Don McRae

Jos Buttler: ‘A big burden has been lifted – I wasn’t the same leader after the 2023 World Cup’ The England white-ball veteran tells Donald McRae about his post-captaincy career, his Ashes struggles and the recent death of his father

I appreciated Jos Buttler talking so openly about the passing years, as a 35-year-old, the death of his father, helping England pass 300 in a T20 world first, the pain of captaincy, shedding that burden, new ambitions and why his bat still says 'fuck it'...

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...

‘I know how important it is to tell people you love them’: England’s Meg Jones on family tragedy, hope and rugby As England look to the Six Nations in a World Cup year, Meg Jones tells Donald McRae about how she juggles grief and guilt after losing her father to cancer and mother to alcoholism

England won the women's rugby World Cup yesterday. I've interviewed a few of their squad and they are all impressive. But this Meg Jones interview, about her past trauma, offers some insight into how special she is in overcoming the death of her parents

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/m...

It means a lot to be on this list with some very good books. Thanks to the @BookiePrize for their constant support of sports books....it helps so many writers.

‘I didn’t get empathy from Borthwick’: Ben Youngs on family trauma and why he rates Eddie Jones The former scrum-half tells Donald McRae why family illnesses made him feel guilty about being England’s most-capped player

It was fascinating talking to Ben Youngs as he explained the guilt that meant he was always looked down in shame when being praised as English rugby's most capped player. He was just as honest addressing the coaching limitations of Borthwick, Lancaster and Gatland
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...

Graphic with the headline “London is the greatest city in the world” set against a bright view of the River Thames with the Shard, Tower Bridge and the city skyline. The text celebrates what makes London special: regularly voted the number one city in the world, incredible diversity with over 300 languages spoken, world-class transport, world leader in finance tech and life sciences, best museums and galleries many free to visit, world-leading nightlife, food sport and music for every taste, host to the world’s best sporting events, home to seven Premier League clubs, globally-ranked universities, a city where you can be yourself and love who you love, and a place for everyone.

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.

Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐

‘Expected goals is a clueless development’: Martin O’Neill on the changing world of management Martin O’Neill tells Donald McRae about how he was sacked by Forest, the role of data in football and not getting the England job

Thanks Martin O'Neill for being so honest and interesting as he spoke about being sacked from his final job at Forest, Marinakis, Nuno, being interviewed for England, the "nonsense" of expected goals and sporting directors and why he still loves football...

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Thanks Neil

Thanks so much Scott. I appreciate it

Thanks very much

Thanks so much Sachin

Unforgettable Ricky Hatton turned boxing into a spectacle for his vast army of fans The ‘Hitman’ was extraordinary in his fleeting prime with his career bringing adoration and the demons of fame

Only the memories of Mike Tyson at his most destructive in sparring can rival the vivid images I carry of the young Ricky Hatton training in an old hat factory. He was utterly lost in boxing. It all felt so pure. Ricky was unforgettable then – and remains so now

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...

Canelo v Crawford: our experts predict the winner of Saturday’s big fight Will Canelo’s power or Crawford’s precision prove decisive in their Las Vegas summit meeting? Our writers set out the arguments on both sides

When we decided to try and predict a winner between Canelo and Crawford, Bryan Graham and I could both easily have gone the other way and swapped choices. But here we have a stab at picking who might win tonight

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...

Thanks, appreciate it!

Georgia Stanway: ‘If England win the World Cup I’ll happily retire – that’s all my dreams’ Lionesses and Bayern Munich midfielder opens up to Donald McRae about ‘stressful’ Euro 2025 success, ‘world-class’ Sarina Wiegman and online abuse suffered by players

Thanks to Georgia Stanway for such an interesting interview about winning the Euros for a second time, overcoming adversity on and off the pitch, injury battles, the absurd taboo around gay footballers in the men's game, giving back to others and tattoos...

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

‘I’m so driven to find a way’: Holger Rune on what it takes to beat Alcaraz and Sinner The 22-year-old has recruited the ‘legend’ Andre Agassi on his search for grand-slam winning form before the US Open

I enjoyed talking to Holger Rune about his hopes and aims of winning grand slams and becoming World No1, his good record against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the need to become more consistent, working with Andre Agassi and dealing with regular death threats

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...

Zoe Aldcroft: ‘This World Cup has the potential to change women’s rugby for ever’ Zoe Aldcroft tells Donald McRae the Red Roses have the chance to change women’s rugby for ever if they can win the World Cup in England

I enjoyed talking to Zoe Aldcroft, the England rugby captain, about the World Cup, being laser-focused on the pitch and kooky off it, her Jonny Wilkinson obsession, her husband wearing shorts to their wedding and how she loves making bad feet feel good...

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...

Second again, again, again… and again? Pressure is on Mikel Arteta to deliver silverware this season. Photograph: WIkimedia Commons/Prime Video AU & NZ It is difficult to know how to feel about Arsenal. After being burned by three c…

Ahead of the return of the #PremierLeague tonight, I wrote this about Arsenal.

Three second-place finishes and #AFC fan hysteria had made me hesitant to get swept up by excitement.

But, as ever, I have succumbed to the horrible state of anguish: hope.
jackimmcrae.com/2025/08/15/s...

Thanks John

Thanks, Kelly!

‘It’s a lonely job’: Neil Warnock on management, Guardiola and his ire for Ferguson Veteran manager tells Donald McRae about his 45-year-career, upcoming tour and missing out on Virgil van Dijk

Thanks Neil Warnock for our interview in which he remembered how data analytics stopped him from signing Virgil van Djik, while he also reflected on his bromance with Pep Guardiola, mutual respect with Arsène Wenger and falling out bitterly with Alex Ferguson

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Thanks Sachin....good to see you the other day!

The essence of Usyk: motivation and discipline key to Dubois destruction The undisputed heavyweight champion explains how he learned from his previous win against the Briton and introduces ‘Ivan’, the clinching left hook

It was late and he was tired but his stunning defeat of Daniel Dubois needed to be explained. So, in a second language, Oleksandr Usyk revealed the truth of his savage alchemy in a few simple words: "No, bro. Motivation is good but discipline is better.”

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

Usyk defeats Dubois to become undisputed heavyweight champion once more Oleksandr Usyk is the undisputed world heavyweight champion again after a fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois at Wembley

Oleksandr Usyk was far too skilled, too smart, too seasoned for Daniel Dubois. He is the most impressive man in boxing, a savage scientist and a symbol of searing defiance in Ukraine. I felt lucky to be ringside to see another burst of Usyk’s undisputed majesty

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

Meet the unlikely double act who have found key to unlock real Daniel Dubois One is a former child soldier, the other lost 30% of his brain to a boxing injury, and together they’ve built the Briton into fighter who can challenge Usyk

Boxing stories are like nothing else. Don Charles was a child soldier in Biafra, a toilet cleaner, a road sweeper, a florist and a bouncer. Keiran Farrell lost 30% of his brain as a boxer. Together, using psychology and diplomacy, they have unlocked Daniel Dubois

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

‘Two fights left’: Usyk closes in on history and retirement with Dubois test The Ukrainian world champion seeks to unify the heavyweight division again at Wembley on Saturday night before putting family time first

A little preview of tomorrow night as Oleksandr Usyk closes in on history and retirement with Daniel Dubois test

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

Felix Baumgartner: 'I hope I can make fear cool' His jump from the edge of space was watched by millions. Now action man Felix Baumgartner wants to talk about the terror he overcame to break the sound barrier

Felix Baumgartner died yesterday after his paraglider crashed. I met him in 2012, soon after his space jump when he fell to earth faster than the speed of sound. He said: "You and I know Fearless Felix doesn't exist." He was a very human self-publicist

www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/n...

Daniel Dubois shrugs off Canelo Álvarez’s $500,000 bet against him Daniel Dubois has warned Canelo Álvarez that he will lose $500,000 on Saturday night after the Mexican superstar placed a sizeable bet against him

The Dubois-Usyk press conference was routine but Canelo, who placed a $500,000 bet on Usyk to win, might have liked the face-off. These things don't mean much but Canelo, who is also a poker player, will have been pleased this little game of bluff was won by Usyk

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

Cherished champion and statesman: Usyk focuses on Ukraine before titles The boxing great made two symbolic political gestures in London with his bout against Daniel Dubois only days away on Saturday

Oleksandr Usyk faces a dangerous challenge against Daniel Dubois at Wembley on Saturday but he looks ready to become the undisputed world champion again. But his most important task, as a symbol of defiance and hope in Ukraine, seems as endless as it is vast.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

Daniel Dubois: ‘That first fight against Usyk is behind me – I’m a man of the future’ The IBF champion tells Donald McRae about his sense of flying under the radar, Oleksandr Usyk’s weaknesses and how past defeats have steeled him

Thanks Daniel Dubois for our interview before he fights Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title - while he wonders why he does not get the attention he feels he deserves.We spoke about his relationship with his dad, his trainers, facing Usyk & overcoming adversity
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

I'm biased but I think this is a really strong and moving interview by @jackimmcrae.bsky.social with the journeymen Johnny Greaves