WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: Manchester United have begun an investigation after a number of players’ boots were lost en route to their Women’s Champions League qualifier in Norway.

A local shop owner, Andre Gullord, told BBC Sport that the club had spent several thousand pounds replacing the boots.

“We are a big store, butt they were very lucky we had enough boots in stock that were the right size,” Gullord said. “They paid between £200 and £230 for each pair and £30 for the shin guards.

“We have had the odd player come in because they have left their boots behind but never the entire team.”

MEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE: Leeds all but blew their hopes of clinching second place in the Super League after crashing to a shock 16-8 defeat to Catalans Dragons at Headingley.

A win for the in-form Rhinos would have set up an effective winner-takes-all trip to Wigan on the final round of the regular season next Friday.

But instead Brad Arthur’s men now face the real prospect of sliding behind both of Leigh and St Helens in the final rankings after summoning by far their worst result of the season when it mattered most.

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: England will take on South American champions Brazil in Manchester next month as part of a “Homecoming Series” following their Euros success last summer.

The Lionesses face Brazil in Manchester on October 25 before taking on Australia in Derby on October 28, the first time those sides have met since England beat hosts Australia in the 2023 World Cup semi-finals.

The Matildas will also take on Wales in Cardiff on October 25.

England have also confirmed a match against Ghana on December 2 in Southampton, following a fixture against China at Wembley on November 29 which had already been announced.