Oilers’ McDavid on facing Celebrini: ‘I prefer him playing on my left’

The rugby league season is under way, with the BBC offering extensive coverage throughout.

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The BBC is broadcasting every round of the Challenge Cup this season but the action does not stop there.

Elsewhere, there are plenty of big games to look forward to on the BBC across Super League as well as the World Club Challenge.

Here's your guide to what the BBC is showing in 2026, so you won't miss a thing.

2026 rugby league fixtures live on the BBC

Saturday, 10 January – Thatto Heath Crusaders v Seaton Rangers (Challenge Cup first round) – iPlayer

Saturday, 24 January – Sheffield Eagles v Whitehaven (Challenge Cup second round) – iPlayer

Sunday, 8 February – London Broncos v Bradford Bulls (Challenge Cup third round) – iPlayer

Sunday, 15 February – Castleford Tigers v Wigan Warriors (Super League) – iPlayer

Thursday, 19 February – Hull Kingston Rovers v Brisbane Broncos (World Club Challenge) – BBC Three

Saturday, 28 February – Warrington Wolves v Wakefield Trinity (Super League) – BBC Two

Friday, 13 March – Wakefield Trinity v Leeds Rhinos (Challenge Cup fourth round) – iPlayer

Saturday, 21 March – Warrington Wolves v Castleford Tigers – BBC Two

Saturday, 28 March – Leigh Leopards v Toulouse Olympique (Super League) – BBC Two

Friday, 3 April – Bradford Bulls v Leeds Rhinos (Super League) – iPlayer

Saturday, 11 April – Hull Kingston Rovers v York Knights (Challenge Cup quarter-final) – BBC Two

Sunday, 12 April – Wakefield Trinity v Wigan Warriors (Challenge Cup quarter-final) – BBC One

Saturday, 2 May – Wigan Warriors v Bradford Bulls (Super League) – iPlayer

Saturday, 9 May – Fixture to be confirmed (Challenge Cup semi-final) – BBC One/BBC Two

Sunday, 10 May – Fixture to be confirmed (Challenge Cup semi-final) – BBC One/BBC Two

Thursday, 14 May – Huddersfield Giants v St Helens (Super League) – iPlayer

Saturday, 30 May – Challenge Cup Final – Men's and Women's double header – BBC One

Saturday, 6 June – Wakefield Trinity v Hull Kingston Rovers (Super League) – BBC Two

Friday, 17 July – St Helens v Catalans Dragons (Super League) – iPlayer

Saturday, 25 July – Leeds Rhinos v Bradford Bulls (Super League) – BBC Two

Saturday, 29 August – Hull FC v Warrington Wolves (Super League) – BBC Two

Saturday, 19 September – Super League elimination play-off – BBC Two

Saturday, 26 September – Super League semi-final play-off – BBC Two

Saturday, 3 October – Super League Grand Final - Highlights on iPlayer and then BBC Two

The still fairly new UEFA Champions League group stage format, introduced in 2024, has had a very mixed reception. The group stages, initially groups of four teams that play each team twice, has been retooled to create a massive 36 team group that sees the fixture list randomly generated. This is the first major change to the competition since the second group phase was removed and replaced with the Round of 16 knockout round in 2003. Some fans accepted it immediately, others warmed up to it and others still have some real issues with it.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, however, firmly belongs in the former group. The Bayern Munich supervisory board member, who also served on the UEFA Executive Committee between 2021 and 2024, has spoken positively about the format change many times in the past and did so again in an interview with Spanish news site Diario AS:

“I remember applauding it when it was presented in 2021. The idea came from a German chess player, by the way – sadly a Dortmund fan (laughs),” Rummenigge admitted, as captured by @iMiaSanMia. “The knockout rounds were always great, but the group stage had become heavy. Now it’s very entertaining. UEFA deserves credit.”

What do you think? Was the format change a good or bad thing?

BFW Analysis

On a subjective note, Rummenigge was absolutely correct in stating that the Champions League group stages were not nearly interesting enough as a whole. Whether the new format was the right solution is very much up to debate but the old format was not that good.

The Arizona Cardinals have been connected to Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa for months as a potential target for them at the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Nothing has been said about any potential red flags with his health, but perhaps there should be one.

Per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Mauigoa decided to go to Indianapolis last week as part of the NFL combine health recheck.

He wanted to have imaging done on his back, as he had a minor issue that caused him discomfort at the end of the season, although he did not miss any games. He started 42 consecutive games to end his college career.

He doesn't need surgery and has no symptoms of it, although some teams requested further testing.

Rapoport notes that this is not expected to cause him to fall in the draft, but it will be something to watch.

After all, Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson, projected as an early first-round pick, fell to the 47th pick because of a supposed knee issue for which he had no symptoms.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 2026 NFL draft: OL Francis Mauigoa undergoes medical recheck

Former Sixth Man of the Year does not have an issue with Redick's dynamic with Vanderbilt originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick and forward Jarred Vanderbilt had a heated confrontation caught on camera. Vanderbilt was not playing well, as he only had five minutes in the Tuesday game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

After the game, Vanderbilt left the arena almost immediately. That was not a good look for the Lakers, but Redick downplayed the disagreement, saying it was not a significant problem.

Eddie Johnson does not see a problem with Redick's feud with Vanderbilt

For most people, seeing a coach argue with a player is worrying. Considering Vanderbilt is not a player in the normal rotation, that is not a good look for him, as his coach was dissatisfied with his performance.

Vanderbilt is mostly seen as a defensive player because he is a limited player on offense. Getting pulled out early in the game won't help him in the future, especially if the Lakers let him go in the future.

MORE: JJ Redick clears the air about the viral spat with Jarred Vanderbilt

Former Sixth Man of the Year Eddie Johnson is quite a vocal former analyst who often makes bold takes. However, he does not see the big issue with Redick and Vanderbilt because he feels this is a normal interaction between a coach and player.

"Coaches are normally getting on their players, that's what they're supposed to be. There has to be a balance to keep those guys whole, keep their confidence up. Not make him think 'Oh, this guy doesn't like me.' It's the balance of everything," Johnson said on SiriusXM NBA Radio.

"I don't know the balance is with JJ, that's personal stuff with the players. I do think he has that personal relationship with the players, that's why he can say that."

Considering Redick is also a former NBA player, he knows what it is like to be in his players' shoes. Moving forward, Redick will likely maintain his relationship with his players, but there will be some who fall into the cracks, like Vanderbilt.

More NBA news:

• Cameron Johnson makes an argument for Luka Doncic in the 2025-26 awards race
• Anthony Davis calls out the treatment by the Lakers management
• Lakers fans are angry with LeBron James for being disrespectful in the MVP discussion
• LeBron James is glad that he won't have the same experience as Victor Wembanyama
• Rich Paul gives a concerning Luka Doncic injury update