Leo Cullen: Will Connors is the best chop-tackler in the game
It says a lot about Will Connors' skillset that the flanker's only previous Investec Champions Cup appearance this season also came against La Rochelle.
France Sport News
Women's Six Nations - Ireland v Wales: All you need to know
After a frustrating defeat to Italy in Dublin two weeks ago, Ireland head to Cork where Wales are the visitors.
Fire alarm marks end of Canadian loss to Dutch in 1st game at Paralympic qualifier
Canada's opening game at the men's wheelchair basketball Paralympic qualifier on Friday in Antibes, France, ended in conspicuous fashion.
Football’s brightest stars will bounce back, says Ancelotti
Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward #07 Kylian Mbappe reacts during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Barcelona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 10, 2024. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP)
Caelan Doris: Pool win gives Leinster belief v La Rochelle
Leinster may have seen their Champions Cup hopes ended by La Rochelle in each of the last three seasons, but December's pool stage win over the defending champions has given them belief that they can be beaten.
Andy Burnham 'fears becoming a meme on Twitter' in charity ballroom dance
Andy Burnham says he fears becoming a 'meme on Twitter' as he prepares to take to the ballroom dancefloor for a charity competition.
Barcelona beat PSG in thriller to seize edge in Champions League tie
Barcelona’s Polish forward #09 Robert Lewandowski (R) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain’s French midfielder #33 Warren Zaire-Emery (2L) during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Barcelona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 10, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
Villa take slender lead to Lille in Conference League
Aston Villa beat Lille 2-1 in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final at Villa Park. Goals in either half from Ollie Watkins and John McGinn saw Villa lead their first European last-eight tie since 1998 and give boss Unai Emery victory in his 1,000th match as a manager. Bafode Diakite's late header gave Lille a lifeline just as it looked like they would head home frustrated by Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who had made a string of big saves. Villa must now go to northern France next week and finish the job if they are to make their first European semi-final since they won the European Cup in 1982. That will not be an easy task as the French football federation have postponed Lille's Ligue 1 game this weekend to give them extra time to prepare and they have only been beaten once at home all season. After an early scare, which required a vital intervention from Pau Torres to deny Hakon Arnar Haraldsson a tap-in following Diego Carlos' error, Villa took command. Lille boss Paulo Fonseca, perenially linked with a move to England, said in his pre-match press conference that his side would pay special attention to Watkins, but allowed him three quickfire chances. The first came after Watkins capitalised on Leny Yoro's dive and was denied by Benjamin Andre's last-ditch tackle, with the England striker shooting straight at Lucas Chevalier from the resulting corner. It was from another corner that Watkins did get on the scoresheet in the 13th minute, as he was left unmarked from McGinn's corner to power home a header from close range, though Lille thought there was a foul by Morgan Rogers. Only another last-ditch tackle from Diakhite denied Watkins a second after Douglas Luiz had played him in, but