warmup

Nathan Collins scored 22 points as England came through a testing final warm-up for the Wheelchair Rugby League Ashes to beat Queensland 72-60 on the Sunshine Coast.

Leeds Rhinos pivot Collins scored two tries and landed seven goals as Tom Coyd’s side had to come back from an early 12-6 deficit against competitive hosts.

Wheels of Steel winner Joe Coyd scored three of England’s 13 tries, and added a goal, as they followed up their 86-10 win over New South Wales in last Friday’s tour opener.

Mason Billington and Luis Domingos both scored twice, with one try each for Rob Hawkins, tour captain Lewis King, Seb Bechara and Finlay O’Neill. Wayne Boardman added a goal to the tally.

For Halifax Panthers youngster O’Neill it was a first international try, and he was watched by his father and grandmother, who have travelled from Yorkshire for the tour’s early stages.

Queensland included several players who are set to feature for Australia against England later this week, including Zac Schumacher, who scored five of their tries, and Bayley McKenna, who converted all nine of his goal attempts.

Dan Anstey and Adam Tannock scored twice for the hosts and Pete Arbuckle once, with their other goal coming from Jack Kruger.

England face a two-Test series against Australia on the Gold Coast, with the first match on Thursday and the second on Sunday.

On Friday, after securing her place in Sunday’s 800m final, Hodgkinson said she may have to change her routine.

She said: “With the whole warm-up situation, you’re warming up for almost two hours.

“It can be quite draining, so maybe we will have to look at doing something better come Sunday.”

Last week, American middle-distance runner Nikki Hiltz described it as “weird”, adding: “It’s definitely not usual, but we’re all in the same boat.”

Jamaican coach Stephen Francis was more critical. In an interview with his country’s TVJ news channel, Francis described what he felt were a number of logistical issues, including the “distance from the stadium to the warm-up track”.

He added: “Those areas of a meet are not befitting the top meet of the year for World Athletics.”

A World Athletics statement said: “The athlete experience is of utmost importance for World Athletics and the local organising committee at these World Athletics Championships, and we have put a lot of consideration into their preparations within the constraints of locations and venues.

“This type of configuration is not unique – as we have seen from previous Olympic Games and other major athletics championships.

“The rules regarding warm-up, call room and transport apply to every team and every athlete without exception.

“The brilliant performances we have seen so far from the athletes speak for themselves.”

England’s forward supremacy told as they powered to victory away to France in their final warm-up match before the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The Red Roses dominated in the maul throughout the match at Stade Guy Boniface, scoring their three first-half tries through forwards Morwenna Talling, Amy Cokayne and Maud Muir.

A moment of quick-thinking extended the lead after half-time. As France gave away a penalty from a scrum and the packs came up, scrum-half Natasha Hunt span the ball to the left and Megan Jones collected to score unopposed.

Replacement hooker Lark Atkin-Davies bowled over for two late tries which added gloss to the scoreline. Both were converted by Zoe Harrison, who kicked well all night – converting five tries and hitting the post with the other effort.

While not a note-perfect performance, it extends England’s winning run against France to 16 successive matches.

And with the Red Roses potentially set to face the French – ranked fourth in the world – in the World Cup semi-finals, it will give further confidence to John Mitchell’s team that they can get their hands on a second title.

More follows.

Ireland back row Brittany Hogan says the performance in Saturday’s final World Cup warm-up against Canada is more important than the result.

Canada are ranked second in the world and Ireland head into the game in Belfast off the back of a 27-21 comeback win over Scotland.

Scott Bemand’s side will face Japan, Spain and New Zealand in Pool C at the tournament in England.

“At the end of the day with the result, it’s another warm-up game but it’s another stepping stone towards a successful World Cup,” said Hogan, who is one of 10 Ireland changes for the game in Belfast.

“We’re going to be looking for a performance, and if that puts us on the right or wrong side of the scoreboard it’s not the be all and end all.

“We need to make sure we go through our processes and play our game.”

Ireland lost 21-8 to the Canadians in Vancouver in October in WXV1, and Hogan said the Irish were left “very frustrated” in a match that was closer than the scoreline suggested.

“We’re under no illusions that this is going to be a hard-fought match,” added Hogan.

“We are going to have to earn every single inch against them, and they are a physically dominant team, but we just have to match that.

“We did that when we played against them in Canada in WXV1. It’s about bringing our game awareness, knowledge and tactics into it too.”

Former Ireland internationals Lindsay Peat, Claire Small and Fiona Hayes will join presenter Nicola McCarthy and commentator Oisin Langan in Belfast from 11:50 BST on BBC iPlayer & BBC Two NI.

Rugby World Cup warm-up: Ireland v Canada

Venue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast Date: Saturday, 9 August Kick-off: 12:00 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC iPlayer and website with live text commentary on the website and app

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand says their final warm-up game against Canada presents an “ideal opportunity” for his side to test themselves against a “World Cup contender”.

Canada are ranked second in the world and are in Pool B for the World Cup in England where they will face Scotland, Wales and Fiji.

Ireland will take on Japan, Spain and reigning champions New Zealand in Pool C and Bemand believes the Canada game will be good preparation for what is to come at the tournament.

“Them being number two in the world I think is well deserved. They have really taken their game up levels in the last four years and it is going to be a challenge, but we need that and we want a battle before we head into the World Cup,” he told BBC Sport NI.

“It is well-timed. We want to get our best performance out there to tee us up for the next six weeks.”