Claudia MacDonald: England wing was ‘terrified’ to be near rugby pitch before return

Xuan Thai, a senior writer and producer at ESPN, reported that Stanford head football coach Troy Taylor faced allegations of bullying, inappropriate comments, and seeking the removal of an NCAA compliance officer. Despite signing a warning letter acknowledging potential termination for his behavior, Taylor remains in his position. Investigations revealed ongoing concerning behavior and retaliation against the compliance officer, leading to possible disciplinary action under NCAA bylaws. Full Article

The Independent relies on reader support to cover important stories ranging from reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, ensuring factual reporting and diverse perspectives. Your donation enables journalists to report on crucial events and maintain journalistic integrity without paywalls, making quality news accessible to all. In sports, substitute Vivianne Miedema scored twice as Manchester City defeated Chelsea 2-0 in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, giving City a two-goal advantage heading into the...

Kevin Seifert, a staff writer at ESPN covering the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL, reports that the Detroit Lions have proposed a change to NFL playoff seeding, prioritizing regular-season records over division championships. This proposal could impact the highly competitive NFC North, where three playoff teams emerged last season. Other rule change proposals by various teams, including banning the "tush push" play and adjusting overtime possession rules, will be considered at the upcoming owners' meeting...

The Browns have signed wide receiver/returner DeAndre Carter to a one-year deal with nearly $800,000 guaranteed, as reported by Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports. Carter, a 32-year-old who played for the Bears last season, appeared in 13 games, catching nine passes for 72 yards and returning punts and kickoffs with averages of 9.3 and 31.9 yards respectively. With a career spanning multiple teams since 2015, Carter has played in 107 games with 21 starts, accumulating...

Mike Reiss, an NFL reporter at ESPN covering the New England Patriots since 1997, was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year in 2019. College basketball coach John Calipari reflects on his underdog journey with Arkansas facing Kansas in the NCAA tournament, drawing parallels to his early success at UMass and discussing the challenges and triumphs of the current Razorbacks team. Calipari prepares for a tough matchup against Bill Self's Kansas team, with the winner advancing...

U.S. men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino downplayed the political tension surrounding the Concacaf Nations League semifinal against Panama, emphasizing the team's focus on the competition rather than political overtones. Despite President Donald Trump's recent comments on Panama Canal sovereignty, Pochettino stressed the importance of playing for the country and striving to win. Coaches from Panama and Canada also avoided discussing political implications, with Pochettino emphasizing the joy and fun of soccer as the main...