The Fiji Times

Jones seals progress for depleted Liverpool with win over Ajax

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) – Teenager Curtis Jones grabbed a 58th-minute winner as an injury-hit Liverpool qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Ajax Amsterdam at Anfield on Tuesday. The victory ensured top spot in Group D for Juergen Klopp’s side with 12 points after rivals Atalanta were held...

Uruguayans perplexed by English FA investigation into Cavani

MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) – The English Football Association’s investigation into Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani’s use of the word ‘negrito’ has generated surprise and irritation in his homeland Uruguay. Cavani wrote the word, which is a diminutive version of ‘black’ and is often used affectionately in parts of Latin America to describe a person with dark...

Sit back and enjoy the defence, says England coach Jones

LONDON (Reuters) – Rugby’s Nations Cup reaches its conclusion this weekend, highlighted by Sunday’s England v France final, but anyone expecting a diversion from the stodgy fare on show for the last month is likely to be disappointed, according to Eddie Jones. England have collected dominant victories over Georgia, Ireland and Wales but, other than...

Scotland to host South Africa, Australia in 2021 autumn internationals

(Reuters) – Scotland will look to end an 11-year winless run against South Africa when they host the world champions in November next year as part of their autumn internationals season. Scotland will also play host to Australia and a third side, which will be announced in due course, with the fixtures set to take...

Holyfield calls out Tyson to get back in the ring

(Reuters) – Evander Holyfield called out Mike Tyson on Tuesday, saying it was time the two former undisputed heavyweight champions returned to the ring to cap their rivalry and settle legacies. Holyfield’s challenge comes after 54-year-old Tyson dominated Roy Jones Jr, 51, in an exhibition fight on Saturday in Los Angeles that was ruled a...

Four Police Sharks players will not feature for Eastern Blues

2020 Vodafone Cup champion Police Sharks players Timoci Namotokula, Mosese Rova, Michael Peters and Apimeleki Lutuimawi will not feature for the Eastern Blues in this week’s Vanua State of Origin decider. Eastern Blues coach Vulaono Dakuitoga said he was adamant that his final squad to the final Vanua State of Origin clash this weekend will...

Changing of the guard for Māori All Blacks

A changing of the guard is on the way for the Māori All Blacks with eight debutants named in the side to play Moana Pasifika in Hamilton on Saturday night. Lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit, midfielders Quinn Tupaea and Billy Proctor along with fullback Kaleb Trask are the newcomers named in the starting fifteen while hooker Kurt...

Sexton defends Ireland’s performances and insists they are improving

DUBLIN (Reuters) – Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has delivered an impassioned defence of his side’s performances this year, insisting Ireland were progressing even after defeat by England and a lacklustre win over Georgia in their last two Autumn Nations Cup matches. The Ireland flyhalf, who is due to return to the team after injury for...

Rugby still has work to do in battle against Racism – Jones

Rugby has improved its position on racism but the sport is a reflection of society and there is still work to do, England coach Eddie Jones said on Tuesday following the sanctions handed out to three Argentine players. Pablo Matera was stripped of the Argentina captaincy and suspended, along with team mates Guido Petti and...

Samoan rugby growing but still needs help from New Zealand and Australia

The Samoa women’s rugby coach is delighted with the news that the World Cup will expand to sixteen teams from 2025, but says they still need help from their ‘big sisters’ in the Pacific to develop their game. World Rugby’s decision to increase the number of teams from twelve follows increasing calls for the event...

MoU signed to run Ratu Sukuna tournament

The Republic of Fiji Military Force, Fiji Police Force and FMF Foods Limited have signed a three-year sponsorship towards running the Ratu Sukuna tournament. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu, RFMF Commander Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto and FMF Foods Limited Group Operations Manager Jimi Taniela. The RFMF is...

The eight places still up for grabs at Rugby World Cup 2023

DUBLIN, 02 DECEMBER 2020 (WORLD RUGBY) – Over the next couple of years, teams from all corners of the globe will attempt to confirm their participation at Rugby World Cup 2023 through World Rugby’s regional qualification process. Twelve teams – champions South Africa, England, New Zealand, Wales, Japan, France, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Argentina and...

Tokyo 2020 to spend US$960 million on COVID-19 countermeasures as part of additional costs

TOKYO, 02 DECEMBER 2020 (INSIDE THE GAMES) – Tokyo 2020 will reportedly spend US$960 million (£720 million/€801 million) on COVID-19 countermeasures as part of the additional cost of the postponed Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Games were rescheduled to 2021 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with the estimated cost of the delay set...

Argentina captain, players suspended over racist posts

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Pablo Matera has been stripped of the Argentina captaincy and suspended along with team mates Guido Petti and Santiago Socino for posting racist comments on social media, the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) said on Tuesday. The scandal has thrown the Argentina camp into crisis days before their final Tri-Nations match against Australia...

Olympic rings return to Tokyo Bay

TOKYO (Reuters) – The Olympic rings monument was reinstalled in Tokyo Bay on Tuesday, after being removed in August for maintenance, as organisers ramp up preparations for next year’s postponed Summer Games. The return of the monument, which stands 15.3m tall and 32.6m wide and was originally installed in January, should send a signal that...

Australia skipper Finch backs Starc to rebound after torrid start

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Australia captain Aaron Finch has backed under-fire paceman Mitchell Starc to rebound after the left-armer was feasted upon by India’s batsmen in the first two matches of the one-day series. Australia sealed the series 2-0 with their 51-run victory in Sydney on Sunday but Starc’s struggles have raised concerns leading into the...

Athletics: Russia’s suspended federation appoints new president

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s suspended athletics federation on Monday elected 50-year-old Pyotr Ivanov, the head of the triathlon federation, as its new president as it aims to be reinstated by the sport’s world governing body. The federation was suspended in 2015 after a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found evidence of mass...

Klopp says Liverpool don’t have enough players to rotate

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) – Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp says his mounting injury list ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Ajax Amsterdam means he does not have enough fit players to rotate his squad. The latest player to be sidelined at Anfield is utility man James Milner who suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 1-1...

Jimenez-Luiz clash raises calls for concussion substitutes

LONDON (Reuters) – A sickening clash of heads between Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Raul Jimenez and Arsenal defender David Luiz which left the Mexican striker with a fractured skull has prompted calls for clubs to be able to make “concussion substitutions”. Jimenez was knocked unconscious after an accidental collision with Brazilian Luiz who rather surprisingly played on...

Frappart to become first female referee to officiate men’s Champions League game

(Reuters) – France’s Stephanie Frappart will become the first female official to take charge of a men’s Champions League game when Juventus host Dynamo Kyiv on Wednesday. Frappart, who turns 37 next month, was the first female referee to officiate in a major UEFA competition match when Liverpool played Chelsea in the Super Cup in...

Barbeary gets first England call-up for Autumn Nations Cup final

(Reuters) – Wasps hooker Alfie Barbeary has been given his first England call-up after being included in the 33-man squad for Sunday’s Autumn Nations Cup final against France. The 20-year-old made an immediate impact when he scored a try on his Premiership debut from the bench against Worcester Warriors in August and then scored a...

Tony Brown vows Māori will bring ‘test-like’ intensity to Pasifika game

AUCKLAND, 01 DECEMBER 2020 (STUFF NZ) – Māori All Blacks assistant coach Tony Brown isn’t a fan of the ‘spectacle’ concept – he wants his side to beat Moana Pasifika in Hamilton on Saturday and expects them to be clinical in how they go about their business. “It’s a pretty big test match so the...

James O’Connor’s return gives Wallabies coach Dave Rennie selection headache for Pumas clash

SYDNEY, 01 DECEMBER 2020 (SMH) – James O’Connor will return to the Wallabies’ starting XV when Dave Rennie reveals his team for the final test of the year on Thursday. O’Connor – who suffered a torn MCL in the Wallabies’ 27-7 loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park before suffering a plantar fascia injury...

Fiji FACT: Semis and final to continue in Labasa this weekend

The Fiji Football Association has confirmed the Fiji FACT finals this weekend will be held at Subrail Park in Labasa. This has been confirmed by Fiji FA chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf in a press statement. Yusuf said that the rumours stating the tournament would be taken away to other venues were false. He said...

Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 to expand to 16 teams

DUBLIN, 01 DECEMBER 2020 (INSIDE THE GAMES) – World Rugby has announced that the women’s edition of the Rugby World Cup is to increase in size from 12 teams to 16 from 2025 onwards. Earlier this year, the Rugby World Cup Board decided to approve this change, which reflects World Rugby’s strategic plan for 2017...

Samoa Rugby Union rebranded as Lakapi Samoa

APIA, 01 DECEMBER 2020 (SAMOA OBSERVER) – The name Samoa Rugby Union (SRU) is now a thing of the past. Last week, the Union’s Board approved the proposed rebranding of the Union to be called “Lakapi Samoa”. A new logo for Lakapi Samoa has also been approved and will depict Samoa’s Teuila flower with the...

Saints, Patriots fined by NFL for violating COVID-19 protocols

(Reuters) – The National Football League fined the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots for violating COVID-19 protocols, a league source said on Sunday. The Saints, who are repeat offenders, were fined $500,000 for not wearing protective masks during a post-game celebration, the source told Reuters. According to the NFL’s website, the Saints were...

Broncos’ emergency QB gets rough introduction to NFL

(Reuters) – With COVID-19 related issues leaving the Denver Broncos without a quarterback for Sunday’s game against New Orleans, practice squad receiver Kendall Hinton was thrust into the starting role and got a quick lesson on just how tough the position can be. Hinton played quarterback in college but his first NFL start went pretty...

Japan’s Osaka inspires own manga character

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s three-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka has inspired a new manga character to appear in an issue of Nakayoshi magazine next month, the publishers announced on Sunday. Osaka, who is the world’s highest paid female athlete, is a fan of both manga and anime and took to social media to welcome...

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Malan one short of ton as England secure series whitewash