Super League rivals round analysis: What did results tell us for how the season will progress?
St Helens completed an incredible six-minute comeback, Wakefield now hold the bragging rights after defeating Castleford, while Hull KR came out on top in the Hull derby.
The first rivals round this year did not disappoint as the first bragging rights were given to local rivals, we had upsets, late drama and vital points at the top and the bottom of the table.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Elliot Ward looks at the results from this weekend's action, how this shapes the table up, the crucial try scorers and the overall performance from the teams involved.
MMA news: Renato Moicano submits Chris Duncan at UFC Vegas 115, blasts Apex fight card
Renato Moicano made easy money at UFC Vegas 115, but he wasn’t smiling afterwards. The Brazilian veteran submitted Chris Duncan via rear-naked choke in the second round of Saturday’s headliner, snapping a two-fight losing streak in dominant fashion.
Both lightweights train together at American Top Team and Moicano entered as a slight underdog against the surging Scotsman, writes Sports News Blitz’s Samuel Faris-Clark.
Soccer opinion: Changes Italy must make after yet another World Cup qualification failure
Italy’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup is monumental; as a country with such a successful history in the competition, it doesn’t feel right that it won’t be heading to North America this summer, especially for a nation that was often a regular participant.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Luca Salmasi takes a look at the changes Italy must make to return to the next World Cup and restore their status amongst the elites of international football.
F1 news: Martin Brundle on Max Verstappen quit rumours – “I’d hugely miss his talent”
Martin Brundle discussed Max Verstappen’s future on the latest edition of The F1 Show podcast, where speculation about the Dutchman potentially quitting Formula One was a hot topic.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Luca Salmasi takes a closer look at Brundle’s thoughts on a possible Verstappen exit.
Late-Season Trends Shaping NBA Win Totals in 2026
The 2025–26 NBA season’s winding down, but the numbers haven’t settled. Not yet. In fact, this is usually when things start to feel a little less predictable. Teams are chasing position, protecting it, or trying to stay within reach. That tension shows up in the standings in ways that don’t always line up with how the year began.
The top teams have continued to perform better than expected. Some of the high-profile contenders have fallen off dramatically. Understanding the underlying factors driving these late season trends highlights why teams have seen their win totals continue to fluctuate dramatically. As the playoffs quickly approach, increased intensity and a heightened sense of urgency have taken over.
World Cup 2026 analysis: Can Thomas Tuchel’s England finally bring football home?
England's preparations for the upcoming World Cup have finished, and Thomas Tuchel has the toughest decision of his life to make on May 30 when he picks his final squad for the World Cup.
Soccer analysis: Can Roberto De Zerbi save Tottenham from relegation with seven Premier League games left?
Tottenham haven't just made a change - they've made a statement.
With the Premier League season coming to a close, and the club lingering in 17th place, this feels like a calculated gamble rather than a reset.
The arrival of Roberto De Zerbi is Spurs putting all their cards on the table, turning to a coach who has been widely praised as a "genius" despite his somewhat volatile past.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Matthew Morgan assesses Spurs’ chances of survival under new boss De Zerbi.
Burnout in the Premier League: When too many games become too much
As the demands of the modern game increase, Premier League footballers are being pushed to their physical and mental limits by an unforgiving schedule.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Joshua Topping examines how an overloaded season schedule pushes athletes to their limits, often leading to physical and mental burnout.
FA Cup betting tips: Man City to beat Liverpool, Gabriel Martinelli to score, and more FA Cup quarter-final betting tips
Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from this weekend’s FA Cup TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher - including the big one between Manchester City and Liverpool on Saturday, April 4.
FA Cup news: West Ham vs Leeds Utd preview – Wembley awaits winner of quarter-final showdown
A huge occasion is brewing in East London this weekend as West Ham United and Leeds United go head-to-head for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals. It’s a remarkable prospect for either club and a perfect Easter Sunday football fix for fans.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Charlie Fawcett previews the clash.
Rugby League news: St Helens vs Wigan and Bradford vs Leeds headline Super League’s rival round
Super League’s rival round is here, and it's looking tasty - Sports News Blitz writer Elliot Ward gives his thoughts on how he thinks the key games will pan out.
What is rival round?
Rival round is local derbies across the country, which are all played over one weekend's action; it falls on Easter weekend over the bank holiday. We should be in for some great action and high attendances.
ATP Tour news: Sunshine Double 2026 – Five takeaways as Jannik Sinner sweeps Indian Wells, Miami
During March, ATP Tour stars competed on the west and east sides of America in the back-to-back Masters events collectively known as the ‘Sunshine Double’ – the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open.
As ever, the action provided plenty of talking points, with the winner of both achieving a feat never before realised and several players making names for themselves with deep runs. Here, Sports News Blitz writer and tennis fan AJ Becker takes a look at five key points from Stateside action.
IPL 2026 week one review: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma & Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shine
Five games into IPL 2026, a clear trend has emerged: chasing sides have won all five matches.
The superstars - Virat Kohli (69 vs SRH) and Rohit Sharma (78 vs KKR) - wasted no time stamping authority.
But the breakout story belongs to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The 15-year-old sensation lit up the opening week with a sensational joint third-fastest half-century in IPL history, giving us a glimpse of what lies ahead.
Here’s Sports News Blitz cricket writer Himanshu Sharma’s team-by-team review after the opening round of matches.
F1 opinion: Ferrari are right to be furious, Mercedes’ ‘innovation’ is just legal cheating
Here we go again. Different regulations, same circus, writes Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo.
Ferrari spend years preparing for a regulation reset, playing by the book, trying to build something competitive...and then along comes Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team with yet another “clever interpretation” that just happens to give it a massive edge.
Man Utd opinion: Harry Maguire’s convenient narrative on Ruben Amorim
Harry Maguire came out and said Ruben Amorim had “great ideas” but that they “just didn’t work at Manchester United.”
It sounded harmless on the surface. But listen closely, and there’s a subtle shift of responsibility.
The ideas didn’t work...at United. Not the players. Not the execution. Not the dressing room. The system.
That’s a dangerous narrative, writes Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo.
World’s best Ka Ying Rising goes for 19th consecutive win in Monday’s G2 Sprint Cup
After setting a new record for consecutive wins by a Hong Kong-trained horse, Zac Purton remains supremely confident Ka Ying Rising can extend his unbeaten streak in Easter Monday’s (6 April) HK$5.35 million (approx. £515,000) G2 Sprint Cup (6f/1200m) at Sha Tin.
Having surpassed Silent Witness’ previous record of 17 successive victories by landing a second HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, Ka Ying Rising returns bidding for a 19th successive win against six rivals at the public holiday Group 2 double-header, which also features the HK$5.35 million (approx. £515,000) G2 Chairman’s Trophy.
Soccer analysis: Can Thomas Tuchel’s England win FIFA World Cup 2026 without Harry Kane?
It was a disappointing international window for Thomas Tuchel and his England side after the Three Lions suffered a 1-0 loss to Japan on Tuesday. That defeat followed a 1-1 draw with Uruguay and further exposed some blatant cracks.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Matthew Morgan examines the potential weaknesses this England squad may have to face.
Player vs manager – Who matters more in football’s fragile environment?
From dazzling forwards to visionary managers, football success hinges on individuals who shape a club’s identity – indeed, the game has always been defined by its people. Yet, one question continues to divide fans, pundits, and executives alike: what is more damaging to a team, losing a key player or losing a manager?
The answer is far from simple as it depends on philosophy, structure, emotional connection, and ultimately the unique DNA of each club. Here, Sports News Blitz writer Joshua Topping explores the significance of both players and managers to determine who truly holds greater importance.
Inside Abbie Eaton’s mindset for success in motorsport
Abbie Eaton has built a career in one of the most demanding corners of sport, combining elite-level racing with a clear-eyed view of what it takes to compete, adapt and break through.
In this exclusive interview with the High Performance Speakers Agency, Abbie Eaton reflects on what it takes to succeed in a male-dominated sport, the decisions that defined her racing career, and the mindset required to keep pushing when talent alone is not enough.
The Mental and Physical Preparation of Elite Athletes in the Esports Industry
Master the training secrets of elite esports athletes: neuro-athletics, diet, and ergonomics. Learn how to maintain peak performance and avoid career-ending injuries in pro gaming.