Why are Springboks playing Argentina in London?
When the Springboks and Argentina clash in London this Saturday to wrap up the Rugby Championship, it will be the first time they face off against each on neutral territory. At face value, it may seem like a somewhat strange situation, particularly considering this is effectively Argentina’s ‘home’ match, and while the Springboks may not say so publicly, they should be quite pleased to not be playing in Argentina where they have often struggled in the past. In fact, considering the number of South African expats in the UK and London in particular, the Springboks will enjoy a big bulk of the support on Saturday, as was the case when they beat New Zealand 35-7 in a Rugby World Cup warm-up game in 2023, and Wales 41-13 last season. Although the exact reasons for shifting this match to a ‘neutral venue’ have not been shared with the public, it is reported that the iconic Twickenham Stadium – with a capacity of 82,000 – stands to bring in a far bigger return at the turnstiles compared to the smaller Argentina stadiums. Such a marquee match will also be additionally lucrative for the UAR considering ticket prices are also likely to be higher at Twickenham, while rugby matches in European markets are already reported to yield far greater revenue compared to similar events in South America, particularly when it comes to broadcast figures. When the announcement was made, UAR President Gabriel Travaglini said they were thrilled about the match being hosted in London: “For the Argentina Rugby Union it is an honour that Los Pumas have the opportunity to face the Springboks – the current world champions – at the legendary Allianz Stadium, known as the Home of Rugby. “We thank World Rugby and SANZAAR for this opportunity, which represents a recognition of the growth and level of our rugby and helps us to continue strengthening the development of Argentinean rugby. “Undoubtedly, it will be an unforgettable experience for our players and a great opportunity to show our rugby to all the fans around the world.” Springboks ready for London battle against Argentina Saturday’s match kicks off at 15:00 (SA time), and the Springboks will be undeniable favourites. “It’s always exciting to play in London and we look forward to facing Argentina in the UK for the first time in the Rugby Championship,” said Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus. “We thoroughly enjoyed the experience of playing two neutral venue Test matches at the Allianz Stadium in the last two years, especially with the passionate crowd filling the ground and the large contingent of Springbok supporters based in the UK. “We have no doubt this match is going to be another exciting spectacle given the intense battles between the Springboks and Los Pumas in the last few years, and we are looking forward to the challenge.” GLOBAL AUDIENCE Meanwhile, SANZAAR Chief Executive Brendan Morris commented” “The Rugby Championship is one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious international rugby tournaments, and it is exciting that we can take this big southern hemisphere clash between Argentina and South Africa to London. “South Africa are the current world champions and incumbent Rugby Championship champions, while Argentina is now fifth in the world rankings. This is an exciting opportunity to showcase the Rugby Championship in the UK, and we look forward to a sell-out crowd and global broadcast audience.”
Lal to lead Nadi at FMF IDC – FBC News
[Source: Fiji Football Association/Facebook] Former Ba and Fiji national football representative Salen Lal has been appointed head coach of Nadi FC for the upcoming FMF Inter-District Championship at Govind Park, Ba. Nadi FA president Mohammed Mohin confirmed the appointment, saying Lal’s leadership will bring fresh energy and direction as the side looks to make an impact in Fiji’s premier football tournament. “Salen Lal is a proven leader who understands the local game at the highest level. His experience as both a player and coach will be invaluable as we aim to make a strong statement at the FMF IDC.” Article continues after advertisement The association has also applied for the clearance of overseas players through the International Transfer Certificate process to boost squad depth and quality. Mohin says once cleared, the players will add international exposure and strengthen their campaign. Nadi opens its Group A campaign against defending champions Extra Supermarket Labasa FC at 3.30 pm on Tuesday before meeting Power Volt Suva at 2 pm next Wednesday. They wrap up the pool stage with a much-anticipated clash against 4R Electric Lautoka FC on Sunday at 6 pm. The FMF IDC 2025 starts next Tuesday at Govind Park in Ba. You can catch live commentary of all the matches on Radio Fiji Two. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Leigh Leopards owner hits back at ‘misleading’ Wigan claims with 4,000-word statement
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Leigh Leopards owner Derek Beaumont has hit back at claims that his side were refusing to fulfil their Super League semi-final against Wigan Warriors with a statement running to over 4,000 words in length. Wigan on Wednesday suggested that they had been informed by Leigh that they would not play the game over what was suggested to be an “unacceptable” ticket allocation for Friday night’s clash at the Brick Community Stadium. Leigh were offered the choice of 4,600 unreserved seats or 5,400 reserved seats in the North Stand, according to Wigan. The club said the allocation had been determined by the independent safety advisory group and the club’s ground safety officer, following consultation with the police. “While we regret that Leigh Leopards found this arrangement unacceptable, our club is legally, and professionally, bound to comply with the directions of our Ground Safety Officer and the conditions of our Ground Safety Certificate,” Wigan’s statement explained. “The safety and welfare of all supporters must come first. This is not open to negotiation and underpins every decision we make. “We continue to prepare for Friday’s semi-final and will release further information as the situation develops.” Both clubs have since announced 21-man squads for the fixture, with the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford a week away, while Beaumont suggested Wigan’s statement on the ticketing matter had been “unnecessary and factually incorrect”. open image in gallery Wigan and Leigh are due to meet on Friday night in the Super League semi-finals (Getty) In a statement of 4,466 words, which can be read in full on the Leigh website, released on Wednesday evening, Beaumont accused Wigan of sharing information sent privately via WhatsApp and incorrectly construing it as official correspondence. He went on to suggest that Wigan had restricted sales to away supporters after their allocation had sold out, with some fans having had tickets they had already purchased cancelled. While suggesting that it is still his intention for his side to fulfil the fixture, the Leigh owner claimed that he feared for the safety of players and supporters should the game go ahead. “In these circumstances something must give to dampen the flames,” Beaumont wrote. “At the very least those who have had tickets cancelled that bought them in good faith should have them reinstated especially when they are our higher tier members. “They are the most aggrieved and our fans are aggrieved at how they have been treated. Resolving that aspect and assurances around the presence outside the ground and at the exit gates to minimise the issues I have genuine concerns about are simple to do and a must. “As I communicated to the RLC [Rugby League Commercial] board, it is Wigan’s unnecessary actions, not mine, that put the game at risk. Treat those mistreated properly allowing them their tickets back, even if it is in another area where our players’ family complimentary tickets are, and give the assurances that fans will not be challenged who have tickets and turned away, then my concerns are resolved and the risks removed.” Hull KR and St Helens contest the other semi-final as they target a place in the Grand Final at Old Trafford on Saturday, 11 October.
Date, kick off, TV and line-ups
Orlando Pirates have been flying high, and their Carling Knockout clash with Siwelele FC feels like another chance to flex their form. The Sea Robbers, fresh from lifting the MTN8 and storming through both the Betway Premiership and CAF Champions League, kick off the competition at home on Saturday at 15:00 at the Orlando Stadium. ORLANDO PIRATES KICK OFF CARLING KNOCKOUT AGAINST SIWELELE FC But history has something for the Buccaneers. Just last season, they crashed out in the very first round, hammered 3-0 by Magesi FC inside the opening half at Orlando. Two late goals to make it 3-2 were not enough. ABDESLAM OUADDOU’S SIDE THE TEAM TO FEAR? This time, though, Pirates arrive with momentum that looks unstoppable. Under new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, they’ve produced five straight league wins, netting 16 goals and conceding only three in nine matches. The MTN8 triumph over Stellenbosch still lingers, creating the belief that they can claim glory in another cup. Siwelele, meanwhile, will drive into Orlando with far less confidence. Two wins, a draw, and six defeats in their first nine games have left them sitting just one point above the relegation zone. Coach Lehlohonolo Seema’s side have managed only six goals in that stretch, though their defence has kept it relatively tight with just four conceded. Pirates and Siwelele met in the league just last month, and it was far from easy. Siwelele’s compact midfield and defence kept Pirates at bay for most of the match, only for Oswin Appollis to snatch a dramatic 80th-minute winner. That result should give the Buccaneers confidence heading into this knockout clash, but it also shows Siwelele won’t be pushovers. Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou trains the team at the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg. Image: @orlandopirates/X PIRATES VS SIWELELE PREDICTED LINE-UPS Pirates: Chaine, Lebitso, Seema, Mbokazi, Hotto, Nduli, Nemtajela, Moremi, Appollis, Mofokeng, Mabasa. Siwelele: Goss, Mfolozi, Sanoka, Khonyane, Baliti, Morale, Mokhuoane, Potsane, Pule, Lungu, Ohizu. Date, TV and kickoff Date: Saturday Kickoff: 15:00 Venue: Orlando Stadium TV: SuperSport TV, Channel 202 (live).
Mikel Arteta defends Viktor Gyokeres and insists goals will come for Arsenal striker
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is confident the goals will soon start to flow for Viktor Gyokeres. Sweden striker Gyokeres has drawn a blank in his last five matches having been frustrated again in Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League win over Olympiacos. However, it was the 27-year-old’s shot which was deflected on to a post to allow Gabriel Martinelli to score Arsenal’s opener, while he was also denied by some last-ditch defending. “What I sense is that he’s doing better and better things every game,” said Arteta. “He was denied a few times with blocks, and then he hit the post, but I think overall his performance was exceptional. “Again, his work was really good, and yeah, we want him to be scoring goals, but if he doesn’t do that, at least to do everything as he’s doing for the team, because he’s helping the team a lot.” open image in gallery Viktor Gyokeres could not find a way through against Olympiacos (Bradley Collyer/PA) The Gunners face struggling West Ham at home in the Premier League on Saturday, when the floodgates could open for Gyokeres. “I don’t know, but hopefully, yes, and hopefully it will be on Saturday,” added Arteta. Bukayo Saka came off the bench to wrap up another satisfactory night’s work in Europe for Arsenal, who now have six points from their opening two games. open image in gallery Bukayo Saka scored Arsenal’s second against Olympiacos (Bradley Collyer/PA) Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi played the full 90 minutes in his first taste of the Champions League at Emirates Stadium. “I’m really happy,” he told the club website: “The atmosphere was amazing. We scored two and kept a clean sheet. “It was really demanding. We started really well but at the end they pushed a lot in the second half. I think we suffered in some moments where we shouldn’t have. “We want to keep the momentum and win as many games as possible. We will recover well and prepare for the next game against West Ham.” PA
Dauloloma targets regional and international titles with strong backing – FBC News
Fiji’s heavyweight boxing champion Semi Dauloloma has set his sights on conquering regional and international titles after securing a major sponsorship deal with Allied Motors. The Leweniwaqa Memorial title holder, who already boasts the Fiji Heavyweight crown, says the timely partnership will give him the platform to prepare with more resources, improve his training environment and chase bigger goals. “With Allied Motors behind me, I know I can take my boxing to the international stage and take my career up a notch.” Article continues after advertisement Dauloloma, who overcame a challenging start to his career, has steadily climbed the local ranks and now believes he is ready to test himself against tougher opponents in the Pacific and beyond. He says he is determined to sharpen his skills and carry Fiji’s boxing reputation further onto the world stage. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
MMA: What happened in Usman Nurmagomedov v Paul Hughes 1?
Relive the epic first encounter between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes in January, before their rematch on Friday. Nurmagomedov secured a narrow victory on the scorecards, much to the disbelief of Hughes. Follow live text commentary of Nurmagomedov v Hughes 2 from 20:00 BST on Friday, 3 October on BBC Sport website and app.
Is Feyenoord vs Aston Villa on TV? Channel, kick-off time and how to watch Europa League match
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Aston Villa will hope their early-season blues are behind them as they make the trip to Feyenoord for their second Europa League outing. Unai Emery’s side ended their wait for a first Premier League win of the season on the weekend, dispatching Fulham 3-1 at Villa Park as Ollie Watkins ended his goal drought. It came three days after Villa notched their first victory of the campaign period, finding joy in Europe’s second-tier competition as Bologna fell to a slender defeat in the West Midlands. Villa will hope to maintain this momentum as they clash with Robin Van Persie’s in-form Feyenoord, who currently sit atop the table in the Eredivisie, although they did lose their Europa League opener to Braga. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the clash. When is Feyenoord vs Aston Villa? Feyenoord’s clash with Aston Villa in the Europa League kicks off at 8pm BST on Thursday 2 October at De Kuip in Rotterdam, Netherlands. How can I watch it? Viewers in the UK can watch the match live on TNT Sports 3 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with coverage starting at 7:45pm BST. Subscribers can also watch the game on discovery+. Team news Van Persie will lean on Dutch internationals Quinten Timber and Sem Steihn to help overcome the challenge of Villa, as well as dangerous attackers Anis Hadj Moussa and Ayase Ueda, the latter being the Eredivisie’s top scorer with six goals. However, Feyenood were dealt a blow in their latest win away at Groningen, with Malcolm Jeng picking up an injury which required surgery. Gernot Trauner, Thomas Beelen and Jakub Moder are also absent . For Villa, Emery may choose to keep Emi Martinez in between the sticks ahead of deputy Marco Bizot despite the fact the Dutchman kept a clean sheet against Bologna. Pau Torres will likely start with Tyrone Mings a major doubt, while John McGinn will face a race against time to shake off a knock picked up on the weekend. Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana have both been managing injuries. Feyenoord XI: Wellenreuther; Read, Ahmedhodzic, Watanabe, Smal; Timber, Steijn, Valente; Hadj Moussa, Ueda, Sauer. Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, McGinn; Guessand, Buendia, Rogers; Watkins.
Bigger goals ahead for Kadavu Rugby – FBC News
[Photo Credit: KVT Sports] Kadavu Rugby Captain Vaione Tegu says that while the team is grateful to have advanced to the semi-final of the Vodafone Vanua Championship, their focus goes beyond simply eyeing a top-two finish and securing a Skipper Cup spot next year. Tegu explains that the team is determined to show Kadavu is more than the negative news it is often associated with, and through this campaign, they hope to prove that the province can build a proud name for itself in sports, particularly in domestic competitions. “There’s so many things being said about Kadavu, well for my team and I we want to change things around and get people to view Kadavu as a place where great rugby talent is from.” Article continues after advertisement He extends his appreciation to Kadavu Rugby Union president Lynda Tabuya, the committee and everybody back in the islands for being supportive this season. The side defeated Tavua 30-29 on Tuesday at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka to book a semifinal spot. They will meet Taveuni at 3pm next Tuesday at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. In another semifinal fixture, Navosa will meet Rewa at 1pm at the same venue. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
URC: Harri Deaves inspired by Ospreys hero Justin Tipuric in his Wales bid
Deaves picked up from where he left off last season, impressing in Ospreys’ opening round defeat to Bulls in the United Rugby Championship (URC). And Jones believes that continued good form has put him in Wales contention. “I’d be surprised if he [Deaves] is not in the international conversation right now,” said Jones. “If you look at his post-contact metres, he’s the highest in our squad. He beats defenders and wins collisions in his own way, not just with brute force. “He’s got a good skillset and is super aggressive. They’re all the traits you associate with an international player.” Deaves, who still coaches at his hometown club of Pontyclun, said a Wales call would be reward for defying the odds during his early career. “I was a late developer and playing in a tough position, always being called too small and stuff like that,” said 5ft 11in (1.80m) Deaves. “The size of my heart had to take over sometimes and I’d like to say that still carries on now. “It’s about making my village proud, I love representing my village and giving back to my family. [But] I just need to focus on where I am right now.”