Sport in brief: September 24, 2026

Formula One / 23 September 2026 Hamilton ‘hopes��� Middle East finale goes ahead despite conflict 23 September 2026 Men’s Football / 23 September 2026 MLS club sack coach after ‘this is a man’s game’ remark to female referee 23 September 2026 Women’s Football / 23 September 2026 Champions League returns as City rally from two down 23 September 2026 Round-up / 23 September 2026 Sport in brief: September 23 2026 23 September 2026 Snippets of news from the sporting world with JAMIE J

MEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE: Leeds will be missing captain Ash Handley when they host Warrington in Friday night’s Super League play-off semi final.

The 30-year-old joins full back Lachlan Miller on their injury list after both were included in this year’s Super League dream team.

Warrington are unchanged from last weekend’s 35-12 thumping of Hull KR. Wigan have home advantage against Wakefield in Saturday’s other play-off semi-final.

ICE HOCKEY: Chase Gresock scored twice as Guildford Flames came from behind three times to end Sheffield Steelers unbeaten start to the season with Wednesday evening’s 6-4 victory on home ice.

The other midweek Elite League action saw Brandon Cutler score the first goal at Manchester Arena for 24 years as the Storm squeezed past out-of-form Glasgow Clan 2-1 in front of a crowd of just over 3,000.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: England resume their European Under 21s qualifying campaign tomorrow evening against Kazakhstan at Molineux, Wolverhampton.

The two-time defending champions are unbeaten in seven games and top Group D by three points from Slovakia with Ireland five points further back in third. Slovakia host the Irish in Kosice for Friday’s early kick-off.

Kazakhstan are bottom of the group and have already been eliminated.

MEN’S RUGBY UNION: Northampton Saints begin the defence of their Premiership title against last season’s bottom club Newcastle at Franklin’s Gardens tomorrow evening.

Newcastle have finished in the bottom two for the last four campaigns but yet again there will be no relegation from the Premiership.

Harlequins, who slipped to second bottom last time around, host 2025’s champions Bath at the Stoop in Friday night’s other game.