Sports
No handshakes between Republic of Ireland and Israel players before Nations League game
The Republic of Ireland and Israel players did not shake hands with each other before Sunday’s controversial Uefa Nations League game in Hungary.
After walking on to the pitch at Nagyerdei Stadion, the Republic of Ireland squad stood for their national anthem and appeared to bow their heads before Israel’s anthem.
Following the anthems, the two teams did not line up for the traditional handshakes.
There was also no exchange of pennants between Republic of Ireland captain Dara O’Shea and Israel skipper Manor Solomon, who did not shake hands.
The fixtures have been embroiled in controversy since February when the two teams were drawn to play each other in Group B3.
The Republic of Ireland players have faced calls to withdraw from the games because of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war with a “Stop The Game” campaign – organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine – gathering pace.
However, the players voted to fulfil the fixture during a lengthy meeting at the team’s hotel in Debrecen on Saturday.
Later on Saturday, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu confirmed he had withdrawn from the squad, saying he felt it “would be wrong to participate” in Sunday’s game and the return fixture in Serbia on 4 October.
The Irish players wore black armbands, which Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell said on Saturday was a gesture “in recognition of all lives lost in the [Gaza] conflict”.
More to follow.
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Sports
NHL waiver tracker: Best players on the wire throughout 2026-27 preseason
The Athletic’s Corey Pronman and Harman Dayal provide analysis of the most intriguing players placed on waivers during preseason.
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York Valkyrie hold out to beat Wigan Warriors 8-6 and win the Women’s Super League Grand Final at Brick Community Stadium | Rugby League News
York Valkyrie won the Women’s Super League Grand Final, beating Wigan Warriors 8-6.
It was York’s third title after previous victories in 2023 and 2024.
Early on in this year’s final at the Brick Community Stadium, Sinead Peach went over to score the opening try, with Ellie Williamson providing the conversion.
Wigan came back to level the game in the first half as Jenna Foubister put Mia-Jayne Atherton through to score the try and Isabel Rowe converted.
Atherton was sent to the sin bin as was Wigan’s Eva Hunter. The latter was fortunate to evade a red card for a dangerous tackle. She was sin-binned and Williamson landed the decisive kick to put York ahead.
Wigan launched attack after attack in the second half but, in a superb defensive effort, York held out, with player of the match, teenager Amelie Lenham, standing out with try-saving tackles.
Afterwards as York celebrated becoming the first team to win the Women’s Super League three times, the fiancé of Lisa Parker, who’d played with a broken hand, proposed to her, capping off a fairy-tale evening.
Who will win the Betfred Super League Grand Final? Watch the Super League’s showpiece event live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+ on Saturday, October 3 from 5pm. Get Sky Sports or stream contract-free on NOW
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Sports
Nations League: Bruno Fernandes, Cody Gakpo and Patrick Dorgu injured on international duty
Gakpo’s injury adds to Liverpool‘s woes after Alexander Isak withdrew from Sweden duty with a minor thigh injury.
The striker played the full 90 minutes and scored a goal in his side’s 2-1 win on Friday over Romania in the Nations League.
However, he will not be involved in Sweden’s remaining three matches in this international break and assessed by his club’s medical staff.
On Thursday, Arsenal forward Kai Havertz and Sunderland‘s Brian Brobbey both went off injured in the same game as the Netherlands drew with Germany.
German Havertz was caught on the knee by a high boot from Quinten Timber in Amsterdam and had to be replaced.
Netherlands forward Brobbey – off the back off a hat-trick in Sunderland‘s 5-3 Premier League defeat by Manchester City – then appeared to suffer a muscle injury.
A further blow for Sunderland on this international break came as Dan Ballard suffered a hamstring injury late in Northern Ireland’s 1-0 win over Georgia on Friday.
Boss Michael O’Neill has confirmed the injury will rule him out of the national team’s remaining fixtures in this international break.
It is not just Premier League teams who are being impacted by injuries to their players while on international duty.
Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out for at least two weeks after injuring his knee while scoring the winner in Zinedine Zidane’s first game in charge of France.
He scored a record-extending 67th goal from Michael Olise’s pass to sink Turkey, but he was limping immediately and had to be replaced five minutes later.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala suffered a muscle injury during the warm-up for the game against the Netherlands and had to withdraw.
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