Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 19 February 12:30 pm

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

# First up, rugby: The Blitzboks have Sebastian Jobb and Tristan Leyds back this weekend for the Vancouver Sevens tournament. The 25-year-old Jobb, a former Junior Springbok, suffered a range of injuries over the last 24 months after making his debut for the Blitzboks in 2023. Playmaker Leyds is equally pumped to be back in action for the Blitzboks after missing out on the previous tournament in Perth due to injury:

# Cricket: A former Pakistani player and administrator says the Champions Trophy which started today, is about more than just the game for the country. Ramiz Raja says it will be a huge boost to Pakistan’s reputation if they succeed in staging their first major tournament in almost three decades. He says it took some convincing to the world that the country is safe after 2009’s terror attack on a visiting team’s bus. Security had been stepped up, especially in the host cities of Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

# Motorsport: All ten Formula One teams and their 20 drivers launched their 2025 liveries in a historic launch at the O2 Arena in London to mark the sport’s 75th anniversary. Each team got an opportunity to present their new liveries and driver line-up in front of a live audience. There are six rookies on the grid this year, Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, Jack Doohan, Gabriel Bortoleto, Liam Lawson and Ollie Bearman, the most since the 2021 season. Testing gets underway at the Bahrain International Circuit next Wednesday.

# Tennis: The World Anti-Doping Agency says world number one Jannik Sinner’s case was a million miles away from doping. The Italian accepted a three-month ban in exchange for Wada dropping its appeal against the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s decision not to suspend him over two positive drug tests last year. Wada says it received scientific feedback that this could not be a case of intentional doping, and denies any suggestion of special treatment. Sinner will be allowed to return to the tour on the fourth of May.

# And finally, Olympic Games: Brisbane in Australia, who will host the Games in 2032, will announce next month where the main stadium will be. Political rows caused continuing uncertainty over the final plans, leading to Queensland’s premier, David Crisafulli, appointing a panel to conduct a second review of the options. Its findings and government’s response will be made public on the 25th of March. Crisafulli’s predecessor, Steven Miles, earlier rejected a revamp of the Gabba cricket ground and a proposed new stadium in Victoria Park.

Stay tuned for more news………….