Marco Bianchi 
Arsene Wenger’s proposed “daylight” offside trial has been running in the Canadian Premier League this season, cutting offside calls by 54% and adding 13 goals. However, IFAB panels showed little appetite to continue the experiment, meaning the rule change is unlikely to be adopted beyond 2026‑27.
Rangers boss Derek McInnes said he feels “guilt” over his summer departure from Hearts to Ibrox and acknowledged that Hearts fans may give him a cold reception when he visits Tynecastle. He praised the Hearts side for their near‑title challenge and recognised the disappointment of missing out on the Scottish Premiership crown.
Wales have had to drop Dragons wing Rio Dyer from their Nations Championship squad after he suffered a hamstring injury while scoring against the Ospreys. In his place, uncapped Scarlets back Macs Page has been called up, despite a recent head injury sustained in a club match. Coach Steve Tandy hopes Page can add depth to the back three for the upcoming fixtures.
Irish Formula 2 title contender Alex Dunne tested an IndyCar for Dale Coyne Racing at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama, posting the fastest time in the session. With limited F1 seats for 2027, the 20‑year‑old is weighing a possible move to the United States while still fighting for the F2 championship.
Ulster back‑row forward Juarno Augustus, who recently recovered from ankle surgery, says he is enjoying his rugby again as he prepares to face his former side, the Stormers, in the United Rugby Championship. He looks forward to playing in South Africa and hopes Ulster can improve on last season’s winless run.
In the 14th over of the deciding Test between South Africa and Australia, only one run was added as Pat Cummins bowled for Australia. South Africa were 52 for no loss with a run rate of 3.95. The match remains tightly contested as the series heads towards its conclusion.
Toni Nadal told Spanish outlet 20minutos that, if forced to choose, he would stick with Carlos Alcaraz over Jannik Sinner, praising Alcaraz’s style and completeness. He also made clear he has no intention of returning to coaching, stating he would not coach either player. The comments come after both stars endured wrist and season‑ending injuries in 2026, limiting their match‑ups to a single Monte Carlo Masters final.
Rafael Nadal used social media to announce that he will compete in the MGM Slam exhibition tournament in Las Vegas on February 28, 2027, his first appearance on a hard court since retiring in 2024. The announcement follows his participation in the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam and references his previous appearance at the 2024 Netflix Slam.
Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong has been cited for an alleged groin grab in Leinster’s URC victory over Munster after a complaint by Munster’s Gavin Coombes. The United Rugby Championship announced that a disciplinary process is underway, which could see Furlong miss upcoming Nations Championship matches if found guilty.
Novak Djokovic makes his long‑awaited comeback to the Swiss Indoors in Basel after a 15‑year gap, entering the ATP 500 tournament with a challenging first‑round opponent in Ugo Humbert. The article outlines a potential gauntlet of high‑ranked opponents he could face en route to the title, while highlighting his dominant head‑to‑head record against most of them, giving him confidence despite the tough draw.