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Maro Itoje’s head has been in Moussa’s hands for more than a decade.

From behind the barber’s chair, Moussa has seen Itoje mature from a much-hyped teenager to a three-time 30-year-old British and Irish Lion.

Now captain for the first time, one of Itoje’s final appointments before departing for Australia is to have his mane trimmed.

“It has been a while,” says Itoje of his and Moussa’s relationship.

“It is going to be a challenge on tour.

“You always have to have some trust – a bit of a leap of faith – when you walk into a new barber’s chair. Especially in Australia, where I don’t think they are too used to Afro-Caribbean hair!”

Faith, and contingency plans, will be a theme for Itoje over the next five weeks.

When asked about how religion fitted into his tactics, former Labour spin guru Alastair Campbell famously said “we don’t do God”.

Itoje, who was introduced to Campbell by England team manager Richard Hill as a youngster and remains in touch, definitely does.

At his unveiling as Lions captain in May, he revealed he had missed Bible study to be there.

When he was promoted to England captain in January, his pastor was one of six people he told before the public announcement., external

Asked about the long journey to both posts, Itoje has a simple explanation: “God’s timing is always the best time.”

“In the last two or three years I have made a conscious decision to double down in that regard,” he tells BBC Sport.

“I was probably a lukewarm Christian for a large part of my life. I was probably someone who went to church, but was not really living the principles or values of it that deeply, but I have always been a believer.

“The humility that I have tried to embody throughout my life definitely comes from knowing that everything I have has been a gift, not by my own doing, but by the guy upstairs.”

By Itoje’s high standards and own admission, that humility wasn’t always present on previous Lions tours.

He has described his 22-year-old self, who won over the Lions fans’ sea of red in New Zealand in 2017, as “a little bit brash and a bit naive”.

This time around, at the very centre of the hype and hoopla, he is determined to keep his calm and routine.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal stunned Manchester City 4-3 in extra time in Orlando, Florida, on Monday night to pull off one of the shocks of the Club World Cup and set up a quarterfinal against Brazil’s Fluminense.

Marcos Leonardo scored his second goal of the night in the 112th minute as Simone Inzaghi’s side eliminated the Premier League club, which had taken a ninth-minute lead through Bernardo Silva.

Quick-fire goals from Leonardo and Malcom in six minutes immediately after the restart put Al Hilal in front before Erling Haaland equalized for City in the 55th minute.

Four minutes into extra time, Kalidou Koulibaly headed in Rúben Neves’ corner to put the Riyadh-based club back in front, and while Phil Foden tied the score again for City, Leonardo netted with seven minutes left to take Al Hilal through.

“We knew it was a difficult game against one of the best teams in the world,” Koulibaly said. “We wanted to show our ideas, our talent, our power and I think that we made a very good game.

“Defensively we were very strong and offensively all of the opportunities we could put inside we put in, so we can be happy.”

Portuguese playmaker Silva had put City ahead when he pushed the ball over the line after Renan Lodi’s attempted clearance ended up at his feet inside the six-yard box.

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Replays showed the ball had brushed the wrist of City’s Rayan Aït-Nouri earlier in the move, but the referee waved away the Al Hilal protests.

Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou then made a string of saves to deny City a second before halftime and within seconds of the restart the Saudi club had tied it.

Malcom drove down the right and found João Cancelo, whose ball into the six-yard box was initially blocked by a sprawling Éderson, but Leonardo headed the looping rebound into the unguarded net.

Six minutes later, Malcom was released behind the defense by Cancelo’s pass from deep inside his own half and the Brazilian showed composure to stroke his shot past Ederson.

But the lead lasted only three minutes as Haaland pounced on Silva’s corner and the Norwegian was denied a late winner by a desperate clearance on the line from Ali Lajami.

The Saudis went ahead four minutes into extra time when Koulibaly rose to glance home a header from a corner, but City tied it again, substitutes Rayan Cherki and Foden combining for the England international to steer a sublime first-time volley across Bounou and into the bottom corner.

Al Hilal would not be denied and Leonardo claimed his second of the night after seeing Ederson save Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s header, the weary Brazilian stumbling as he steered the winner home.

Rugby fans across Australia are set to score, with Liquorland confirmed as Official Supplier
of the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour and the Wallabies.

The tour kicked off on Saturday in Perth, marking the Lions’ first visit to Australia in 12
years, with matches to cover ground in eight cities and more than 40,000 international
fans expected to visit across the country.

Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh said the Lions Tour is building into a huge national
moment and Liquorland’s sponsorship has got fans covered for game-day cheers.

“The British & Irish Lions Tour is going to be a massive event across six cities with packed
stadiums, and fans flying in from all over. There’s nothing quite like a Lions Tour, and we’re
excited to see the whole country get behind it.”

“Having Liquorland on board adds to the momentum and energy. It’s great to see them
backing the Wallabies and helping fans get in the spirit of the game particularly as the
wider support for rugby across the country continues to grow.”

Coles Liquor General Manager of Customer Loyalty Mia Horner said the team was proud
to be part of the action celebrating the world’s biggest and most in-demand rugby tour.

“We’re incredibly excited to be part of the tour and take up this once in every 12-year
opportunity. It’s a bucket-list moment for fans from abroad to join the Lions tour and we
can’t wait to welcome them down under,” she said.

“We’ve lined up a cracking offer to help international fans find their local away from home
with Liquorland and score great deals and money off their in-store shop through our
partnership with SEN.”

The British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia 2025

Western Force v British & Irish Lions at 5:45pm AWST on Saturday 28 June at Optus
Stadium, Perth

Queensland Reds v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Wednesday 2 July at Suncorp
Stadium, Brisbane

New South Wales Waratahs v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday 5 July at
Allianz Stadium, Sydney

ACT Brumbies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Wednesday 9 July at GIO Stadium,
Canberra

AUNZ Invitational XV v British & Irish Lions at 7:15pm ACST on Saturday 12 July at Adelaide
Oval, Adelaide

Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday July 19 at Suncorp
Stadium, Brisbane

First Nations & Pasifika XV v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Tuesday 22 July at
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday July 26 at Melbourne
Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday August 2 at Accor
Stadium, Sydney

England pacer Mark Wood, who has been ruled out of the series, and former captain Mike Atherton discussed Bumrah’s situation on Monday, dissecting the pros and cons of including him in the XI for the second Test.

Earlier, selectors had confirmed that the injury-prone Bumrah would feature in only three of the five Tests on the England tour to manage his workload. Head coach Gautam Gambhir reiterated the plan after the Leeds Test. However, given India’s lacklustre bowling display at Headingley — where Bumrah’s five-wicket haul was the only bright spot — the debate around his inclusion has gained momentum.

The sight had the legendary Sunil Gavaskar sending a special request to Bumrah, while Shastri warned that India could not afford to trail 0-2 in Edgbaston, making Bumrah a necessity in the XI for the second Test. Wood agreed with the former India all-rounder, but Atherton pointed out that the third Test in Lord’s will begin just three days after the conclusion of the second game.

“They cannot afford to go 2-0 down. So you want your best bowler,” Wood said on the Sky Sports podcast. “There’s no way he’s saying, ‘I’m not playing at Lord’s.’ I don’t think so. I think he’ll want to play both games. Even if, let’s just say, India win the next one, and it’s 1-1, I still think they’ll want him to make the difference, to get them ahead. I think every overseas bowler wants to get on that board, and he’ll be the same.”

Atherton added that while Manchester could be the venue where India can rest Bumrah, they have to have him in the XI for the second and third Test.

“They have got a decision to make over Bumrah, first of all, because every overseas player wants to play in a Lord’s Test. The Lord’s Test is three days after Edgbaston. In cricketing terms, he should certainly play at Edgbaston, and I’d think very carefully about Old Trafford, because that’s the kind of ground where pace and reverse swing are really important. But as you say, every cricketer wants to play at Lord’s and get on that honours board,” he said.

The former England batter concluded by backing Kuldeep Yadav in the XI, saying India could have won the series opener had he featured in the match.

“I do think they should play Kuldeep Yadav. I think had they had Kuldeep in their team, they would have won that game,” he added.

PA Media

The Indian women’s team will look to continue its winning momentum when it faces England in the second of five T20Is at the Bristol County Ground on Tuesday.

The opener saw the Women in Blue thrash the host by 97 runs, courtesy of stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana’s maiden T20I century and debutant Sree Charani’s four-wicket haul.

ENG-W vs IND-W 2nd T20I – Match Details

When will the second T20I between England Women and India Women take place?

The second T20I between England Women and India Women will be held on Tuesday, July 1.

Where will the second T20I between England Women and India Women be held?

The second T20I between England Women and India Women will take place at the Bristol County Ground in Bristol.

At what time will the second T20I between England Women and India Women start?

The second T20I between England Women and India Women will begin at 11:00 PM IST. The toss will take place at 10:30 PM IST.

Where to watch the live telecast of the second T20I between England Women and India Women in India?

The second T20I between England Women and India Women will be televised live in India on the Sony Sports Network (Sony Sports 1 channel).

Where to watch the live stream of the second T20I between England Women and India Women in India?

The second T20I between England Women and India Women will be streamed live on the SonyLIV app and website in India.

Told through the voices of those who lived it – legends like David Kirk, Buck Shelford, John Kirwan, and Grant Fox – By the Balls is more than a sports story. It’s a raw, personal account of a turbulent era when rugby collided head-on with politics, and where teammates were divided by principle, protest, and national expectation.

From the controversial 1986 Cavaliers tour to the groundbreaking victory in the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup against arch rivals France, the documentary uncovers the personal toll of the era’s intense political climate — from tensions on the field and public backlash off it, to deep divisions within the All Blacks camp. Kirk’s reflections on being ostracised by some teammates and Shelford’s unflinching honesty about his decision to tour South Africa offer rare insight into the emotional weight behind the game.

Loaded with unforgettable moments—from gritty match footage to candid interviews – the film paints a vivid portrait of a time when the future of New Zealand rugby, and its moral compass, hung in the balance.

By the Balls is essential viewing – not just for rugby fans, but for anyone interested in how sport can challenge, fracture, and ultimately help heal a nation.

Now streaming on NZR+. Don’t miss it.