Steve Borthwick: don’t bet against Henry Pollock making Lions Test team
Steve Borthwick believes Henry Pollock can force his way into the British & Irish Lions Test team for the series against Australia this summer despite having just one England cap as a replacement to his name.The 20-year-old was the headline inclusion in Andy Farrell’s Lions squad last month after a stunning breakthrough season in which he has helped Northampton into Saturday’s Champions Cup final against Bordeaux.At the start of the Six Nations he was still turning out for England Under-20s before starting to figure in Borthwick’s thinking towards the end of the championship.He made a fine debut off the bench against Wales in Cardiff, scoring two tries in a 32-minute cameo.As a back-rower Pollock is in arguably the most competitive position in Farrell’s squad with Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Jac Morgan, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan for company.
But he would join a select group of players that includes Jason Robinson and Jamie George should he make his first Test start for the Lions rather than England.“Nobody would bet against that,” said Borthwick.“There’s fierce competition there because Ben Earl’s another player who’s played really well for England for two or three years now.He’s been exceptional.I think the depth of the player talent there is what makes it such an exciting squad and an exciting series.
“What struck is that each and every level [Henry] steps up to, he really embraces that challenge.I sense he’s somebody who just jumps all into it and doesn’t contemplate it too much.Simply jumps into it and embraces the contest.And I expect him to do the same again this summer.“When you look at how quickly he’s grown from starting at the Six Nations in our training camp, then playing a couple of games with the under-20s, to then joining our training camp again and then playing at the end of the Six Nations.
The form he’s played in Northampton since the end of that and in some of the biggest games, he’s performed brilliantly.He’s clearly an incredibly talented player who just loves the challenge.”After their positive Six Nations campaign, Pollock is one of 13 England players in the Lions squad – captained by Maro Itoje – while Richard Wigglesworth is the first assistant coach seconded from England’s staff since Borthwick, for the tour to New Zealand in 2017.Borthwick has not yet discussed standby players with Andy Farrell but is anticipating further call-ups in the summer when England are touring Argentina and the US and is planning to pick a 36-man squad as a result.Sign up to The BreakdownThe latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewedafter newsletter promotionIn the recent past, England have struggled in the Six Nations immediately after a Lions tour but Borthwick believes the benefits of having so much representation in Australia outweighs the drawbacks.
“Operating with the best players in four countries, I think that you get the opportunity to learn and observe how other people operate,” he added,“Going down to Australia where the World Cup will be in two years, from a management team perspective as well as the players, is phenomenal,Australia will be the first team we play in the Autumn Series in 2025,I think that’s also an important consideration,”
Athletes warn against potential health risks of ‘dangerous, unethical’ Enhanced Games
A group of prominent Australian athletes including former Olympic diver Melissa Wu and Diamonds netballer Natalie Butler (nee Medhurst) has taken aim at the Enhanced Games after the “superhumanity” startup confirmed plans for its first event next year in Las Vegas, where former world champion Dolphin James Magnussen is expected to take part.The inaugural Enhanced Games planned for next May will include medical screening and individualised health profiling for the sprinting, swimming and weightlifting events as well as oversight by independent scientific and ethics boards to address widespread concerns for the safety of those who take part.But Sport Integrity Australia’s six-member Athlete Advisory Group, which also includes rugby sevens representative Ben O’Donnell and gymnast Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva, issued a plea on Thursday for athletes to resist the lure of prize money and recognise their status as role models in society by staying clean.“The normalisation of performance-enhancing drugs promotes doping as entertainment, putting athletes at risk, and devalues the efforts of those who choose to compete clean,” the athlete advisory group said.“We are concerned about the negative role modelling impact on young athletes in particular, and the related health risks of using performance-enhancing substances or methods that may be inadvertently viewed as safe
Jim Irsay, longtime owner of NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, dies aged 65
Jim Irsay, longtime owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts and one of the NFL’s most recognizable figures, has died at age 65. The franchise announced that Irsay passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday afternoon.“We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO, Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep,” Colts chief operating officer Pete Ward said in a statement. “Jim’s dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts, in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed.”Irsay, who took over full control of the team in 1997 following the death of his father Robert Irsay, presided over the most successful era in Colts history
Sophia Dunkley launches England into new era with win over West Indies in first T20
This opening match of the T20 series at Canterbury was supposed to be all about England: a first chance to assess how this team will fare under the new head coach, Charlotte Edwards, and new captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. And no doubt, Edwards will be pleased that her reign began with an eight-wicket win, especially as this was a homecoming of sorts for the former Kent captain.But while England experienced their first taste of victory in five months – spearheaded by a career-best unbeaten 81 from Sophia Dunkley, and featuring a wicket on debut for the 27-year-old Warwickshire seamer Em Arlott – there was only one star of Wednesday’s show: West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, who calmly brought up a century off the final ball of the visitors’ innings.An unbeaten 100 out of a team total of 146; 16 boundaries to Matthews while her teammates scored just five between them. Matthews is by now used to bearing the weight of the team she has captained for three years – epitomised by her refusal to take singles in the final over here, as she eyed up three figures – but the sensation is currently heightened by the mysterious absence of Deandra Dottin, who was omitted from the West Indies squad for this tour without explanation
England beat West Indies by eight wickets: first women’s T20 cricket international – as it happened
That’s it from me this evening. Congratulations England – ‘A new dawn has broken has it not?’ and all that. Charlotte Edwards will be pretty happy with what she saw this evening. The series continues on Friday down in Hove. Rob Smyth will be your guide for that and we’ll be back in the morning for the start of the Test match summer
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA MVP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, capping a breakout year in which he led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a league-best 68 wins and the franchise’s deepest playoff run since the Kevin Durant era.The 26-year-old guard, who will be officially honored on Wednesday night, edged out Denver’s Nikola Jokić for the award after finishing runner-up to the Serbian star last season. Gilgeous-Alexander became the first Thunder player to win MVP since Russell Westbrook in 2017, and only the third in team history, alongside Westbrook and Durant.Gilgeous-Alexander is the first Canadian to win the award since Steve Nash in 2006. He also continues a run of players from outside the US claiming the award
Pro-doping Enhanced Games to debut in Las Vegas with Trump Jr backing
A controversial new Olympics-style sporting event where athletes will be permitted – and even encouraged – to use performance-enhancing drugs is set to debut in Las Vegas next May, organizers announced on Wednesday.The inaugural Enhanced Games will take place 21–24 May 2026 at Resorts World on the Las Vegas Strip. Over four days, competitors will race, lift and swim with full access to drugs and therapies banned in virtually every other elite athletic setting.Billed as a revolution in sport and science, the event aims to embrace what organizers call “superhumanity” – a future where pharmaceutical and technological enhancement is normalized in elite competition. But while promoters cast it as a bold break from the past, critics are already raising alarms about safety, fairness and the fundamental integrity of sport
Lammy’s rebuke of Israel marks turning point after weeks of growing frustration
UK politics: No 10 won’t say if fuel payments U-turn will be implemented in time for this winter – as it happened
Labour does a major U-turn but does Clueless Kemi even notice? | John Crace
Reform councils pledge to scrap LTNs – despite there being none in their areas
Rupert Lowe recorded making antisemitic remark at parliament
Rayner urged Reeves to consider wealth tax rises before spring statement