#international-competition

#international-competition

Ireland's rugby squad depth is an obsession, particularly given the confrontational and dangerous nature of the sport. Compared to top nations, Ireland faces a disadvantage.

For us it's important to try and get some points on the board early so that the team can kick on in confidence and really kick on the campaign. It's a crammed fixture list but we must try to build up a bit of momentum.

Two-time OCC winner Miao Yao (China) ran 2:32:30 to finish 24th. Yao went through halfway in a quick 1:13:40 but faded in the second half. Yao's personal best is 2:30:13 from November 2025.

Since women's hockey was introduced as an Olympic sport in 1998, the only two teams that have won gold are the United States and Canada. That will remain true this year. The rest of the world is starting to catch up, with emerging programs from Sweden, Czechia and even Switzerland, which made a surprising semifinal run. However, the North Americans remain the gold standard on the international stage.

Bernie Bolger and his brother didn't really know much about Finska when they spotted an advertisement four years ago for the national championships in Sydney. We told some friends and all decided it would be funny if we signed up, he recalls. We didn't know how serious or legit or what the structure would be of the tournament. The miniature-log-tossing sport, which hails from Finland, is mostly played among friends and family in parks and beaches during summer holidays in Australia.

I'm a proud Pottery worker. Just like my Dad before me. The most highly-skilled Potters make ceramics in my town and we export them around the globe. But the industry we rely on is dying. Spiralling energy prices - especially gas - mean that UK ceramic firms fork out 875 million pounds in energy costs each year. That's right - almost a billion pounds just on energy costs.

Overall, the Canadian under-23 team struggled with their shooting percentages, finishing under 35 percent from both the field and three-point range, which ultimately hurt their chances.

Former female football players describe how societal and institutional barriers hindered their participation in football. Despite these challenges, the sport has evolved greatly, reflecting changing attitudes.

Australia's Opals won the Women's Asia Cup for the first time with an 88-79 victory over Japan, securing the title after previous attempts since 2017.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will implement a new format, expanding from seven to 32 teams, taking place in the U.S. every four years.

The trio wear suits in a mock sauna surrounded by dancers in towels and woolly hats, and armed with bouquets of birch branches, used by sauna enthusiasts to whip up their blood circulation.

Given the strong interest we've seen in international basketball competitions, most recently in last summer's Olympics in Paris, we're discussing concepts... that focus on NBA players representing their countries or regions instead of the more traditional formats.