Agony and ecstasy of huge sporting year...

A JAM-packed start to 2025 will kick off a huge year of sport.

JANUARY-MARCH

The men's and women's Six Nations offer no shortage of intrigue as Ireland's men, slight favourites over France, will look to defend their crown without coach Andy Farrell, who is taking a sabbatical for Lions Tour preparation.

Wales will hope to avoid last year's embarrassing wooden spoon, their first in 21 years. They open the tournament on a Friday night in Paris on January 31, with Steve Borthwick's England looking to improve after finishing 2024 with five defeats in six games.

England's all-conquering Red Roses have had no such worries and will hope to maintain their dominant run ahead of a World Cup on home soil, with the women's tournament kicking off on March 22.

Meanwhile, after a US Open semi-final, world number 15 Jack Draper is targeting a deep run into the year's opening major, the Australian Open.

The two-week tournament, starting on January 12, represents a strong opportunity for the British number one to take on Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, and better last year's second round exit.

There's a blockbuster fight to look forward to on February 22 as Artur Beterbiev defends his undisputed lightheavyweight title in a rematch against Dmitry Bivol.

The Last Crescendo fight card features Britain's Daniel Dubois, who defends his world heavyweight title against Joseph Parker.

Cards like this don't come around often, and it promises to be an unmissable night in Riyadh.

In cricket, England's men will tour India throughout January and February, with Jos Buttler's white-ball side playing three oneday internationals and five T20 internationals.