CK Updates
Ulster Rugby: Bryn Ward out to fill ‘big role’ in Juarno Augustus’ absence
The win over Munster was Ward’s seventh Ulster appearance, an occasion the former Ireland under-20 international marked with his first senior try.
As he seeks to establish himself at the Affidea Stadium, there has at least been one familiar face already in the team.
Ward’s brother Zac, an Irish Olympian in rugby sevens at Paris two summers ago, made his own breakthrough for the side last season.
The older of the siblings has five tries from the wing already during this campaign and again caught the eye against Munster.
“We’ve grown up together playing in the back yard and stuff so to now be out there in front of 16,500 in a sold-out Affidea, it’s pretty surreal,” said the back row of playing alongside the brother six years his senior.
“Watching him throughout the sevens and stuff, whenever I was in school and just coming out of school, he’s definitely been really influential on me. It’s just nice to have a familiar face around the place as well and its class to play with him as well.
“I dropped the ball out there and he was the first one to come over and give me a pat on the bum and say, ‘keep your head’, so it’s been really good.”
The younger of the Ward brothers, who are the sons of former Ulster captain Andy Ward, is not the only inexperienced player to make an impact in recent weeks with locks Joe Hopes and Charlie Irvine also playing meaningful minutes.
With the likes of Stuart McCloskey, Iain Henderson, Nick Timoney and Jacob Stockdale around them, Ward believes it has been hugely beneficial to be able to lean on the advice of Test players as they make the step up.
“The biggest thing probably is the speed of the game. Physically, I’ve been playing for Ballynahinch in the AIL [All-Ireland League], so it’s obviously a step up physically when you’re playing South African teams and big interpros.
“It’s definitely just the pace of the game, you’ve got to be so switched on and defensively you’ve always got your head on a swivel.
“Having guys in the club that have so much experience, it’s so good for the young boys coming through that they can give us such a help to make the jump.”
Former West Ham, QPR and Czech Republic goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has died at the age of 64.
Miklosko made almost 400 appearances for the Hammers from 1990 to 1998 and was much loved by supporters, who regularly sang his name long after he left the club.
He later returned as a goalkeeping coach.
Miklosko withdrew from cancer treatment in December 2024, three years after his diagnosis.
Days later he returned to West Ham’s London Stadium for a Premier League match against Liverpool to a hero’s reception.
A West Ham statement read: “It is with deep and profound sadness that West Ham United announces the passing of legendary former goalkeeper and coach, Luděk Miklosko.
“Rest in peace Ludek, our beloved, inspirational goalkeeper and gentle giant of a man.”
More to follow.
Going into the 2026 season, few people would have backed Zverev to win two Grand Slam tournaments, with the German having already lost three major finals in a career which looked in danger of not living up to expectation.
But injuries to his biggest rivals – Alcaraz missing the French Open and Wimbledon, with Sinner ruled out of the US Open – opened the door for Zverev.
A below-par Zverev scraped through the opening rounds at Flushing Meadows in a series of early-morning finishes, but he gradually improved over a fortnight where he did not play a top-20 opponent until Shelton.
Zverev had not lost to Shelton in their five previous meetings and immediately capitalised on a nervy start by his opponent.
Shelton double-faulted on break point in the first game of the match, handing over the type of initiative that opponents often struggle to wrestle back from Zverev.
Through the strength of his first serve, and his ability to unpick Shelton’s weaker backhand in the baseline exchanges, Zverev rolled through the opening set and clinched it when Shelton hit another double fault on set point.
Zverev continued to patiently draw mistakes from Shelton in the second set, but without being gifted a break when his only opportunity arrived in the fourth game.
He instead showed why he has a strong tie-break record with another nerveless display and, unlike in the 2020 US Open final when he lost from a two-set lead, kept his composure in the pressure moments to secure a commanding victory.
Addressing his team which is led by his father Alexander senior and brother Mischa, Zverev said: “We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now won two in the span of three months.
“I think God has seen how hard we have worked, how hard we have suffered and how much pain we went through.
“I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before.”
With Haaland’s goal settling the match, United were unsurprisingly disappointed by the decision.
“I think it was offside,” said Martinez. “And what I can’t understand is the rules. I want to be calm now, I want to control myself.
“It’s so hard because you lose a derby, you lose three points at home, and every season they’re [referees] coming to our club, they explain for one hour the rules, and they look so confident with that, and then after [there are] five or six people doing these kind of mistakes in the Premier League – it’s unacceptable.
“It’s the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world, and now we have to go home with this injustice.”
United boss Carrick also expressed his confusion.
“We put things in place in the game now, we have people in offices with all the screens for this decision,” he said.
“It’s more worrying about if that’s the interpretation of football now. If that’s the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that’s really worrying for me. It’s a staggering explanation.
“The decision isn’t going to change the season, but it’s had a major impact on the game.”
Wayne Rooney, part of the BBC’s MOTD2 team, said: “Surely it’s offside. Martinez is impacted by Fernandez’s movement, and he is offside.”
Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “I think we’ll see some sort of apology from the referee’s association, there’s no doubt Fernandez is playing that ball and is trying to put off Martinez. I think it’s one they’ll recognising they got wrong.”
Micah Richards added: “I think it’s been a bad day for referees. They got the Foden decision wrong and the Fernandez decision wrong. I think they got it so wrong but I don’t think it takes anything away from City’s performance.”
Meanwhile, City boss Maresca said: “I think it was onside clearly so it’s good.”
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