Canada coach reveals ‘gamechanger’ behind stunning World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand
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 Canada head coach Kevin Rouet has hailed his side’s changed mentality as the key to their stunning Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand. Until last year, Canada had never beaten the Black Ferns, but have now not been defeated in their last three meetings with the six-time world champions. A 22-19 win during last year’s Pacific Four Series proved a breakthrough, before a 27-all draw, snatched at the death by a try from New Zealand, in Christchurch in May proved that Canada could consistently mix it with the Black Ferns. Rouet and captain Alex Tessier had been left deeply disappointed by that draw, showing the shift in mentality for the side, and they comprehensively outplayed their opponents to set up a final against either England or France at Twickenham next week. “The week of preparation was good for me to see the confidence in this team,” Rouet explained. “We arrived at this game not being stressed about the event or about playing the Black Ferns. “That’s a big gamechanger for us. Especially with the way we play the game, if we don’t have confidence, it is going to be hard for us. I like to see that in us.” Canada are still seeking a first World Cup crown, losing to England in 2014 in their previous final appearance. Perhaps unfairly described as dark horses ahead of the tournament having entered it ranked above New Zealand at No 2 in the world, Rouet’s well-coached unit will now seek the ultimate prize. open image in gallery Canada were outstanding in Bristol (Action Images via Reuters) Though Rouet paid tribute to the level of investment in the side from Rugby Canada, which is on a par with the men’s side, the squad crowd funded £540,000 earlier in the year to boost their preparations for the tournament and remain a largely semi-professional outfit. “We find a way,” Rouet said. “Sometimes we try to be more creative, because when you don’t have money to you have to be creative in the way you prep. “I think we have done a lot of stuff that we wouldn’t have been allowed to do if we had too much money. I know it’s crazy to say that, but sometimes you find the best of everything and be efficient with everything you are.” Rouet did, however, subsequently chuckle: “But I want more money.” Captain Tessier, meanwhile, believes her side have plenty left in the tank. “We’ve graduated from underdogs to dark horses. We’ll see what’s next when we win the title!” Tessier said. “I’m soaking this win in. It was incredible. There was a whirlwind of emotion after the final whistle. I’m super proud of the girls – we trusted each other and came up with the win. “We have an eight-day turnaround now and there’s so much will and excitement in this team for the final. We have so much left in the tank.”
Women’s Rugby World Cup: Why Canada beating New Zealand is a ‘tectonic’ result
BBC Sport pundits Lesley Mckenzie, Ruby Tui and Katy Daley-Mclean explain why Canada – who crowdfunded to support themselves at the Women’s Rugby World Cup – made history by beating New Zealand in the semi-finals. WATCH MORE: Superb Canada beat champions New Zealand to reach final Available to UK users only.
Fiji Futsal captain calls for support ahead of OFC opener – FBC News
Fiji Futsal captain Kitione Baleloa says his side is focused and ready as they prepare to face Vanuatu in their opening match of the Oceania Futsal Nations Cup tomorrow. Baleloa says the team has been buoyed by the jersey presentation and camp activities in the build-up to the tournament. “After the atmosphere of the presentation, we have looked up to this game. We know, come OFC time, we’ll take each game at a time. We all know that it’s a round-robin tournament and each game we’ll take it as a final for us.” Article continues after advertisement He highlighted discipline and strong team bonding as Fiji’s biggest strengths heading into the competition. “I guess the strength in the team right now is the discipline of the team and the bonding of the team. By discipline and bond of the team, I guess that will take us to a far place in this coming tournament.” Baleloa also urged fans to rally behind the side as they host the regional event. Fiji will take on Vanuatu at 7pm tomorrow at the Vodafone Arena in Suva. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
New Zealand vs Canada live: Latest score and updates from Women’s World Cup semi-final
New Zealand 14-31 Canada 61 mins: That looked to be a certain try as the scrum-half Risi Pouri-Lane flew towards the line! But the ball is forced from her grasp, as Olivia Apps, just freshly on the pitch, rips it free. Jamie Braidwood19 September 2025 20:27 New Zealand 14-31 Canada 60 mins: It’s taken an hour, but Canada finally concede their first penalty, inside the 22. New Zealand discuss what to do. They need three scores, but elect to go for the scrum. The pressure is building. Jamie Braidwood19 September 2025 20:25 New Zealand 14-31 Canada 58 mins: I think both sides have sensed a potential momentum shift. Justine Pelletier crunches into the collision with Sylvia Brunt, but New Zealand gain some ground with the kicking game. Jamie Braidwood19 September 2025 20:21 TRY! New Zealand 14-31 Canada (Mikaele-Tu’u 54′) New Zealand get it! Liana Mikaele-Tu’u strikes from the line-out, with New Zealand working the ball from left to right and Mikaele-Tu’u finishing under the posts. Sorensen-McGee adds the extra points. Is that the start of a comeback? Jamie Braidwood19 September 2025 20:20 New Zealand 7-31 Canada Brilliant from Stacey Waaka to lead New Zealand out from their half, as Braxton Sorensen-McGee picks up the charge. Ruahei Demant finds a brilliant low grubber kick, which forces Julia Schell to concede the line-out five metres out. New Zelaand are pushing for the try. Jamie Braidwood19 September 2025 20:19 New Zealand 7-31 Canada 54 mins: At last, New Zealand find a way to stop Canada from the line-out. A penalty turned into the chance to add a sixth try from the corner, but New Zealand stand up to the rolling maul. There are big celebrations but they remain five metres from their own try-line and still have a bit points deficit to overcome. Jamie Braidwood19 September 2025 20:17 Canada go to their bench This Canadian effort will have taken plenty out of their forwards; fortunately for Kevin Rouet, he has six more high-quality options to bring on. The imposing Tyson Beukeboom has just lumbered on to the pitch, Canada’s most capped male or female player a useful option at this stage. Off goes Courtney O’Donnell, who is not as flashy as second row partner Sophie de Goede but has been ust as excellent tonight in getting through a mountain of unseen work. New Zealand can’t get out of their own way – that’s a couple of little incidents off the ball for which they have now been penalised. Remarkable. (AFP via Getty Images) Harry Latham-Coyle at Ashton Gate19 September 2025 20:15 New Zealand 7-31 Canada 52 mins: It’s getting a bit scrappy as New Zealand look to build some pressure. But there’s no give. Canada are standing strong and continue to draw the errors. New Zealand need to be perfect from here but Canada are not allowing them to be. Jamie Braidwood19 September 2025 20:14 New Zealand 7-31 Canada 50 mins: Ayesha Leti-I’iga replaces Renee Holmes for New Zealand. They need some magic, and some of her scoring powers. Jamie Braidwood19 September 2025 20:12 New Zealand 7-31 Canada 47 mins: New Zealand attempt to rebuild from the rubble. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u and Georgia Ponsonby make carries but Canada are not giving up any ground. New Zealand do work it wide to Braxton Sorensen-McGee but Canada track back and force Alana Bremner into the handling error, with the ball spilling out into touch. Canada have yet to lose a lineout. Jamie Braidwood19 September 2025 20:09
Billie Jean King Cup 2025: Holders Italy reach third consecutive final with triumph over Ukraine
Jasmine Paolini guided holders Italy to another Billie Jean King Cup final by winning a gruelling match against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina before sealing the tie in a decisive doubles encounter alongside partner Sara Errani. World number eight Paolini came from a set down to win an exhilarating match against Svitolina 3-6 6-4 6-4 and force the deciding doubles. French Open and Olympic champions Paolini and Errani then beat Marta Kostyuk and Lyudmyla Kichenok 6-2 6-3 to seal a 2-1 victory in the tie in Shenzhen. Ukraine, competing in the semi-finals for the first time, had put their first point on the board when Kostyuk beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-2 6-3 in the opening match. Italy will meet Great Britain or the United States, who face each other in the semi-final on Saturday, in Sunday’s showpiece. Britain are chasing a maiden title while the US are pursuing a record-extending 19th.
World Athletics Championships 2025 schedule, results and day-by-day events
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 The World Athletics Championships 2025 is set to conclude a gripping season in track and field in Tokyo, Japan. Great Britain and Northern Ireland will hope to land medals behind Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson in the women’s 800m, while other medalists in Paris last year include Georgia Hunter Bell, Josh Kerr, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Matthew Hudson-Smith. Superstar Mondo Duplantis delivered another world record and the unstoppable Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone also features, while the men’s 100m delivered plenty of drama as Oblique Seville of Jamaica took gold ahead of compatriot Kishane Thompson and Noah Lyles. But Kerr’s defence of his world title ended in tatters in a dramatic men’s 1500m final, which had looked comparatively open after rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen crashed out in the heats after an injury-marred build-up, while Olympic champion Cole Hocker was controversially disqualified in the semi-finals. But Kerr never got into a good position and pulled up with an injury partway through the race, hobbling round to the end to finish dead last. Great Britain nearly had another gold medal however in the form of 2022 world champion Jake Wightman, who came back from what he described as a “very bleak”, injury-hampered couple of years to earn GB’s first medal of the championships, a silver. The Scot led for much of the final lap but was pipped on the line by Portugal’s Isaac Nader by two-hundredths of a second. Here’s the full rundown of the Tokyo schedule and results across nine absorbing days of sport Full day-by-day World Athletics Championships 2025 schedule and results (all times BST) Day 7 – Friday 19 September Men’s Triple Jump – Final 🥇Pedro Pichardo (POR) – 17.91 🥈Andrea Dallavalle (ITA) – 17.64 🥉 Lázaro Martinez (CUB) – 17.49 Men’s 400m Hurdles – Final 🥇Rai Benjamin (USA) – 46.52 🥈Alison Dos Santos (BRA) – 46.84 🥉 Abderrahman Samba (QAT) – 47.06 Women’s 400m Hurdles – Final 🥇Femke Bol (NED) – 51.54 🥈Jasmine Jones (USA) – 52.08 🥉 Emma Zapletalova (SVK) – 53.00 Men’s 200m – Final 🥇Noah Lyles (USA) – 19.52 🥈 Kenny Bednarek (USA) – 19.58 🥉 Bryan Levell (JAM) – 19.64 Women’s 200m – Final 🥇Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) – 21.68 🥈Amy Hunt (GBR) – 22.14 🥉 Shericka Jackson (JAM) – 22.18 Day 8 – Saturday 20 September Morning session 23:30 Women’s 20 Kilometres Race Walk – Final 01:00 Men’s Discus Throw – Qualification, Group A 01:25 Men’s 100m Decathlon 01:50 Men’s 20 Kilometres Race Walk – Final 02:00 Women’s Shot Put – Qualification 02:05 Men’s Long Jump Decathlon 02:35 Men’s Discus Throw – Qualification, Group B 03:30 Women’s Long Jump Heptathlon 03:45 Men’s shot Put Decathlon Evening session 11:00 Women’s Javelin Throw Heptathlon 11:05 Men’s High Jump Decathlon 11:35 Men’s 4x400m Relay – Heats 11:54 Women’s Shot Put – Final 12:00 Women’s 4x400m Relay – Heats 12:25 Men’s 4x100m Relay – Heats 12:45 Women’s 4x100m Relay – Heats 13:05 Women’s Javelin Throw – Final 13:11 Women’s 800m Heptathlon 13:29 Women’s 5000m – Final 13:55 Men’s 400m Decathlon 14:22 Men’s 800m – Final Day 9 – Sunday 21 September Morning session 01:05 Men’s 110m Hurdles Decathlon 01:55 Men’s Discus Throw Decathlon – Group A 03:05 Men’s Discus Throw Decathlon – Group B 03:35 Men’s pole Vault Decathlon – Group A 04:20 Men’s Pole Vault Decathlon – Group B Evening session 09:35 Men’s Javelin Throw Decathlon – Group A 10:47 Men’s Javelin Throw Decathlon – Group B 11:30 Women’s High Jump – Final 11:35 Women’s 800m – Final 11:50 Men’s 5000m – Final 12:00 Men’s Discus Throw – Final 12:25 Men’s 4x400m Relay – Final 12:40 Women’s 4x400m Relay – Final 12:55 Men’s 1500m Decathlon 13:10 Women’s 4x100m Relay – Final 13:20 Men’s 4x100m Relay – Final RESULTS Day 1 – Saturday 13 September Morning session Men’s 35 Kilometres Race Walk – Final 🥇Evan Dunfee (CAN) – 2:28:22 🥈 Caio Bonfim (BRA) – 2:28:55 🥉Hayato Katsuki (JPN) – 2:29:16 Women’s 35 Kilometres Race Walk – Final 🥇María Perez (ESP) – 2:39:01 🥈 Antonella Palmisano (ITA) – 2:42:24 🥉Paula Milena Torres (ECU) – 2:42:44 Evening session Men’s Shot Put – Final 🥇Ryan Crouser (USA) – 22.34 🥈 Uziel Munoz (MEX) – 21.97 🥉Leonardo Fabbri (ITA) – 21.94 Women’s 10000m – Final 🥇Beatrice Chebet (KEN) – 30:37.61 🥈 Nadia Battocletti (ITA) – 30:38.23 🥉Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) – 30:39.65 4x400m Relay – Final 🥇United States – 3:08.80 🥈 Netherlands – 3:09.96 🥉Belgium – 3:10.61 Day 2 – Sunday 14 September Morning session Women’s Marathon – Final 🥇Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) – 2:24:43 🥈 Tigst Assefa (ETH) – 2:24:45 🥉Julia Paternain (URU) – 2:27:23 Evening session Women’s Discus Throw – Final 🥇Valarie Allman (USA) – 69.48 🥈 Jorinde Van Klinken (NED) – 67.50 🥉 Silinda Morales (CUB) – 67.25 Women’s Long Jump – Final 🥇 Tara Davis-Woodhall (USA) – 7.13m 🥈 Malaika Mihambo (GER) – 6.99 🥉 Natalia Linares (COL) – 6.92 Men’s 10,000m – Final 🥇Jimmy Gressier (FRA) – 28:55.77 🥈 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) – 28:55.83 🥉 Andreas Almgren (SWE) – 28:56.02 Women’s 100m – Final 🥇 Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) – 10.61 🥈 Tina Clayton (JAM) –
Ba Town Council clarifies 4R Stadium usage – FBC News
[File Photo] The Ba Town Council has moved to clarify its position on the use of 4R Stadium at Govind Park by the Ba Football Association, saying its priority is to balance community access with the upkeep of the facility. Council officials say training sessions at the stadium have been limited in recent weeks to allow the turf to recover from a busy calendar of matches and events. “Our responsibility is to ensure the maintenance and upkeep of the park and the stadium,” the Council said in a statement, adding that the decision was made to “protect the turf to promote sustainability” of the town’s sporting assets. Article continues after advertisement According to the Council, it has already held several meetings with the BFA and provided alternative training dates while also working around prior bookings for major events, including the Police IDC and Skipper Cup fixtures. It says it remains open to “coordination with the BFA and the relevant stakeholders to find amicable solutions” to any issues that arise. The Council also expressed its gratitude to the Government for financial support towards the sporting facility, noting that the park and stadium boost economic activity in Ba and contribute to local businesses during major events. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
‘Academic badass and a track goddess’ – Hunt’s reaction to 200m silver
Watch Amy Hunt’s reaction to taking silver in the women’s 200m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
World Athletics Championships live: Results and updates as Noah Lyles goes for 200m gold and Keely Hodgkinson returns
Noah Lyles wins men’s 200m final Lyles wins in 19.52s, just a hundredth of a second off his semi-final time, with compatriot Bednarek second in a season’s best 19.58 and Levell third in a personal best time of 19.64. The Olympic champion Tebogo ran a season’s best of 19.65 but is left down in fourth. Zharnel Hughes is fifth in 19.78, another season’s best, the remaining three runners all over 20 seconds. That’s a good run from the Briton, so close to the British record of 19.73. Read more Flo Clifford19 September 2025 14:09 Women’s 200m final No time to reflect on that however as it’s time for the women’s 200m final. It’s another star-studded field: defending champion Shericka Jackson was the quickest qualifier, but Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, the new 100m champion, has looked phenomenal all week – all year, in fact. British hopes Dina Asher-Smith and Amy Hunt, the latter the third-quickest qualifier, will hope to disrupt the favourites. Hunt has a great lane, in five just on the inside of Jefferson-Wooden. Veteran 36-year-old Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith is here too, as are Anthonique Strachan (with a lot of strapping after pulling up in the semi-final), Mckenzie Long, Brittany Brown, and Anavia Battle. Flo Clifford19 September 2025 14:23 Pichardo wins men’s triple jump final So much drama in the men’s triple jump final: Andrea Dallavalle is guaranteed a medal but Cuba’s Lazaro Martinez pulls up before he’s able to jump and hobbles away, clutching his hamstring, and it’s bronze for him. Pedro Pichardo of Portugal has one more jump to go, and he more than rises to the occasion, with a world-leading 17.91 for gold! The world champion from 2022 regains his title and goes to celebrate with his team, shouting “Who is the best!” at them after doing the same to the camera. Fair enough. Flo Clifford19 September 2025 14:20 Men’s triple jump final Screams and cheers from Italy’s Andrea Dallavalle, who leapfrogs the medallists into provisional gold with an enormous personal best of 17.64. His jumping style is compared to world record holder Jonathan Edwards, which is some compliment… And he is guaranteed a medal as Algeria’s Yasser Mohammed Triki fails to better that with his final jump. Flo Clifford19 September 2025 14:16 Noah Lyles wins men’s 200m final Lyles raised four fingers as he crossed the line for his four world titles. Some achievement. Great to see young Jamaican Bryan Levell with another superb run, a beaming smile on his face with that bronze. (Getty Images) (Getty Images) Flo Clifford19 September 2025 14:12 Men’s 200m final They’re waiting for a while in the blocks… but they’re off! Hughes is quickly caught by Bednarek, Levell leads from Lyles but it’s the American who takes it! A fourth straight world title for Noah Lyles! Flo Clifford19 September 2025 14:08 Men’s 200m final Lyles was the quickest qualifier in a rapid 19.51s, a world-leading time this year. Flo Clifford19 September 2025 14:06 10 years after he first made the World Champs final, Zharnel Hughes is the oldest of the competitors at 30. He’s on the outside, with Bednarek, Levell, Lyles and Tebogo inside him, in that order. Oagnda, Makarawu and Dambile are the last three finalists. Lyles does a bit of screaming as he’s introduced. Levell and Tebogo – the Olympic champ – look much cooler. Flo Clifford19 September 2025 14:05 Men’s 200m final Onto the men’s 200m final and this should be an absolute firecracker. Lyles, Levell, Tebogo, Bednarek… and GB’s Hughes vying to knock them all off their perch. Flo Clifford19 September 2025 14:04 Katarina Johnson-Thompson happy with first day of heptathlon “It’s a tough timetable today, I can’t lie, it’s a solid first day for me, I’ve had a lot worse, but I’ve had better. I just need to recover. My day two has got better in recent years, I’m excited for tomorrow, excited for the long jump. Third overall, that’s really good.” (AFP via Getty Images) Jack Rathborn19 September 2025 14:00
Man Utd debt: Premier League club owe more than £1bn after latest borrowing
Manchester United took on an extra £105m of debt to help fund their summer transfer spending, taking the amount they now owe to almost £1.1bn. United released club accounts up to 30 June 2025 on 17 September. More detailed information was then released to the New York Stock Exchange on 18 September when the club outlined some of their business after the initial reporting date. United say they spent £167.8m on new players after 30 June. They signed Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford on 21 July, Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig on 9 August and Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on 1 September. They had already signed Brazil forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m in June. In the latest financial statement, the club confirmed their debt was £637m on 30 June 2025. This was made up of the historic senior secured notes and secured term loan facility which are a legacy of the Glazer takeover in 2005, plus revolving credit, which they have recently increased by £50m so £350m is available if required. However, they also detail four additional drawdowns from the revolving credit facility between 7 July and 11 September totalling £105m, taking the sum accessed from this to £265m. This takes the debt to £742m. This figure is increased when you add in the £447m United say they owe in transfer fees, £205m of which is due after one year. United also confirm they are owed £102.61m. While staggering transfer fee payments over an extended period of time is now common practice across the Premier League, in total it means United now owe £1.087bn in various forms.