Jamie Carragher overlooks England after picking three World Cup 2026 favourites
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 Jamie Carragher maintains England only have an “outside chance” at the 2026 World Cup after revealing his three main favourites for next year’s tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Thomas Tuchel’s side have already secured qualification for the finals next summer after an unbeaten qualifying campaign without conceding a goal. But Carragher still has the Three Lions outside of three main favourites, including the holders, Argentina, and European champions Spain. “You have to look at Argentina, the holders, will it be the last time we see Messi play football? They’ll probably have great support, especially if they play in Miami, with his impact on MLS and playing for Inter Miami,” Carragher said on CBS Sports. “From the European side of things, the European champions, Spain with Lamine Yamal and then France with Kylian Mbappe, arguably the two best players in the world right now, alongside obviously Ousmane Dembele with France as well. “I find it very difficult to ever look at a tournament and not have France at the back of my mind. [England are in] the next level of teams, alongside Portugal, those teams I’ve mentioned are probably the favourites and then they’ve got an outside chance.” Tuchel’s views on England’s chances align with Carragher, too, underlining their status as “underdogs”. The German coach said earlier this month: “We will arrive as underdogs in the World Cup because we haven’t won it for decades, and we will play against teams who have repeatedly won it during that time, so we need to arrive as a team otherwise we have no chance.” England’s preparation for next summer continues when they face Serbia at Wembley next month, followed by a trip to Albania to round out Group K. The draw for the World Cup 2026 will take place on 5 December, with 48 nations set to make up the finalists, with the first game on 11 June and the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July.
Four titles up for grabs at “This Is Boxing” – FBC News
The boxing promotion signed a memorandum of understanding with the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation to air the match LIVE on our online platform Viti Plus for $99fjd Boxing fans are in for a thrilling night next week as Stratum Zeg Kings Promotions stages its much-anticipated “This Is Boxing” event featuring four championship titles in one explosive card. The stacked lineup will see fighters battle for the WBA Oceania Interim Title, WBA Oceania Title, NZPBC Welterweight Title and the Super Middleweight BCF Title, promising non-stop action and high-stakes bouts from start to finish. Promoter Nahroon Buksh says the promotion is expecting an electric atmosphere given the quality of the matchups. Article continues after advertisement “We have 13 professional fights with a very good lineup and some exciting matchups, I would say. In terms of preparation, everything is going well — from logistics to other arrangements. We’re confident we’ll have a great turnout on November 1st.” He says they have a handful overseas boxers for this event including Apichart Klintai from Thailand who will go up against Binnu Singh in the main bout. Other international fighters are from Australia, New Zealand and India. Earlier today the boxing promotion signed a memorandum of understanding with the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation to air the match. It will be LIVE on our online platform, www.viti.plus for $99fjd. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
The Ireland Rugby Social: Conor Murray joins new BBC Sounds podcast
Former Ireland star Conor Murray says the “shackles are off” as he launches a new BBC Sounds podcast – the Ireland Rugby Social. Murray, who won international 125 caps, will join BBC Sport NI’s Gavin Andrews to give his unique insight into the mindset of a professional athlete as Ireland gear up for the autumn internationals and the 2026 Six Nations. Each week, Murray will sit down with players, coaches and rugby insiders to dive into the sport’s biggest stories as Ireland face New Zealand, Japan, Australia and South Africa this autumn, before the Six Nations kicks off next year. With five Six Nations titles and two United Rugby Championships with Munster, the three-time British and Irish Lion is uniquely placed to go beyond the headlines – and he says: “I can say what I want.” “As a player you are always worried about protecting the team or the coach, or saying something the coach might not agree with after,” said Murray. “But now the shackles are off. Now you can speak your mind and say things how you see it.” Every Tuesday there will be podcast with a special guest who will offer their own insight into their life in rugby, whether that is playing, coaching or a role you may not know about. Additionally, throughout November and Six Nations there will be a second podcast reflecting on the game that’s just been played and a look ahead at what is to come. “Rugby has been such a big part of my life for so long, so I think staying connected to it is probably a good idea,” Murray added. “I can give some insight, get some guests with some interesting stories – stories that you maybe haven’t heard before. “I know the guests we have will be able to relax and tell us their true thoughts and stories.” You can catch a first teaser episode here, or search Ireland Rugby Social on BBC Sounds to listen to every episode and subscribe.
Sabastian Sawe on the marathon world record and why it’s ’the worst moment ever to run very fast’
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 Sabastian Sawe grins and then bursts into laughter when it is suggested that a world record would have materialised at this year’s Berlin Marathon had there been better conditions. It is just a month since the Kenyan’s heroic effort right up to the Brandenburg Gate, a run that his coach Claudio Berardelli describes as “courageous,” after passing halfway on track for the world record in 60:16, only to finish in 2:02:16 – his third straight 2:02 marathon attempt. Others might be less complimentary given the daunting, sweltering 25C temperatures that heaped misery on thousands of others that day. Yet beyond a debate surrounding the Adidas athlete’s wisdom concerning his strategy, there is now a buzz surrounding marathon racing once again and the upper limits of human performance. “Berlin was really tough,” Sawe admits in a conversation with the Independent, after a training block that involved up to 230 km (143 miles) of running per week. “I just kept in my mind how well prepared I was, but, yes, the weather made a huge difference. “I think the world record is really fast, but sub-two? It’ll come by itself, I can say that one will come with the other. “I can say that what matters most is how I prepared myself, how I’m ready for it. It’s honestly just a matter of time. Sometimes we do things well, but finally the race comes, and it’s disappointing, but with time, it’ll come.” Berardelli is equally positive: “It’s difficult to say whether he would have broken the world record in better conditions, he definitely could’ve run faster, no doubt, you look at Chicago, we just spoke about that, we came to the conclusion that, of course, the world record needs respect, but we’ll try again, I think he’d have definitely run faster than his debut in Valencia (2:02:05).” Eliud Kipchoge allowed a generation to dream, or, as the iconic Kenyan uttered repeatedly, “No human is limited.” open image in gallery Sabastian Sawe has the men’s marathon world record in his sight (Getty Images) And the late Kelvin Kiptum thought as much, shattering the world record in Chicago in 2023 to run 2:00:35, with many concluding a legitimate sub-two hours run was an inevitability before his tragic passing less than four months later. But it was the feat of another Kenyan in the ‘Windy City’ that may have compromised athletes and their team’s preparation forever. Ruth Chepngetich became the first woman to break 2:10 in the marathon in 2024. Just six months later, the AIU revealed that she had failed a doping test for the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), commonly used as a masking agent for other illegal substances. She accepted a voluntary provisional two-year suspension, leaving a cloud over the sport, with athletes greeted by a storm of skepticism after each seismic performance. Sawe, who wears the supershoe Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2 for his races, claimed victory at this year’s London Marathon and continued to train well in preparation for Berlin earlier this summer, which left Berardelli with a sad conclusion. “We realised before Berlin that Sabastian is, with respect for my other athletes, a bit different, special and capable of doing something great,” the Italian reveals. “But in light of what happened in Chicago, with Chepngetich, I remember telling [agent] Eric Lilot, ‘this might be the worst moment ever to try to run very fast, people will not believe us.’” open image in gallery Sabastian Sawe crosses the finish line to win the 2025 Berlin Marathon (Getty Images) So discussions began with Adidas and the AIU surrounding an expansive voluntary anti-doping protocol that would help remove some of the doubt surrounding Sawe’s expected excellence. The unprecedented move would see Sawe tested 25 times unannounced from 25 July up to raceday on 21 September. “Kenya has a big doping problem, but it doesn’t mean every group is doing it or that it’s systematic,” Berardelli claims. “Sabastian agreed straight away, and after consulting with the doctors, the amount [of blood] was so little, so it’s not a problem and the impact is more mental.” Sawe’s motivation, meanwhile, appears to stem from a desire to preserve the sport’s longevity and avoid a darker reputation that has plagued cycling for decades. open image in gallery Sabastian Sawe won the men’s elite race at the 2025 London Marathon this year (PA Wire) “What can I say to my fellow athletes? It’s good to run clean, so we need a lot of tests to show this and protect athletics,” Sawe claims. “It’s good to run clean, not to cheat, and it’s necessary for the longevity of athletics, and also for a good career in the sport.” So what next? And where? Both Sawe and Berardelli have left the door open to a half marathon or even a 10km race to fine-tune their preparation for the marathon, something Kipchoge rarely did throughout his career. Sawe admits he would like to defend his title in London, though the increasingly crammed schedule will leave him with plenty of offers as
Main reason why Orlando Pirates is still behind Mamelodi Sundowns
Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns have faced each other twice this season in the MTN8, and the matches highlighted how evenly matched the two teams are. Both legs of the semi-finals ended in a 1-1 draw, leading to penalties to determine the winner. Last season, both teams also claimed victories against each other in the league. In terms of quality, these teams are undeniably the best in South Africa and rank among the top 10 teams in Africa. Over the past three years, Pirates have won seven trophies, while Sundowns have dominated the local league for a decade. Having already clashed twice this season, fans will have another opportunity to witness this rivalry again in a league match in two weeks. What is preventing Pirates from achieving the same level of success as Sundowns? The Buccaneers have finished as runners-up in the league for three consecutive seasons. Although they put up a strong fight last campaign, they ultimately fell 11 points short of Sundowns. This season, with Sundowns struggling, it seemed like it might finally be the year that Pirates would capitalise. Abseslam Ouaddou’s team achieved eight straight wins and entered the CAF Champions League second preliminary round against Saint-Eloi Lupopo with confidence. Unfortunately, Pirates have often faced elimination in the second preliminary round, but no one expected a 3-0 defeat this time. They collapsed completely and now must score four unanswered goals to overturn the tie. This difference in performance separates Pirates from Sundowns. The Brazilians consistently get the job done, while the Buccaneers tend to struggle under pressure. Sundowns secure tight victories for three points, while Pirates drop points in matches they should win easily. In the last decade, Sundowns have advanced to the group stages of competitions with relative ease, but Pirates have only progressed past the preliminary rounds twice. Although the two teams are evenly matched, Sundowns have a knack for winning challenging matches. Can Pirates win the league?
Fiji Warriors name youthful side – FBC News
The Shop N Save Supermarket Fijian Warriors side to face Australia Country will be led by captain Sakiusa Vosayaco and vice-captain Ponipate Tuberi. The forward pack includes Fijian Drua development player Breytone Legge, Josh Uluiibau, Inoke Ravuiwasa, Isaia Lotawa, Marika Natau, Michael Ferei, Ebenezer Navula and Vosayaco himself. In the backline, the Warriors will field Napolioni Batimala, Tuberi, Emosi Nuku, Apimeleki Nasalo, Sivaniolo Lumelume, Judah Draiva,m and Sefanaia Tokadaudua. Article continues after advertisement The impact players named on the bench are Osea Dasulasulu, Nedly Grant, Allen Osborne, Mataiasi Tuisireli, Sosi Waqa, Sevu Tawake, Meli Buinimasi, Anare Tabakaucoro, Paul Dolakoto and Savenaca Durusolo. It’s a largely youthful and developing side, one that will be out to test itself against a strong Australia Country lineup. You can watch the LIVE action on FBC TV at 2pm. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Arne Slot must solve striker conundrum to bring the best out of Hugo Ekitike
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 Liverpool had become champions and Eintracht Frankfurt had qualified for the Champions League but thoughts soon shifted to what came next. Or who came next, anyway. Arne Slot spoke to Hugo Ekitike at the end of last season. The caller can’t have come as a surprise to the striker. Liverpool had been in contact with his camp since January. Liverpool were preparing for Darwin Nunez’s departure. Ekitike had seen his sidekick Omar Marmoush leave in the winter window. Frankfurt may have supplanted Borussia Dortmund as the Bundesliga’s experts in identifying, improving and profiting from talent. The guarantee is that they will sell, if the price is right. Slot can be a persuasive salesman; or perhaps his club afforded him the best pitch. Manchester United made a late approach and Liverpool could enjoy taking one of their targets. Newcastle made a bid, before Liverpool swooped: their interpretation was that the Magpies only turned to Ekitike after missing out on Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, though Eddie Howe’s interest in the Frenchman dated back three years, to his first window in charge. Regardless, Ekitike preferred Liverpool. “This was the best choice,” he said three weeks ago. “The champions of England. They have great players and history. It just fitted for what I was looking for.” He joined in July for an initial £69m. A first return to the Deutsche Bank Park could have had the makings of a triumphant affair. Ekitike scored four minutes into his Liverpool career. He struck in his first three games for the club; not since Daniel Sturridge had anyone done that for Liverpool. Blessed with pace, brimming with talent, he was an instant crowd favourite. And yet he may be back in Frankfurt as a bit-part player. And much of that is a consequence of Alexander Isak. Ekitike had the option of replacing the Swede at Newcastle instead of competing with him at Anfield. He would have been guaranteed a start in the Champions League this week. Instead, Ekitike may have been in an exclusive job-share of late, a £200m double act splitting the minutes. But the split may become uneven. With Isak fully up to speed now – according to Slot, anyway, who argues the £125m man has had a six-week pre-season of sorts – he could be in the bittersweet position of being the world’s finest second-choice striker. Was this in Slot’s sales pitch? It is tempting to wonder. Ekitike joined after the tragic loss of Diogo Jota which, along with the sales of Nunez and Luis Diaz, meant Liverpool required two forwards; but two of such calibre and cost? Ekitike’s flying start prompted thoughts they did not need Isak as much as someone who could be an alternative or deputy to the Frenchman. Liverpool’s own rationale was that Ekitike had the potential to become one of the outstanding strikers in the global game, whereas Isak had already attained that status. Ekitike toed the party line when he spoke in Istanbul three weeks ago. “I can’t see any big clubs playing with just one striker in the squad,” he said. “It is good that Alex is here.” But Isak’s price can give him preferential treatment and so far Isak has played 382 minutes for Liverpool. Ekitike has only been on the pitch for 16 of them: six against Galatasaray, 10 against Manchester United, when he looked much the sharper of the duo. open image in gallery Hugo Ekitike began his Liverpool career in fine fashion but has dropped behind Alexander Isak in the pecking order (REUTERS) Slot is yet to fully address the question of how they coexist. They were paired in a gung-ho 4-2-4 formation on Sunday. In Istanbul, Ekitike operated off the wing. There is a tradition of sleek, quick French forwards who can accelerate infield from a starting position on the left flank – think Thierry Henry, think Kylian Mbappe – and he has some of the attributes to excel. Yet while Liverpool regard Ekitike as a multifunctional forward, it is nevertheless clear his best function is as a striker. Frankfurt offered a solution of sorts: Ekitike played up front with Marmoush, but it was in a 3-5-2 formation Slot is unlikely to adopt. And so the Ekitike conundrum is how and where to use a player who seemed an inspired signing. Ekitike has been stripped of the momentum he acquired at the start of his Liverpool career, in part by being benched. He has now only begun one of their last five matches in all competitions, at Galatasaray. He has only played 44 minutes in Liverpool’s last three Premier League games; he is partly culpable for that, his sending-off against Southampton ruling him out of the trip to Crystal Palace. But even with that red card – deemed “stupid” by Slot and “not smart” by Ekitike himself – the decision to take off his shirt in celebration, to hold his name and number up, could be interpreted in the context of Isak, who had also scored. Was it Ekitike offering a
Rassie discusses Springbok squad selection, November opponents
The Springboks have five more Tests in 2025, and would love nothing more than to go through an unbeaten end-of-year tour to cement their place as the No 1 side in the world. An extended squad of 36 players has been named for the November Tests, with 21 forwards and 15 backline players picked in the touring group, which includes one uncapped youngster in former Junior Springbok prop and captain Zachary Porthen. Once again, Rassie Erasmus is expected to rotate with his selections during the outgoing tour, which includes games against Japan at Wembley Stadium (1 November), against France at Stade de France in Paris (8 November), Italy at the Allianz Stadium, Turin (15 November), Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (22 November), and Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff (29 November). > What did Rassie Erasmus have to say about Springbok squad selection? “We are excited about the makeup of this squad,” said Erasmus. “Most of the players in the group have been with us throughout the season, while others are back from injury or have done the job for us before in the last few years. “It’s also great to see a young player like Zachary, who has emerged through our junior structures, come through the ranks into the senior set-up, and we are excited to see what he can do at this level.” Erasmus added: “With five tough matches lined up, we always planned to select a manageable squad, and we have a solid bunch of players on standby, some of whom have been with us during stages this season, and uncapped players such as Sebastian and Juarno, who have continued to impress us with their performances. “With Neethling (Fouche) and Salmaan (Moerat) currently in the process of returning from injury, it’s important for us that they get more game time for their URC franchises, which was the main reason for excluding them from the 36-man squad. “Obviously, players not included on the standby list could also be called up should the need arise.” Opposition expectations Looking ahead at the tour, Erasmus admitted that while it would be challenging given the quality of the opposition they will be facing, the team was eager to get back on the field. “It’s a longer tour than usual and we are facing top-class opposition, but we are looking forward to it,” said Erasmus. “Ireland and France are currently ranked third and fourth in the world, while Italy, Wales, and Japan are in 10th, 12th and 13th place, and we’ve seen in the last few years that you cannot write off any team. “Ireland and France are always tough opposition, and they both won four out of their five Six Nations matches, with France emerging as the eventual champions, and we know how challenging it is to beat them both at home. “Japan have beaten us before, Italy put up a good fight against us earlier this year in Pretoria, and Wales beat Japan, proving that they are again on an upward trajectory, so it’s going to be a challenging tour. “We have delivered a few good performances but also a few disappointing ones this season, so this will be a good opportunity to test ourselves and see if we can build consistency from week to week. That said, it is going to take a massive effort, and we are excited about the tour.”
‘Problem’ Anthony Gordon has become the answer Newcastle (and England) are looking for
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 cast of leading goalscorers in the Champions League is stacked with the usual names even at this early stage. But Kylian Mbappe (five), Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland have all been joined on four goals by an unlikely marksman, England and Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon. As Thomas Tuchel nails down his England starters for the World Cup there is positivity from the left-wing of St James’ Park. Gordon is bolstering his solid, goalscoring England form with productivity and headline grabbing among Europe’s elite. Club boss Eddie Howe will now rightly demand Gordon transfers his big game shows into routine league games. The 24-year old was the leading light in subduing Jose Mourinho’s fading Benfica to the tune of a 3-0 triumph, darting around to find space, releasing pressure with his ball carrying and adding a killer touch in front of goal. After international teammate – and left sided rival – Rashford netted twice for Barcelona in the early kick-off (a 6-1 win over Olympiacos) Gordon stepped up to deliver on Tyneside. A 32nd-minute strike was his fourth in three European games. A good eight days for the Scouser after he rose up the pecking order for his country – netting the opener and clinching World Cup qualification – in a 5-0 win over Latvia last week. open image in gallery Benfica boss Jose Mourinho was quick to congratulate Anthony Gordon at full-time (PA) Gordon’s season has mirrored Newcastle’s swings. Sent off in the second game of the campaign against Liverpool he issued a very humble and decent apology and roared back stronger, in Europe at least. A goal against Barcelona followed, and a double in a 4-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise. Then a vital opener against Benfica here, from Jacob Murphy’s first-time cross. Malick Thiaw had nicked the ball with strong-arm defending, Bruno Guimares mopping up to send Murphy clear. Gordon practices meditation and visualisation to aid his performances but can’t have imagined being in such famous company goals-wise. This is a player who has only hit double figures in one season, 12 in 2022-23, although 26 goals in 90 club career starts (and 24 as a sub) is a very decent return from out wide. Confidence flowed in the second half and Gordon tormented Ricardo Rios, running Benfica ragged at times. England’s lefty rivals like Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish need to make their own mark, or it’s a two-player race between Gordon and Rashford for that World Cup shirt. open image in gallery Harvey Barnes and Gordon did the damage at St James’ Park (Getty Images) No wonder St James’ Park rose for a huge ovation when Gordon was given a rest five minutes from time. “It means everything to be the first Newcastle player to score in three consecutive Champions League games,” said Gordon. “But we need more, my ambition doesn’t stop there. We had to calm the nerves.” Sub Harvey Barnes was one of the beneficiaries of the home side’s dominance, scoring twice. The first came from a remarkable NFL quarterback style, 65-yard throw out, from goalkeeper Nick Pope. He caught a cross in the 70th minute, and hurled from his own box into Benfica’s half, setting Barnes off on a pacy sprint to smash past Anatoliy Trubin in goal. The winger added a second in the 83rd minute – he now has three in Europe this season – and Newcastle have laid good foundations for qualifying from the group stages. open image in gallery Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope produced an incredible throw to assist Barnes’s first goal (PA) It’s been difficult to predict for certain what you’ll get from the Magpies this season, as they search for fluency and midfield balance. One day progress, another lacking in ideas and goals. This will add confidence with a powerful rhythm discovered. There’s still excitement when a Champions League fixture arrives on Tyneside, no weariness or cynicism, because of their rarity. This was only Newcastle’s 27th Champions League group stage game, and 10th win. And that helps Howe’s team sidestep domestic glitches. “We scored three great goals and it is a fantastic result. We have threatened a performance like that. Confidence returning to our attacking players,” said the boss “Anthony, in fact both our wingers, did really well. Anthony was direct and athletically excellent, on and off the ball.” Howe had talked about a team in transition and of “frustration” but that lifted. A “new way of doing things”, was Howe’s pre-match quest. open image in gallery Eddie Howe was impressed by Anthony Gordon’s display (PA) The evolution gathered pace with Joelinton dropped for a big game. Jacob Ramsey started on the left of the midfield three and was disciplined. On the right, illness forced Sandro Tonali out, handing homegrown teenager Lewis Miley a chance, and he is growing with experience and athletic in the scrap. This is a team in flux, but perhaps with more options than past seasons, who grabbed a major positive. Adding consistency by dispatching Fulham at the weekend
Veitayaki passes on – FBC News
Joeli Veitayaki. [Photo Credit: Irish News] The Fiji Rugby family is in shock following the unexpected passing of former Flying Fijians prop, Joeli Veitayaki. His daughter, Talei Veitayaki, announced her dad’s passing this afternoon on social media. Talei says Veitayaki’s passing has come as a great shock to the family, and they’re taking time to come together. She says he was a gentle giant with a big heart, loved by many and had a huge impact on his community. Article continues after advertisement The family will release funeral details once they’re confirmed. He was 58. The Matuku, Lau man made his debut for Fiji against the New Zealand Maori in Christchurch in 1994. He played at the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cup. Veitayaki played for the Blues and Northland and also had a stint with Irish club Ulster. Veitayaki featured 49 times for the Flying Fijians and scored three tries. His son, Haereti Hetet, is in the national squad for the Northern Tour. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.