Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 5 November 12:30 pm

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

# We start with rugby: Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx is on his way to Pretoria. The Bulls confirmed the signing of the current world player of the year after he announced last week he will leave Japan middle next year. Thirty-two-year-old Marx will reunite with coach Johan Ackermann, who was his mentor playing for the Lions earlier. He has played 94 Tests for South Africa, scoring 29 tries – the most by any Bok forward. Ackermann says it’s humbling that a player of Marx’s quality committed to the Bulls.

Meanwhile, Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok has signed with the Sharks on a multi-year deal from July next year. The 29-year-old, who has 34 Test caps, previously had a brief stint with the team in 2020 and 2021 before joining the Stormers and helping win them the inaugural United Rugby Championship title in 2022. The World Cup winner is currently playing in Japan with Hanazono Kintetsu Liners. Sharks coach JP Pietersen says Libbok’s attacking ability and experience will be invaluable for the team.

# Golf: Private capital firm BC Partners Credit is reportedly set to drop its bid to finance the future of LIV Golf, citing the inability to secure enough player commitments for next year. It had pledged a 4.98-billion-rand financing package for LIV 2.0 after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrew its backing in April, leading to the league filing for bankruptcy protection. LIV’s high-profile players, including Louis Oosthuizen, Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia and Tyrrell Hatton, have quit. According to Financial Times, LIV is pivoting toward a wind-down of its operations.

# Tennis: The stage is set for the WTA Finals, starting in Indian Wells in the US on Sunday. The world’s eight best female players will compete in a round robin format, with the top two in each group advancing to the semifinals. Group One will see top-ranked Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan competing with Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, and Czech player Linda Noskova. World number two, Aryna Sabalenka, leads group two, also consisting of Russian Mirra Andreeva, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and another Czech, Karolina Muchova.   

And men’s tennis: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic has failed to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin for only the second time. The 39-year-old, who likely needed to reach the semifinals in the Paris Masters to qualify, went down to Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata. Djokovic also failed to make the 2017 edition due to an elbow injury. World number one, Alexander Zverev of Germany, suffered a surprise defeat to Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, while Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, now the highest seed remaining, beat American Alex Michelsen in straight sets.

Stay tuned for more news………….