Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 10 June 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We start with soccer: Three Brazilian referees will be in charge of tomorrow’s World Cup opener between South Africa and Mexico in Mexico City. Wilton Sampaio will carry the whistle, and will be assisted by Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia. Sampaio was also involved in the previous two World Cups in Qatar and Russia. A record pool of 52 referees and 88 assistant referees had been assembled, while specific appointments are normally announced two to three days before matches. Kick-off between Bafana Bafana and Mexico is at 9pm South African time.

# Rugby: Scotland’s South African-born Duhan van der Merwe, New Zealand legend TJ Perenara, and England’s Kyle Sinckler have been named in the Barbarians squad to face the Springboks in Gqeberha next Saturday. Van der Merwe, who has scored 35 tries in 53 Tests for Scotland, will wear the famous jersey for the first time alongside teammates D’Arcy Rae and Liam McConnell. Perenara, a former All Blacks vice-captain, brings 89 Tests’ worth of experience to the squad. Further squad announcements will be made in due course.

# Cricket: Proteas Women’s captain Laura Wolvaardt believes the participation of veterans Shabnim Ismael and Dané van Niekerk will strengthen the team in the T20 World Cup, starting in England and Wales on Friday. They reversed their earlier retirements, but Wolvaardt says they had been active all the time and will help South Africa go one step further after reaching the finals of the past three white-ball World Cups. The Proteas face Australia, Pakistan, India and the Netherlands in their group matches.  

More cricket: Ben Stokes is reportedly considering stepping down as England’s captain, as he and teammate Gus Atkinson are being investigated for a breach of team protocols. They were involved in an altercation with a Saracens academy player in a London nightclub in the early hours of Monday evening, following England’s first Test victory over New Zealand. The incident left an England and Wales Cricket Board security official needing stitches. Stokes is reportedly also considering calling time on his 15-year career.

# And hockey: South Africa wants to fully use home advantage in tomorrow’s opening match of the FIH Men’s Nations Cup against France in Cape Town. South Africa won the inaugural tournament four years ago, but since then, New Zealand have dominated, claiming back-to-back crowns. Nine teams will battle it out for a place in the FIH Pro League. SA captain Dayaan Cassiem says the approach is to take it game-by-game:

Stay tuned for more news………….