James O'Brien 
Police seized more than 220,000 counterfeit football shirts, valued at over £18 million, across the UK ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Tests showed the fake kits are far more flammable than genuine ones, prompting safety warnings from fire services and the Intellectual Property Office.
Former England bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt has been named assistant coach of the Trent Rockets Women ahead of the 2026 The Hundred season. The 41‑year‑old, who retired in 2023, joins a coaching team that also includes Graeme White as fielding coach and Anton Roux assisting Peter Moores with the men’s side.
The Women’s Tennis Association has introduced a new eligibility policy that mandates a one‑time genetic sex test for all players on the tour. The rule, which will be enforced from Tuesday, aims to ensure fair competition by confirming biological sex, while the WTA says it will be applied respectfully and with dignity.
British Eventing confirmed that two riders, Sophie Fouracre and Kerry Donoghue, were fatally injured in separate cross‑country phases of competitions on the same day. The incidents occurred at Swalcliffe Park in Oxfordshire and Penrith in Cumbria, prompting the organization to describe the community as “heartbroken” and to suspend both events for the weekend.
Bethany Shriever secured a historic fourth elite world title in BMX racing after extreme weather halted the final race. The championship officials used the last completed rounds to determine the final standings, awarding Shriever the gold medal.
Britain’s Beth Shriever made history by clinching her fourth elite BMX world title after the Brisbane championships were halted by strong winds. The UCI declared the first round results final, confirming Shriever as champion, while fellow Briton Ross Cullen took silver in the men’s race.
Elfyn Evans, the Welsh rally driver, placed sixth in the Delfi Rally Estonia yet managed to widen his championship lead to 15 points. Sami Pajari claimed his first WRC victory, while Takamoto Katsuta held onto second place in the standings. The next round of the 2026 WRC will take place in Finland later in July.
Warrington Wolves bounced back with a dominant 34-12 victory over Hull KR at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, moving within two points of second place in the Super League. The win halted a recent slump of three defeats in four games and saw multiple players, including Joe Philbin on his return, score tries. Hull KR’s hopes of defending the League Leaders’ Shield were dented as they suffered their third loss in four matches.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks produced a strong bowling display to defeat defending champions Somerset by 17 runs in the T20 Blast semi‑final at Edgbaston. Captain David Willey led the effort with 3‑17, securing the team’s first final appearance since 2016. The win sends the Steelbacks to the Blast final at Edgbaston.
Former UFC champion Ben Askren is set to make a remarkable comeback by stepping onto the wrestling mat against Belal Muhammad on his 42nd birthday. The bout, organized by Real American Freestyle, marks his first competition since a double lung transplant that saved his life a year ago.