Author: James Grant

South Africa’s most emphatic performance of the modern era was reduced to a footnote within minutes of the final whistle after Eben Etzebeth was sent off for making contact with the eye area of Wales flanker Alex Mann. The incident, captured clearly by broadcast cameras, occurred in the 79th minute as both forward packs became embroiled in a scuffle following a passage of loose play. Etzebeth could be seen driving his thumb towards Mann’s eye — a movement detached from the momentum of the confrontation. Referee Mathieu Raynal issued a straight red card. What had been an 11-try, 73–0 demolition…

Yannick Agnel will stand trial on charges of rape and sexual assault after French prosecutors accused the double Olympic gold medallist of offences against a 13-year-old girl at locations including the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. The 33-year-old swimmer faces allegations that the acts took place across multiple sites — in Rio during the Olympics, in the French city of Mulhouse where he trained, and in Spain and Thailand, according to French judicial officials. The complainant is the daughter of Agnel’s former coach. She was 13 at the time of the alleged offences; he was 24. Agnel was first arrested…

Former world number one Lindsay Davenport has predicted Naomi Osaka will need to modify her on-court behaviour after the Japanese star’s vocal self-encouragement between opponent Sorana Cirstea’s serves sparked a furious row at the Australian Open. Davenport described the conduct as a violation of fundamental tennis etiquette, while Martina Navratilova told Tennis Channel that players cannot speak aloud between their opponent’s first and second serves. Navratilova suggested Osaka was likely unaware of the issue, saying she did not believe the 28-year-old acted deliberately. Jelena Djokovic, wife of Novak Djokovic, also weighed in on Instagram, questioning why match officials had not…

Water companies released raw sewage into England’s rivers and seas for a record 3.61 million hours in 2024, as campaigners warned that proposed government reforms fail to address the fundamental problems of a privatised system. The government has announced what it describes as the biggest overhaul of the water industry since privatisation, including unannounced inspections, regular MOT-style checks and mandatory water efficiency labels on household appliances. However, environmental groups said the measures did not confront the root causes of the crisis. Surfers Against Sewage chief executive Giles Bristow described the proposals as “frankly insulting,” arguing that as long as the…

The future living arrangements for Muick and Sandy, the corgis inherited from Queen Elizabeth II, remain uncertain as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor prepares to relocate to a property governed by decades-old rules on animal residents. The former Duke of York and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson adopted the dogs following the late Queen’s death in 2022. When questions arose about the pets during the planned move, Buckingham Palace issued a brief statement confirming only that “the corgis will remain with the family.” Dogs on the Sandringham estate are assessed on a case-by-case basis, meaning any application to keep them at Marsh Farm would…

Ronnie O’Sullivan will resume his career at the German Masters next week, nearly two months after his last competitive match and following his withdrawal from the Masters on medical grounds. The 50-year-old, who turned professional in 1992, must first win a heldover qualifying match against Chinese player Long Zehuang before facing Ali Carter in the first round proper at Berlin’s Tempodrom venue. O’Sullivan had been scheduled to play Neil Robertson at Alexandra Palace earlier this month but pulled out citing illness. Sources indicated the Dubai-based player had been experiencing fatigue and did not feel physically capable of competing at elite…

Tyson Fury’s team is planning three bouts for the former heavyweight champion this year, a schedule he has not achieved since 2018, as contract negotiations near completion for an April return. Manager Spencer Brown confirmed that discussions have narrowed the field of potential opponents to four or five serious contenders, with Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov among the leading candidates. Makhmudov last fought in October, securing a points victory against David Allen. American Brandon Moore has also been mentioned, though it remains unclear whether he is under genuine consideration. Brown told Sky Sports that an announcement was imminent and that all…

No player managed to achieve a nine-darter during the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters, leaving a substantial bonus prize unclaimed despite the incentive weighing heavily on competitors throughout the tournament. Organisers had offered £75,000 to any player who completed the perfect leg, with an additional £75,000 available for hitting the bullseye with a tenth dart. Luke Littler, who defeated Michael van Gerwen in the final to claim the £30,000 top prize, admitted the bonus was on every player’s mind during matches. He said: “All the players know what’s up for grabs so if you get the first treble and then miss,…

Prince Harry has joined the chorus of figures rebuking President Donald Trump’s suggestion that NATO allies remained away from the front lines during the Afghanistan conflict, citing his own military service and the friends he lost during the war. The Duke of Sussex, who completed two operational tours in Afghanistan, issued a statement to GB News following the President’s remarks during a Fox News interview in Davos. He said the sacrifices made by allied forces “deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect” and highlighted that 457 British service personnel were killed during the mission. Prince Harry stated that…

Almost 4.7 million people in the UK now work in gig economy roles, representing approximately 14.7 per cent of the workforce, according to research by the Trades Union Congress. The scale of the sector has prompted significant regulatory developments in recent years, with landmark Supreme Court rulings establishing key precedents on how gig workers should be classified and what rights they are entitled to. In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled in Uber BV v Aslam that drivers for the ride-hailing platform should be classified as workers rather than self-employed contractors. The judgment entitled them to the national minimum wage and…