Rúaidhrí O'Connor: The fact that the lesser heralded players are the ones making the big plays. Stuart McCloskey is the team's totem, Jamie Osborne was superb, and Robert Baloucoune and Cormac Izuchukwu are to the manner born. In the long run, the squad will be a lot stronger for the experience.
Boxing delivered an exceptional slate of marquee fights this year, resulting in significant movement across ESPN's annual list of the top 100 fighters in men's boxing. Two fighters who occupied top-10 spots in 2024 suffered losses in 2025, and a third announced his retirement and has not competed over the past year. Meanwhile, standouts such as Terence Crawford, Dmitry Bivol, Devin Haney, Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez recorded major wins that propelled them higher in the rankings.
But over the last few years, the propensity to cast film and TV stars for the stage has become a point of contention in an industry still struggling from funding cuts and changing audience habits after the Covid pandemic. While some believe big names can help entice audiences and sell tickets, others say they stop risk-averse theatres from taking a chance on smaller productions with unknown casts.
In 2025, we have not yet seen the best of Kinghorn − although, after a few errors against the First Nations and Pasifika XV, the Scot was strong off the bench in the second Test and started the third.
The 2024-25 ESPN FC 100 reflects significant changes in club affiliations, highlighting a trend where several top players, such as Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, transitioned to Liverpool.
Shubman Gill produced an individual performance that defined and dominated the game, forcing opponents into fatigue and impacting their batting. His skill and stamina were crucial as India reduced England to 25 for three at the end of the second day, influencing the match's outcome. Gill's capacity to perform under captaincy pressure showcases his brilliance and adaptability. His 430 runs at Edgbaston is a historic feat, placing him on significant records in Test cricket, emphasizing his rising stature in the sport.
