RUGBY LEAGUE
NRL name Greenberg CEO
Australia’s National Rugby League yesterday appointed head of football Todd Greenberg as its chief executive, saying he was the “man for the job” among an international search. Greenberg, a former chief executive of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, had been widely expected to take the post after Dave Smith stepped down late last year. “Todd ticks all the boxes to be the new CEO,” Australian Rugby League Commission chairman John Grant said in a statement. “While we’ve known all along that he is an outstanding sports administrator with a deep understanding and love of the game, his experience as the former CEO of the Bulldogs and head of football for the NRL, together with his professional values and credibility with our stakeholders, proved to the commission that he was the man for the job.” Greenberg has long had a passion for the game. He said his priorities would be to grow the game via increased participation and through bigger audiences.
RUGBY UNION
Marler verdict queried
World Rugby have requested more information from the organizers of the Six Nations about the process that led to England prop Joe Marler being cleared of verbally abusing another player during last week’s victory over Wales. Marler called Wales prop Samson Lee “gypsy boy” during the match at Twickenham on Saturday last week and on Wednesday, Six Nations Rugby said no further action would be taken against him. The governing body of the global game released a statement late on Thursday in which it said it “noted” the outcome of the investigation. “World Rugby can confirm that, in accordance with its regulations, it has requested further information from Six Nations Rugby in respect of the process that led to its decision,” it said. Six Nations Rugby, in its ruling, accepted Marler had made the comment “in the heat of the moment,” while the player said he “deeply” regretted the incident and had apologized to Lee at halftime of the match.
RUGBY UNION
Racing rest Dan Carter
French Top 14 leaders Racing 92 have rested superstar Dan Carter for today’s game against Montpellier, with one eye already on next month’s heavyweight European Cup clash against Toulon. Carter was replaced due to injury in last week’s 34-16 win against Top 14 champions Stade Francais and he will sit out the trip to Montpellier as will Welsh flyhalf Mike Phillips and Argentine speedster Juan Imhoff. Racing are also missing six international stars away on Six Nations duty. Despite that, Racing will not be tempted to risk their headline acts with the European Cup quarter-final at home to Toulon on April 10.
HORSE RACING
Ruby Walsh passes 50 wins
Irish jockey Ruby Walsh passed a half-century of wins at Cheltenham with three victories on Thursday as the favorites dominated the third day of the festival. Walsh won aboard Black Hercules in the Novices Chase, Vautour in the Ryanair Chase and Limini in the Novices Hurdle to move to 52 career victories at Cheltenham and seven for this week, all on Willie Mullins-trained horses. All three of Walsh’s wins on Thursday were on favorites. In the feature race, the three-mile World Hurdle, Thistlecrack justified his tag as even-money favorite, winning by seven lengths. Thistlecrack jockey Tom Scudamore said: “What a racehorse; it’s fair to say he’s the best I’ve sat on” after landing his ninth win at a Cheltenham Festival.
Inter on Sunday were given a letoff when they snatched a late 1-1 derby draw with AC Milan, while league leaders SSC Napoli were held by a late goal at AS Roma. Reigning champions Inter remain three points behind Napoli, who looked to be heading five clear as they led in Rome until Angelino volleyed in a stunning leveler in the first minute of stoppage-time. Angelino’s strike gave even more significance to Stefan de Vrij’s last-gasp equalizer at the San Siro. The defender forced home Nicola Zalewski’s knockdown just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnders’ opener would be enough for Milan. “I can
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
BACK-TO-BACK: The League One club, which is owned by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is sparing no expense to clinch promotion to the Championship Hollywood endings are pricey, even in England’s third division. In pursuit of their third straight promotion, Wrexham AFC splashed some cash at League One rival Reading to secure the services of striker Sam Smith. The Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Smith on Friday. He is one of the top scorers in the third division. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media widely reported it to be about £2 million (US$2.48 million) — not extravagant, but a hefty price at this level and it would be about the same figure that
Less than a week after splashing out a world-record fee for Naomi Girma, Chelsea has spent big again to bring England midfielder Keira Walsh back to the English Women’s Super League. Walsh left European champions Barcelona after more than two years to join Chelsea for a reported £400,000 (US$496,000) on Friday. Walsh was the world’s most expensive player for two years after moving to Barcelona from Manchester City for a reported £400,000 in 2022. That status now belongs to Girma, the US defender who cost Chelsea a reported £900,000 to sign from the San Diego Wave. Still, it means 27-year-old Walsh — a technically