RUGBY UNION
Fiji overtake Tonga at home
Fiji came from behind to beat Tonga 30-22 in a bone-jarring Pacific Nations Cup encounter in Suva yesterday. In a clash full of direct running and big tackles, Tonga led 22-16 going into the last 15 minutes before their high error count caught up with them. There were three tries apiece, with Fiji scoring two of theirs as they controlled the closing stages to make a positive start to the 10th edition of the tournament. In the only game of the tournament to be played in the Pacific, with the remainder in the US and Canada, Tonga rocked the 2013 champions with a punishing start. Nili Latu and Taniela Moa led a straight-up-the-middle approach, pinning Fiji deep in the own territory for most of the first quarter. Exeter wing Fetu’u Vainikolo dotted down first. Moa started the move when he plowed through a floundering defense before Latu fired a long pass out to Vainikolo who scored in the corner. Fiji hit the front when Henry Seniloli scored after a big run down the right wing by Lepani Botia who swatted would-be defenders aside with ease. Tonga regained the lead after halftime with a try to Telusa Veainu, converted by Lilo, and after Volavola put Fiji back in front 16-15 with two further penalties, Tonga again gained the initiative when Sonatane Takulua scored. However, Fiji were not done and came back with tries to Waisea Nayacalevu and Peni Ravai to seal the match.
SOCCER
Bolivian boss arrested
Police in Bolivia have arrested the president of the nation’s soccer federation for alleged corruption. The prosecutor’s office issued a brief statement on Carlos Chavez’s arrest that offered no details beyond saying it was part of an “investigation of presumed corruption” in managing state resources. Chavez was arrested after eight hours of questioning and ordered jailed in Sucre, where the prosecutor’s office is located. The coach of one club in Bolivia’s soccer league accused Chavez of embezzling funds from the national federation. Chavez said on Friday morning as he submitted to questioning that there was no proof to the accusations.
SOCCER
Miami stadium planned
Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado said on Friday that a group led by former English soccer star David Beckham has confirmed plans to build a stadium near the city’s downtown next to the Miami Marlins baseball park. The Beckham group previously spurned the proposed site for the Major League Soccer franchise they announced in Miami last year. One of Beckham’s partners, Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure, tweeted that the group had “presented ... our intentions” for the new stadium to the mayor on Friday morning.
RUGBY UNION
Break ends Naholo’s season
All Blacks winger Waisake Naholo suffered a broken leg during his Test debut against Argentina on Friday and has been ruled out of contention for this year’s World Cup. Fiji-born Naholo, who scored 13 tries for the Dunedin-based Highlanders during the Super Rugby season, made a strong debut before leaving the field midway through the second half of the Rugby Championship Test with what was thought to be a sprained ankle. He was omitted yesterday from the All Blacks’ 31-man squad for the Championship match against the Springboks in Johannesburg next weekend. X-rays revealed Naholo had suffered a cracked fibia and he will not have recovered in time to play at the World Cup, which starts in Britain in September.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
After fleeing Sudan when civil war erupted, Al-Hilal captain Mohamed Abdelrahman and his teammates have defied the odds to reach the CAF Champions League quarter-finals. They are today to face title-holders Al-Ahly of Egypt in Cairo, with the return match in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, on Tuesday next week. Al-Hilal and biggest domestic rivals Al-Merrikh relocated to Mauritania after a power struggle broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary force. The civil war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced more than 12 million people, according to the UN. The Democratic Republic of the Congo-born Al-Hilal
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their
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