General Sports 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 12, 2026, 6:46 PM ET
Six Nations Finale
Wales flanker Alex Mann concludes his record-breaking campaign bbc.com as the Six Nations heads into its final weekend, with Wales unchanged for Saturday's clash against Italy in Cardiff. The Welsh side, seeking their first Six Nations win in three years, will face an Italian team that has struggled throughout the tournament. Meanwhile, Ireland makes four changes for their Triple Crown decider against Scotland in Dublin, with lock James Ryan ruled out through injury. Scotland's preparation has been dominated by discussions of how to overcome their "nemesis" Ireland, who have won the last 12 meetings between the sides. Ireland flanker Josh van der Fler says his side's recent wins over Scotland have all come when they have "played particularly well."
Cheltenham Festival Highlights
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival delivered another thrilling day of racing, with Heart Wood triumphing in the Ryanair Chase bbc.com to give Henry de Bromhead his first winner of the meeting. The Queen Mother Champion Chase went to Il Etait Temps, securing trainer Willie Mullins his third win on day two. Lossiemouth dominated the Champion Hurdle bbc.com, earning the "Queen of Cheltenham" title with a commanding performance. However, the festival has been overshadowed by controversy, with trainer Willie Mullins complaining about ground conditions after Fact To File's withdrawal. Mullins has threatened not to bring horses to future Cheltenham Festivals over concerns about the quality of the racing surface. The situation escalated when jockeys Nico de Boinville and Declan Queally shook hands bbc.com after de Boinville was accused of making "racial slurs" during the meeting.
NBA & College Basketball
Caitlin Clark made her highly anticipated Team USA debut espn.com, recording 17 points and 12 assists in a 110-64 victory over Australia in FIBA World Cup qualifying action. The performance marked Clark's first game since July and showcased her playmaking abilities on the international stage. In college basketball, No. 20 Miami (Ohio) suffered its first defeat espn.com with a shocking 87-83 loss to UMass in its Mid-American Conference tournament opener. Meanwhile, Iowa State set a Big 12 tournament record espn.com with a 91-42 demolition of Arizona State, the largest margin of victory in conference tournament history. The loss came hours after Arizona State announced it would not renew Bobby Hurley's contract after 11 seasons. Syracuse also fired Adrian Autry espn.com following three seasons without an NCAA tournament appearance, with Jim Boeheim defending his former assistant as "a good coach" while citing poor performance by star players and lack of NIL funding as contributing factors.
Winter Paralympics
The Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics have delivered memorable moments, with Sweden's Armand Duplantis breaking his own pole vault world record bbc.com for the 15th time, clearing 6.31 meters. In Paralympic competition, cross-country skier Jake Adicoff became the first out gay man bbc.com to win an individual Paralympic gold medal. Team Canada's Thurston delivered a remarkable curling shot espn.com, threading through two guard rocks before clearing two Norway stones out of the house. However, controversy emerged when German cross-country skiers turned their backs bbc.com on Russian gold medallists on the podium in protest against Russia's inclusion at the Games. Great Britain's Hester Poole vowed redemption bbc.com after crashing out of the giant slalom on her Winter Paralympic debut, setting her sights on Saturday's slalom event.
Cricket & Hundred Auction
The men's Hundred auction in the UK saw unprecedented interest, with Sussex all-rounder James Coles signed by London Spirit bbc.com for a record £390,000 fee. The auction, streamed across the country, saw 89 players picked up in an emotionally draining process. However, concerns about Pakistan players being overlooked by franchises affiliated with the IPL were partially allayed when Abrar Ahmed was bought by Sunrisers Leeds bbc.com. Coaches of Hundred teams with IPL investment maintain they have not been directed away from signing Pakistan players. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's upcoming series against Sri Lanka in the UAE has been postponed bbc.com until the end of the year due to conflict in the Middle East.
Horse Racing & Betting
The Cheltenham Festival continues to draw massive crowds, with thousands of British racing fans traveling to the Costa Blanca to enjoy the action from afar, dubbing the area "Costa del Cheltenham." Harry Redknapp's Jukebox Man was confirmed for the Gold Cup bbc.com, joining 10 other horses in the field for Friday's prestigious race. Redknapp, who got into horse racing as his grandmother's betting tipster, hopes to become a Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning owner. The festival has also sparked betting interest, with Super Bowl MVP Travis Kelce set to return bbc.com for another season with the Kansas City Chiefs, who have also agreed to sign Kenneth Walker according to reports.
UFC & MMA
Ronda Rousey announced her return bbc.com to MMA after a decade away, expressing her desire to "rewrite her ending" with a bout against Gina Carano scheduled for May 16. Meanwhile, Jon Jones asked the UFC to release him espn.com from his contract if the promotion believes "I'm done," reacting to what he called a "lowball" offer for a White House card appearance. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between fighters and the promotion over compensation and career management.
NFL & American Football
The NFL Players Association prepares for a leadership vote espn.com to select a successor to disgraced former leader Lloyd Howell. The election comes at a crucial time for player representation and collective bargaining. In college football, Miami faces what insiders call its "most challenging offseason yet" of the Mario Cristobal era, as the program attempts to reach college football's mountaintop again. The Hurricanes appear ready to make another push toward national prominence under Cristobal's leadership.
Other Notable Sports
In a remarkable story of resilience, Colin Dorgan, the high school hockey player who lost three family members in a mass shooting at a Rhode Island rink last month, scored on a breakaway espn.com in double overtime to lift his Blackstone Valley team to victory. The goal represented a powerful moment of healing for the young athlete and his community. In swimming, triple gold medallist Tom Dean sets his sights on the 2028 Olympics bbc.com after uprooting his life to move to Stirling last year. The British swimmer's dedication to his training regime in Scotland underscores his commitment to maintaining his position among the world's elite.
Administrative & Governance
The Big Ten sent a letter to the NCAA espn.com requesting a suspension of investigations and enforcement related to tampering, calling for modernization of rules governing player movement and recruitment. The move reflects growing tensions between conferences and the governing body over the pace and scope of regulatory changes in college athletics. Additionally, the NCAA announced it will use technology called Prohi Bet to monitor basketball, baseball, and softball tournament officials for betting activity, implementing new safeguards ahead of the upcoming championship seasons.