James O'Brien 
Manchester Super Giants dominated London Spirit in the opening match of the 2026 women’s Hundred, bowling them out for 80 and then chasing the target with 41 balls remaining. Ryana MacDonald‑Gay took four wickets, guiding the Giants to a comfortable victory.
Aston Villa have sold star midfielder Morgan Rogers to Chelsea for a record £117 million and face further exits of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and Lucas Digne to Paris Saint‑Germain. Manager Unai Emery must rebuild the squad while aiming to repeat the top‑four finish that he achieved after taking the club from 14th place in 2022.
England’s veteran wing attack Natalie Metcalf has been forced out of the Commonwealth Games squad after a calf injury was confirmed by scans. The 33‑year‑old, who helped England win gold in 2018, will miss the Glasgow tournament and has been replaced by Ella Clark. Coach Anna Stembridge expressed disappointment at the loss to the team.
St Helens head coach Paul Rowley has resigned with immediate effect less than a year into his tenure. The club, currently sixth in the Super League and dealing with an injury crisis, will face a derby against Wigan Warriors under interim coach Eamon O’Carroll. Chairman Eamonn McManus said the decision was difficult and the club will aim to restore its status as a silverware contender.
Inter Miami announced the signing of Brazil midfielder Casemiro on a contract through the 2027 MLS season, but MLS quickly opened a tampering investigation concerning the player’s discovery rights. The club reached a settlement with LA Galaxy over the rights, and the league is reviewing the matter before releasing further details.
Huddersfield Giants, currently at the bottom of the Super League table, will host a free‑entry game against Catalans Dragons on 8 August to reveal their 2027 home‑ground plans. The club is set to leave the Accu Stadium, which it shares with Huddersfield Town, after the season ends.
Jemimah Rodrigues recovered from an initial fumble to run out Freya Kemp with a direct hit. The wicket gave Southern Brave renewed hope of victory in their opening Hundred match against Welsh Fire.
Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare halted a pre‑season training session by refusing to leave the pitch, demanding a move to Fiorentina. The club rejected Fiorentina’s bid, having already accepted an offer from Trabzonspor, and coach Cesar Peixoto ended the session. Arokodare will miss the upcoming friendly as Wolves continue their preparation for the Championship.
England’s record points‑scorer Emily Scarratt has signed a permanent contract with the Red Roses as the lead attack and backs coach. After an interim stint during the Women’s Six Nations, she left Loughborough Lightning to focus on coaching the national side.
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has agreed a new four-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2030, opting to extend his contract under new head coach Enzo Maresca. The 26‑year‑old, who has made 369 appearances for City, expressed his excitement about working with Maresca and continuing to chase more titles.