RUGBY UNION
Navy brawl video goes viral
More than 200 years after Britain and France fought the bloody Siege of Toulon during the French Revolutionary Wars, their modern-day navies came to blows again in the city — this time on the rugby field. A video of a mass brawl between the teams of the French Marine Nationale and the British Royal Navy, taking part in the annual Babcock International Trophy, went viral on Thursday. The two rugby sides, the French in blue and the British in gray, fought a running brawl which appeared to involve both sets of players as well as some support staff on the sidelines. Despite the incident, both teams attempted to play down the punch-up. “We are aware of an incident at a rugby match between the Royal Navy and the Marine Nationale in Toulon, France,” a Royal Navy spokesman said. “We understand the match continued without further incident and the two sides socialized together after the game.”
OLYMPICS
Test event called off
Rio de Janeiro Olympics organizers have called off a test event for track cycling because the wooden track has not been installed in the new velodrome. The test event was scheduled for April 30 to May 1. Rio spokesman Mario Andrada said he is “120 percent” sure the venue will be ready for the Olympics. The Games open on Aug. 5, and track cycling is scheduled for Aug. 11 to Aug. 16. Andrada said the velodrome will be “fully ready” by May 31, adding that a small training event is scheduled to take place there between June 25 and June 27. Despite countless problems plaguing South America’s first Olympics, Rio organizers have been largely successful completing venue construction. The velodrome has been the most problematic. Construction has repeatedly been delayed. The test event was initially scheduled for mid-March.
AFL
Drug policy defended
The embattled Australian Football League (AFL) have defended their policy for illicit drug use after local media reported that 11 players from one of the code’s top clubs allegedly tested positive during the off-season. The Herald Sun newspaper in Melbourne reported late on Thursday that 11 players from the Collingwood Football Club had failed tests for illicit, but not performance-enhancing, drugs. Under a new policy, agreed with the AFL Players Association last year, first-time offenders receive a suspended fine and are made to attend mandatory counselling sessions. The players’ identities remain confidential until a second offence, which increases the financial penalty, imposes a four-match ban and is publicly announced. A third-offence results in a 12-month ban and a A$10,000 (US$7,530) fine.
SOCCER
Beckham secures land
Former England soccer great David Beckham has taken a key step toward his goal of launching a Major League Soccer franchise by buying land for a stadium in Miami, Florida, one of his partners said on Thursday. Beckham’s group of investors acquired land in the Overtown neighborhood northwest of downtown Miami. “Big News: We’ve closed on our #Miami stadium site. Excited to bring a world-class @MLS club to our fans,” Beckham’s partner Marcelo Claure posted on his Twitter account. Beckham, 40, has pursued the project for a 20,000-seat stadium since late 2013. Several attempts to buy land at other sites failed in the face of opposition from residents and local authorities.
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
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from