England rugby star Jonny Hill has been accused of “putting a fan in a headlock and leaving him with a cut eye” after a semi-final defeat.
‘What a d**k’: Medic causes outrage over ‘pathetic’ rugby act
Rugby fans have been left shaking their heads in response to a medic’s classless act of unsportsmanship on the sideline of a game in Australia this week.
MCG’s 2027 Rugby World Cup final dream ‘in doubt’ over Melbourne Rebels shutdown in Super Rugby
The MCG’s hopes of hosting the 2027 Rugby World Cup final, and Victoria’s chances of hosting other major rugby events are in severe doubt, over the shutdown of the Melbourne Rebels.
Two more Macarthur FC players named in alleged A-League bet-fixing scheme
Matthew Millar and Jed Drew named in court documents as three other teammates face charges over alleged plot to receive yellow cards for payment
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Two more A-League players have been named as alleged participants in an alleged bet-fixing scheme involving their Macarthur FC teammates.
Matthew Millar and Jed Drew are accused of participating in a criminal group that also allegedly involved three charged players – club captain Ulises Davila and teammates Clayton Lewis and Kearyn Baccus.
Continue reading...The Melbourne Rebels will not continue in 2025 after Rugby Australia rejected a bit to keep them alive
Rugby Australia has rejected an application from a consortium seeking take over the Melbourne Rebels with a move to the courts the only possible saviour for the embattled club which will be shut down after 14 seasons.
Financially-stricken Melbourne Rebels axed from Super Rugby Pacific
- Private consortium’s rescue plan deemed ‘overly optimistic’
- Australian club’s last match will be played next month
A legal battle looms between Rugby Australia and the consortium who planned to save the Melbourne Rebels, with the Super Rugby Pacific club to be shut down after 14 seasons.
Five months after the Rebels entered voluntary administration, Rugby Australia broke the news before players boarded a plane to Fiji for the final round of the competition.
Continue reading...Manchester United’s win made the FA Cup final seem like it matters again
A derby victory over Manchester City at Wembley helped Erik ten Hag’s team gain some self-respect after recent domination by their closest rivals
Some days, you wonder just why the FA Cup seems so embattled. Saturday’s final felt like a throwback: a sunny spring day, a sense of subplots coming together in an occasion that genuinely mattered, drama on the pitch and ultimately a shock. Perhaps it wasn’t quite Sunderland beating Leeds in 1973 or Southampton beating Manchester United in 1976 (or even Wigan beating Manchester City in 2013). But United finished lower in the league this season (eighth) than Wimbledon (seventh) did when they beat champions Liverpool in 1988. The status and histories of the clubs shouldn’t disguise what a shock United’s victory over City was.
For United, it was a great occasion. For them a first FA Cup in eight years and just their second trophy in seven, a step-up on the League Cup they won under Erik ten Hag last season. But more than that, they stopped City becoming the first club to win the Double in successive seasons. It’s not just about succeeding; it’s about the failure of others, especially your closest rivals.
This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@theguardian.com, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition
Continue reading...FA Cup final triumph a fitting last act of defiance for embattled Erik ten Hag | David Hytner
Manchester United have endured crisis after crisis this season but their head coach will always have Wembley glory
It was one of the great shows of ego and defiance, pure theatre, pure Louis van Gaal. As another embattled Manchester United manager from the Netherlands found himself in the same position, it was impossible to ignore the echoes. Erik ten Hag’s delivery was different, more measured and understated. But, like Van Gaal before him, he had entered the arena for a fight. He made his punches count.
“I show you the Cup,” Van Gaal said in 2016 after leading United to victory against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final as he headed for the sack; he was informed of the decision 24 hours later. Van Gaal strode into the Wembley press conference room with the trophy, which he set down on the end of the desk before repositioning it bang in front of him after he took his seat.
Continue reading...MotoGP: Francesco Bagnaia wins in Catalonia to cut gap to Jorge Martín
- Ducati rider finishes ahead of Martín and Marc Márquez
- Márquez recovers from 14th grid start to make podium
Ducati Lenovo’s two-time defending world champion, Francesco Bagnaia, won the Catalunya Grand Prix to close the gap on the championship leader, Jorge Martín, who finished second, while Ducati’s Marc Márquez was third despite starting 14th on the grid.
Márquez repeated his heroics from the Saturday sprint when he finished an astonishing third from 14th, keeping the polesitter, Aleix Espargaró, at bay until the chequered flag and finishing five-hundredths of a second ahead to take third.
Continue reading...‘When they don’t want me I will hear it’: Ten Hag tight-lipped on future after FA Cup win – video
Erik ten Hag refused to give any answers on his future as Manchester United manager after his side beat their local rivals Manchester City 2-1 to win the FA Cup. Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo scored in the first half to give United victory over an uncharacteristically poor City side but Ten Hag was unmoved when asked about his future. 'When they don't want me I will hear it,' he said after the match. 'When I took over it was a mess at United. We are on out way to constructing a team for the future and that will go with ups and downs.'
Manchester United win FA Cup after Garnacho and Mainoo stun City
Erik ten Hag reminds Manchester United of what could have been
Central Coast Mariners defeat Melbourne Victory in A-League Men grand final – as it happened
- Central Coast Mariners 3-1 Melbourne Victory (AET)
- Mariners surge to title defence after stoppage time equaliser
While today is a celebration for domestic football in Australia, it is impossible to overlook what has been another chastening season for the A-League.
The APL remains in omnicrisis, bungling its budget and communications as it fails abysmally at converting the promise of independence. And while there’s not a lot they can do about fan misbehaviour or the alleged conduct of players, it’s hard to avoid the creeping feeling of the competition succumbing to another doom spiral.
Continue reading...Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez not traveling to Vancouver; Whitecaps offer fans food discounts
The trio are expected to play when the team returns home for two matches next week ahead of the international break.
Premier League Darts: Luke Littler overcomes Luke Humphries to win title – as it happened
A rampant Luke Littler beat Michael Smith and Luke Humphries to become the youngest major winner in darts history
Littler 3-1 Smith No nine-darter – he managed seven perfect darts before missing T19 – but more importantly he has broken Smith already. He pinged his bestie D10 to complete a 12-darter, and now Smith is effectively two breaks behind.
Littler is six darts into a nine on the Smith throw…
Continue reading...‘I’d never play again’: Rugby world in shock over viral 20m tackle
A South African schoolboy rugby player has gone viral after he carried his opponent 20m backwards in wild scenes during a recent match.
NSW Waratahs coach Darren Coleman won’t get a new contract after two win season
Waratahs coach Darren Coleman was given credit for navigating “three challenging seasons” but won’t get a fourth after the battling Super Rugby outfit confirmed he wouldn’t be offered a new contract.