked up the Wooden Spoon, with 11 successive Six Nations losses now to their have slipped below Georgia in the world rankings to 12th - only one place above Eddie Jones' Japan side who they face this November, Wales will host Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa at the Principality Stadium. Wales men's results and fixtures in 2025 2025 Six NationsFriday, 31 January, France 43-0 Wales, ParisSaturday, 8 February, Italy 22-15 Wales, RomeSaturday, 22 February, Wales 18-27 Ireland, CardiffSaturday, 8 March, Scotland 35-29 Wales, EdinburghSaturday, 15 March, Wales 14-68 England, CardiffRemaining fixturesSaturday, 5 July, Japan v Wales, Kitakyushu (TBC)Saturday, 12 July, Japan v Wales, Kobe (TBC)Sunday, 9 November, Wales v Argentina, Cardiff (15:10 GMT)Saturday, 15 November, Wales v Japan, Cardiff (17:40 GMT)Saturday, 22 November, Wales v New Zealand, Cardiff (15:10 GMT)Saturday, 29 November, Wales v South Africa, Cardiff (15:10 GMT) Wales women emulate the men Despite last year's wooden spoon, Wales entered the 2025 tournament with an air of optimism as the WRU had secured the services of Sean Lynn as new women's head is a man who had only lost six league games in three title-winning seasons with even his winning mentality and commitment to creating a "family" culture could not lift Wales from the depths of an encouraging start in a narrow defeat against Scotland, Lynn watched his side being outclassed and outmuscled in their remaining four worryingly was the scale of the scorelines against Ireland and Italy, two teams Wales had thrashed just two years was clear that things need to change, including some of the players who he said were not skilful enough to play at international has a matter of weeks to transform the side for this summer's two Test tour of Australia in July and more importantly the World global tournament is being held in England in August and September with Wales facing Scotland, Canada and Fiji in the group stages and hoping to make the may well not be enough time given how poor Wales have been in the past two maybe fans have to wait until the 2029 tournament to see the fruits of Lynn's labour. Wales women's results and fixtures in 2025 Six Nations 2025Saturday, 22 March, Scotland 24-21 Wales, EdinburghSaturday, 29 March, Wales 12-67 England, CardiffSaturday, 12 April, France 42-12 Wales, BriveSunday, 20 April, Wales 14-40 Ireland, NewportSunday, 27 April, Italy 44-12 Wales, ParmaRemaining fixturesSaturday, 26 July, Australia v Wales, SE Queensland (TBC)Friday, 1 August, Australia v Wales, Sydney (TBC)Saturday, 23 August, Wales v Scotland, Salford (14:45 BST)Saturday, 30 August, Wales v Canada, Salford (12:00 BST)Saturday, 6 September, Wales v Fiji, Exeter (14:45 BST)
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Italy claim bonus-point win as Wales finish bottom
Women's Six Nations Italy (10) 44 Tries: Stefan, Granzotto 2, Turani, Minuzzi, Muzzo Cons: Silari 4 Pens: Silari 2 Wales (12) 12 Tries: Williams, Pyrs Con: Bevan Italy finished their Six Nations campaign in style while condemning Wales to the Wooden Spoon for the second year running. Wales had led at half-time in the Parma sunshine after Kate Williams and Gwenllian Pyrs scored either side of Sofia Stefan's effort. But the Italians ran away in a second half blitz, with Francesca Granzotto, Silvia Turani, Vittoria Minuzzi and Aura Muzzo all crossing for a bonus-point win, while Michela Sillari added 14 points from the boot. It was Italy's first win at home in two years as they finished fourth in the table, while Wales once again finished rock bottom, losing all five games for the first time in their history. Wales head coach Sean Lynn had spoken about the importance of an 80-minute performance in the build-up to the match, which had been delayed a day because of Pope Francis' funeral. But his side only managed a first 40 minutes as Wales were given a lesson in attacking rugby, with Italy running in five unanswered tries in a one-sided second half. Lynn warns Wales to respond or face World Cup axe Watch: Women's Six Nations - FT Wales wilt to record 44-12 loss in Italy No deadline but WRU want movement on new deal Wales did enjoy all the early possession and territory, but struggled for collision dominance as they went through the phases. Italian indiscipline gifted them an attacking line-out and the Welsh maul, which had stuttered against Ireland, went back to being a weapon with the pack driving Williams over for her third try of the campaign. Italy responded in style with fly-half Veronica Madia showing her creativity with the boot, her cross-field kick just beating Alyssa D'Inca on her wing. But the hosts were not to be denied when some loose kicking from Lleucu George saw Sara Seye and Elisa Giordano burst through some weak tackling, with returning scrum-half Stefan finishing under the posts. Sillari added the conversion and, sensing it might be a close game, a later penalty to give Italy the lead. Momentum then shifted back to Wales and a fumble under the high ball from Minuzzi gave them a good attacking platform, but basic errors crept in and the visitors could not capitalise. But they were given another chance on the stroke of half-time. The attack once again came off line-out ball and the forwards showed good patience, keeping it tight until Pyrs pounced from close range. Bevan added the conversion to give Wales a 12-10 half-time lead, the first time this campaign they went down the tunnel ahead. But the optimism was short-lived as Italy came out with a change of tactic as they chose to engage in a kicking battle with George. It almost paid off with a chip setting up Giordana Duca, who would have been through if not for a last-gasp tap tackle from Jasmine Joyce-Butchers. Italy kept coming with wave after wave of attack as Wales struggled to live with their offloading game and when points were on offer Silari took the opportunity to kick Italy back in front. Lynn responded by making some early changings, with Alex Callender, Hannah Bluck and Carys Phillips all coming on to the field. But they were not able to make an impact as Italy kept piling on the pressure and managed to get the ball out wide to Granzotto, who did well to ride the defensive tackle and get the ball down in the corner. Wales desperately needed to get a foothold, but they could not live with the scintillating Azzurre attack. Italy went for the jugular and opted for a tap penalty in front of posts, and while the defence did well to repel the charging Sara Tounesi, they could not prevent Turani from stretching over the line. The fourth try came from the full-back Minuzzi, whose outstanding 50-22 launched Italy upfield. The forwards then carried hard before Minuzzi ran a fine line to cut through the defence. Wales were reduced to 14 players when Natalia John was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle, and took full advantage as Granzotto completed another fine finish in the corner while Muzzo crossed at the death to pile on the misery. Italy: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi; Aura Muzzo, Michela Sillari, Sara Mannini, Alyssa D'Incá; Veronica Madia, Sofia Stefan; Silvia Turani, Vittoria Vecchini, Sara Tounesi, Giordana Duca, Beatrice Veronese, Francesca Sgorbini, Elisa Giordano (capt). Replacements: Desiree Spinelli, Emanuela Stecca, Gaia Maris, Isabella Locatelli, Alissa Ranuccini, Alia Bitonci, Beatrice Rigoni, Francesca Granzotto. Wales: Jasmine Joyce-Butchers; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt), Courtney Keight, Carys Cox; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Donna Rose, Abbie Fleming, Gwen Crabb, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Georgia Evans. Replacements: Carys Phillips, Maisie Davies, Jenni Scoble, Natalia John, Alex Callender, Sian Jones, Hannah Bluck, Catherine Richards. Sin bin: Natalia John (76 mins)
