Author: Sports News UK
An undermanned Moana Pasifika have capped off their potential final match with a stirring victory, upsetting the finals-bound ACT Brumbies 21-19.But there were mixed feelings as players celebrated a rare win before coming together with staff to mark the occasion of the club’s farewell game and expected demise with an emotionally charged hymn.The Super Rugby Pacific club was placed into liquidation on Monday after their current owners announced that they would not continue to fund the franchise beyond 2026 on April 15.Unless a last-minute saviour comes in to salvage the club, only introduced in 2022, they will fold and the…
Pro sports comps like the NBA hold annual drafts, which generate significant interest and also helps distribute young talent through the league. Could rugby do the same?There’s been an ongoing discussion around what can be done to increase interest in pro rugby in New Zealand – in particular, Super Rugby.Much of the talk has generally centred on the game itself, or the gameday experience. I’m not sure the 80 minutes each week and halftime entertainment is where the focus necessarily needs to lie in the quest to generate more interest in Super Rugby.As strange as that sounds. It is the…
Ramsey has been part of Craig Bellamy’s Wales staff in an unofficial capacity in recent months.He says he feels ready to move into a coaching job having called time on his 19-year playing career in April.As a player, Ramsey joined Arsenal from boyhood club Cardiff City, then had spells with Juventus, Rangers and Nice before rejoining the Bluebirds in 2023.He had a brief stint as Cardiff’s interim boss in 2025 before ending his playing career with Mexican side Pumas UNAM last year.Having had a break since making his last playing appearance last September, Ramsey says he wants to return to…
Loosehead prop Mito Faalialia scored the first of Southland Boys’ High School’s six tries in Saturday’s 34-7 win over St Bede’s College in Christchurch. Photo: DEBBIE FAHEYFour unanswered second-half tries have lifted the Southland Boys’ High School first XV to a commanding 34-7 victory over St Bede’s College in Christchurch on Saturday.It made it four straight wins for the Southland school in the new South Island boys’ school competition.It was a clunky start to the game from both teams before loosehead prop Mito Faalialia, who was returning after an injury layoff, crossed for Southland Boys’ High School at the 11-minute…
It would be negligent to write about Arsenal beating a direct opponent without mentioning their most effective tool this season.PSG have only conceded 29 goals in the league this season but six of them have come from non-penalty set-pieces. The size of their squad makes this an obvious area of weakness.Thomas Frank’s Spurs lost to PSG in the Champions League earlier this season but managed to score three goals, one coming from a corner. They also lost on penalties against them in the Uefa Super Cup in August, scoring both goals in a 2-2 draw from crossed free kicks.Under Frank,…
Collum also addressed two incidents in Celtic’s 3-1 home win over Rangers on 10 May, refereed by Nick Walsh.The visitors had claimed unsuccessfully for offside when Yang Hyun-jun equalised in a crowded penalty area and Alistair Johnston was booked for a challenge on Rangers’ Mikey Moore at 1-1.The head of refereeing said Johnston’s tackle did not meet the “criteria” in terms of “excessive force”, “brutality” and “endangering the safety of an opponent”.”We agree with the referee that it’s reckless,” Collum said. “We would say it’s glancing contact, it’s not full studs on the leg, bending over the leg.”And Collum also…
Sonmez is not the first player to be injured because of the tight space behind the Roland Garros baselines.The Paris heatwave has produced firmer, bouncier courts, meaning players want to stand further behind the baseline to receive serve. Belgium’s Alexander Blockx was forced to withdraw from the men’s singles earlier this week after spraining his right ankle when he landed on a tarpaulin rain cover at the Jean Bouin practice facility, a short walk from Roland Garros.Blockx said on social media he “heard a snap” in his ankle and sarcastically blamed the “really necessary” covers. The world number 37 later…
Somerset, who had won their first two games, made a flying start against Glamorgan at Cardiff as Tom Banton smashed 59 from 25 to guide them to 100-2 at the halfway stage of their innings.But Banton fell to Mason Crane (3-42), who also removed James Rew and the defending champions slid to 171-9, with Australian all-rounder Nathan McAndrew taking 4-15 on his Glamorgan debut.Carlson then flayed the Somerset bowling, hitting 109 from 45 as he and Will Smale – who shared an opening stand of 169 in this fixture two years ago – posted another century partnership, with Glamorgan cruising…
Moana Pasifika boss Tana Umaga wants his side to bow out gracefully when they play what could potentially be their final Super Rugby match this weekend. Unless they gain a last-minute reprieve, the financially stricken outfit’s clash against the Brumbies in Canberra will be their last-ever match but Umaga wants his players to go out on a high. Moana are firmly rooted to the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific standings after winning just one of their matches played this season and they have amassed a paltry five points. That means they are just playing for pride in the tournament…
Rafael Nadal has revealed he spent most of his career in pain as he willed himself to play through a chronic foot injury and went on to win 22 grand slam titles while spending two decades ruling men’s tennis alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.The Spaniard, who retired in 2024, said he took immense risks with his health to keep his career going, after a Netflix series called Rafa provided an in-depth look into his physical and mental struggles to pursue greatness.“I’ve had to make decisions about my health, where you are on the borderline between right or wrong. But…