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For most of this season the conversation surrounding Leeds Rhinos has been about what happens in 2026 with uncertainty lingering over the future of their impressive head coach, Brad Arthur, the man who has transformed this club over the past year.

The end of that particular saga is now just days away from a resolution, with Arthur expected to inform Leeds on Monday whether or not he will take up the multi-year contract that the Rhinos have tabled or whether he will return to Australia to continue his coaching career.

And for all the drama and speculation concerning Arthur, it has perhaps been easy to miss the fact that he has restored one of Super League’s most successful clubs into legitimate challengers again. With all that in mind, there was perhaps no better time for his side to deliver a performance that should convince Arthur his future is here in 2026.

The Australian has promised in recent weeks that the performances of his team will help shape his decision. If that is true, there can be no doubting in his mind that this project is well worth buying into long-term. Leeds have finished eighth in each of the past two seasons, a position far too low for a club of the Rhinos’ stature.

But after arriving last summer and inheriting a squad bereft of confidence, Arthur has put Leeds in a position where they are legitimate contenders once again. Now just two points adrift of second-placed Wigan with six rounds to go, this win against a side who could themselves have ended the night in second was sensational.

It was a contest that wasn’t decided until the final minutes when Brodie Croft finally settled a compelling game that would have been a fitting playoff encounter. “This team keeps fighting so hard,” Arthur said. “That’ll hold us in good stead for some big games later this year.”

His side were second best in the opening quarter against a Leigh side who were hunting a fifth successive win and are themselves contenders. Tries from Umyla Hanley and Keanan Brand made it 8-0 but a wonderful 40-20 from Jake Connor decisively shifted the momentum back Leeds’ way.

Tries from Lachie Miller and Sam Lisone, coupled with a conversion from the boot of Connor, made it 10-8 to the visitors at the break and from there, they remained ahead for the rest of the evening. That said, it certainly wasn’t straightforward as the contest continued to ebb and flow.

Leeds opened up a two-score lead when Connor’s magnificent kick led to James Bentley scoring, with the half-back’s goal creating an eight-point advantage. Leigh responded when a fine move led to Brand scoring his second of the evening and suddenly, the gap was just two points again.

Pre-Arthur, Leeds would have wilted at this point. They may not have even found themselves in such a position against a side this good. Leigh came close to going back ahead when Bailey Hodgson had a try disallowed and Josh Charnley fumbled a golden opportunity.

But Leeds held on, breaking away in the final minutes to secure what could be a priceless victory as Miller broke downfield and Croft was in support to put the seal on another statement win.

When pushed on whether that performance had convinced him to stay, Arthur would only say: “I absolutely love my time here.” There is not long left to wait but whatever his decision is, it is increasingly clear he could be leading this side out in a Grand Final come October.

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has made a U-turn on RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko, who is closing in on completing a switch to Old Trafford.

United agree deal with Leipzig

After wrapping up a deal for Bryan Mbeumo, United turned their attention to signing a striker, promptly identifying Sesko as their top transfer target for the position.

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United settled on Sesko from a two-man shortlist that also included Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.

Unlike with Watkins, where United seemingly had a clear path, the Red Devils encountered strong competition from Newcastle in the pursuit of Sesko. The Magpies lodged two bids for Sesko, the latest one valuing him at €90m.

Ruben Amorim’s side sent in a slightly lower offer and even presented Sesko with lower wages than Newcastle were willing to give him. Earlier on Thursday, news broke that United had found a breakthrough as they struck an agreement with Leipzig for the Slovenian.

Sesko instantly boarded a jet to England and pictures have since surfaced of him in Manchester as he looks to finalise his move.

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A week ago, Ferdinand weighed in on the Sesko vs. Watkins debate and didn’t mince his words as he made it clear that United would be better off if they pursued Watkins.

Ferdinand argued that Sesko would be a big risk signing, unlike Watkins, who is already familiar with the dynamics of the Premier League and would hit the ground running from the first day.

However, the six-time Premier League has now changed tune, emphasising that Sesko has what it takes to thrive at United.

Ferdinand’s latest stance on Sesko

Speaking on his Rio Presents YouTube channel, Ferdinand explained, “Wow. Huge money, £70m being spent.”

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“Listen, he’s a young guy, been at Leipzig, playing, scoring goals. Last season, he played 45 games and scored 21 goals, six assists, so the guy knows where the back of the net is. That’s almost one goal every two games.”

“Yes, it’s a different league, it’s the Bundesliga, but he does play international football as well, he scores in international football and he knows where the net is.”

The former defender continued, “A lot of people are going to go and suggest, ‘Oh, has he got the experience?’, and I was one of those guys in that camp going, ‘Do you know what? Where is the player that can show the young, inexperienced strikers that we have at the club how to do things? In times of need, who do they look to?’”

“He’s going to have to step up and be that guy. Can he do it? Yes, he can do it, he’s got huge potential. But one of the things, as we’ve seen in recent years, our strikers, when they come in the door here, you’re not afforded a lot of time, there ain’t a great amount of patience and you’ve got to hit the ground running.”

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Ferdinand gives his verdict on United’s new-look attack

Sesko is likely to be a mainstay in a new-look United attacking line also consisting of fellow arrivals Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.

Cunha and Mbeumo have already tasted minutes with United during the pre-season tour and have certainly looked the part.

Ferdinand said about the trio, “What I would say is Manchester United scored 44 goals last season. They’ve now invested in three strikers at the top of the pitch that have between them 48 goals last season, so that’s four more than the whole Manchester United squad got last year so that’s a huge improvement in that sense.”

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“Two of those guys have played in the Premier League and scored goals here. Sesko, now, has to go and transform his form, his goals, his menacing play, at times, into the Premier League and that’s the big question.”

“What I would say is not only are the goals a step up, but I would say the mobility in the front areas now is something, as a defender, I’m looking at now and I’m thinking differently about Manchester United’s frontline.”

“I’m going to have a physical presence up there and I’m going to have a physical test from all three positions and I’ve got people that can run and move up there, they’re mobile. They’re the things I was asking for over the last couple of years up there so more of that.”

Ferdinand noted that United’s recruitment team deserve a lot of praise for transforming Ruben Amorim’s attacking department after a goal-shy 2024/25 campaign.

Featured image Maja Hitij via Getty Images

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Snoop Dogg’s mind isn’t just on money — it’s on his soccer club as well.

On Thursday, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” actor Rob Mac collaborated on an Instagram reel with rapper Snoop Dogg and retired three-time NFL MVP Tom Brady on what they called a “Championship Owners” call, where the three gathered to talk soccer.

Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, joined the ownership group of Welsh club Swansea City on July 18 as a “co-owner and investor.”

“Welcome to the beautiful world of English football, where grown men cry over ties,” Brady jokingly said.

“I’m here for the culture, passion and the chaos, and to get Brady back for all those damn Super Bowls he hit my team with,” Snoop said.

On Aug. 3, 2023 — which happens to be Brady’s birthday — the seven-time Super Bowl champion joined ownership ranks in the sport, becoming a minority owner and chair of the advisory board of English side Birmingham City. He entered the partnership with Birmingham’s owners, Knighthead Capital Management LLC.

“I’ve won a lot of Super Bowls. … Quick crash course — win enough games, you move up to the next league, lose too many, you drop. It’s ruthless,” Brady said.

Snoop Dogg then posed a challenge to Brady and Mac, who has served as the co-owner of Welsh squad Wrexham since Sep. 2020 with actor Ryan Reynolds.

“Let me know when y’all want to roll through Swansea. I’ll have the kids pressed up and the playlist loaded, locked and loaded,” Snoop said with a wink.

Safe to say, there’s a high possibility of seeing the West Coast-born record producer, NFL great and actor clash from opposing sides in the future.

The USA Rugby PanAm Games selection committee have finalized the women’s rugby sevens team that will represent Team USA for the first time ever at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games, August 16-17 in Asunción, Paraguay.

The 2025 Junior Pan American Games will be broadcast live on the Panam Sports Channel. You can watch the games on their website or via their mobile app.

These selections were made off the back of a rigorous week-long camp held at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, the world-class training site for USA Rugby sevens programs. The camp featured intensive training sessions, tactical reviews, and competitive scrimmages, all designed to assess each player’s skills and begin the crucial process of fostering a cohesive team unit. This immersive experience offered the athletes a valuable taste of high-performance training during a critical phase of team selection.

“We are beyond excited to announce the roster that will represent Team USA at the Junior Pan American Games for Rugby Sevens in August,” said Head Coach Irene Gardner, “These athletes have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their own development over the past year in their college or club programs. This was showcased last week at the selections camp and at High Performance camps earlier this year.”

“This group of players has harnessed the power of work ethic, resilience, and a true joy for the game. Their collective experience at this early stage in their careers is remarkable and reflects an unwavering commitment to their development. They have embraced the journey and now have the opportunity to take another historic step for USA Rugby by becoming the first American rugby team to represent Team USA at the Junior Pan American Games.”

Coach Gardner emphasized the importance of this event for the athletes’ careers, “Involvement in a multi-sport international event is significant in these athletes’ continued trajectory within the USA Rugby Pathway and Eagles teams.”

The selected athletes will participate in a pre-competition camp in Chula Vista from August 9-11, before traveling to Asunción, Paraguay, on August 12.

The selections were made by the Junior Pan Am Games Selection Committee, comprised of General Manager of High Performance Tamara Sheppard, Qualified 7s Female Athlete Representative Victoria Folayan, Qualified 7s Male Athlete Representative Brett Thompson, Head Coach of the USA National Pathway Women’s Sevens Team Irene Gardner, and Assistant Coach of the USA National Pathway Women’s Sevens Team Benjamin Pinkelman.

The USA Men’s Sevens will not compete in the Junior Pan American Games this year with resources focused on residency preparation for 2026.

2025 Junior PanAm Games – USA Women’s Rugby Sevens Roster

2025 Jr Pan American Games Coaching Staff

Irene Gardner | Head Coach

Ben Pinkelman | Assistant Coach

Maria Adams | Team Manager

Jackie Rodriguez | Athletic Trainer