Tommy Makinson has announced he will retire from rugby league at the end of the current 2026 Super League campaign. 

The Catalans Dragons wing, 34, spent the majority of his career with St Helens between 2011 and 2024, winning five Super League titles in 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 and making more than 300 appearances.

Makinson also won a World Club Challenge, a Challenge Cup and four League Leaders’ Shields with Saints, and was selected in the Super League Dream Team on three occasions.

A prolific try scorer, Makinson scored over 200 tries for St Helens and has since notched 20 tries in 37 appearances for Catalans after joining the club ahead of the 2025 season. He also represented England over 20 times.

“As the 2026 season moves towards its final stages, I feel now is the right time to announce that this will be my final season as a professional rugby league player,” Makinson posted on Instagram.

“Rugby league has been incredibly kind to me, and when I look back on the journey I’ve been on, I feel nothing but pride and gratitude. I’ve been very fortunate to live out a dream I had as a kid and represent some of the biggest clubs both in England and France and also the pinnacle which is representing my country.

“There have been so many highs, some difficult moments, incredible memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. I wouldn’t have been able to experience any of it without the unbelievable support I’ve had from my family, friends, team-mates, coaches, staff, supporters and everyone who has played a part in my career. To each and every one of you, thank you.

“I’ve still got a few games left, and I want to enjoy every second of them. I’ll be taking it all in, appreciating the moments and giving everything I have to finish this chapter of my career in the best possible way.

“It’s hard to put into words what rugby league has given me, but I know how lucky I am to have lived this life and played the game I love for as long as I have.”

Sky Sports will show every game of the Super League live this season, including two matches each round exclusively live. The remaining five matches will be broadcast on Sky Sports+.

Sunrisers Leeds kept themselves in contention for The Hundred eliminator while dumping Welsh Fire out of the women’s competition in a one-sided contest at Headingley.

The victory sets up a virtual quarter-final with Manchester Super Giants, who sit in third two points ahead of Sunrisers on 18, at Emirates Old Trafford on Tuesday afternoon.

With both sides coming off the back of two wins, Sunrisers won the toss and surprised nobody by electing to bowl. A nervy start saw Cassidy McCarthy deliver four wides in five balls before Kate Cross got rid of Sarah Bryce lbw.

Freya Kemp then joined Georgia Voll and was fluent from the off in what turned out to be a standout innings.

The economical Deepti Sharma trapped Voll in front to leave the game nicely poised at 61-2 at the halfway mark.

Hannah Baker then broke the game wide open with two quick wickets, an excellent catch by Phoebe Litchfield dismissing her compatriot Georgia Wareham, followed by a peach to bowl Orla Prendergast, both for ducks.

Annabel Sutherland, who had earlier dropped Kemp, then immediately put her down again off Baker to give the Fire a lifeline.

But two more wickets in six balls saw Fire’s run-rate plummet as they aimed just to survive the 100 balls, Baker finishing with 2-15.

Kemp, however, had other ideas. She upped the ante with a six off Jess Jonassen and then blitzed her way to an unbeaten 72 off 45, but a total of 121-8 felt underpowered against the in-form Super Giants line-up.

And so it proved as the remarkable Litchfield continued where she left off against Birmingham Phoenix on Friday.

Shots all around the ground, including three sixes, saw her to a 23-ball 55 and when she went, the score was 92 off 52 and the game as good as done.

Bryony Smith had gone without scoring but Lauren Winfield-Hill reprised her support role from Friday and Sutherland was in imposing form, hitting an 18-ball 28.

It was left to skipper Dani Gibson and Jonassen to finish it off, winning with 26 balls to spare and enabling the Sunrisers to live to fight another day.

Dean inspires Spirit past Phoenix

Charlie Dean took 3-17 as London Spirit sealed their second win of the season by beating Birmingham Phoenix by 32 runs at Lord’s.

Spirit captain Dean helped restrict Phoenix to 108-8 – Nadine de Klerk chipped in with 2-21 – as the visitors fell way short of their run chase after the home side had posted 140-4.

After Phoenix opener Jemima Spence fell to Marizanne Kapp with 10 on the board, Dean dismissed skipper Ellyse Perry and Davina Perrin as the visitors slipped to 47-3.

When Dean had Tammy Beaumont caught behind, Phoenix were 79-6 off 77 deliveries and the writing was on the wall.

Spirit’s South African all-rounder Kapp had earlier clubbed six sixes and two fours in an unbeaten 28-ball 57 to lift the home side’s score after wicketkeeper Jones had made 39 off 30 deliveries.

With one game remaining, Spirit sit sixth in the table on 10 points, four above bottom side Phoenix, who have lost five of their seven matches.

Watch every match of The Hundred through to the finals on Sunday August 16. Watch The Hundred and more contract-free on NOW