2026 will see the world’s best men’s rugby union teams battle it out to become the inaugural Nations Championship champions. Six Northern Hemisphere nations (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales) will take on six Southern Hemisphere nations (Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa) in a bid to become the ‘best nation’ and most ‘dominant hemisphere’.

On Monday 29th June, Francesca Jones opened her 2026 Wimbledon campaign against France’s Diane Parry, who is ranked number 49 in the world. The match, which took place on court 17, saw her lose to France’s number one WTA women’s singles player 4-6, 4-6.

Immediately after the Barcelona round a fortnight ago, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff announced the team’s intention to request a Right Of Review hearing regarding the Monaco Grand Prix results, with George Russell’s penalties having left him outside the points.

Some of Teeside's sporting legends have joined the push to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the North of England. These legends, which include Olympians and Paralympians from the region, have joined forces with over 40 fellow sports stars by signing a joint statement to back the push to host the games in 2040.

Charlie Ayre, who competes in the men’s -60 kg category, has been named in England’s judo squad ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. He is one of 14 judoka selected to represent England at the upcoming games as the sport makes its fifth official appearance at the Commonwealth Games.

The Nations Championship Trophy, the ‘ultimate prize in the Nations Championship’, has been unveiled for the first time ahead of the inaugural Nations Championship. The trophy, which stands at 67cm tall and weighs 15kg, will be awarded to the winners of the Nations Championship as a ‘symbol of a new era for the sport’.

Ireland backrower Aoife Wafer became the first player to win the Guinness Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship award in back-to-back years. Wafer was shortlisted for the award alongside England captain Megan Jones, France scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus and Italy back-row Francesca Sgorbini.

Four Yorkshire men are encouraging others to sign up for their own charity MMA bout.

Leah Schlosshan will make her Commonwealth Games debut at the Glasgow 2026 games after being named in England’s 42-person swimming squad. She will join 27 swimmers and 14 para swimmers at the 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games, which will see around 3,000 athletes expected to compete across 10 sports. On being selected for Glasgow 2026, Schlosshan said: “I’m really excited for the summer.

Great Britain’s Caden Cunningham retained his +87kg European title on the opening day of competition at the 2026 European Taekwondo Championships in Munich. This year’s European Championships, which took place from 11th May – 14th May, saw Cunningham retain his title from the 2024 edition of the event in Belgrade.

Alsager Golf Club, near Stoke-on Trent, and Crewe Golf Club, are among the clubs hosting qualifying events for the Race to Belek amateur golf tournament, organised by leading holiday airline brand, Corendon Airlines, in collaboration with specialist golf tour operator Kaden Group and Gloria Hotels & Resorts.

During the days leading up to the Canadian weekend Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was universally praised for his outstanding performance during his Nürburgring 24 Hour race debut on the previous weekend and particularly for raising global awareness of and interest in endurance racing.