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Irish Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Lions Squad Selection: the centre and the midfield in focus
The 2025 Lions squad to tour Australia this summer will be announced today, bringing an end to months of speculation, intrigue and, for the players, anxiety. Here, Sports Journalist of the Year DEREK FOLEY takes a look at the contenders for the back-three slots, the obvious picks, the reasons why some players have gained an edge, and those calls that are closest of all. CENTRES: Sure looked like the IRFU were thinking of moving Bundee Aki on at one point earlier this season but the 35 year-old responded in such fashion that he is a 'live' Lions contender and don't rule him out being with Ireland at RWC 2027 either. Sione Tuitulotu had been playing so well and, as skipper, been so central to Scotland's surge up the World Rankings there wasn't just talk of his touring but being Tour Captain until injuring his pectoral muscle training with Glasgow in late January. The centre is back training with Warriors and is expected to play before the end of the season. Scotland's Huw Jones has been equally impressive in the international midfield which means that if the Lions are taking the expected four centres, Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose are battling it out for the last spot. Henshaw can play no12 and no13 and toured with both the 2017 and 2021 Lions. Ringrose has played 180 of his 186 starting senior rugby games as a no13 - moreover five of the games he played on the wing were in 2015, his 2-6th Leinster caps - so quite where the idea originated that he was an auxiliary winger is hard to fathom. Sad to say, Warren Gatland was not a fan of Ringrose's missed tackle statistics and, consequently, never saw fit to include him. That makes Ringrose, along with Scotland's Tom Jordan and Owen Farrell likely to miss out here. What are they saying: "The pool of centres selected will largely dictate how the backline functions – especially with regards to Sione Tuipulotu," says World Rugby Magazine. "If he is fit, which this column assumes he will be, then the Lions will have access to a true triple threat option at 12. Tuipulotu has a kick/pass/run skill set that very few in world rugby possess. "With Tuipulotu as the 'drill', Farrell would then just have to select the appropriate 'drill bit' at no13 – does he go 'hammer' with Bundee Aki, or something more suitable for tiles and glass – Huw Jones for example. "The outlier in this selection is of course Tom Jordan. But Jordan offers the opportunity to play a legit ten at no12, should needs be and also provides mid-week cover at outside half." ONE F says: Aki (Ire), Tuipulotu (Scot), H Jones (Scot), Henshaw (Ire) Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Matt Fitzpatrick Found His Game on Thursday at Harbour Town
Professional golf is a finicky thing. Some days you're on and some days you're off. And then sometimes it's weeks of playing mediocre golf with no end in sight. Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick has been experiencing the latter for most of the 2025 season. Advertisement The 2022 U.S. Open Champion has played in eight events this season without a top-10 finish and with three missed cuts. He has dropped from 43rd in the World Rankings at the beginning of the year to his current position of 75th. Matt Fitzpatrick hits his second shot on eight during the first round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Looking for answers, Fitzpatrick fired his longtime caddie, Billy Foster, after missing the cut at The Players Championship in hopes that a new voice would make the difference. 'Not a lot, it's rubbish, simple as that. It's been awful,' Fitzpatrick said when asked about his season. 'Yeah, it's been the worst I've ever played, in fact. So yeah, was plenty of room for improvement. Hopefully this is a good week to make a start. I feel like I've done some things this week that hopefully get me back on track and go from there.' Advertisement Fitzpatrick is playing this week in the RBC Heritage, an event he has liked since he was a kid. At times he has made the most of his trip to the Low Country with a win in 2023 and a T4 in 2021. Even last year, when he finished T28, he shot four rounds under par. Of all the tour courses, Fitzpatrick feels the most comfortable at Harbour Town Golf Links. So after a 5-under 66 on Thursday, his lowest round since The Sentry in Maui at the beginning of the year, the 30-year-old from Sheffield must be pleased. 'I think everything was pretty solid today. I wouldn't say anything crazily stood out,' Fitzpatrick said about the bogey-free performance. 'I felt like I putted really well, chipped it really well, hit my irons where I needed to, and hit the fairways where I needed to.' Advertisement Sitting five shots back of Justin Thomas, who shot a 10-under 61, Fitzpatrick will need to continue to plod along in hopes of a consistent three more days and Thomas coming come back to the pack. 'I think there's definitely a lot to be said for that when you go somewhere that you're so comfortable,' Fitzpatrick said of Harbour Town. 'I was looking forward to this week. Even not playing well last week, I was just looking forward to being here, taking it all in and doing the usual stuff that we do here. So, it definitely helps.' Related: Legendary Caddie Billy Foster Is Going to Take It Easy in 2025 Related: Caddie For Hire!
Express Tribune
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Pakistan's Ashab Irfan wins St. Louis Open 2025 squash championship
Pakistan's emerging squash talent Ashab Irfan claimed his first major international title at the St. Louis Open 2025, defeating England's Charlie Lee in straight sets in the final of the RC Pro Series event held in Missouri. Irfan, 20, delivered a dominant performance to secure a 3-0 victory in just 37 minutes, with set scores of 11-7, 11-2, and 11-7. Ranked 66th in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Rankings prior to the tournament, Irfan showcased exceptional precision, agility and control, leaving Lee unable to mount a challenge throughout the match. The $15,000 PSA event drew participation from more than 30 players and marked a significant milestone in Irfan's young career. 'This victory is a testament to Ashab's relentless hard work, passion, and resilience,' said coach Irfan Jahanzeb Masood following the match. 'We give thanks to Allah for this blessing. It's not just a personal milestone — it's a sign of a bright future for Pakistani squash.' Masood confirmed that the win is expected to push Irfan into the PSA top 60, projecting a move from 66th to 57th in the rankings. The improvement could enable Irfan to qualify for higher-tier international competitions and solidify his status among the sport's rising stars. 'We are profoundly grateful for the unwavering encouragement from Ashab's family and fans,' Masood added. 'Their belief in his potential has been a constant source of motivation throughout this journey.' The win has also been hailed by the Pakistan Squash Federation as a major boost for the country's prospects on the global squash circuit, with officials calling it a moment of pride for Pakistani sport.
