Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Sweden international Hanna Lundkvist.
The right-back, who left American club San Diego Wave last week, will join Women's Super League side United on 1 January on a contract running until June 2029.
Lundkvist, 23, started every game for her country at Euro 2025 and has 17 international caps.
The defender, who has also played for Atletico Madrid and Hammarby, will join Sweden team-mates Anna Sandberg, Fridolina Rolfo and Julia Zigiotti Olme at United.
Lundkvist said she was drawn to the opportunity to compete in the Champions League and the Women's Super League, which she described as "one of the strongest leagues in the world".
Manchester United are fourth in the WSL table and the Champions League debutants will play Lundkvist's former club Atletico in a knockout phase play-off in February.
"Speaking with [Manchester United head coach] Marc [Skinner] and the coaches confirmed all of the great things I have heard about the culture of the team here," Lundkvist added.
Lundkvist is the first addition of what manager Skinner promised would be an "aggressive" transfer window for the club....
'Gutting and frustrating' - Forest's Wood has surgery
Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood is set for a further spell on the sidelines after having surgery.
The New Zealand striker has been out since mid-October with a knee problem and is yet to feature under Sean Dyche since he replaced Ange Postecogolou as manager.
The 34-year-old excelled at the City Ground last term, scoring 20 times in 40 appearances as they qualified for Europe.
His playing time has been more limited this campaign, with Wood having managed two goals in nine appearances.
Wood did not specify the nature of his surgery, but he has been seen wearing a knee brace while watching recent Forest matches.
"The Christmas I didn't expect, you can never know what football throws at you," Wood wrote on Instagram.
"From the highs of last season to now the battles and the lows personally of this season. You have to be ready for anything.
"Truly gutting and frustrating that I'll be on the sideline for another period of time. It's what's needed to come back stronger and better to help my team-mates do the job needed in the Premier League and in Europe."
Wood's last appearance came in Postecoglou's final game in charge, the 3-0 defeat by Chelsea on 18 October. ...
East African rivals Tanzania and Uganda played out a frenetic 1-1 draw at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), with Uganda missing a late penalty in torrential rain in Rabat.
While the first half contained a lot of endeavour but little quality, the second burst into life just before the hour mark when the Taifa Stars were awarded a spot kick of their own for handball and Simon Msuva sent an unstoppable finish into the roof of the net.
Tanzania, who have now failed to win any of their 11 matches at Afcon final tournaments, held on to their lead until the 80th minute, when substitute striker Uche Ikpeazu, who was born in London and plays in Scotland's second tier for St Johnstone, executed a classic diving header to level proceedings.
The heavens opened as both sides went in search of a winner, creating some comical moments as players struggled in the chaotic conditions.
Allan Okello was the man presented with a golden opportunity to claim all three points for the Cranes when full-back Haji Mnoga was adjudged to have tugged his opponent's shirt in the box, but the wideman sent his penalty high over the bar after a stuttering run up in the final minute of regular time.
The result leaves the sides with one point each from their opening two games - and both now face a difficult task to make it to the second round.
Tanzania finish Group C by taking on Tunisia in Rabat on Tuesday, with Uganda travelling to Fes to face Nigeria at the same time (16:00 GMT).
In the later game on Saturday, Nigeria and Tunisia's encounter kicked off at 20:00 in Fes....
Arsenal in 'survival' mode as 'sensational' Raya save keeps them top
Martin Odegaard scored his first goal of the season to help Arsenal beat Brighton and regain their place at the top of the Premier League - but it was their goalkeeper who produced the moment of the match.
With the Gunners holding on to a slender 2-1 lead in the final 15 minutes at a nervy Emirates Stadium, Brighton substitute Yankuba Minteh's brilliant curling strike from the edge of the box looked destined for the top corner.
Step forward David Raya.
The Spain international somehow produced an incredible piece of athleticism to tip the ball over the bar and prevent Brighton from coming two goals down to level.
"It was sensational," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports. "I had a great angle on it.
"That's what we need from players, we need those performances in the key moments."
Former England captain Alan Shearer, working as a pundit for Match of the Day, described the save as "one of the best you'll see all season".
"You see all the Arsenal players would have gone straight to Raya to thank him for it because it was a big save at such an important stage of the game," ex-Republic of Ireland midfielder Andy Reid added on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Arsenal had dominated large parts of the match, registering 15 shots and limiting Brighton to none during the first half.
Arteta said that the "margin should have been much bigger" and that "it should never be 2-1" with the amount of chances that the Gunners created.
"That turned out to be a lot more difficult for Arsenal than it should have been," added Shearer.
"They got huge success behind both Brighton wing-backs in the first half with Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard causing all sorts of damage.
"But Brighton changed things at half-time with a double substitution. As soon as they got their goal Arsenal were suddenly under pressure from nowhere."...
McLaren's greatest achievement this year is arguably not what they have accomplished on track. It's something they have managed off it.
The team won the constructors' championship with six races remaining, with Lando Norris eventually pipping Red Bull's Max Verstappen and his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri to the drivers' title in a three-way showdown at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Norris and Piastri got there while remaining friendly.
McLaren's ability to keep two evenly matched drivers, of a similar age and career development, competing for their first title in the same team without falling out with each other is almost unprecedented in modern F1.
This sort of situation turns toxic far more often than not.
Not just, most infamously, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost at McLaren in 1989. But also Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet at Williams in 1986-7, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso at McLaren in 2007, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber at Red Bull in 2010, and Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at Mercedes in 2014-16.
That list underlines just how difficult it is to keep two intensely driven individuals in relative harmony with each other for an entire year, while fighting for the biggest prize in their sport in identical cars, out of the same garage.
It's hard enough to stop things getting noxious even when two title rivals are in different teams, such as in the tense relationship between Hamilton and Max Verstappen in 2021.
But add in the claustrophobia of the rivals being in the same engineering meetings and team briefings, balancing race strategies, and the intensity only increases.
Heading into this season, McLaren Racing chief executive officer Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella were well aware of the jeopardy, and consciously created a culture aimed at preventing the relationship between Norris and Piastri descending into disruptive conflict.
They have a carefully thought out internal philosophy, applied with intelligence and empathy to two drivers who have been convinced that keeping things harmonious is the best solution for all.
McLaren operate on a principle of fairness, trust and transparency, rooted in a basic principle that the drivers are allowed to race each other with equal treatment, with the proviso that they don't crash into each other.
"We are McLaren Racing," Stella says. "We are here to race.
"We want to give our two drivers the possibility to express their talent, achieve their aspirations, but this needs to be done within the principles and the approach that we have contributed to build together with our drivers. Fairness, sportsmanship, and respect for one another."
Stella says he "leans on the experience" he has gained - through 25 years in F1 with Ferrari and McLaren, and as a student of F1 - to construct what he considers the optimum way of running the team....
Erratic Newcastle give Howe 'horrible feeling'
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe says it is a "horrible feeling" to not know what he is going to get from his side.
Howe thought Newcastle had "turned a corner" with a win against Manchester City in November and a more recent four-game unbeaten run, but Sunday's damaging 1-0 defeat against arch-rivals Sunderland has been a jolt to the system.
Newcastle put in a limp performance after Howe sent out his team to be compact rather than bold at the Stadium of Light.
They now sit 12th in the Premier League table, having won just one away league game since mid-April, and Howe cut a frustrated figure as he assessed his team's inconsistency a few days on.
"It's a horrible feeling, because when you enter a game you want your players to go on to the pitch and give absolutely everything they have within their soul and their body to get a positive result," Howe said on Tuesday.
"That's the only thing I ever ask a player to do. Then I back their abilities once they go on to the pitch with that mindset to deliver a really good performance.
"There have been a few times this season where I've left a game unsure on that, and that's mentality. That's knowing you're representing yourself and your families when you enter the pitch.
"Your job is to do your best, and I think we have lost a little bit of that, and it's up to us to try and find a way to get that glue back."
Using the disappointment of a painful away defeat to bounce back has become a recurring theme for Newcastle this season, following losses against Brentford, West Ham and Marseille in the last couple of months, and Howe said that is not how he wants his team to be operating.
But Newcastle have to quickly rally once again when Howe's trophy holders meet Fulham in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup at St James' Park on Wednesday.
Captain Bruno Guimaraes recognised that Newcastle won't be able to truly "set things right", until the next Tyne-Wear derby in March, having labelled his side's weekend performance a "mess".
Howe said that talking off the pitch was "important", but the head coach stressed it "pales in significance against your will to prepare".
"Bruno's comments were 90% right, initially," Howe said. "I don't think we were a mess. I don't think the other parts of his original comments were wrong.
"We weren't a mess – we were very well organised. We just didn't deliver the performance that we wanted to.
"Bruno is very emotional and that's part of his success. That's why he's such an outstanding player for us and leader for us.
"It's making sure our messaging is right to the outside world. The mindset now is we can't affect the past – we can only affect the future. We need to do that today."
Newcastle will have to do so without influential defender Dan Burn, who is out for four to six weeks after breaking a rib and puncturing a lung in the derby....
Man Utd angry as Morocco rejected Mazraoui request
Manchester United are angry with the Moroccan Football Association for rejecting their plea for Noussair Mazraoui to play in Monday's 4-4 draw with Bournemouth - six days before the country's opener at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
United head coach Ruben Amorim said on Friday negotiations with the relevant national bodies were continuing over the release of Mazraoui, Cameroon's Bryan Mbeumo and Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo to Afcon.
Fifa announced on 3 December that clubs only need to release players from 15 December, instead of 14 days before the tournament that runs from from 21 December to 18 January.
While Mbeumo and Amad were allowed to stay for Monday's match, Morocco - who host the tournament and play Comoros on 21 December - took a different view.
United had anticipated all three players would be available, given the rest of the Premier League matches were played before the revised release date announced by Fifa - which it said could be negotiated with the relevant countries.
Mazraoui trained with United all week ready to be involved if possible and remained respectful and professional to both parties throughout a delicate situation from a personal perspective.
BBC Sport understands United escalated the matter to world football's governing body, who did not force Morocco to back down.
This has led to considerable frustration at Old Trafford, with insiders saying United believe they have been unfairly treated.
While they felt Cameroon and Ivory Coast were sympathetic and collaborative in their discussions, the club feel Morocco prioritised a national team training session over an important league game.
Italian side Roma and La Liga outfit Real Betis experienced similar frustration in their dealings with Morocco.
Fifa had urged federations and clubs to "hold bilateral discussions in good faith to find appropriate individual solutions".
It added: "In cases where there continues to be a dispute over the release of players subsequent to such bilateral discussions, Fifa will, in mediating between both parties, apply guidelines that take into account the circumstances of each case, including factors related to the timing of matches of affected competitions, the stage of these competitions, the historical and planned involvement of the players in the matches in question, as well as any other pertinent factors."
Mbeumo and Amad have now joined up with their national squads and will miss Sunday's Premier League trip to Aston Villa.
In Mazraoui's absence, and with Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt both ruled out through injury, Amorim included 19-year-old Ayden Heaven and 20-year-old centre-back Leny Yoro - who joined for £52.18m - in his defence against the Cherries as United missed the chance to climb into fifth spot in the table....
Lewandowski in Chicago Fire talks over MLS move
Chicago Fire have held positive talks with Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski over a move to Major League Soccer.
Poland's record scorer is out of contract at the Spotify Camp Nou at the end of the season and Fire want to sign the 37-year-old next summer.
Sources have told BBC Sport Lewandowski is open to the move and his wages are not expected to be an issue.
He still has other options - including staying at Barcelona - and joining the Saudi Pro League, but an MLS switch is a strong possibility.
Fire - who made the MLS play-offs this season for the first time since 2017 - have him on their 'discovery list', meaning no other club in the league can sign him without paying a fee to them.
Inter Miami have also been linked, but they cannot talk to Lewandowski while he remains on that list, with Fire in pole position should he decide to continue his career in America.
Lionel Messi's Inter side have one of their designated player spots open after Jordi Alba's retirement following their first-ever MLS Cup victory against Vancouver this month.
Fire - who also tried to sign Neymar and Kevin de Bruyne earlier this year - have made Lewandowski a priority for at least six months - a strategic move as Chicago has the USA's largest Polish community.
The former Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund forward's wife, Anna, visited Chicago last month while in the States.
Lewandowski has 109 goals in 164 games for Barcelona, twice winning La Liga, since joining in 2022 on a four-year deal.
He has scored eight goals in 17 appearances this term, with his side four points clear at the top of La Liga.
Additional reporting from Nizaar Kinsella. ...
'I'm free' - £1m Smith provides Arsenal spark
It was an all too familiar story for Arsenal on Saturday as they struggled to break down Liverpool's low block.
Three shots on target and one off the woodwork inside the opening quarter of an hour of the Women's Super League game, but no goal.
The exasperation of the home fans was tangible.
Then a moment of magic from Olivia Smith lifted the mood from frustration to pure elation.
The first first £1m player in women's football showed every bit of her star quality as she wriggled past several of her former Liverpool team-mates before breaking the deadlock with a brilliant strike from distance.
"You felt she was going to have a big impact on this game," former Tottenham captain Jenna Schillaci told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Smith was rightly named player of the match in the 2-1 win at Emirates Stadium, testament to her impact throughout....
Are Aston Villa in title hunt - and should Arsenal start to worry?
Unai Emery continues to deny Aston Villa are in the title race, even as his old club Arsenal start to look vulnerable at the top of the Premier League.
Villa's head coach is playing down his current side's chances at a time when their form has become impossible to ignore.
A dramatic 2-1 win over Arsenal on Saturday moved Villa just three points behind the Gunners, with Manchester City joining both in the top three.
Villa were in a strikingly similar position two years ago but finished fourth - 23 points behind champions City.
With over a third of the Premier League season gone, there is a case to be made that Emery's team should be taken seriously in the title talk this time.
They have beaten Arsenal and City at home and have now won nine of their past 10 in the league - seven straight in all competitions - so why would Villa not be in the mix?
Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy points out one major factor that could count against them.
"I don't see them as title contenders, only because of a lack of strength in depth. But their best XI can beat anybody," Murphy said.
Defeat at Villa Park was Arsenal's first loss in 18 games - since going down 1-0 at Liverpool in August - and significantly weakens what had looked a commanding position at the top.
With just two wins from their past five Premier League games, Arsenal fans could be starting to get nervous....
'A wonderful miracle' - how Messi & Beckham made Miami shine Guillem Balague column
When Sir David Beckham chose Miami as the location for the Major League Soccer team he intended to set up in 2013, no-one could have predicted what was to follow.
After purchasing the US franchise for a discounted £15.6m from MLS - part of a financial package he negotiated when he joined LA Galaxy in 2007 as a player - the former England skipper officially launched the club in 2018, before they made their MLS debut in March 2020.
Now, having signed arguably the world's greatest player Lionel Messi in 2023, Inter Miami have celebrated winning the league's greatest prize after beating Thomas Muller's Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup final on Saturday.
"All the emotion came out in the final few moments of the game," Beckham said.
"There was a lot of sleepless nights but I always believed in Miami.
"I found the right partners and knew anything was possible. It says Freedom to Dream on our shirts and we promised our fans we would deliver.
"Next year is a new year but tonight we celebrate."
Success caps an exponential rise for 'Project Beckham' both on and off the field as Miami have provided a huge surge of interest in football across America.
Chief business officer Xavi Asensi described the role of co-owner Beckham as "amazing".
"Without David Beckham none of us would be sitting here. Everything ended up being possible," he said. "There aren't names as global as David Beckham and Leo Messi - they are combined here."...
England and Scotland find out World Cup kick-off times
England have been handed World Cup kick-off times which suit UK audiences - but Scotland fans face later finishes during next summer's tournament.
England will play all three of their group games in the United States, with their first two matches against Croatia, on 17 June, and Ghana, on 23 June, kicking off at 21:00 BST.
Their final group game against Panama on 27 June, at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium where the final will be played, begins at 22:00 BST.
Scotland will play their Group C games in Boston and Miami, with their opener against Haiti on 14 June at Gillette Stadium kicking off at 02:00 BST.
Steve Clarke's side's next two matches, against Morocco in Massachusetts on 19 June and five-time winners Brazil in Miami on 24 June, will both start at 23:00 BST.
England's opening match in Dallas will be played under a closed roof, with air conditioning in the AT&T Stadium at 15:00 local time, because of the expected heat in Texas.
Their matches in Dallas and Boston - where Scotland play twice - will be on a temporary grass surface, as they normally operate with artificial turf.
England's match in Boston kicks off at 16:00 local time, while Scotland will play at 21:00 and 18:00 in their two matches at the Gillette Stadium.
Miami, the location of Scotland's final group match against Brazil - which will kick off at 18:00 local time - is one location extreme heat and humidity might prove an issue during next summer's tournament.
Should they qualify through two rounds of Uefa play-off matches in March, Wales or Northern Ireland would play all three group matches at 20:00 BST.
They would face Canada in Toronto on 12 June, Switzerland in Los Angeles on 18 June, and Qatar in Seattle on 24 June.
Pubs in England and Wales could stay open until 01:00 next summer if a home nation reaches the quarter-final stage, after the government launched a public consultation on extending pub licensing hours....
Lionesses impress - but did Wiegman learn much?
England fans could not have hoped for a more entertaining evening at Wembley Stadium - but with Sarina Wiegman resisting the urge to be more experimental, how much did she actually learn from it?
After winning Euro 2025, the Lionesses have played three of their four friendly matches which were designed as a "homecoming" celebration.
Their latest, an 8-0 demolition of China on Saturday evening, was the pick of the bunch but it was not the test they perhaps hoped for.
Wiegman was understandably pleased with the display, which included a Georgia Stanway hat-trick, but there was a real lack of competition from China.
It was the tried and tested players who delivered on the scoresheet and England were in control of possession, dominating 70% of the ball as they cruised to victory.
By half-time they were 5-0 up and the game was won, although Wiegman said she still learned something from the performance.
"Yes, of course we always learn something from the game. What we really wanted to do was start well," said Wiegman.
"They played in a little different shape to what we expected so that took a few minutes but after that, we started playing really well.
"We had a little bit more time on the ball and then you saw how good we are. We connected well and I thought we scored some really good goals.
"I also think that because we played so well and scored so early, that China were struggling even more."
A missed opportunity to experiment more?
As one BBC Sport live text reader, Brian, wrote: "What is the point of this match? It is a waste of England's time."
It was a harsh assesment after such a dazzling display - which the 74,611 inside Wembley Stadium no doubt enjoyed - but could Wiegman have given more minutes to some of England's unfamiliar stars?
Former England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley told BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra 2: "I think the opportunity may have been missed to start a few more debutants or give players more caps - maybe make some changes a bit sooner.
"We knew it was going to be comfortable maybe a quarter of the way through the first half.
"This felt more like an opportunity for the fans to come and see the players as opposed to anything they are really going to glean from a tactical point of view."
Lucia Kendall impressed on her debut in a 3-0 win over Australia last month so to experience a sold-out Wembley from the start would have been invaluable. She did come on, but not until the 68th minute with England already leading 6-0.
Forward Freya Godfrey, 20, was an unused substitute after earning her first call-up this week, while Taylor Hinds picked up her second cap, but only played 15 minutes.
The one player who was handed a debut - goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse - had little chance to impress because of the dominance of her side.
It was a very experienced midfield and frontline in the starting XI with Aggie Beever-Jones having to sit out for regular number nine Alessia Russo.
An injury-hit defence did see changes, though Arsenal centre-back Lotte Wubben-Moy was still on the bench.
Ian Wright said on ITV before kick-off: "At some stage, that has to happen [to see more youngsters]. We want to see more of those players.
"I think with the World Cup in 2027, we need to know that there are players who can come through and make the step up."
These friendlies are the opportunity to do that.
Stiff competition lies ahead with World Cup qualification starting in March - and a double header against world champions Spain in 2026.
It is rare that Wiegman does not have pressure on her shoulders and England, while an 8-0 win should be applauded, does not have much to gain when connections are being strengthened between players who may not feature in two years' time.
Could Wiegman have changed things up even more when England's lead was so dominating, so early on?
"We take every game seriously and when we substitute three players at half-time I think that's enough," she said.
"We have a squad of 25 and there are many players that are knocking on the door. Everyone wants to play.
"Some players are just coming into the squad and finding their feet. Other players have done a great job for us and are competing for starting positions. Changing one or two players, I didn't want to do that."
'Mead has always been a smart player'
With the Chinese domestic league ending on 28 September, and the national team not playing together since July, it was an easier night than many expected.
But it did not take away from England's impressive display.
Aside from a series of set-pieces early on, China could barely lay a glove as England were ruthless, clinical and composed throughout.
One of the standout performers was Arsenal's Beth Mead - the Euro 2022 top-scorer who has faced increased competition for her place in the side.
It is easy to see why Wiegman so often turns to Mead in big games, however, when she links up so well with right-back Lucy Bronze and creates numerous opportunities from wide positions.
She set up big chances for Russo and Lauren Hemp either side of her two goals and almost everything came down her side in a rampant first half.
"Me, Georgia [Stanway] and Lucy [Bronze] have had the chance to play together for a lot of years now and I think that showed today," Mead told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"We found the spaces, we rotated really well, we filled in for each other and we caused problems for their left side."
Mead may have been the star of three years ago but she's clearly still contributing, so has she evolved?
"I think she's improved. She's always been a smart player - picks up positions, is very calm in the final third and always keeps seeing pictures," said Wiegman.
"That's what she did today too. What we've invited her to do even more is make more rotations and pick up more positions and feel the freedom to do that.
"She's had more experiences in football and life, and keeps developing, but technically she's improved also."...
Flamengo became the first Brazilian team to lift the Copa Libertadores four times with victory over rivals Palmeiras.
Former Real Madrid, Man City and Juventus defender Danilo rose highest from a Giorgian de Arrascaeta corner to head into the bottom corner in the 67th minute as Filipe Luis' side emerged victorious.
Victor Roque missed a golden opportunity to equalise for Palmeiras with two minutes of normal time remaining but blazed his shot over the bar from close range.
Everton had a chance to seal the victory in stoppage time but his low driven free-kick was pushed on to the post by Palmeiras goalkeeper Carlos Miguel.
In five of the past seven seasons, either Palmeiras or Flamengo has claimed the Libertadores.
Luis became the ninth man to win the competition both as a player and as a coach, having claimed the trophy twice with Flamengo in 2019 and 2022.
In a first half which produced no shots on target, Chilean midfielder Erick Pulgar was fortunate to avoid a straight red card in the 30th minute when he raked his studs down the leg of Bruno Fuchs.
The sides met in the 2021 final which was won 2-1 by Palmeiras....
Abject failure is becoming the norm - where does Welsh rugby go from here?
Predicting when Welsh rugby has actually hit rock bottom has become quite difficult recently.
Each time we think a new low has been reached in the past couple of years, yet another depth is plumbed.
Saturday's 73-0 record home humiliation against world champions South Africa is Wales' latest low point.
Sitting in the Principality Stadium in March listening to England performing their victory song after inflicting a record 68-14 home defeat on their hosts, one Welsh rugby expert asked "it can't get worse than this, can it?"
It turns out it can.
Eight months on from the England embarrassment, it was the Springboks squad belting out their celebration tune on an autumnal Saturday night in Cardiff.
This 11-try demolition was the second worst defeat in Welsh rugby history after the 96-13 hammering dished out by the Springboks in Pretoria in 1998.
So where can Welsh rugby go from here?
Another annus horribilis for Welsh rugby
Debating whether the England or South Africa loss was more degrading for Welsh rugby seems futile.
The same applies when judging whether 2024 or 2025 was the more humbling year for the national men's side. Abject failure is becoming the norm.
It is worth revisiting how low Welsh rugby has sunk since the World Cup quarter-final defeat by Argentina in Marseille in October 2023.
Since that loss, Wales have been beaten in 20 out of 22 matches in the two calendar years that have followed.
In 2024, Wales lost all 11 Test matches, while this year they have suffered nine defeats in 11 games, with the only two victories coming against Japan.
While 2025 has actually seen some success of sorts, it is arguably worse than 2024.
Wales have twice suffered record home defeats, shipped 50 points at home on four occasions against England, Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa, and had three head coaches in Warren Gatland, Matt Sherratt and Steve Tandy.
Wales started the year in January by being 'nilled' in their 43-0 Six Nations defeat by France in Paris.
They ended 2025 with another pointless performance against the Springboks. A neat bookend to another traumatic 12 months in Welsh rugby's soap opera....
