General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: July 4, 2026, 2:31 PM ET

Rugby Union

South Africa asserted their dominance over England with a commanding seven-try performance in the opening round of the new Nations Championship at Ellis Park. Meanwhile, Wales opened their Nations Championship campaign with a 39-24 victory over Fiji, scoring six tries at the Cardiff City stadium as reported. In a dramatic match in Sydney, Ireland snatched a comeback bonus-point win against Australia, denying the Wallabies after a last-gasp penalty miss to secure the victory. Ireland's Hugo Keenan, returning to the side, produced an outstanding display that helped secure the win against the Australians. New Zealand also kicked off the inaugural Nations Championship with a thriller in Christchurch, beating France 37-30 thanks to two tries from Will Jordan in the opener. England's Nations Championship preparations suffered a blow with full-back George Furbank ruled out of the South Africa Test due to appendicitis as announced.

Cricket

England's women's cricket team can finally believe heading into Sunday's T20 World Cup final, marking a significant moment for the team. Organizers have eased concerns regarding a clash between team warm-ups and a performance by pop star Rita Ora, allowing England and Australia to practice on the Lord's outfield before the final as confirmed. The upcoming final against Australia raises questions about England's psychological edge, given past encounters and the pressure. Fans can follow the match through the BBC's comprehensive coverage for all details. In domestic T20 Blast action, Notts Outlaws maintained their top position in the North Group by narrowly defeating Lancashire, with Olly Stone holding his nerve in the final over.

Gaelic Games & Tennis

Galway booked their place in the All-Ireland hurling final for the first time since 2018, defeating Cork with a decisive 2-26 to 1-18 victory at Croke Park on Saturday. At Wimbledon, the women's singles draw saw further upsets as Elena Rybakina became the highest seed to fall, losing in straight sets to Elise Mertens in the third round. Qualifiers Roman Safiullin and Shintaro Mochizuki are now setting their sights on top contenders Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, having already caused significant upsets themselves at the tournament. Arthur Fery, the sole Briton remaining in the Wimbledon singles, is preparing for his third-round match against Zizou Bergs as he continues his run.

Other Sports & Events

Joey Chestnut is aiming for his 18th Mustard Belt title in the upcoming hot dog eating contest on Friday as he prepares. The "world's largest wiener dog race" in Starkville, Mississippi, has attracted hundreds of dogs and thousands of spectators, drawing international attention to the event for the spectacle. Mexico is doubling security and capping crowds at the "Angel of Independence" monument and fan festivals for Sunday's World Cup match against England, following concerns over fan safety after previous incidents. Red Bull Junior driver Fionn McLaughlin scored his first Formula 3 points by finishing ninth in the sprint race at Silverstone during the event. In MLB, a combined redraft of the last three years' top prospects is being debated, with expert analysis on potential picks for all 30 teams as the season progresses. Fantasy baseball players are tracking Shohei Ohtani's absence for the Dodgers and Julio Rodriguez's status for team updates. NHL free agency is set to open on June 30, with teams expected to make veteran additions as the tracker updates. The World Series of Poker main event is underway, with Michael Mizrachi defending his title and currently sitting below the chip average as play continues. Cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar, sporting a new hairstyle, faces potential challenges from rivals as the Tour de France begins in Barcelona for the fifth title. Caitlin Clark has condemned negative attention directed at her, the Fever, and opposing WNBA players, stating she will not play on Sunday as she addresses the situation. ESPN has compiled a panel of experts to select the most impactful sports photos in American history for the retrospective.