Desmond Sport

The Welsh Rugby Union is considering halving the number of regions in Wales as part of a new domestic structure by the 2027-28 season. The governing body says it is entering a formal consultation with the Professional Rugby Board (PRB) and could reduce the number of regions to three or even two. In a statement, the WRU said the current system is failing and is unsustainable, having already confirmed it does not intend to continue equally funding four professional teams in the men's game. Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets are the four current sides, with the WRU saying it wants a "more radical" strategy to be completed by October. The Union said it would consult on a reduction to three or two regions to ensure Wales has "teams that can compete" at the top of the professional game. The shake-up also comes after the men's side suffered its worst season with nine defeats in 10 games that drew a total losing sequence of 18 matches, a run that onl...

Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe is suing the club for alleged negligent medical advice. The 27-year-old, who joined Burnley earlier this month, filed a legal claim with the High Court against United last week. It relates to a period from July 2022 involving an unknown injury and is considered a high value claim, which is understood to be more than £1m. Tuanzebe was out for 195 days in his final season at the club before he was loaned to Stoke in January 2023, where he made just five appearances. He joined the club when he was eight, making his debut in 2017, and played 37 times for them before leaving in the summer of 2023, joining Ipswich as a free agent that September. The right-back captained United at every level and his final appearance for the club was in the 2021 Europa League final loss to Villarreal, where he scored in the shootout as they lost 11-10 on penalties. The former England Under-21 international - who now represents DR Congo - also had thr...

 Chelsea win the Club World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the MetLife Stadium; Cole Palmer scored twice then set up the third goal for Joao Pedro; Paris Saint-Germain had Joao Neves sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair Chelsea claimed Club World Cup glory as Cole Palmer inspired a stunning 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in New Jersey. Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain were strong favourites, having thrashed Real Madrid in the semi-finals, but Chelsea scored three times in a clinical first-half display to earn the title of world champions to follow their Conference League win. Palmer had a hand in all three goals, scoring the first from Malo Gusto's cut-back with a superb, low finish and adding the second with a near-identical strike only eight minutes later. He then played in new signing Joao Pedro, who followed up his two-goal performance against Fluminense with a cool finish over Gianluigi Donnarumma as Paris Saint-Germain, who had ...

Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a car accident in Spain on July 3; Liverpool have retired the number 20 in his honour Emotional tributes were paid to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva ahead of Liverpool's first game since their passing. A rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' echoed around Deepdale ahead of the friendly as Preston North End captain Ben Whiteman laid a wreath in their honour in front of the Liverpool fans. Players then emerged from the tunnel, led by captains Mohamed Salah and Whiteman, as supporters held up various flags and banners while singing Jota's name. A moment of silence in remembrance of Jota and Silva was then held before kick-off, with both sets of players around the centre circle. During the minutes' silence, digital tributes were displayed on the stadium's big screen and on pitchside LED boards. Players from both teams wore black armbands. The crowd sang Jota's name once again when the fixture entered ...