Sir Mo Farah finishes ninth in his final London Marathon and reveals Great North Run in September will be last race of his career: “I want to give time to my wife and kids now, as well as getting involved in grassroots sport and giving back to this sport”
Last Updated: 23/04/23 8:06pm
Sir Mo Farah says the Great North Run in September will be his ‘goodbye’
Sir Mo Farah will finish his athletics career with the Great North Run in September.
Four-time Olympic champion Farah revealed the news after finishing ninth in his final London Marathon on Sunday.
The 40-year-old plans to compete in the Great Manchester 10K in May before bowing out on September 10 at half-marathon distance.
Speaking to the BBC, Farah said: “The Great North Run is going to be my last-ever run and that will be my goodbye.
“Part of me was wanting to cry [after the London Marathon]. I will miss that feeling, I am emotional today. I want to pass that on.”
Farah won the 10,000 metres and 5,000 metres at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics
Farah won gold in the 10,000 metres and 5,000 metres at London 2012 before repeating the feat at the 2016 Oympics in Rio de Janeiro.
He added: “My career has been amazing, my wife and kids have been with me throughout this journey. I want to give time to them now, as well as getting involved in grassroots sport and giving back to this sport.”
On his London Marathon run of two hours, 10 minutes and 28 seconds – which was over five minutes off his personal best – Farah said: “Training went well and I was confident.
“I thought I could do between 2:05 and 2:07 but you never know with the marathon. I gave it my all but my body just wasn’t responding and that’s when you know when it’s time to call it a day.
“London has been so great to me over the years and I wanted to be here to say thank you to the crowd and the support was just amazing.
“I started here at the mini marathon and to finish here is just incredible. If somebody had said to that kid running the mini marathon that I’ll be Olympic champion, he would never have believed it.
“The sport needs this, we need to give back to the young athletes and teach them what is possible with hard work.”
Wigan kept alive their faint hopes of avoiding relegation from the Sky Bet Championship with a thrilling 2-1 victory over play-off chasing Millwall at the DW Stadium.
A statement posted on Tiger Woods’ social media on Wednesday announced the 15-time major winner had undergone a procedure to address post-traumatic arthritis; Woods withdrew from The Masters ahead of the resumption of the third round at Augusta National
Last Updated: 19/04/23 9:24pm
Tiger Woods has undergone surgery on his ankle
Tiger Woods has undergone surgery on his ankle following his recent withdrawal from The Masters.
The 15-time major champion pulled out of this year’s tournament at Augusta National ahead of the resumption of the third round due to reaggravating his plantar fasciitis.
An update posted on Woods’ social media on Wednesday confirmed he has since had surgery to address arthritis stemming from ankle problems.
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“Earlier today, Tiger Woods underwent a subtalar fusion procedure to address post-traumatic arthritis from his previous talus fracture,” the statement said.
“It was performed by Dr Martin O’Malley at HSS Sports Medicine Institute in New York City. He has determined the surgery to be successful.
“Tiger is currently recovering and looks forward to beginning his rehabilitation.”
Woods, making just his second start of the year in The Masters, battled cold and wet conditions to close a second-round 74 on Saturday morning and secure a record-equalling 23rd consecutive cut in the tournament.
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Butch Harmon reflects on Tiger Woods’ Masters 2023 journey and how this looks for the rest of his golfing career in the near future
Butch Harmon reflects on Tiger Woods’ Masters 2023 journey and how this looks for the rest of his golfing career in the near future
He snuck through on the cut mark of three over, despite bogeying his final two holes, with Woods falling further behind after a nightmare start to his third round.
Woods looked in physical discomfort as he made two bogeys and two double-bogeys over his first seven holes, leaving the former world No 1 on nine over for the tournament and bottom of the leaderboard by three shots.
He subsequently elected against returning to play what would have been an extended Sunday for him and has only completed 72 holes twice since career-threatening leg injuries in a car crash in February 2021.
Woods withdrew from the Hero World Challenge last November with plantar fasciitis too, although played at the PNC Championship later that month and featured at February’s Genesis Invitational.
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Speaking at The Masters, Nick Faldo says Tiger Woods has to ‘get realistic’ over his injury problems
Speaking at The Masters, Nick Faldo says Tiger Woods has to ‘get realistic’ over his injury problems
“Every year from here going forward is to play in all the majors – I am not going to play too much more than that,” Woods previously said.
He is next scheduled to feature at the PGA Championship, an event he has won four times, although it remains to be seen whether he will be fit to feature at Oak Hill Country Club from May 18-21.
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Sky Sports News’ Gary Cotterill and Nick Wright give their full-time analysis of Chelsea’s 4-0 aggregate defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final, and ask: can anyone make these players gel together?
George Williams takes over from Sam Tomkins as the new England captain ahead of their clash against France later this month; watch England’s men and women against France live on Sky Sports on April 29
Last Updated: 18/04/23 6:31pm
George Williams has been named the new England captain
Warrington half-back George Williams has been appointed England captain.
The 28-year-old succeeds former Wigan team-mate Sam Tomkins, who will retire at the end of the season.
Williams, who has 15 international caps, made a try-scoring debut in an 84-4 victory over France in 2015 and appeared at the 2017 and 2021 Rugby League World Cups.
He will lead his country against France at his home ground of Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday, April 29.
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Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Barrie McDermott discuss Shaun Wane’s contract extension to lead England into the 2025 World Cup
Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Barrie McDermott discuss Shaun Wane’s contract extension to lead England into the 2025 World Cup
“It is a huge honour to be named as England captain,” Williams said in a statement.
“Playing for England has always been the pinnacle for me but being named as captain is the cherry on top.
“I got the opportunity to lead the team out in the World Cup against Greece and it was one of the proudest moments of my life. I had to hold back tears as we walked out on to the field.
“The World Cup ended in disappointment for us but it’s all about bouncing back from that now and building towards 2025 with what is a really exciting and vibrant squad.”
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Sky Sports’ Jon Wilkin has his say on the news that Shaun Wane will remain as England head coach and believes the team played well at the World Cup apart from their semi-final defeat to Samoa
Sky Sports’ Jon Wilkin has his say on the news that Shaun Wane will remain as England head coach and believes the team played well at the World Cup apart from their semi-final defeat to Samoa
Williams currently leads the way in the 2023 Steve Prescott Man of Steel rankings, with his Warrington side two points clear at the top of the Betfred Super League.
England head coach Shaun Wane said: “I’ve seen George develop from being a youngster to the player he is today, and I believe he is the right man to lead the England team.
“With a lot of new faces in the squad, George’s role will be crucial within the camp as he has been that youngster bursting on to the international scene and is now an experienced and consistent performer at the top level.”
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Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg reveals that both Liverpool and Arsenal are keeping an eye on Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch but that the club are unlikely to sell the player this summer.
Play suspended at the Crucible after a protester jumped on the table mid-match and threw an orange substance everywhere; the group Just Stop Oil immediately claimed responsibility for the protest on their social media account
Last Updated: 17/04/23 8:53pm
A protester jumps on the table during the match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry
The World Snooker Championship match between Joe Perry and Robert Milkins was delayed when a protester jumped on the table.
The man, wearing a t-shirt with ‘Just Stop Oil’ written on it, came out of the audience and jumped on the table during the middle of the first-round match, throwing an orange substance on it.
He was then swiftly apprehended by security and removed from the table.
A female protester was stopped from disrupting the match between Mark Allen and Fan Zhengyi on table two by referee Olivier Marteel.
A 30-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, and both are in police custody.
The protest group Just Stop Oil immediately claimed responsibility for the incident with a post on their Twitter account.
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Beginning with the headline “NEW OIL AND GAS WILL SNOOKER US”, the statement went on to say: “At around 7:20pm, two Just Stop Oil supporters have disrupted the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, interrupting play.
“They are demanding that the Government immediately stop all new UK fossil fuel projects and are calling on UK sporting institutions to step into in civil resistance [sic] against the Government’s genocidal policies.”
Play was immediately suspended as cleaners brought vacuum cleaners into the arena and master of ceremonies Rob Walker was among those helping to sweep up the mess.
The match between Allen and Fan on table two was then able to resume after a delay of around 45 minutes, however table one was taken out of action for the rest of the evening and is due to be re-clothed overnight as a result of being covered in the powder.
Orange powder on the table after a Just Stop Oil protester interrupted the match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry
The match between Perry and Milkins, which was in the first frame when the interruption occurred, will instead recommence at 7pm on Tuesday followed by the second session getting under way at 9.30am on Thursday.
Former world champion Stephen Hendry, on commentary duties for the BBC, said: “I have never seen that before at a snooker event. It’s a first.
“It is scary – wow! You just hope the cloth can be recovered from that. It caught us all by surprise and then this happens.
“For me, straight away as a snooker player I am thinking: ‘Is the table recoverable?’ We don’t know what that is on the table.”
Northampton Saints beat an understrength leaders Saracens, who had Duncan Taylor sent off early on, to move up to fourth; Harlequins kept their slim play-off hopes alive with a thumping victory at home to Newcastle Falcons
Last Updated: 15/04/23 7:00pm
Northampton’s Fraser Dingwall (right) celebrates after scoring for Northampton Saints against Saracens
Round-up of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership action as Northampton Saints beat 14-man Saracens and Harlequins defeated Newcastle Falcons.
Northampton Saints 38-29 Saracens
Northampton moved above London Irish and back up to fourth in the table after taking full advantage of Duncan Taylor’s 10th-minute red card to beat an understrength Saracens side.
Saracens only named three first-choice players in their starting line-up at Franklin’s Gardens, as director of rugby Mark McCall chose to rotate his squad, and Saints received a further boost when Scotland international Taylor was sent off early on for a high shot on Fin Smith.
Despite having the numerical advantage for much of the game, Northampton were made to work hard before finally claiming an eighth consecutive home victory in the Premiership, as well as bringing an end to Saracens’ run of six successive wins at Franklin’s Gardens.
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Alex Moon, Lewis Ludlam, Tommy Freeman, Rory Hutchinson, Fraser Dingwall and Smith all scored tries for the home side, with Smith adding four conversions, as they kept themselves in the running for a semi-final spot for a second season running.
Rotimi Segun, who in fact opening the scoring, crossed for two of Saracens’ four tries, with Theo Dan and Manu Vunipola grabbing the others, the latter adding three conversions and a penalty.
Harlequins 48-20 Newcastle Falcons
Harlequins scored eight-tries against bottom side Newcastle Falcons to go sixth – seven points behind Northampton – and keep their slim play-off hopes alive.
Two Tries by Alex Dombrandt and further scores from Andre Esterhuizen, Louis Lynagh, Josh Bassett, Dino Lamb, Joe Marchant and Fin Baxter ensured the two-time Premiership champions eventually ran out comfortable winners at the Twickenham Stoop.
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They were made to work hard for the result by Newcastle, however, as tries from Mateo Carreras and Freddie Lockwood left the match finely poised at 22-20 as it went into its closing stages.
However, Quins rallied with four tries in the final 10 minutes to surge clear in what was a successful return to action for England prospect Louis Lynagh, who was in the side for the first time this season after a long-term knee injury.
Centre Marchant made his final appearance at The Stoop before he joins Stade Francais next season, and his try was one of the most popular acts of the day, although he also missed the final conversion from in front of the posts.
Three-time Olympic champion Adam Peaty withdrew from the recent British Championships, saying he was “not enjoying the sport”; the 28-year-old will now extend his break in order to focus on his mental health
Last Updated: 12/04/23 11:42pm
Adam Peaty withdrew from April’s British Swimming Championships
British Swimming will set no timescale for Adam Peaty’s return to competition after the three-time Olympic gold medallist was left out of the squad for the World Aquatics Championships in July.
Peaty, 28, withdrew from the recent British Championships, saying he was “not enjoying the sport”, and will extend his break in order to focus on his mental health.
British Swimming said in a statement it will look to provide Peaty with all the support he needs during his time away from the sport.
The statement, issued to the BBC, read: “There are no specific timelines with Adam at this stage.
“The focus is very much on ensuring he is fully supported, and working with him on when he is ready to make a full return to his normal competition schedule.”
Peaty is a three-time Olympic champion
Peaty has previously said he hoped his decision to step away would help him prepare for next year’s Paris Olympics and the defence of his 100 metres breaststroke and 4x100m mixed medley titles.
In total six Olympic champions – Freya Anderson, Tom Dean, Anna Hopkin, James Guy, Matt Richards and Duncan Scott – will compete in Fukuoka, Japan this summer, with James Wilby also out to add to his previous world championship medal.
Freya Colbert, Dan Jervis and Laura Stephens all made qualification times in their respective events in Sheffield.
There will be 10 swimmers set to make their world championship debut in Japan, including Katie Shanahan, who won 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley titles at Ponds Forge.
British Swimming performance director Chris Spice said: “We were really pleased with the standard of our athletes’ performances at the British Championships, with established names and new faces delivering big swims and helping play their part in some outstanding races.
“As with every year, our swimmers and coaches will now put those performances behind them and focus on what they can do between now and the summer to ensure they can deliver a season’s best when it matters most.”
If you are affected by issues related to mental wellbeing or want to talk, please contact the Samaritans on the free helpline 116 123, or visit the website
George Williams is staying with Warrington Wolves until 2026 after extending his contract for a further two years; former Australia international prop Paul Vaughan has until 2025 as well; watch the Wolves take on Wigan Warriors live on Sky Sports on Friday from 7.30pm
Last Updated: 12/04/23 3:41pm
George Williams is staying with Warrington until 2026 after signing a contract extension
George Williams has ended talk of an imminent return to the NRL by signing a long-term contract with Warrington Wolves.
Stand-off Williams has been one of the stars of the Betfred Super League so far in 2023, building on some impressive displays for England at last year’s Rugby League World Cup and helping the Wolves open the campaign with eight wins from eight games.
The 28-year-old, who spent a season-and-a-half in Australia with Canberra Raiders before moving to Warrington in 2021, had been linked with a switch back to the NRL, with Wests Tigers reported to be among the clubs chasing him. However, Williams has now agreed an extension to stay with the Wolves until 2026.
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Jon Wilkin could not resist the temptation to question George Williams about his haircut while praising the Warrington player about his impressive form.
Jon Wilkin could not resist the temptation to question George Williams about his haircut while praising the Warrington player about his impressive form.
Meanwhile, former Australia international prop Paul Vaughan has extended his stay at the Halliwell Jones Stadium until 2025 following a string of strong showings since moving to the Wolves from Canterbury Bulldogs in the off-season.
More to follow…
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Brooks Koepka leads the way at The Masters following the suspension of play on Saturday
We take a look at some of the main talking points as The Masters heads into a packed final day, with the third round still to be completed following heavy rain which forced Saturday’s play to be suspended…
Koepka vs Rahm: A two-horse race?
Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm have been the class acts of the field so far at Augusta National. Indeed, their performances in the first two rounds ensured it was the first time two players had been at 10 under par or better through 36 holes.
It is 32-year-old Koepka who holds the advantage though, leading world No 3 Rahm by four shots on 13 under up to the point where play was suspended on Saturday afternoon.
They will resume on Sunday on the seventh green with Koepka facing a putt to save par and Rahm having an opportunity to birdie, showing how much things could change with another 11 holes of the third round for the leaders to play.
As if a showdown between two golfers at the top of their game was not enough, there is the added drama of a probable showdown between LIV Golf defector Brooks and PGA Tour star Rahm for the right to pull on the fabled Green Jacket for the first time.
Smash GC captain Koepka triumphed in the most recent LIV event in Orlando ahead of The Masters and if he were to triumph it would hand a significant boost to the breakaway tour.
Koepka to seal his fifth major?
From a personal point of view, victory in the Masters would take Koepka three-quarters of the way to completing the Grand Slam of golf’s four majors.
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Highlights from the third round of the 2023 Masters at Augusta National
Highlights from the third round of the 2023 Masters at Augusta National
The American already has two PGA Championships and two US Opens to his name, and a triumph on Sunday would leave just The Open Championship remaining to complete the set ahead of this July’s tournament at Royal Liverpool.
It would put him among an elite group too, with only six other male players in the modern era having won five majors before turning 33: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Tom Watson, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer.
His statistics so far in this tournament are pointing towards success for Koepka too. He leads the way in Shots Gained Approach (+2.76) and is second for Shots Gained Putting (+1.76), while his six birdie or better scores on par-fives is tied for second as well.
Spanish success for Rahm?
Rahm spoke ahead of the tournament how aware he is of the history of his fellow Spaniards at The Masters, and he would join compatriots Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia in donning the Green Jacket if he were to emerge victorious.
Win probability leaders entering Sunday
Player
Win probability %
Brooks Koepka
55.3
Jon Rahm
34.7
Collin Morikawa
2.2
Viktor Hovland
2.0
It will not be lost on him either that April 9 marks the late Ballesteros’ birthday and is the same date that Garcia clinched the 2017 Masters title.
The 28-year-old, who has one previous major under his belt in the form of the 2021 US Open, has yet to better his fourth place at Augusta National in 2018, although four of his six appearances at The Masters have resulted in top-10 finishes.
He is aiming to become the sixth player to win the Masters and US Open before the age of 29, and only the third from outside the USA to win both, but will need to arrest a slide which saw him at one over par for his round and losing 1.25 strokes putting to the field before play was suspended.
Chasing pack charging?
Should Koepka and Rahm falter, there is a group of players, including several major winners, behind them waiting to pounce.
Matt Fitzpatrick is among the group chasing the leaders at The Masters
Last year’s surprise US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, and former PGA Championship and Open winner Collin Morikawa are both lurking on five under par, tied for fourth with Norway’s Viktor Hovland – a player widely tipped as a future major winner.
Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson – back at Augusta National after missing last year’s tournament – and 2013 US Open winner Justin Rose are a further shot back tied for seventh in a group which includes another expected future major winner in Patrick Cantlay.
Still leading the chasing pack, though, in third at six under is Sam Bennett, whose total of 136 across the first two rounds was the lowest 36-hole score by an amateur at The Masters since Ken Venturi in 1956. It is worth noting, however, that no amateur player has won The Masters.
What to make of Tiger?
When he made the cut for the 23rd time at The Masters, Tiger Woods equalled a mark held by Fred Couples and Gary Player.
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Tiger Woods props up The Masters leaderboard after finding the water twice on the rain-soaked course at Augusta
Tiger Woods props up The Masters leaderboard after finding the water twice on the rain-soaked course at Augusta
But while Couples still seemed to be enjoying himself despite currently being tied for 49th on four over par, five-time champion Woods appeared to be struggling both physically and mentally on a day which saw him drop to last place and nine under par when play was suspended.
After starting the third round with a bogey, Woods made three consecutive pars, but then it was another bogey followed by back-to-back double-bogeys which left him three shots behind his nearest competitor, Charl Schwartzel.
The question now remains as to whether Woods will continue with his round and complete the tournament or decide to withdraw to save his body from further punishment.
Will the weather be a factor?
Play will resume at 8.30am local time (1.30pm BST), dependent on the condition of the course after the overnight rain, with just over 11 holes – or three and a bit hours – left of the third round still to complete.
Cloudy and breezy conditions are expected on Sunday, with no further rain or storm disruption, although any delay to the resumption would leave tournament officials in a race against time to get 72 holes completed before nightfall on Sunday.
A statement from Augusta National said the live broadcast – the global broadcast window – will remain as originally scheduled from 2pm-7pm local time (7pm-Midnight BST), with the tournament set to be finished without the need of taking the opening major of the year into a fifth day.
Who will win The Masters? Watch the conclusion of the third round live on Sunday from 1.30pm on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of the final round later that day. A host of bonus feeds will be available throughout the day via the red button on Sky Sports Golf!
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